The History of Calves

history of calves

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Background Information for the “History of Calves” Video

steve reeves calves
Steve Reeves’ 1940s calves

From ancient history to the inception of modern bodybuilding, the calf muscles have been the foundation of the body. Bodybuilders from the 1940s like John Grimek and Steve Reeves had natural calf development. In the late 1960s Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed his out of proportioned small calves by giving them training priority and ended up making them among his best body parts. Dorian Yates, Mr. Olympia 1992-1997,  had some of the best calves ever. After Yates, weak calved bodybuilders that shot “enhancement” oils into their calves were awarded top bodybuilding honors. Bodybuilders with average sized calves supporting waist-sized thighs were becoming top placers in bodybuilding’s most prestigious contests.

arnold schwarzenegger calves
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 1970s calves

Because today’s professional bodybuilding contests require muscle size that the competitors frame’s cannot support, they are forced to take a variety of drugs that bodybuilders in past eras didn’t take. Because of the potential short and long term drug side effects and the relatively sparse contest money, the gene pool of humans willing to damage their bodies for a trophy isn’t as high as, say, those striving to be professional football or baseball players. With such risks, the truly gifted may not wish to compete. Those that do, must be willing to do whatever is necessary to enhance genetically weak body parts. The problem isn’t so much that there aren’t any bodybuilders competing at the highest levels that have great calves, it’s that bodybuilders with below average and/or fake calves are given good placings. What other body part would judges allow such compensation for? Can you imagine a Mr. Olympia competitor being allowed to compete with 15 inch arms or 20 inch thighs? For further information, refer to this Built Report article and watch the video below.

The video:

The History of Calves Video Transcript

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT

dennis wolf calves
Dennis Wolf and thigh/calf ratio

I recently read this post on bodybuilding.com from a few years back where some dingbat motherfucker posts a picture of professional bodybuilder Dennis Wolf with thighs horrifically out of proportion to his calves and he says, “Sorry for hijacking this pic from another thread but his outer quad sweep is something i had not seen in a long time. Neither cutler nor martinez have it. Notice the cuts. Paul Demayo, the 2nd coming?”. Then some other genius follows up saying, “Great overall size and shape”. What the fuck is wrong with these people? If you saw someone with no nose would you say what great eyes you have? And when in human history was it okay not to have calf muscles? Even this ancient Egyptian sculpture of King Menkaure and Queen from 2490 to 2472 before the current era shows calves that are in proportion to the rest of the body. We all know the Greeks had respect for calves so let’s jump forward to the Romans.

palazzo davia bargellini calves
Calves of statue at Palazzo Davia Bargellini in Bologna, Italy.

The entrance to the Palazzo Davia Bargellini in Bologna, Italy shows a culture that acknowledges calves. Jesus had great calves according to this Peter Paul Rubens seventeenth century painting entitled “Elevation of the Cross”. Even the guy that’s carrying Jesus has 22 inch calves. His outer soleus development is spectacular. At this very moment in modern times we have golf caddies with bigger calves than most if not all current professional bodybuilders. Professional golfer Kevin Kisner’s caddie, Devin Bock, should win the Mr. Olympia by default. Stop this fucking bullshit of rewarding twigs. Stop ignoring the base of your whole fucking body. Cattle have huge rumps and thighs tapering down to tendonous bone for calves but humans ain’t cows. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all quads and hams. Your gym’s calf area is a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as calves. And remember, it ain’t about how hard you hit quads. It’s about how hard you can hit calves and keep moving forward; how much they can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But your calves gotta be willing to take the reps, and not pointing fingers saying they ain’t where you want them to be because of Heath, or Roelly Winklaar, or Branch Warren.

ronnie coleman calves
Ronnie Coleman legs

Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!” And in fairness to Wolf, at least he has the decency not to inject foreign substances into his calves unlike a certain eight time Mr. Olympia. Now, for God’s sake, if you like this video please thumbs up and subscribe and I will do my darnest to produce more. For a complete transcript of this video please visit built report.com by clicking the link in the description. Thank you and good night.

END TRANSCRIPT

 

The History of Calves

About Yegor Khzokhlachev 797 Articles
Gorilla at Large

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