Strongman icon Mitchell Hooper never shies away from a fitness challenge. Recently, he showcased his determination on his YouTube channel. There, Hooper undertook a grueling chest workout, replicating the intensity of bodybuilder Sam Sulek regimen.
“His physique is insane. Today, we are replicating Sam Sulek’s chest workout. Starting with incline bench, we are basically going to failure on everything today. Not something I’m used to but as Dr. Mike says, that is one of the pinnacles of building muscle is working to failure.”
In strength athletics, Mitchell Hooper swiftly emerged as a formidable presence. His triumphs at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man and the Arnold Strongman Classic solidified his reputation. Overcoming seasoned competitors such as reigning 2024 WSM Tom Stoltman, Brian Shaw, and Oleksii Novikov underscores the meticulous dedication required in crafting an effective training regimen.
Sam Sulek, though yet to make his mark on the bodybuilding stage, has captured attention. Despite his youth, the 22-year-old boasts a substantial following across various social media platforms and YouTube. In a rare amalgamation of strength athletics and bodybuilding, Hooper offers enthusiasts a glimpse. He provides insight into a workout regimen inspired by Sulek’s renowned approach.
Mitchel Hooper Mimics Sam Sulek’s Grueling Chest Day Workout
View this post on Instagram
Check out the workout below:
- Incline Smith machine bench press — 5 sets to failure
- Chest cable flyes — 5 sets to failure
- Peck-Deck — 1 set to failure
“That’s only 11 sets but all 11 sets to failure and we should get a pretty big pump from that.”
Incline Smith machine bench press
Hooper’s initial exercise entailed pushing 365 pounds for six reps, a volume he wasn’t accustomed to.
“Aiming to fail somewhere in the 6-8 rep range but first set I went up to 14, added a bit more weight.”
“I’m going up to 365, I reckon probably four or five or six to failure but let’s see how it goes. I’m not use to working with this much volume.”
Chest cable flyes
During chest cable flyes, Hooper tailored the range of motion, likening it to lifting an Atlas stone in strongman.
“We got five sets here to failure as well. I’m going to make this more specific to strongman I don’t think it matters all that much if you’re coming straight in front of your chest or at a different angle. I’m going to hinge over, come down here like I’m picking up at Atlas stone but you very well could come straight out in front of you if you wanted.”
“We are looking for the 8-12 rep range. For me, we’re going to try 95 first,” says Mitchell Hooper.
View this post on Instagram
Peck Deck
To conclude, Hooper maxed out the weight stack and pushed to failure with a single set of peck decks.
“We are nice and juicy. Rounding out the workout, one set absolute failure with the peck deck aiming between 12-15 reps for failure. I’m just going to stack up the weight to maximum and hit as many as I can. And then, that’ll be chest day all done.”
Mitchell Hooper isn’t the sole fitness personality embracing Sam Sulek’s workouts. Recently, former 2013 Women’s Physique Olympia Dan Linn Bailey trained like Sulek for a day, providing insights into his favorite exercises.
Training alongside Hunter Labrada and Samson Dauda on separate occasions, it’s clear that Sam Sulek harbors ambitious plans for the future. He aims to venture into the IFBB Pro League Classic Physique division within a year or a year and a half.
Expressing admiration for Sulek’s physique and strength, strongman Mitchell Hooper found training like him for the day invigorating. However, he acknowledges noticeable adjustments in volume. Fans eagerly anticipate witnessing both men compete in the near future!
View the full video from Mitchell Hooper’s YouTube channel here:
Overview
Mitchell Hooper, a prominent figure in strength athletics, recently tackled a rigorous chest workout inspired by bodybuilder Sam Sulek. Hooper’s determination was evident as he replicated Sulek’s intense regimen, pushing exercises to failure. Sulek, despite his youth, has garnered attention in the fitness world, boasting a significant following on social media platforms. Hooper’s adaptation of Sulek’s workouts demonstrates the growing influence of Sulek’s training methods. With Hooper and Sulek both making waves in their respective fields, fans eagerly anticipate their future endeavors and potential competitions.
Featured Image @Mitchell Hooper (Youtube), @sam_sulek (Instagram)
