Modern bodybuilding has become so focused on building muscle mass that heavy lifts and machines often supplant bodyweight exercises. Many pro bodybuilders often use calisthenics to warm up, using only machines and free weights during the entire workout. However, in the 70s, this wasn’t the case. Bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu mastered bodyweight training. While creating his eight-week Blueprint to Cut program, Schwarzenegger discussed the necessity of bodyweight mastery.

During the interview, Schwarzenegger was asked how despite weighing 254 lbs, he could effortlessly perform bodyweight pull-ups. While answering the question, Schwarzenegger also revealed how his best friend, Franco Columbu, was “pound-for-pound” stronger than him.

When Arnold Schwarzenegger struggled with weighted pull-ups

During the interview, posted on Schwarzenegger’s official YouTube page, the bodybuilding icon stated that “all exercises you do with your body weight are great.” Exercise like sit-ups, leg raises, dips, and chin-ups are “terrific.” He also believed that “when you weigh weight 240 pounds. You ought to have the strength of a 240-pound guy.” And, the best way to do so was through calisthenics.

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Schwarzenegger revealed why he and Franco Columbu did a lot of pull-ups and chin-ups. “We did it because it was the only way to really open up those wings, the shoulder blades, and the lats and really created the width (of the back muscles),” the seven-time Mr. Olympia told the interviewer. Hence, bodyweight mastery was essential for the former Mr. Olympia.

Despite being able to perform a 683 lbs deadlift, the seven-time Mr. Olympia struggled to do weighted pull-ups with 20 lbs of weights around his weight. While the 6’2 Ft over 240 lbs Schwarzenegger was taller and heavier than Columbu, the Italian pulled more weight. “He put around his waist, sometimes 40 pounds, or 45-pound plate, and he did chin-ups like nothing. I put on 20 pounds, and I was struggling,” revealed Schwarzenegger.

The secret to a thick back

While the bodybuilding legend said doing a lot of pull-ups helps to create back width, they don’t build back thickness. The former Mr. Universe gave the example of bodybuilding legend Steve Reeves. He said Reeves’s back muscles had width because he did a lot of pull-ups. However, he lacked thickness in his back muscles.

Schwarzenegger revealed that rowing exercises like t-bar rowing and one-arm rowing build a thick back. It could also explain why Arnold Schwarzenegger performed close-grip pull-ups. Close-grip pull-ups could be alerted to mimic a rowing-like motion.

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Do you agree with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s take on bodyweight exercises? Write your thoughts in the comments.