Ronnie Coleman‘s training partner, Big J, recently appeared on the Straight Outta The Lair Podcast. Seven-time 212 Mr. Olympia Flex Lewis hosted the podcast and the two strength athletes discussed many things about the life of Big J. During their conversation, the bodybuilding champion also asked Big J, about his time training with two-time Arnold Classic winner Branch Warren. While answering Lewis’s question, Big J made a surprising revelation.

While Branch Warren began competing in the Mr. Olympia contest at the twilight of Ronnie Coleman’s reign, for the following years, he became a serious contender. In 2009, Warren nearly upset the Comeback Kid Jay Cutler. During the podcast, Big J revealed just how intense the Arnold Classic champion’s training sessions were.

Not even military training could prepare Big J for the bodybuilding beast

Most bodybuilders who saw Ronnie Coleman train or trained with The King latest to his strength. The bodybuilding legend regularly lifted insanely heavy weights. His 800 lbs deadlift and squat videos remain legendary to this day. Big J, who served in the military and was a powerlifter, was one of the few people who kept up with Coleman in the gym.

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However, the two-time Arnold Classic champion Branch Warren surprised him. The first time Big J lifted with the 48-year-old in the gym was not easy for him. “He tried to kill me when we first met,” said the powerlifter about Warren. “Branch’s style. It’s insanity,” admitted Big J and said he struggled to keep up with the professional bodybuilder for a while.

“I managed to get through about a month and a half or two,” before adapting to the intensity that the Arnold Classic champion brought to the gym. However, once he matched Warren, Big J challenged the 48-year-old. “I want to take it a step further,” said the powerlifter, because he wanted to get stronger than everybody else. However, Warren wasn’t the only bodybuilder Big J praised.

The powerlifter praised the eight-time Mr. Olympia

During the podcast, Big J said that while many bodybuilders have worked hard to achieve glory, none had a work ethic like Ronnie Coleman. When Flex Lewis asked Big J about the bodybuilding legend, he had nothing but praise for the eight-time Mr. Olympia.

The armed forces veteran said that his training partner was the “leading example” of work ethics, regardless of the period. From the golden era to the 90s to the mass monsters and today, according to Big J people need to learn from Big Ron.

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The former military man has trained with some of the best bodybuilders including the arguable GOAT. However, even with his experience, Branch Warren caught him off guard, which is proof of why the two-time Arnold Classic champion gave Jay Cutler a run for his money.