High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way (Paperback)

by Mike Mentzer (Author), John Little (Author) "Those readers who have been engaged in serious bodybuilding for more than a year probably have realized that the growth of muscle tissue beyond normal..." (more)
Key Phrases: recuperative subsystems, bodybuilding science, compensatory buildup, Mike Mentzer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Workout Two (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

High-intensity bodybuilding advice from the first man to win a perfect score in the Mr. Universe competition

This one-of-a-kind book profiles the high-intensity training (HIT) techniques pioneered by the late Mike Mentzer, the legendary bodybuilder, leading trainer, and renowned bodybuilding consultant. His highly effective, proven approach enables bodybuilders to get results--and win competitions--by doing shorter, less frequent workouts each week. Extremely time-efficient, HIT sessions require roughly 40 minutes per week of training--as compared with the lengthy workout sessions many bodybuilders would expect to put in daily.

In addition to sharing Mentzer's workout and training techniques, featured here is fascinating biographical information and striking photos of the world-class bodybuilder--taken by noted professional bodybuilding photographers--that will inspire and instruct serious bodybuilders and weight lifters everywhere.

From the Back Cover

The advanced techniques, most productive workouts, and life-transforming personal philosophies of bodybuilding legend Mike Mentzer

Whatever your level of fitness, you can kick your muscles--and your mind--into high gear with the radical training philosophies and advanced bodybuilding techniques of Mike Mentzer, the first bodybuilder to ever garner a perfect score in the Mr. Universe competition.

The thinking man's bodybuilder, Mike revolutionized the art of training with his Heavy Duty^TM system, proving that "less is more" when it comes to making great gains. But Mike's most advanced ideas have never been revealed--until now. Direct from Mentzer's inner circle--friend and colleague John Little along with Joanne Sharkey, the CEO of Mentzer-Sharkey Enterprises, Inc.--The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer gives you an insider's look at his most intense, in-depth lessons.

Inside these pages you will learn all the fundamentals of:

• HUNGER--the code of integrity for displaying a heroic physique
• Philosophy and character building--why you need never again fear your competition
• The science of productive bodybuilding exercise--Mentzer's fail-safe principles for building maximum size and strength
• Consolidation Training--a lightning-quick workout that works "like magic" for producing phenomenal muscle growth
• • Advanced Heavy Duty^TM techniques, such as Omni-Contraction Training, Infitonic Training, and Rest-Pause Training

The Wisdom of Mike Mentzer provides readers with a unique insight into the world of Mike Mentzer--the man, the philosopher, and the legend.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (December 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071383301
• ISBN-13: 978-0071383301
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #31,722 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only valid theory of productive exercise, May 15, 2004

By	Andrew Baye "www.baye.com" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was first introduced to the concept of high intensity training by Mike's articles in Iron Man magazine in the early 90's. For the first time ever, I began to see consistent, noticable improvements on a workout to workout basis, initially gaining over 25 pounds of muscle over a period of only a few months. I eventually became certified as a personal trainer by the SuperSlow Exercise Guild, who also advocate a high intensity training (HIT) protocol similar to Mike's, the only major difference being the use of a slower rep cadence which provides for a lower risk of injuries. Having trained hundreds of clients using HIT since 1994, I can say with absolute confidence that it is by far the safest, most productive, and most time efficient way to train. Whatever is in second place is so far behind as to not even be in the running.

HIT is not, as some reviewers have erroneously stated, conducive to injuries, so long as the exercises are performed properly - that is, using strict form and a smooth, controlled speed of movement. Lift the weights slowly and under strict control, and reverse direction smoothly, rather than simply swinging, bouncing or throwing them up and then allowing them to drop the way most people do in the gym. It isn't the amount of weight that causes injuries, but the manner in which one attempts to lift it. HIT is perfectly safe if the exercises are performed properly. Mike addresses this issue in the book.

HIT does happen to be the "be all, end all" of exercise. There can only be one best, one most efficient, one most effective means of accomplishing a particular goal, and where exercise is concerned, this is it. The principles of productive exercise are the same for all of us, it is merely the specifics that must be adjusted for individual differences, which is accounted for in HIT theory, and in Mike's books. Even if another training method produced similar results, if it required you to spend a greater amount of time in the gym it could still not be considered equal, since the return on investment would be lower. For those who's social lives revolve around the gym or who are stuck in their ways, this may take some getting used to. Personally, I'd rather spend only as much time in the gym as necessary to get the best results. The purpose of exercise is to improve the quality of your life, and NOT to be the center of it.

Get in the gym, train hard, then get out and enjoy your life.

This is the most thorough of all of Mike's books. It covers all of the principles of his Heavy Duty high intensity training system in detail, and provides routines and explanations of the performance of various exercises. There is a section with information specifically written for the competitive bodybuilder on peaking, definition and posing. Mike also discusses his views on motivation in the gym, which I believe many will benefit from.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making the best gains of my life...thanks Mike, May 28, 2003

By A Customer

After training using conventional "wisdom", in frustration I decided to try Mentzer's HIT system. I couldn't believe the results (neither can my training partners)

I gain muscle, lost fat, increased strength but most impressively, substantially improved my muscle shape (especially pecs which were a weak bodypart for me) in less 8 weeks.

People who hadn't seen me, could not believe the results that I made.

My regimen had me training four days a week. I trained legs, chest and triceps one day and back, shoulders and biceps the next. My only change to Mike's system was to do several warm up sets. I trained to failure and did 3 forced reps and negatives on my last set only.

I used pre-exhaust on every bodypart. Interesting to me was that I could pre-exhaust my thighs with leg extensions followed by squats and was squatting a new personal high within weeks! My thighs had new shape, size and definition.

Doing close grip bench presses after lying tricep extensions brought out a horseshoe shape in my triceps like I never had before.

Pre-exhausting preacher curls with close grip pulldowns down out a bicep peak and added 3/4 of an inch to my arms in 3 weeks!

Using Mentzer's technique on calf raises, with negatives added nearly an inch to my calves in record time.

I know that Mike get's criticized for his system supposedly being a ripoff of Nautilus, but, prior to 1977 and thanks to Mike, this system was all but forgotten and I believe that Mike enhanced and improved on the original system created by Arthur Jones.

I highly recommend High Intensity Training only if you want to make the best gains of your life.

My only regret is that Mike is not around so I can shake his hand and thank him for introducing this system and for helping me make gains that I thought were impossible.

RIP Mike. YOU were the greatest!

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRULY GREAT BOOK -- THE FINAL WORD ON HIT, February 12, 2003

By	"fredneets" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

Let me start by saying that it is impossible to do this book justice in such a brief review, although I will do my best.

This is without doubt the best book I have read on weight training/body building, and I have read a lot.

The book provides a detailed explanation of what exactly is meant by High Intensity training. Mike explains the theories behind High Intensity/Low Volume exercise, providing sound logical reasoning and common sense explanations as to why HIT is by far the best way to train.

Throughout the book you are encouraged to think for yourself, rather than just take the author at his word, and apply his theories to your existing program and its results and how the theories of HIT apply.

Detailed workouts are listed, including all the information needed like:

Exercise selection.
Number of sets.
Target Reps.
Rep Speed.
Rest period between sets.
Workout frequency.

Each of the above is explained diligently, and an explanation is given for why a particular route is recommended.

The book also encourages you to analyse your results and explains what to do if you stop getting consistent strength increases.

I myself started using Mikes HIT regime a year ago now (having purchased another one of his books) and in the past year I have had the best strength and size increases since I started training 8 years ago. Believe it or not since starting HIT I have been stronger on every exercise, every workout for the last year!

However the other book that I read by Mike was much briefer and left some unanswered questions in my mind. This, much more comprehensive, book has answered all those nagging questions and provided me with a much deeper insight into the science of HIT.

Although the amount of training required with conventional methods never really caused me a problem (I would have trained 7 days a week if it provided the best results) Mike regime provides you with more than adequate rest time, and means that by the time I come to a work out I am so full of energy I feel like putting the weight through the roof.

If you are into weight training/bodybuilding stop wasting time with all of the ridiculous, un scientific workouts listed in the current "Muscle Mags" doing the rounds and base your training on the sound principles of HIT and watch your strength/size sky rocket.

As many of you will know Mike sadly passed away in 2001, so rest in peace Mike, and thanks for leaving us such a great legacy.