The Golden Age of Bodybuilding—and Why Bill Pearl Still Inspires Me
"To me, the greatest value of physical fitness lies in the fact that it enables you to enjoy life more fully. It’s not about looking better than someone else—it’s about feeling good, staying healthy, and living a long, active life." — Bill Pearl, from his book Keys to the Inner Universe (1978)
I know in previous articles my disdain for bodybuilding has been obvious. Let me clarify: it’s not bodybuilding itself that disgusts me—it’s what the sport has become. If you were a product of the ’70s like I was, you grew up with larger-than-life action heroes and comic book characters who inspired you to hit your local YMCA or health club the moment you were able.
There’s no question that the bodybuilders of the 1970s—and even more so from the early 1900s through the 1960s—were genuinely inspiring. Not only did they possess exceptionally developed physiques, but they also had a healthy, athletic appeal. This was no accident; health played a central role in the physical culture movement—at least for a time.
When Bodybuilding Shifted
Around the 1950s and 1960s, however, steroids entered the picture. In my opinion, this laid the groundwork for what the sport has devolved into today: a complete freak show driven by the mantra that “bigger is always better.”
Of course, the libertarian in me is totally fine with this—live and let live, as long as you’re the only one being harmed by your pursuits. That said, my real interest lies in the pre–mass monster days, specifically the era often referred to as the Silver Era of Bodybuilding.
The True Icons
Men like Steve Reeves, Reg Park, John Grimek, and the legendary Bill Pearl are far more impressive to me than the current crop of Tren and insulin-abusing “freaks” idolized on social media.
Many people from my generation will argue that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest bodybuilder of all time. While I agree that Arnold brought bodybuilding into the mainstream, my pick for the greatest bodybuilder ever is Bill Pearl.
The Legacy of Bill Pearl
I’ve written about Pearl before, so I won’t dive too deeply into his background here, but I believe he built the epitome of the classic physique.
During his extremely successful competitive career—and in an effort to improve his health—Bill became, as Marty Gallagher described in his excellent book The Purposeful Primitive, a:
“Nutritional anomaly: in a world of ravenous carnivores, he was an unapologetic vegetarian.”
Bill’s early training emphasized heavier, power-based movements to build strength and size, but later he shifted to extremely high-volume training. He would regularly hit a muscle group two to three times over a six-day training week. His abdominals, calves, neck, and forearms were trained daily, and he often performed 20 or more sets per muscle group.
Pearl’s Training Philosophy
For beginner and intermediate trainees (which I believe includes most people training for health and longevity), Bill advocated training the entire body three times per week.
His more advanced and competition-focused splits typically involved training half the body on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the other half on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with Sunday as a rest day. For example, a typical routine might include four exercises of five sets each per muscle group.
Weekly Split Example:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Chest
Back
Shoulders
Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday
Legs
Biceps
Triceps
Daily
Abdominals
Calves
Neck
Forearms
The Monster Split That Fascinates Me
There was one training split of his that absolutely fascinated me. The volume and frequency are so high that I doubt I currently have the recovery capacity to even attempt it, especially as I approach the end of my fifth decade and have my jiu-jitsu hobby competing with my love of lifting and running.
But if you're looking to try something extreme—and you're fueling properly with adequate calories and rest—give this Bill Pearl 6-Day Split a try and let me know how it goes!
Bill Pearl’s 6-Day Split
Monday/Wednesday/Friday – Full Body Training
Perform 1 exercise per muscle group for 6 sets each:
Chest
Back
Shoulders
Biceps
Triceps
Quads
Hamstrings
Tuesday – Focus Day
Perform 10–20 sets each for:
Chest
Back
Thursday – Focus Day
Perform 10–20 sets each for:
Legs
Shoulders
Saturday – Focus Day
Perform 10–20 sets each for:
Biceps
Triceps
Monday through Saturday
Perform 6 sets each for:
Abdominals
Calves
Neck
Forearms
A Final Word of Caution
Keep in mind, Pearl emphasized feeling the muscle work rather than chasing heavy weights during these high-volume sessions. Use excellent technique, focus on the contraction, and aim to gradually wear the muscle down—not annihilate it.
While some may question the benefits of such high-volume training, it’s worth noting that Bill Pearl continued this six-day-per-week plan well into his later years. Combined with his vegetarian diet, healthy lifestyle, and incredible physique, he served as a role model for anti-aging until his passing in 2022—just shy of his 92nd birthday.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s article—and until next time, stay strong and healthy!
According to Wikipedia he died at 91 , so he must’ve done something right in his life