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This is post 1/3 of my multi-series blog where I dive deep into the abdominal vacuum, its orgins, and the future of it within bodybuilding. Check out the next article here
When we think of bodybuilding we often think of the goldem era that brought us the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and Frank Zane
Small waist line, wide shoulders, and an intense v-taper comprises the ideal and perfect abdominal vacuum.
ROUTINE OF POSES, after receiving the trophy as winner of the major category in the MR GIMNASIO ROMA 1966., finally he pose expansion of front dorsals with abdominal vacuum pose.
This was seemingly mandatory within the Olympia with contestants nearly perfecting the craft. Even other disciplines used this exercise for spiritual, health and other performances but it wasn’t long until things changed
This is post 1/3 of my multi-series blog where I dive deep into the abdominal vacuum, its orgins, and the future of it within bodybuilding.
How did the Stomach Vacuum revolutionize the sport of bodybuilding?
Throughout the history of bodybuilding in the biggest competition like the Olympia, vacuuming was a staple.
We can flip the pages all the way back to Eugene Sandow, the father of bodybuilding. Who created the sports very first major competition in 1901, “The Great Competition”.
Dubbing this competition as a “great” competition” was very smart. It set expectations on how grand it was going to be.
He was seen as a Mass Monster for the time as early as 1894 when he performed his Muscle Display Performances at the World Fair.
Without him, we would not have modern day bodybuilding nor would we have The Olymipa.
Vacuuming and The Olympia
Surpassing Mr. universe in the 70s in popularity The Olympia is still the pinnacle of modern day bodybuilding with the Arnold Classics coming to a close second. In 1965, The competition debuted with its very first winner.
The Abdominal Vacuum was used consistently throughout his posing routine and ultimately set the standard for physique in bodybuilding. He wasn’t just the first winner, but Larry Scott was crowned Mr. Olympia two years straight.
Vacuuming in bodybuilding seemed like a side quest for the body building competitors until this man took center stage:
The Olympia and vacuuming didn’t reach mainstream media until he won Mr. Olympia. He displayed, for the time, a near perfect physique for the golden era of bodybuilding:
Large upper body, large lower body and a thin waist towering high at 6’2”.
Arnold and his Vacuum
If we compare him against the other contestants , like Sergio, Arnold has a massive waist. But here is the thing, with performing the vacuum he looked better balanced and more proportional compared to Sergio since his chest was so wide along with his large and long arms sandwiched between his seemingly thin waist
Arnold just didn’t have a simple vacuum, his was deeper, more controlled and stronger than his opponents and of Mr Olympian’s from previous years.
Equally important, we have what Many bodybuilders reference as the king of vacuums due to his incredible v-taper and a vacuum that very few could compete against. Moreover, he performed a pose which was revolutionary at the time. It focused all the attention to his tight sucked in core, bringing his arms up and behind his head. It’s obvious why Frank Zane won Mr. Olympia 3 years in a row.
Lastly, we must mention Franco Columbu Mr. Olympian from 76-81
Being a core fundamental pose in the world of bodybuilding, the abdominal vacuum was seen across most contestants who stood onto the stage until 1992 when everything changed…
Click here as we figure out who bodybuilders stole the abdominal vacuum from.
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