Dorian Yates: Super Heavy Lifting In Bodybuilding Is Too Risky With No Benefit | GI Vault

Dorian Yates talks about the lessons he's learned from lifting super heavy weights during training.

During the filming of Ronnie Coleman: The King, we asked a lot of pro bodybuilders about the trend of lifting super heavy weights during training. Ronnie was notoriously known for his powerlifter style and hardcore heavy training. Ultimately, this was likely what contributed to his injuries and needed surgeries later in life. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Dorian Yates explains why lifting super heavy weights is a risk that bodybuilders should not take... and provides very little benefit.

GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage that doesn’t make it into our final films, we’re now releasing them out into the world.

Bodybuilding, fitness, weight training - all on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!

#DorianYates #bodybuilding #GenerationIron

Be sure to subscribe to receive updates from the GI Fitness Network:

Check out our official website:

Check out our Facebook:

Also make sure to hit up our official Instagram:

[MH-etsn]

Yeah Ronnie probably destroyed his spine with those monster squats. Dorian had career ending injuries too but at least he can walk. Both are legends.

[elishaseeber]

The title to this video is incorrect, it should be: Don't Train Heavy During Bodybuilding PREP!!!!

[davidstevens]

Ronnie's response to this was interesting:


YEAH BUDDYYYY!!!!

[Staymotivatedtodayandenjoylife]

I could listen to him all day. Longevity is key.

[TheLordMyRock]

I love Dorian. Just a good man and an honest dude and one hell of a bodybuilder!

[Bariom_dome]

He's very much right. Not everyone can or should lift ultra heavy all the time. Jay Cutler wasn't always lifting heavy, but smarter

[trimags]

That last line got me. You learn as you age. Damn we all do (or should).

[sosministriesrev]

I have listened to many Dorian Yates video interviews and he is very intelligent and salient in his delivery of his experience and opinion. Yes spot on, l am 50 years old turning 51 and l love bodybuilding but have learned my own limitations, l never train super heavy, but within reason l push at times the limit maintaining strict form. I still do the basics today and my training evolves around the compound exercises, Bench, Squat, Deadlift, shoulder press and Bentover roes, but l am like a roller coaster, push with some heavy lifting within reason and then back off with lighter sets to allow for adequate recovery. I train for the journey of life so l can remain strong and vibrant for as long as l can.

[mr.chilll]

That's why Ronny only trained lightweight baby!

[truckinghell]

Would love to see a good hour long talk with Dorian and Ronnie just talking to each other

[ironsandwich]

I agree. No need to needlessly risk injury. I train somewhat moderate when it comes to heavy lifting

[avocadoguacamole]

Saw some dude go straight to 315 no warm up, on the deadlift today. shortcut to snap city.leave the ego at the door

[IxPapaJoexI]

No amount of legendary status is worth not being able to walk and been in constant pain for decades. Ronnie says he wouldnt change a thing of the past. I reckon he says that just to keep his apparent legendary status alive. In truth, the constant pain he has, he would trade in everything to not be in so much pain.

[xinsanedefeatx]

The weight Ronnie used wasn’t what injured him, it was the FREQUENCY at which he lifted max loads... Plus just pushing thru injuries instead of listening to his body or lifting max loads at the wrong time (aka while getting showstage lean). People gotta stop blaming the weights themselves and start looking at the programs...

[andrew]

I'm glad I have the resources to hear things like this at the point in my life before I destroy my body. We take it for granted.

[rakeshgitm]

For this very reason I limited my squat to 100 kg max. I just increase the reps.

[souloftheage]

I was in hard core gyms for 3 hours/day in my 20 and 30s.
The only injury I saw was when an old wrist wrap broke on a guy who was doing pull ups using a bent row bar the held onto the main bar.
The wrap snapped and he fell with the bar falling down on him. Nothing serious.

I think these massive guys doing massive wright don't have sufficient and correct spotting when using super heavy weights and or going to failure, when they lose control of the weight.

Dorian ripped his biceps tendon when he was doing bent over rows with 425lbs.

The supporting structures: tendon, ligament and cartilage don't grow as fast as the muscle and so accidents happen. This is when Performance Enhancing Drugs(P.E.D.s) are used.

I've seen far more injuries in football, soccer and hockey, than in weight lifting.

[TypicallyUniqueOfficial]

The squat is only a good exercise if you’re built for it.

Same can be said about any exercise, but especially with the squat with how heavily it’s promoted. It’s shitty for certain people.

[mikesignorella]

Ronnie never trained heavy... it was all LIGHTWEIGHT BABY

[P-ok]

Dorian: don't lift heavy you will get injuries.

Ronnie: where is my walking frame?