Victor Martinez is asked who the most overrated and underrated coaches and gurus are in bodybuilding
In the latest episode of the Generation Iron Podcast, pro bodybuilder and host Victor Martinez answered fan questions about natural bodybuilding before discussing viral fitness influencer Joy Meek, Dave Bautista’s upcoming physique transformation, powerlifter Sonita Muluh’s allegations of sabotage, and the most overrated and underrated coaches in bodybuilding.
Here’s a brief overview of all topics discussed this week:
- Victor Martinez answers: why do pro bodybuilders hate natural bodybuilders so much?
- Multivitamins 101: Do they stop natural production in your body?
- 18 year old woman with insanely shredded 10-pack abs go viral – but is she legit?
- Victor’s take on Dave Bautista’s new physique as he prepares to become the God of War
- Sabotage and racism rattles the world of powerlifting – Victor shares his thoughts
- Victor breaks down the most overrated and underrated coaches in bodybuilding
You can watch the full episode of the Generation Iron Podcast above. Keep reading for a more in-depth recap of the discussion. Let’s dive in!
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Victor Martinez Defends Natural Bodybuilders and Says There Is No “Real” Bodybuilder
One fan asked why enhanced bodybuilders supposedly hate natural bodybuilders and suggested that natural athletes are the “real bodybuilders.” Victor Martinez pushed back against the premise, explaining that he does not believe most enhanced bodybuilders actually have a problem with natural bodybuilding.
Victor pointed out that the professional bodybuilders he knows in the IFBB Pro League and NPC generally do not spend their time insulting natural athletes. He also joked that he has never seen a “natural sucks” T-shirt, emphasizing that the rivalry between natural and enhanced bodybuilding is largely exaggerated.
Edwin Mejia Jr. suggested that the fan may actually be referring to the constant arguments that happen in social media comment sections. Generation Iron frequently sees this type of debate when featuring natural bodybuilders on its website (such as Joseph Baena’s recent run of competitions) or podcast. Online commenters can quickly turn discussions about drug-tested and untested bodybuilding into arguments about which athletes are legitimate.
Victor believes the fan may be overthinking the issue. In his view, an enhanced bodybuilder is no more or less of a “real bodybuilder” than a natural athlete. If someone trains, diets and works to improve their physique, Victor considers that person a bodybuilder regardless of which organization they compete in or whether they use performance-enhancing drugs.
Ehsan offered a different perspective, suggesting that natural bodybuilders may actually be more likely to criticize enhanced bodybuilding because of concerns about the health risks associated with PED use.
Victor ended the discussion with a humorous observation about his interactions with natural bodybuilders. Whenever he asks one if they use PEDs, they often respond, “No I don’t use PEDs but thank you for the compliment.”
Do Vitamins Stop Natural Hormone Production?
Another fan asked whether taking vitamins could cause the body to stop naturally producing certain substances and whether vitamins should only be taken when someone is deficient.
Victor emphasized that ordinary vitamins do not carry the same risks associated with anabolic steroids or testosterone. Taking a vitamin supplement does not cause the body to shut down its natural production of hormones.
Victor said vitamins can be useful when they supplement something missing from a person’s diet or lifestyle. At worst, taking a vitamin that the body does not need may simply mean the person does not absorb all of it and wastes some money.
He did acknowledge that the question would be different if the fan was using the word “vitamins” as a euphemism for steroids. Otherwise, Victor encouraged the person not to overcomplicate basic vitamin supplementation.
Joy Meek Goes Viral for Her Shredded Abs
The hosts also discussed 18-year-old fitness influencer Joy Meek, who recently went viral for her extremely shredded abdominal definition.
Victor was impressed by her physique, calling her midsection some of the best abs he has seen in a long time. The fact that she is only 18 years old makes the level of definition particularly striking.
The conversation naturally turned toward speculation about whether Meek is using steroids. Victor acknowledged that PED use is possible, but he does not believe her current level of muscle mass necessarily indicates steroid use. In his view, her physique could be achieved naturally, particularly at such a young age when a fast metabolism and strong work ethic can contribute to an exceptionally lean appearance.
At the same time, Victor admitted that it is impossible to know what someone is using based solely on their appearance. He hopes Meek is not using steroids at such a young age.
Dave Bautista’s New Physique Transformation
The Generation Iron Podcast also examined Dave Bautista’s upcoming physical transformation for God of War following his reported 75-pound weight loss.
Victor and Ehsan discussed how losing substantial amounts of muscle and bodyweight can sometimes make rebuilding a physique easier because of muscle memory. According to Victor, someone who previously carried significant muscle can often regain it more efficiently than someone trying to build that amount of muscle for the first time.
Victor believes Bautista could ultimately return with a better physique than he had during his professional wrestling career or his time playing Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. He also theorized that Bautista has access to the resources necessary to potentially use steroids to accelerate the transformation required for a film role.
Vlad then asked Victor to choose between Bautista and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Victor prefers Bautista as an actor because he enjoys Bautista’s movie roles more. However, when it comes to athleticism, Victor gives the advantage to The Rock.
Victor Martinez Supports Sonita Muluh After Squat Sabotage Allegations
The hosts also discussed powerlifter Sonita Muluh’s allegations that a racist spotter sabotaged her 737-pound squat and potentially put her life in danger.
Victor expressed support for Muluh and said he believes her claims. He was particularly concerned by reports that the spotter was allegedly known beforehand to have racist beliefs and had made racist comments.
Victor believes the information should have been brought to the attention of competition officials before the incident rather than after it occurred. A heavy squat is already an inherently dangerous movement, particularly when an athlete is attempting a record. If a spotter intentionally interferes with the lift, the consequences can extend beyond losing a competition.
For Victor, the biggest concern is the athlete’s safety. He questioned what could have happened if the situation escalated beyond the alleged interference and argued that greater accountability is needed before dangerous incidents happen rather than only afterward.
Who Are the Most Overrated Bodybuilding Coaches?
Finally, Victor was asked to name the most overrated coaches in bodybuilding. He refused to single anyone out, explaining that highly regarded coaches generally earned their reputations through legitimate accomplishments.
Victor said coaches can experience periods when their athletes are winning frequently and other periods when results are less impressive. A temporary downturn does not erase years of success. He also noted that he has personally worked with several high-profile coaches without having negative experiences, so he does not have a personal reason to criticize them.
Instead, Victor said he would want comprehensive statistics on every major coach, including their athletes, placings and competitive results, before determining whether someone is genuinely overrated.
When asked about underrated bodybuilding coaches, however, Victor had answers. He believes Chris Aceto deserves more recognition, while also naming George Farah. Victor believes both coaches are highly skilled but may receive less media attention because they have worked with fewer high-profile athletes.
The hosts agreed that Hany Rambod is fairly rated, given his long history of working with Olympia champions across multiple generations.
Victor also addressed criticism of his own coaching abilities. After some Dominican women reportedly claimed that Victor is a bad coach, he offered a simple challenge: choose an athlete, let the other side choose an athlete, select a competition and see who can produce the better result. For Victor, the best way to settle the debate is onstage.
Wrap Up
Ultimately, the latest episode of the Generation Iron Podcast highlighted how many of the biggest debates in bodybuilding and fitness are far more complicated than they may appear online. From the divide between natural and enhanced bodybuilding to speculation surrounding young fitness influencers, the hosts emphasized the importance of looking beyond social media arguments and avoiding assumptions that cannot be proven.
Victor Martinez and the hosts also touched on the realities of building a physique, the dangers athletes can face in competition, and the experience required to become a successful bodybuilding coach. With topics ranging from Joy Meek and Dave Bautista to Sonita Muluh and the industry’s most respected coaches, the episode once again offered a mix of bodybuilding insight, personal experience, and candid opinions from the Generation Iron team.
