Post by Sareen on Dec 15, 2008 12:01:02 GMT -5
Inspiring read on one of the strongest bodybuilders of all time...
Joe DeAngelis is a powerlifter trapped inside a bodybuilder's body. Just check out one of his squat workouts at Gold's, Venice, or on one of his videos'you're sure to agree this guy belongs at York, The Mountaineer or at the WPO finals at the Arnold Classic'not flexing on a Southern California beach.
On any given day at the self-proclaimed 'Mecca of Bodybuilding' you may catch the 5'10' 285-pounder (off-season) slapping 600-plus pounds on the bar and rolling off eight reps'raw, not even using a belt.
'My first competitions were in powerlifting,' said the former Mr. USA, Mr. Universe and Mr. America champion. 'I went to Schalick High School [in New Jersey], and everyone there seemed to be into strength sports, so I really got into it. When I started training in my basement, all I could think about was getting stronger. I thought getting stronger meant you were going to get bigger.'
DeAngelis certainly got bigger and stronger lifting in his basement and reading what many 14- and 15-year-old boys read'comic books and muscle magazines.
'When I was a kid, the Incredible Hulk was the man. So were Superman and all those [TV superheroes],' said DeAngelis, who grew up in Elmer, New Jersey, about 30 minutes from Philadelphia. 'Not only did they look fantastic, but they were really strong.' It wasn't long before other elements of life started to interest DeAngelis. The young man quickly found out that members of the opposite sex weren't interested in the same things he was, especially powerlifting.
'I found out girls don't care how much you bench,' he said. He elaborated on his epiphany: 'There was this girl I liked, and after one of my powerlifting meets she came up to me'I did really well, set some records'and I told her how much I squatted. The next thing out of her mouth after a long pause was, 'Is that a lot?'
A few weeks after his uncomfortable encounter, DeAngelis hurt his shoulder lifting. Some of his friends told him to lay off the heavy stuff for a while and try bodybuilding. They convinced him that he could continue training while his shoulder healed. DeAngelis gave it a try and liked the results enough to enter a local bodybuilding contest.
'This same girl came to the contest along with a couple other girls, and they obviously loved it,' DeAngelis said. 'The trophies were huge, and I thought, 'This is what I'm looking for.'
Although DeAngelis moved to Southern California and became a world-class bodybuilder, eventually meeting his wife, Helle, during a photo shoot at Gold's, Venice Beach, he still couldn't stay away from strength training. 'I competed in bodybuilding because I was lucky enough to be somewhat good at it,' he said. 'But my heart is really with the strength sports.'
DeAngelis' signature lift is his squat. Inspired by legendary legman Tom Platz, he decided at an early age he was going to perform his best lift by the book. Watching this guy do squats simply squashes any arguments about legitimate depth. DeAngelis' squats are such dunks, it almost seems that he was awarded a gift for 'I think about that a lot,' he admitted. 'The thing is, I squatted hard from my very first workout. I was chubby when I started, and the book said, 'Do high-repetition full squats' and that they were the best exercise for losing weight. So I did it.'
DeAngelis' book also revealed that squats were the best exercise for gaining muscle. 'I believed everything I read, kind of took it to heart. I built up a decent work ethic from it.'
He developed a disdain for any kind of lifting equipment. DeAngelis does not use anything but a jock strap when he lifts: No belt, straps, wraps, shirts or braces.
'I started training when I was 14 or 15 years old, and I was hitting the squats pretty hard,' he said. 'I did use [equipment] all through my teenage years. I was only using those regular ole leather belts you buy at the local sports-equipment store. But I was just blowing out belts left and right. When I was using a belt, though, my back was always sore. My knees were always sore from the wraps, and slowly I got away from all that. Now rarely do my knees hurt; rarely does my back hurt. I haven't had had any problems at all.
'And you know what?' DeAngelis continued, warming even more to his subject. 'When you're using a belt or using wraps too much, you're really robbing your body of developmental stress. I found that to definitely be the case with myself and other people I've trained out here'even workout partners. I mean you can't go from using wraps and a belt for your whole squat workout and then go to your next workout not wearing anything. You gradually have to wean yourself off of it.'
DeAngelis has never been able to wean himself from his competitive fire; it burns as strong as ever. A few years ago he entered a high-level strongman contest, and because of his bodybuilding celebrity he was elevated into the pro division with such strongman luminaries as Jouko Ahola, Chief Iron Bear, Garry Mitchell and Gerrit Badenhorst. Magnus Ver Magnusson was the emcee. Like anyone trying strongman events for the first time, DeAngelis struggled mightily. He wouldn't say whether he finished last, but he did admit with a laugh that 'I was in up to my neck for sure.'
He said he remains a big fan of World's Strongest Man and stays in touch with many of the competitors he met that weekend.
Today DeAngelis is a lifter young people can watch to learn proper squatting form. Recently he performed an extraordinary feat of strength during a video shoot by squatting 500 pounds 20 times. His personal best during a workout is 24 reps with 500 pounds.
DeAngelis said he changes his workouts day to day, 'depending on my mood, depending on how I'm feeling.' In his earlier days, he said, he would pyramid up and down, starting with a couple of sets with 135 pounds for 15 to 20 reps and then moving up to a couple of sets at 315 for 15 to 20 reps. Then all the way up to 'six plates' and get six, eight, 10 reps, 'whatever I can get.' At the video shoot he followed up his 20-rep, 500-pound performance by nailing 585 for 12 reps. He said he has a single-rep personal best of 805 pounds performed at a meet. His personal best for the deadlift, with straps, was four reps with 775 pounds, but his best lift off the floor at a meet, raw, was 733 pounds. DeAngelis' best bench in the gym was 550 pounds, also raw.
But at the age of 36, with a chronically sore shoulder and a family to take care of, DeAngelis is cutting back a bit. 'These days I just pyramid up to my heaviest set and call it quits.'
He now has a newborn son, Gabriel. He owns a tanning salon, Rio Tan, with his wife
On Squats :
"Squats are my nemesis, but they are also the lifeblood of my entire leg program. That’s because I’ve gotten more out of squats than any other exercise for any other body part. One of the reasons squats have been so effective for me is that fact that I do full squats. My but touches my calves and heels, almost pushing my heels to the floor. I try to do the entire movement in a fluid manner (which is difficult to achieve when you’re squatting fully), keeping my chest up, my back flat and my eyes either forward or slightly upward to maintain my balance. I also keep my hips and butt tight as I lower myself with the weight. That’s important for keeping the torso from buckling under the pressure.
One time I wanted to rep out with squats and time myself to see how long it would take. I loaded the bar with four plates on each side (405 pounds) and did 41 reps! I think, if I remember correctly, the set took me six minutes and 50 seconds - full squats in impeccable form."
On Mike O'Hearn :
"Heres my take - Mike and I are currently training together at Golds Venice (except shoulders/chest..I'm getting surgery this thursday)...easily overall the strongest guy I've ever trained with...and always in good shape. EVERY workout we go up to 600+ lb deadlifts. 600+ squats, and bench presses to 500lbs. with corresponding heavy weights on all other exercises...no weight belt, no wrist straps, no knee wraps, no gloves, all full movements. In the past, I've used steroids, so that is the perspective I'm coming from....having said that, I believe Mike is natural, and never have seen anything to make me think to the contrary. Despite his pretty boy looks when hes in shape, by the way, hes as hardcore and as dedicated as it comes."
Joe DeAngelis is a powerlifter trapped inside a bodybuilder's body. Just check out one of his squat workouts at Gold's, Venice, or on one of his videos'you're sure to agree this guy belongs at York, The Mountaineer or at the WPO finals at the Arnold Classic'not flexing on a Southern California beach.
On any given day at the self-proclaimed 'Mecca of Bodybuilding' you may catch the 5'10' 285-pounder (off-season) slapping 600-plus pounds on the bar and rolling off eight reps'raw, not even using a belt.
'My first competitions were in powerlifting,' said the former Mr. USA, Mr. Universe and Mr. America champion. 'I went to Schalick High School [in New Jersey], and everyone there seemed to be into strength sports, so I really got into it. When I started training in my basement, all I could think about was getting stronger. I thought getting stronger meant you were going to get bigger.'
DeAngelis certainly got bigger and stronger lifting in his basement and reading what many 14- and 15-year-old boys read'comic books and muscle magazines.
'When I was a kid, the Incredible Hulk was the man. So were Superman and all those [TV superheroes],' said DeAngelis, who grew up in Elmer, New Jersey, about 30 minutes from Philadelphia. 'Not only did they look fantastic, but they were really strong.' It wasn't long before other elements of life started to interest DeAngelis. The young man quickly found out that members of the opposite sex weren't interested in the same things he was, especially powerlifting.
'I found out girls don't care how much you bench,' he said. He elaborated on his epiphany: 'There was this girl I liked, and after one of my powerlifting meets she came up to me'I did really well, set some records'and I told her how much I squatted. The next thing out of her mouth after a long pause was, 'Is that a lot?'
A few weeks after his uncomfortable encounter, DeAngelis hurt his shoulder lifting. Some of his friends told him to lay off the heavy stuff for a while and try bodybuilding. They convinced him that he could continue training while his shoulder healed. DeAngelis gave it a try and liked the results enough to enter a local bodybuilding contest.
'This same girl came to the contest along with a couple other girls, and they obviously loved it,' DeAngelis said. 'The trophies were huge, and I thought, 'This is what I'm looking for.'
Although DeAngelis moved to Southern California and became a world-class bodybuilder, eventually meeting his wife, Helle, during a photo shoot at Gold's, Venice Beach, he still couldn't stay away from strength training. 'I competed in bodybuilding because I was lucky enough to be somewhat good at it,' he said. 'But my heart is really with the strength sports.'
DeAngelis' signature lift is his squat. Inspired by legendary legman Tom Platz, he decided at an early age he was going to perform his best lift by the book. Watching this guy do squats simply squashes any arguments about legitimate depth. DeAngelis' squats are such dunks, it almost seems that he was awarded a gift for 'I think about that a lot,' he admitted. 'The thing is, I squatted hard from my very first workout. I was chubby when I started, and the book said, 'Do high-repetition full squats' and that they were the best exercise for losing weight. So I did it.'
DeAngelis' book also revealed that squats were the best exercise for gaining muscle. 'I believed everything I read, kind of took it to heart. I built up a decent work ethic from it.'
He developed a disdain for any kind of lifting equipment. DeAngelis does not use anything but a jock strap when he lifts: No belt, straps, wraps, shirts or braces.
'I started training when I was 14 or 15 years old, and I was hitting the squats pretty hard,' he said. 'I did use [equipment] all through my teenage years. I was only using those regular ole leather belts you buy at the local sports-equipment store. But I was just blowing out belts left and right. When I was using a belt, though, my back was always sore. My knees were always sore from the wraps, and slowly I got away from all that. Now rarely do my knees hurt; rarely does my back hurt. I haven't had had any problems at all.
'And you know what?' DeAngelis continued, warming even more to his subject. 'When you're using a belt or using wraps too much, you're really robbing your body of developmental stress. I found that to definitely be the case with myself and other people I've trained out here'even workout partners. I mean you can't go from using wraps and a belt for your whole squat workout and then go to your next workout not wearing anything. You gradually have to wean yourself off of it.'
DeAngelis has never been able to wean himself from his competitive fire; it burns as strong as ever. A few years ago he entered a high-level strongman contest, and because of his bodybuilding celebrity he was elevated into the pro division with such strongman luminaries as Jouko Ahola, Chief Iron Bear, Garry Mitchell and Gerrit Badenhorst. Magnus Ver Magnusson was the emcee. Like anyone trying strongman events for the first time, DeAngelis struggled mightily. He wouldn't say whether he finished last, but he did admit with a laugh that 'I was in up to my neck for sure.'
He said he remains a big fan of World's Strongest Man and stays in touch with many of the competitors he met that weekend.
Today DeAngelis is a lifter young people can watch to learn proper squatting form. Recently he performed an extraordinary feat of strength during a video shoot by squatting 500 pounds 20 times. His personal best during a workout is 24 reps with 500 pounds.
DeAngelis said he changes his workouts day to day, 'depending on my mood, depending on how I'm feeling.' In his earlier days, he said, he would pyramid up and down, starting with a couple of sets with 135 pounds for 15 to 20 reps and then moving up to a couple of sets at 315 for 15 to 20 reps. Then all the way up to 'six plates' and get six, eight, 10 reps, 'whatever I can get.' At the video shoot he followed up his 20-rep, 500-pound performance by nailing 585 for 12 reps. He said he has a single-rep personal best of 805 pounds performed at a meet. His personal best for the deadlift, with straps, was four reps with 775 pounds, but his best lift off the floor at a meet, raw, was 733 pounds. DeAngelis' best bench in the gym was 550 pounds, also raw.
But at the age of 36, with a chronically sore shoulder and a family to take care of, DeAngelis is cutting back a bit. 'These days I just pyramid up to my heaviest set and call it quits.'
He now has a newborn son, Gabriel. He owns a tanning salon, Rio Tan, with his wife
On Squats :
"Squats are my nemesis, but they are also the lifeblood of my entire leg program. That’s because I’ve gotten more out of squats than any other exercise for any other body part. One of the reasons squats have been so effective for me is that fact that I do full squats. My but touches my calves and heels, almost pushing my heels to the floor. I try to do the entire movement in a fluid manner (which is difficult to achieve when you’re squatting fully), keeping my chest up, my back flat and my eyes either forward or slightly upward to maintain my balance. I also keep my hips and butt tight as I lower myself with the weight. That’s important for keeping the torso from buckling under the pressure.
One time I wanted to rep out with squats and time myself to see how long it would take. I loaded the bar with four plates on each side (405 pounds) and did 41 reps! I think, if I remember correctly, the set took me six minutes and 50 seconds - full squats in impeccable form."
On Mike O'Hearn :
"Heres my take - Mike and I are currently training together at Golds Venice (except shoulders/chest..I'm getting surgery this thursday)...easily overall the strongest guy I've ever trained with...and always in good shape. EVERY workout we go up to 600+ lb deadlifts. 600+ squats, and bench presses to 500lbs. with corresponding heavy weights on all other exercises...no weight belt, no wrist straps, no knee wraps, no gloves, all full movements. In the past, I've used steroids, so that is the perspective I'm coming from....having said that, I believe Mike is natural, and never have seen anything to make me think to the contrary. Despite his pretty boy looks when hes in shape, by the way, hes as hardcore and as dedicated as it comes."
