Tom Platz attempted to train with Arnold Schwarzenegger and his methods did not translate well.
Tom Platz is one of the most influential bodybuilders of all-time due to his insane legs. The sport of bodybuilding is unique as in different methods and ways of training work for some and not for others. In this post, we detail how the The Quadfather discussed training with the great Arnold Schwarzenegger, his methods and how they did not translate well to improving his physique. In an interview with Dorian Yates, Platz explained how it made him feel “small and fat.”
Training and competing alongside other legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, Lee Haney, and countless others, Platz is well-traveled and has gained a ton of experience that he uses for the benefit of other fitness enthusiasts. He also found methods that did not help his physique.
[READ MORE: The Ultimate Tom Platz Leg Workout ]
“I tried training with Arnold six days a week, sometimes twice a day, I got small and fat. I said ‘I can’t do it.'”
One of the most influential bodybuilders in the past 50 years, Tom Platz has left his mark on bodybuilding history. Always known for his massive legs, Platz would go on to teach many other bodybuilders throughout his career. He hoped to pass on his knowledge and ensure that countless other competitors were able to build quality legs of their own.
Tom Platz Talks Training With Arnold Schwarzenegger
Tom Platz explains how Arnold Schwarzenegger would train six days a week and sometimes hit the gym twice in one day.
“I didn’t train like Arnold. Three or four days a week, four days a week was the most I could ever do.
Training with a lot of frequency was the worst thing for me. I would do it on occasion. We could high intensity and high volume for a short time, not very long. I rested really hard. After squatting like I did, I rested hard.”
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Tom Platz never won a Mr. Olympia, this does not take away from how impressive his physique was on the stage, and he even managed to secure a third place finish in 1981, which was a stacked Olympia.
Platz had a passion for training from a young age and turned it into a competitive career in bodybuilding. He found what works best for him and it was keeping his training to three or four days due to his build.
“I’m not a long, lean, tall guy. I’m typically a small, squatty guy. When I left the gym for two weeks, got depressed, when I came back to the gym and trained three or four times a week, I did great. I got much bigger and stronger, looked better.”
Tom Platz found what works for him in the gym and was able to build an incredible physique, highlighted by his leg mass.
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