Gironda’s influence on the iron game is almost unsurpassed. He trained, at some stage in their careers, most of the all-time greats, including Larry Scott, Sergio Oliva and Arnold, just to name three.

Gironda invented the preacher curl, and we know how well that worked for Scott. Some of Gironda’s greatest legacies, though, were his “crazy” theories. He challenged everything about the iron game.

In fact, he altered some of today’s most popular exercises with slight variations that improved the result. For example, Gironda never used or prescribed regular bench presses or barbell curls, instead opting for neck presses and body drag curls. He felt that the more common mass builders recruited too much front delt and not enough of the target muscle group.

He was also 100 percent against drugs and believed training each muscle group just once a week worked only for “juiced” athletes.

Even Vince’s beginning programs were controversial, but they were designed to transform a trainee’s body in the shortest amount of time. Vince’s programs worked. Movie stars—including Denzel Washington, James Garner and David Carradine—trained under Vince for roles, and most used his beginning routine. By today’s standards, like most of his theories, it is controversial.

Vince Gironda’s Raw Beginner’s Program

Decline pulley hugs 12 reps

Also known as decline cable flyes. Because most beginners are weak, Vince believed this was the only exercise that successfully hit the lower-pec line to improve the overall chest appearance.

Seated cable rows 12 reps

Lateral raises 10 reps

Triceps pushdowns 10 reps

Barbell body drag curls 10 reps

Barbell body drag curls are just like barbell curls, only you keep the bar in contact with your body and drag it up to your neck. That removes front-delt recruitment.

Seated wrist curls 12 reps

Leg extensions 12 reps

Leg curls 12 reps

Standing calf raises 20 reps

Now the really crazy part: Do the above six days a week.

Remember, this is a month long program for getting in the best shape in the shortest time. The progression is as follows:

Week 1: One set of each exercise, six days a week.

Week 2: Two sets per exercise, six days a week.

Week 3: Three sets, six days.

Week 4: Three sets, six days.

After one month, for those who aren’t preparing for a movie role, Vince recommended dropping back to a three- or four-days-a-week schedule—but the choice is yours.

Don’t dismiss this routine—it’s worked for hundreds, perhaps thousands of people.

Did you ever train with Pearl or with Gironda or any of the other guys who came on the scene before you?

No. Pearl invited me to train with him, but there was no way I was going to get up at 3 a.m. in order to be ready to train by 4. Arnold invited me to train with him, and I would go over to Gold’s to watch him work out, after which we would sometimes go for breakfast. I was doing so well with Pearl’s routines, I felt no need to change.

Once in a while I’d visit Gironda’s just to talk diet with him, but he never extended an invitation to train with him. He did give me a lot of exercise advice, some of which I incorporated into my training. The desiccated liver was a Gironda suggestion, and although it was not tasty, it did improve my physique.

I have heard of the Arnold-Franco training partnership, and I watched Arnold train with Ed Corney, but top bodybuilders rarely are able to benefit from the same routine or subordinate their own ego and progress enough to come to a compromise workout that benefits both.

You’ve talked about three people who influenced your training: Lon Hanagan, Bill Pearl and Vince Gironda. What did each of those guys teach you, and what were some of the training routines like?

Pearl was the only one who made up my routines. Lon taught me that the absolute first law of symmetry is to match the amount of muscle mass to the skeletal framework. Once the muscle mass exceeds the limit imposed by the frame, there can be no symmetry.

Gironda taught me how to work with gravity on the free weights. He was able to coax a lot of response using very little weight with his knowledge of how the pulleys and levers of the skeletal muscles work. He taught me to think for myself, to question all of the methods and systems being used and pushed by the magazines and current stars. He taught me to do my own thing.

Salvador Ruiz and Vince Gironda in 1983.

May we extend a hearty welcome to all of you. It is our pleasure to present a show that will not only entertain you, but one which will be both inspirational as well as educational.

We are actively engaged in a gigantic move that is destined to create a far-reaching effect on the health of the Nation. Our Shows, being held in cities from Coast to Coast, will revolve around the accrued benefits of proper exercise and health, with appropriate displays of physical culture achievements fur inspirational and educational purpose. In addition, lectures will he given on proper care of the body.

It is a well known fact that only a few short years ago only a handful of people were aware of the tremendous benefits derived from this type of physical culture conditioning and training. Today, it is estimated that there are more than seven million or men, women and children participating in sytematic and progressive exercises.

In touring the country with this type of show, we will be able to reach thpusands of people who have never been familiar with the relative value of this type of training for the effective improvement of health and the body. We feel that much can be accomplished through the presentation of our Shows throughout the Nation. We have available all new scientific equipment for systematic training, and qualified instructors who will he able to start people of any age to a better way of life.

Our plan will stimulate a trend that will continue to raise the physical standards of the United States far beyond the remotest expectations of most of the prominent health authorities. Our primary objective is to create and build a more health and body conscious Nation.

Daryl Conant found Vince Gironda through Ron Kosloff when he contact Ron by phone. Daryl trained with Vince through the '90s exclusively using the phone and by following his courses.

Daryl said that at the beginning he never even knew who Vince was and when he first talked with Vince on the phone he was quite taken by how different and unusual Vince's methods were.

In fact, when Daryl asked Vince early on if "eating all those eggs was bad for you," Daryl said Vince just hung up the phone on him. Daryl persevered, however, and learned Vince's methods exceedingly well. Unfortunately, Vince died before Daryl ever had a chance to meet him in person.

Daryl is a good friend of ironguru.com and we're pleased to stock all of Daryl's courses, books and DVD's. See the Daryl Conant section in the shop for more details.