@@MrDarklovecraft I was abandoned by my dad so I wasn’t too close to the Youngs for a while, but we did hang out later in my teens, but he had his own gym at home. I am not sure if he went to a public one.
In the beginning, when I first met Lou at the Columbus YMCA where he would come once a month to do his lifts in a public setting, there were only a handful of us. We saw the first inklings of what was coming. I'm fortunate to have been there and after. I still have the rack he welded for me in exchange for an Olympic bar I picked up during the 1970 World Weightlifting Championships in Columbus. It was supposedly used by the Russian lifters, like Alexeev, who competed in the event. He studied those guys, like we all did. I also remember when we attended a Lexington Open Powerlifting Meet and he took first and I took second as light heavyweights. Still don't know how we made it home as tired as we were and it was snowing the whole way. I still like to tell how Louie sometimes used to like to listen to Rod Stewart when we trained in the basement. Not my first choice, but it was his and Doris's basement. Around that time I was getting on the freeway on the westside of Columbus when Stewart's Maggie May came on the radio and I was astounded to discover that I started sweating just hearing it! Still do. I also remember a Region 6 meet we attended in Anderson, Indiana, where I took third in the weight class and Louie first. Those were the days! Several have gone long before him, Paolucci (spelling?) and Dr. Ron Gutter, the veterinarian, just to name two. They're there to greet him! I'd like to hear from Bill Whittaker DVM on this. More later. I remember when Lou first started experimenting with various ways to get more support out of things you wear when you lift. Sometimes that was hilarious. For example, he got his first wife, Judy, to sew him canvas shorts to wear using thread normally used to sew, say, boat sails. When he tried them out, he was squatting around 600 lbs in his rack in the basement when the shorts literally exploded even creating a dust cloud off the floor. I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself. I just had to laugh! Now, both Louie and I were followers of George Frenn, hammer thrower and ground breaking powerlifter. You could see why Louie liked him because he had a similar intensity. One example of that was the time Frenn was practicing his hammer throw and he tripped in the circular spin part and fractured both tibia with spiral fractures. Not to be slowed down, he actually showed up to a powerlifting meet with casts on both tibias and lifted in the meet. And, that famous picture on the cover of Muscular Development of Frenn coming up out of a record-breaking squat so powerfully that the bar bent around his shoulders. That was Louie, too. And, we were shocked too when Frenn died. You know, I'm reminded by Mark Bell's comments about Louie's inventiveness regarding strength training that I experienced and many others credit Louie (including Wikipedia, I believe) with having come up with the exercise called Good Mornings. I know that we who trained with him at the time were told to take an empty bar and perform that movement for reps. Over time we gradually added small amounts of weight, always monitoring how our backs felt, until eventually and incredibly we reached, in my case, 380lbs (for three reps) and, in Louie's case 500lbs. That, of course, led to incredible deadlifts. My best in training was 650lbs for three reps! And, I think we and Louie deserve some credit for realizing early on that the closest you could come to simulating deadlifting barefoot (ballet slippers, wrestling shoes) the better for your lifts in competitions.
@@mm.7053 Holy Cow! Amazing to hear from you Doug! I'm afraid I'm almost as old as Louie was when he passed away. I'll be 72 in May. Love to oblige you, but I think I may have to leave that to others younger than me. I gave a lot of thought to writing a book titled Louie and Me and my post was just testing that idea out. I still think about it. I may still give it a shot.
Mass counsultant to Arnold Schwarzenegger , sounds good Mr.Young, but if you want to train at this commercial gym, your gonna have to get certified. Lucky for you we offer an online, 2 week coarse. We also encourage a "team" atmosphere so we would like you to take a few of our bootcamp classes each week. And please, dont forget to wear your name badge.
Lol, no shit! When they 1st instituted "Personal Training" at 1 of the major chains that originated from an LA suburb in the late 80s, the guy in charge of the Regional PT used to consult with with me weekly for a couple hrs on how to actually get tangible results. Which I obliged out of old friendship. I've been in the gym for 4+ decades, I've held State License almost that long to, but not S.L. has nothing to do with the gym.
If he's a consultant to Schwarzenegger, then he also knows Jim Lorimer, who actually is Arnold's go to guy. That covers the certification and then some.
I remember the first gym l joined back around 1980 l was 19, and we had a guest powerlifter come in and do some deadlifts. I was in awe of this guy's strength and size, he just kept adding plate after plate, and then at last rep of deads with at least 7 plates, he let go of bar at the top of movement and broke our deadlift platform, to which we all applauded of course. Pretty sure it was Doug Young
He was one of my inspirations for becoming a powerlifter. If you are in that sport, try to keep it natural and enjoy it while it lasts. All things on earth are temporary and you'll be looking back at it some day; I hope, with fond memories of good times and being kind and respectful to your fellow competitors.
Josh imo you are becoming a legendary strength specialist after seeing your athletes dominate especially in the benchpress well done and thank you for the great info
I'll tell you what BBing has to do with Mr. Young. As they mentioned his association with Arnold, I remember he helped Frank Zane add mass/thickness also, so there was access to Joe Weider, Mr. Olympia exec's etc. Because of his exceptional physique in an era when it was rare to see hard core lifters looking that incredible, there was realistic discussion about him being granted a special invitation to compete in the Mr.O. As a matter of fact he made the Cover of Weider's Muscle Builder/Power (pre Fitness) magazine in the 70s. He had a significant BBing presence. I don't know when or what the cause of his death was though.
@@discernment8963 Didn't know that stuff, but I knew going back to the 60s Oly lifters used to do physique contests after their real comps kinda as little trinket shows to see who looked the best. Bill Starr has some writings about that. I guess when Powerlifting took over after the Press was eliminated they probably brought some of that from Oly lifting.
Almost all the greats died young. Larry Pacifico, maybe the greatest took incredible amounts of PEDs, they all did. Doug Young was considered the badass before Kazmaier, when Young broke his rib in competition and benched like 600 was unreal. I am from the same era and never took steroids, I got married young, maybe that's why, I really didn't want it that much I guess.. My best bench was 450, squat 575 and dead-lift 550. I usually could out bench the big guys. I do think Olympic lifting builds more athletic power than strait power lifting. So throwing that into your routine makes sense.
@@davidmb3376 For some reason I thought LP was dead, he had multiple heart attacks he attributed to PEDs. Young is dead and wasn't saying Kaz was dead just context of who DY was. Thanks
Hey big Josh how's it going this is Rich from metroflex I saw Doug young in 1983 a true specimen and Texas powerlifting legend good segment you interview well and you're a good writer keep up the good work Merry Christmas Trump 2024
Doug Young was a true and absolute legend not only in powerlifting, but in the fitness industry! He was a true man! May he rest in peace!!! Also, Doug Young looks a little bit likes Charles Bronson, just a much thicker and muscular version.
Help me to understand. He added 235lb to his BP. Started out at 305 then went to 540lb in 8 months. So in training it states he was lifting 400 plus. If he only benched 305, how is he training with over 400lbs???
Sorry If I sound stupid. But If he benched 300 pounds how did he bench 400+ pounds in his routine over the next few months while trying to gain? Sorry If I sound stupid I'm trying to understand the process.
Do not begin this routine without proper chemical and nutritional help, or the volume will be way too much, except in the squat and deadlifts which won't provide enough volume for all natty lifters. No trash, just real talk.
I don't have gym I have 200lbs on my deadlift bar I do 50 deadlift with 200 pounds and i do 150 air squats and plyometrix squats . that is the best I can do since I can't afford a gym. I know people think it is stupid but I think if people don't have a gym that shouldn't be an excuse to not workout
Why give people a routine where he already had that strength and size? People want the routine he used to build up to that strength. Or am I just wrong?
To all the people who think it's clever and makes you seem knowledgeable to hate on athletes taking steroids - it isn't and you probably aren't. Taking steroids does not guarantee you looking like Mr Olympia. - you will just be a fat fuck unless you train your guts out. They also do not mean you will have a heart attack. There is a big picture here, everyone is different. These people have drive and ambition and are not scared to go big, or go home. They made a choice, not to be average, like everyone else. You haters made e choice to be average, deal with it.
I recall taking a session turn announcing a meet held at the old GDRA gym in Fort Worth. I think it was 1975. Young walked in that day, passed in front of the bleachers where the audience and other lifters were seated, and every single head, all eyes, turned in his direction. Doug often wore tight jeans, boots, a Henley shirt . . . and he was still a 242 pounder then, dark and tanned, still a lot of hair, sort of a brooding look. Handsome by most people's definitions. I still believe if Arnold Schwarzenegger had walked in from the opposite side of the gym at the same moment, everyone would have stayed glued on Doug. He did have unusually small hips, torso-heavy on relatively short and not really big legs, huge shoulders, so this all magnified his vespine "look." Funny, he was a hell of a showman, too. When Doug benched, he took his hand-offs and lowered the bar to his chest slower than any lifter, then or now, I ever recall. Then, he'd blast it up. I always thought he did this for effect. It worked. To others, I'd just say that with Doug, it had a lot to do with genetics. Doug's bigger and older brother, Robert? Many think if he had not chosen a long career in the NFL, that he might have been the strongest man ever. I'd be in the camp that thinks he very well might have. Brad
Josh, I just got a crazy idea: i have a bench max in my meet of 292 lbs. had I got my setup right, I would have got my 308 easy. I trained for 315. My bench program calls for heavy day, light day. I am thinking about using that 308 and applying Doug Young's percentages to the heavy day. That would make my last two sets sets of 275 x 9, 170 x 14... very doable in my opinion. From weeks 6-11 of my 12 week program, I throw in dead bench. Your thoughts? On Saturday, I am testing out my incline max so I know how to program it into the bench program i am doing starting on Wed of next week.
Its hard to believe that Doug is under 300 pounds his upper body and quads I would guess like 315 to 320 his chest shoulders traps are just thick muscle true mass & strength.
My buddy who ways 100 lbs soaking wet got in a fucking bar brawl with this man I thought he was gonna kill us both until the bartender came out and put some buck shot into the ceiling.
The reason your brain turns your body off is becauae your brain is trying to KEEP YOU SAFE . To ignore this (train your brain to ignore these safety triggers), is stupid.
@@Joakim86 i got 3 weeks in then my state got locked down because of covid and I couldn't gym for 6 weeks, I never returned back to this program, I might give it a go again soon, we are back in lockdown currently where I am again.
Well Dougs gonna fight like Brock Lesner. What I mean like that is hes gonna be wailling like an angry Tumblrina that just heard Trump won the election. Still a haymaker from a goliath like Doug is gonna be a hell of a tragedy for Mikeys spinal fluid.
What Doug is referencing is the mental capacity to ignore pain, fatigue, and suffering. Many service members (which I am) also learn how to do this. Its a mental output that causes the body to follow suit, ignoring physical pain, and pushing your limits. Now, I am a Psychologist, and I regularly profess, and teach others aspects of removing thoughts of opposition to a goal. I am also a powerlifter.
@@autisticplane8066 Hello. I see that you are a psychologist. I had a Traumatic Brain Injury when I was in my teens and nearly lost my life from it. I'm in my early 40's now and have had at least 5 concussions since then with the last concussion occurring around 2012. Every day is a struggle for me. It seems as though nobody understands or cares. With all the talk about CTE you think this would not be the case. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your service and I wish only the best for you and your family! Peace
I agree and disagree with him. I think what he was getting at was that your mind can also be your worse enemy. I'm sure we've all been there, those days where we are just plagued with so much negative thoughts that we mentally beat and break ourselves down. On the flip side, my mind has also made me run an extra 3 miles, do more sets than I intended, dragged my ass to the gym when I didn't feel like it, pushed me through my half marathons, pushed me to get through some tough, grueling wrestling matches. Etc. The mind can be your best friend or worse enemy. You have to choose which one it's going to be.
