In the landscape of bodybuilding, which has evolved exponentially since his days of competitive glory, Frank Zane stands as a symbol of the sport’s golden era. Zane, known for his meticulously carved physique and theatrical posing, recently participated in an exclusive interview with Olympia TV. He traversed a broad spectrum of subjects, from his all-time top five favorite physiques to his camaraderie with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and intriguingly, where his physique would fit in the present bodybuilding divisions.
Harnessing the Mind: Zane’s Competitive Edge
Zane, a reigning figure in bodybuilding from the 1960s to the 1980s, was a master of innovation on and off stage. Unleashing every strategy available to perfect his aesthetic physique, he relied heavily on mental conditioning techniques. Regular practice of meditation and visualization became his trusted allies in attaining peak performance at each contest. With three Mr. Olympia titles to his name, Zane’s strategy undeniably yielded fruitful results.
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Insights from the Top: Zane’s Competitive Preparation
In the tranquility of retirement, Zane has generously shared the meticulous measures he undertook to ascend to the zenith of the sport. During a recent episode of The Menace Podcast, Zane illuminated his unique competition preparation methods that significantly deviated from today’s norms. He pointedly eschewed the usage of diuretics; instead, he subjected himself to hours of sunbathing and posing practice under the unforgiving California sun. This unconventional technique was instrumental in crafting the ‘dry’ appearance of his physique, a testament to his ingenious approach.
Frank Zane’s Take on Modern Bodybuilding: Classic Physique, Chris Bumstead, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
In retrospect, bodybuilding legend Frank Zane believes that he would probably fit into the Classic Physique category if he were to compete in the present era. This assumption is based on his physique during his peak competitive years, where he exhibited his most impressive form at 190 pounds.
“Probably [I would be in Classic Physique]. I was never big. The most I weighed and looked good was 190 pounds at 5’9″. You know that doesn’t cut it. I’d have to weigh about 30 pounds more to stand on stage next to these monsters [in the Open].”
When queried about Chris Bumstead, the four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion, Zane expressed admiration while also articulating his expectations for Bumstead to achieve even more. Zane highlighted Bumstead’s comprehensive package but pointed out the lack of ‘bicep peaks’ as a potential area of improvement. This comment came in light of Bumstead’s triumph at the previous year’s Olympia, where he secured the top spot despite suffering a bicep tear weeks before the competition.
“I think he’s [Chris Bumstead] good. I think he’s got a lot of potential. I think he could do a lot more. He’s a big guy too, he’s like 235. Yeah [pretty physique] but he could always get better,” said Zane. “If I were to give him advice, I’d say work on more peak to your biceps. Because when he does his bicep shot, the biceps are sort of flat. They don’t really stand out that much. But he’s got everything else. He’s got the size and he’s compared to Arnold a lot.”
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Next, Zane reflected on another bodybuilding powerhouse, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He acknowledged having sought Schwarzenegger’s guidance following the latter’s retirement from the sport. However, Zane expressed his disinterest in the movie “Pumping Iron,” feeling that the project focused more on Schwarzenegger as an individual rather than on the integrity of the sport itself.
“I used to rely on Arnold a lot for advice after he you know retired from competition. And I said, I went up and said, ‘Arnold what do you think I should do, should I enter this competition?’ He said, ‘Yeah. I would go to Australia to defend my title,’ he said he was going to be there but just a color commentator. Of course, that was a lie he went there to compete. In Australia, he really wasn’t at his best. He got criticized severely for that.”
“Not much [I didn’t want to do much with Pumping Iron]. It was all based on Arnold I saw. I said why didn’t you just call it Pumping Arnold instead of Pumping Iron. It wasn’t about bodybuilding so much it was all about Arnold.”
Concerns Over Stomach Distention in the Open Class
Zane expressed his concern about the growing trend of ‘bubble guts’ and distended stomachs seen in the Open class competitors. He attributed this problem to overeating among athletes, leading to bloating and stomach distention. This issue has also been addressed by another bodybuilding icon, Lee Haney, who pointed out that today’s competitors are ‘traumatizing themselves’ and carrying around an excess weight of 60 pounds.
“Maybe they are eating too much at one time. They’re not really practicing stomach vacuums. They’re letting their guts distend like that. Putting too much in their stomach at one time, you know, letting the stomach distend… it’s not a good look.”
“You have to be able to show what you have, if you can’t show it, it’s not in your favor,” added Zane.
Zane’s Top Five Physiques: A Blend of Aesthetics and Mass
Although Zane built his legacy on aesthetics, he doesn’t shy away from appreciating mass builders. The eight-time Mr. Olympia champion, Ronnie Coleman, with his massive and muscular physique, finds a place in Zane’s list of all-time favorite bodybuilders. Zane also fondly recalls attending the inaugural Mr. Olympia show in 1965, reflecting on the evolution of the sport over the decades.
“I’d say [Steve] Reeves, Larry Scott, Sergio Oliva, and after that, it’s sort of up in the air… I’d say maybe Ron Coleman is right up there. For a number of reasons – the guy was enormous – just really. I saw him in person. He was unbelievable, he weighed almost 300 pounds and he was ripped.”
“I don’t know [if we’ll see another Ronnie Coleman] maybe, I think there’s a chance it will happen. There’s a generational thing going on where we can’t tell who is going to come up and what they are going to look like. I’d say there’s a good chance of that happening. He’ll [Coleman] probably be exceeded.”
“The crowds back then were wild. They were really hungry for it. Larry Scott was like God in that situation. I won Mr. Universe that night. I got to see him backstage and up close and I was amazed at what he looked like up close.”
Embracing Buddhist Principles: Zane’s Journey with Meditation
In conclusion, Zane shed light on the fundamental Buddhist principles that have shaped his life’s framework. He unveiled his longstanding relationship with meditation, a practice he embraced as early as 14 years of age, signifying the profound influence of mindfulness in his life and career.
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“Right thought, right speech, right behavior, right view, right livelihood, there’s eight things like that. You know, it’s just sort of a map for living the correct way so that you don’t accumulate any kind of negative karma. I was very attracted to that and I sort of stuck to that philosophy over the years.”
“Oh, for a long time, I started [meditating] when I was 14,” said Zane. “I read some books. I practiced the techniques. And then I just kept adding because I liked it.”
Zane shared that back when he competed, he always trained with weights. He was naturally lean so he only needed to incorporate 15-minute sessions of cardio, which typically occurred on the treadmill.“My goals were – I always worked out with weights. I did some aerobics but not a lot because I was naturally a lean person. I only did about 15 minutes of treadmill at the end of my workout or the stationary bike. Then I got into cycling after that in the early 1980s.”
Perfecting the Art of Posing: Zane’s Competitive Edge
During his competitive years, Zane underscored the importance of consistent practice, dedicating time to pose daily. In addition, he ‘rehearsed’ prejudging sessions before shows, ensuring his performance was honed to perfection for the big stage.
“I would practice every day for a half an hour up to an hour. I would basically sunbathe later in the day and I would stand like I was in the lineup on stage. Front, back, and side for 15 minutes in each position. I got the idea to rehearse the prejudging. I wanted to do things nobody else would do and that’s what I did.”
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Zane’s Views on the IFBB Pro League and Bodybuilding Longevity
Zane’s insights into the current state of the IFBB Pro League are not new. In a prior discussion with Mike O’Hearn, Zane contemplated the safety of bodybuilding and shared advice for longevity in the sport. He identified a common pitfall among athletes: attempting to maintain peak condition all year round. Through his personal experience, Zane concluded that he could effectively peak for a show only once a year.
Now at the age of 81, Zane remains an influential figure in the bodybuilding community. Observing the shift in the Open class towards favoring larger athletes, he reiterates his belief that his physique would probably be best suited for the Classic Physique division in today’s competitive landscape.
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Overview
Iconic bodybuilder Frank Zane, a representative of the sport’s golden age, recently participated in an enlightening discussion on Olympia TV. The conversation covered a vast array of topics, including his all-time top five physiques, interactions with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and his potential fit in modern bodybuilding divisions. Zane also delved into his unique competition preparation strategies and shared views on contemporary trends in the sport, particularly the issue of ‘bubble guts’ in the Open class. At 81, Zane remains an influential figure in the bodybuilding community, contributing through his rich experiences and insights.
Featured Image @cbum @therealfrankzane @OlympiaTV (Youtube)
