Uncensored

QUESTION: From the countless strength coaches you’ve interviewed and the top pros you’ve trained with, what would you say are the best back exercises out there?

ANSWER: One of the perks of my job is getting to meet the top strength and conditioning experts in the world, the best nutritionists, and, of course, the top pro bodybuilders in the game. Backstage at the Mr. Olympia a few years back, I was just about to present an award to one of the finalists (I think it was Flex Wheeler). I looked beside me and saw Dorian Yates in a suit about to present an award as well. So I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask a question I’d been wanting answered by him for many years. As you know, Dorian has one of the greatest backs in the history of bodybuilding. So who better to give me back-training tips? Nobody! So I asked him if he could choose just two exercises to do for back, what would they be? He smiled over at me, paused to think for about a minute as he looked downward, then looked up and confidently said in his British accent, “Reverse-grip pull-downs to the front and bentover barbell rows.” But this wasn’t enough for me, so I asked him if the bent-over rows were to be done using an overhand grip or a reverse grip (I had seen him on a video doing it with a reverse grip). He said it didn’t matter; either way would get the job done equally. He then said if you could do just one more exercise on top of these two it would be the Nautilus machine pull-over. So there you have ‘em: back-training secrets right from Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates!

PHOTO: RICK SCHAFF