Melvin Wells

 

Ray Van Cleef on Melvin Wells at the 1949 Mr, America in Cleveland . . . 

Melvin Wells placed second with a score of 63.5 points. The enthusiastic response that greeted this muscular marvel in the competition was only surpassed by Jack Delinger. A month earlier this new physique sensation won the "Mr. New York State" title by a comfortable margin. At Cleveland again justified the praise that has been showered on him so liberally since he came into sudden prominence at Bob Hoffman's birthday show in York last November. 

His unassuming nature is particularly evident in a contest of this kind. The majority of the contestants are puffed up like pouter pigeons when exposed to the audience. Some make themselves ludicrous with the exaggerated postures they assume endeavoring to accentuate their development. 

The naturalness of Wells' stance and actions is by contrast especially admirable. Wells differs from the majority of physique contestants in other respects. This superman from Buffalo does not participate in the self-inflation orgies that take place in the dressing room prior to a contest, when the frenzied "pumping up" activities dominate the atmosphere. 

In the Mr. America competition it was noticeable that Wells confined his posing display to the restricted number of poses. Some of the other contestants took advantage of the situation by doing a series of poses much in excess of the specified number. Wells' good sportsmanship in this connection added to his prestige. 

His greatest liability is his comparatively poor calf development. But his drawback is overshadowed by the extraordinary features of his physique, particularly the remarkable development of his upper arms, shoulders and upper back. Wells won more individual honors than any other contestant at Cleveland. In addition to placing second in the Mr. America event, he was selected as Most Muscular Man and won the subdivision contests for Best Arms and Best Back. It was truly a field day for this popular athlete. 

From Joe Roark: 

After his final try for the Mr. America, Melvin Wells stopped competing but did guest pose for approximately ten shows, some of them in Canada. In October, 1993 I spoke on the phone with him, a black bodybuilder in an era when being black, in some cases, blacklisted you from the best placing. His wife Julia joked that maybe he should have painted him white so he would have a chance of winning at the AAU Mr. America. Melvin stopped most exercise in 1990 due to kidney problems and bone cancer. 

Melvin Two articles on Wells, the first from HEALTH and STRENGTH, March 24, 1949 . . . 

Heralded as the greatest discovery since John Grimek, sensational Melvin Wells, the Buffalo Hercules, hit the headlines when he stole the show at Bob Hoffman's 50th birthday show held at York last November. This dusky superman is no doubt a phenomenon and I prophesy a tremendous future for him in the body-building world. 

Twenty-nine years of age, this outstanding discovery who was brought out of oblivion, says Frank Wrzesinski in the (second article to follow) in the January issue of Strength & Health, just simply grew up strong. 

At the age of eight Melvin began to use rocks as weights. Anything that was heavy fascinated him and he would try to lift it. Rock-lifting was his hobby for many years, though he did not understand nor could he explain this unusual urge. While serving overseas in the USAAF he kept in trim by lifting small car wheels. 

Returning from overseas he took some professional tuition. He is now lifting 281 pounds Clean & Press, cleaning the weight without splitting. His one-arm military press is at about 150 pounds and he performs deep knee bends with 450. 

Employed at the Ford Motor Corporation, Melvin plays softball for the work's team and is a keen swimmer. 

His measurements?

Height - 5'10"

Weight - 203 pounds

Neck - 17-1/4"

Upper Arm - 18-3/8"

Cold forearm - 13-7/8"

Waist - 30-3/4"

Thigh - 25-1/4"

Calf - 16-1/8"

What I can't understand is that the chest measurement is 48" normal, 48-3/4" expanded. 

I wish that all authorities would adopt the standard Health & Strength form and give normal inflated and expanded measurements, from which much can  be learned. Anyway, it will be interesting to compare the lifting abilities of "wedge-torso" Wells with the "square-torso" Johnny Davis! 

From Strength & Health, January, 1949 . . . 

The Buffalo Hercules, by Frank Wrzesinski

The average person today seems to have the erroneous impression that strong men and perfect physical specimens are totally extinct in this 20th century of ours and that the crowded and unhealthy conditions of our big cities in which most of us live are not conducive to the growth and development of strong and healthy bodies. 

Oh, that pesky modern world. 

When speaking of strong and physically developed men most everyone seems to think first of the circus or fall back on their knowledge of history which recounts the daring feats of the bold and powerful Vikings or some other barbaric tribes that lived a long time ago. Those were supposed to have been real he-men in comparison with whom the men of today are mere weaklings. 

Berserkers? Average height and weight 5'8" and 160 pounds. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. 

Such supposition is far from truth. As a matter of fact, today we have more physically strong men in this so-called "soft" world of ours than they did in the days of yore. [but then, where's the marketable sales hype in facts when a guy wants to sell supplements and pre-workout crap to kids of all ages and levels of intelligence?) Recent research has shown that even an average college athlete of today would have quite a difficulty fitting into one of those steel armor outfits which were worn by these supposedly strong heroes of the Middle Ages. 

Strong and physically developed men are right in our midst and walk the sidewalks of our big cities today, their powerful muscles and marvelous physiques hidden from our eyes by the ethical and fashion requirements of our civilization. The age of mechanization in which we live overshadows them entirely as they are seldom called upon to perform unusual feats exhibiting their strength. It is only a sheer incident that leads to their discovery, otherwise in the privacy of some gymnasium, garage or a cellar they train their beautifully developed bodies and get into play their bulging muscles that could be the object of admiration by many.

In recent years the trend in physical culture as well as the fine publicity and promotion by such magazines as "Strength and Health" in glorifying the strong men of today has done a great deal for those forgotten physical specimens. Until recently they were like the pearls on the bottom of the ocean bed waiting to be discovered and brought to the surface where they can dazzle the eyes of onlookers with their brilliance and beauty. 

You've guessed by now that the author is getting wordy in an attempt to make a full article out of the limited knowledge of how Wells trains . . . 

Such was almost the fate of Melvin Wells, the strong man from Buffalo who possesses a most phenomenal physique and herculean strength. 

Melvin, who only recently was brought out of oblivion, just simply grew up strong. This was as natural for him as for the eagle to soar high into the sky or the panther to slink noiselessly and gracefully while stalking her prey. 

What is more amazing is that Melvin never had any professional training in the development of his almost mythical physique nor had he any forethought of ever cashing in on his strength or physical prowess. He simply grew strong by responding to that urge or rather a yearning to become physically fit which all men possess to a certain degree but in most cases never follow up. 

Next is something from John McKean in 2015 . . . 

It will surprise many that during Grimek's heyday there was another competitor who pressed and curled better, but according to serious, expert officials of the time, actually displayed more impressive arm musculature! 

His name was Melvin Wells, a physique man who placed second in a few early 1950s Mr. America contests, while always winning best back, and most muscular awards. It is said that no photo did this man justice, but he achieved the first REAL 19" arm, so full, thick, and defined as to defy description during those times. 

And he got size and strength with a very basic, all-round training scheme. 

Mel's entire arm program consisted of only 3 x 10 in the strict curl and press! Yet, when I say STRICT, Wells took this to a whole 'nother level. Our USAWA rules tell us for curling to put a sheet of paper behind our head and butt, backed up to a wall, then curl (without the paper slipping) for training. Wells didn't use the paper thing, but very reliable witnesses observed him ALWAYS performing very SLOW, picture-perfect barbell curls, full range, with 150 pounds for his 3 sets of 10. One writer counted him doing 12 perfect strict reps with 145 in front of a large crowd at the famous York picnic. 

 

His presses were perhaps even more noteworthy -- 3 sets of 10, super strict with 120 pounds. 

Oh, wait . . . 

I forgot to mention these were ONE-ARM PRESSES. Absolutely no side leaning or back bend either. 

And finally, "Marvelous Marvin Wells" by Charles A. Smith:

Since Melvin Wells appeared at the Bob Hoffman birthday strength show there have been requests for more information and photos of this sensation. We are glad to be able to present the following interesting story and the accompanying photos. Whether you agree with the author that Melvin is the finest built man in the world you must admit that he has the type of physique that is distinctly different and very outstanding. We will have still better photos to show you at a later date. In the photos Melvin is 5'10.5" tall and weighs 205 pounds, with a 48" chest, 18-3/8" arm (cold), 14" forearm, 31" waist and 26" thighs. His arms and shoulders are outstanding. -- Peary Rader

As I begin this story, I have a picture of Melvin Wells in front of me. Looking at it, I suddenly realize how incapable I am of doing justice to this most remarkable athlete. Not if I strummed a million minutes away on this typewriter could I give you any idea of the superhuman development of this man.

It is quite a few weeks ago since I first met Melvin at the Bob Hoffman birthday show. Ever since then, I have been wondering about him. How did he get this way? What exercises did he use? Was he always well built? 

You and I have perhaps seen the top flight physique men. We may have witnessed Ross pose, thrilled to the superb development of Grimek, admired the beauty of Reeves' statuesque musculature. We think we have a pretty good idea of what makes a man a strength athlete, an outstanding specimen of manhood. 

Right here and now, we will have to scrap those ideas and opinions. Melvin Wells sets standards which will in all probability, never again be approached in our time. 

Those who know me have wondered at what I have had to tell them about Wells. They know I am not the kind of guy to go overboard about anything or anyone. They regard me as a bit of a cynic, a hard man to please. Many frankly disbelieved my statements about Melvin, upon my return from York. They ate their words when I let them see the pictures. They were frankly and openly amazed. 

And yet, astonishing as these pictures are, they simply do not do the man justice. To gaze upon the flesh instead of the image, is an experience no one is ever likely to forget. 

There are many wonderfully developed athletes in our world of weights. There are men of gigantic power. Melvin Wells ranks with the best. His is the perfect combination of bulk, definition and strength.

Melvin Wells was born 29 years ago (article is from IronMan, Jan-Feb 1949), in Sulligent, Alabama. His mother had a family of three boys with Melvin being the firstborn. Mrs. Wells soon knew that her son was something above the ordinary boy. When the family moved to Buffalo in upstate New York, Melvin was but a child, but a child with a remarkably sturdy frame for his eight years. Even at that early age, the desire for health and strength was making itself apparent. Melvin cluttered up his bedroom with rocks and large stones which he used to lift in as many ways as his imagination conjured up. 

In school, he excelled as an all round athlete. During the years he attended Hutchinson High, he played basketball, baseball, and football. He was a letterman in baseball and football and an ALL HIGH in basketball.

In his after-school years, Melvin played basketball for a transportation company, helping them to win five titles in 1940. It might be mentioned here that at present Melvin plays softball for the Ford Motor company, his present employers, as first basemen and has belted out the most home runs on the team. 

The natural desire for strength, which had always been with him since his earliest childhood days, prompted him to take up weight training. In 1942, Melvin bought his first set of weights. They scaled 205 pounds. Such was his natural strength, and the progress he made during the first three months, that he soon found the original set much too light for his needs, and he was forced to make another purchase. 

Although his training was rather haphazard, his power and presence was such that his friends soon began calling him Hercules. They of course now realize that the term is a trifle inadequate. 

Melvin served in the armed forces during the was as a member of the Air Force. He rose to the rank of First Sergeant and out of 25 months, served 14 overseas. His opportunities for weight training did not come very often, but he managed to keep in trim with small railroad car wheels. 

It was upon his return from military service that Melvin really started to go to town. The prewar years' training was irregular, but now he took his workouts seriously and made astonishing strides. 

Melvin is an advocate of HEAVY training. He has never had professional tutelage or training of ANY description. 

When he first commenced his weight workouts, he was told that he should never use more than eight repetitions, as this was the best number for strength and development. Melvin has kept to this advice, and it has certainly worked out wonderfully well with him.

He told me that on the nights when he feels in form, he does several sets of 8 reps, but on the training days when he doesn't feel so energetic, he uses up to 15 reps with less sets. 

The measurements listed for Wells are of course interesting. They were ALL TAKEN COLD. No pumping up beforehand. 

During the Hoffman birthday show, Melvin gave ample proof that his muscles are not merely for show. He performed several strict curls with 145 pounds -- 12 reps as I counted them. 

Several rowing motions with 250, an uncounted number of squats with 350 and many ridiculously easy presses with 205 pounds. 

He has made 10 reps with 400 pounds in the deep knee bend. Some of his other lifts are as follows: 

Military press. Strick style, no back bend. 281 pounds. 

One arm military press. 150.

Squats (Melvin says "several"). 450 pounds. 

Bench press, several reps. 330.

For his military press, Melvin cleans the weight WITHOUT SPLITTING OR BENDING THE LEGS. He aims to train for competition lifting, and his greatest ambition is to represent his country in the next Olympics.

Melvin has no diet fads. He eats whatever he fancies. "Good and wholesome food is the best" he tells me. He does however, eat regularly and PLENTY. 

He reads all the weight training magazines avidly, and his favorites are, needless to say, IronMan and Strength & Health. Effing Weider A-holes. 

Contrary to popular supposition about weight men, Melvin does not have a single track mind. He likes quiet entertainment, music, the theater, swimming, and plenty of rest. 

So, not much in the way of brand spankin' new and innovative wonder layouts with the weights. Heavy training on the basic lifts of the time. The ones we all use. Good food in abundance. Plenty of rest. A tranquil mind that enjoys life while it lasts. Simple enough! 

Enjoy Your Lifting! 

 

  

Freestyle Arm Training - Dave Draper

 

From this issue

Paul Graham, Dave Draper,

many others as well. 

Nothing seems to excite a bodybuilder as much as the prospect of growing a larger pair of arms. And everywhere I've gone to give posing exhibitions and training seminars, I'm always asked how I train my arms. The same sort of questions were asked me in Sydney at the fine seminar and Pro Mr. Universe competition promoted by Paul Graham. So as a result of all this interest, I've decided to reveal one of my favorite arm workouts. 

To begin with, you should know something about my training philosophy. For many years I was a slave to set routines. You know what I mean . . . 

the same body part the same days every week with the same exercises, same poundages, same sets and same reps. All of this same-same-same finally got to me, because I'm not a "same" person. 

Everyone is a unique individual. 

I am.

You are. 

We are all unique. 

Yes I am.

Yes I am.

While a few individuals might thrive on the regimentation of such set workouts, I don't think most of us can remain sane very long on such routines. We need freedom, the chance to play in our environment. And when most of us are subjected to such a regimented routine -- to me it's almost like being in a prison -- we begin to rebel by missing workouts. 

As a result of missed workouts, we don't make gains, and not making gains causes a lot of potentially good bodybuilders to drop out of the sport. I almost came to this point in my own life several years ago, and it scared me. All of my best friends had come from the sport and I didn't want to lose them. I had to come up with some good solution to keep me training. 

My solution to this problem was what I call a "free-style routine." 

Very simply put, I began to train for enjoyment, doing whatever I felt like each workout. It was like being suddenly set free to play in the forest! 

I immediately began enjoying training. 

In a short time I discovered that I was hitting bodyparts about the same number of times per week as before, and I was doing about as much work. 

But when a bodypart had been overworked or a joint was hurting, I'd work around it for that day. A couple of days later my body would tell me to work it again. 

I was working hard, ENJOYING IT, and making some VERY good gains. The freestyle routine even gave me the freedom to train with someone else for a day or two if I felt the urge, and without any guilt about letting something of my own slide. In Sydney, as a result, I put in some very challenging morning workouts with Paul Graham. 

This never could have happened if I'd still been a slave to my old set type of routine. 

Because I'm on a freestyle routine, my workouts for certain bodyparts may or may not be the same from day to day or week to week. The leg routine may be different every time, chest the same for two weeks, delts changing every couple of workouts. Arms haven't changed much at all for the last few weeks before my trip to Sydney, nor while I was training there, simply because I was on to a great workout for them.

Now . . . 

I'm going to give you the routine I was using for my stay in Sydney. It's typical of how I train, but do bear in mind that I am constantly changing the routines to suit my needs and mood. This one is done about three times a week and takes something in the neighborhood of 45 minutes to complete.

I keep moving as fast as I can, and on all sets I go to about 95% of failure. In essence, I go as close to failure as possible and still keep my sanity. And I usually do arms by themselves as the evening part of my double split. 

My arm workouts start with a superset of Barbell Curls and Lying Triceps Extensions, both using an Olympic bar. I do a warmup set or two and then 5 sets of 12 down to 8 reps on curls, and six sets of 15-20 on the extensions. I usually go up in weight on each set. 

Next I move to a tri-set of Incline Curls, Single DB Triceps Extensions and Cable Triceps Extensions. I do five trips through this tri-set, 12-8 reps on the curls and 12-15 on the triceps movements. The curls are done with the dumbbells traveling out at a 45-degree angle from the body, and the cable for extensions comes from behind my back.

The final superset I do in this particular workout is for my forearms. It's five trips through a superset of Zottman Curls (10-12 reps) and Wrist Curls (15-20 reps). Wrist curls are done palms-up with a narrow grip and my forearms running along an exercise bench. Zottmans are done alternately, the palm on each hand facing up as that hand goes up and then rotated down as the hand travels back down. 

Here:

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2009/05/george-zottman-mac-batchelor.html

This is a fairly stiff workout, suited for top men only. You may need to scale down the number of sets on each exercise to suit your own abilities, but it is a good routine. I hope you make great gains on it! 

Enjoy Your Lifting! 

 

Use the Chinning Bar for Back Development - Barton Horvath (1951)

 

Marvin Eder tells Barton Horvath How to Use the Chinning Bar 

for Amazing Back Development 

"Come on, fellows . . . let's have a chinning contest. The guy who does the least chins is a monkey's uncle!" 

And then the action starts. No real, red-blooded youngster can resist the temptation of the chinning bar. There is something about this old favorite which tempts them all. A chinning contest is as popular among the younger boys, particularly those of school age as a trip to the beach, or a visit to the ball park. 

There is a definite thrill in jumping up and catching hold of a chinning bar, or a low branch of a tree, or ANY horizontal bar or cross beam, and then pulling your body up and lowering it down for your personal chinning record. 

And even among these junior Tarzans . . . the most capable is generally that muscular fellow, with the broad shoulders and the fair-sized arms. The fat, flabby, overstuffed boy just can't seem to get enough pull to raise his heavy body, while the thin, weak-looking kid might be able to get out one or two chins, but pretty soon those puny arms give out and he is through. It is the stocky, well set up kid that beats them all. If he takes his shirt off and chins with his back showing, you will see a lot of muscle working in the upper back, arms and shoulders, and even with his shirt on, his back appears wide and his shoulders square and broad. HERE, is where he gets his ability, and the bodybuilder too can well use the chinning bar for a wider more muscular back. 

One of the most muscular backs in America belongs to young Marvin Eder. At 19 years of age, he is far from his maximum development or power. Still, with the exception of the great Reg Park, and famous Clancy Ross there aren't too many champion bodybuilders who can match his muscular impressiveness. He is definitely destined to become one of the immortal greats of bodybuilding. 

He is a chinning enthusiast.

Being that Marvin trains at Abe Goldberg's gym, which is only a short hop across the river from our offices in Jersey City, it was logical that I should drop over to Abe's place to get Marvin's ideas on chinning and how it can help the bodybuilder. 

Like everything now associated with modern weight training, chinning has been developed to a high science, and no longer strictly resembles the old time, schoolboy sport. As a bodybuilding aid, the chinning bar ranks right up there with the lat machine, wall pulleys and other apparatus now so common in the better bodybuilding gyms. The new type chinning apparatus no longer consists merely of a high, horizontal bar for orthodox chinning, but has handles such as kettlebell grips attached to it, as well as two vertical bars which can be grasped for unusual and advanced chinning exercises. 

In the old days, the chinning bar was thought of as an upper arm developer. Today, it has come into its rightful place, as the ideal back widener and thick muscle developer. Its present usage ceases to be for the beginner's benefit, it is now an important body building instrument, used by the advanced men. 

Reg Park performs every known variation of chinning in his workouts. Al Stephan's favorite upper back exercise is chinning with heavy weights. Clancy Ross works chinning into his program as do the majority of the top men. Those who do use it regularly definitely possess an edge on those who do not for width of shoulders, broadness of upper back and muscular impressiveness. 

You too can obtain ideal results from its use. 

Says Marvin Eder . . . "Because chinning influences the upper back muscles from a different angle, and permits a wide range of unusual contractions and pulls, sections of the upper back muscle develop a degree of power and muscularity,  far superior to that obtainable with weights alone." 

To this we agree wholeheartedly. For many years Weider has been preaching the advantages of using new and novel exercise mediums for complete muscular development. There have been some who have shrugged their shoulders to this, and some have even rated this as being commercialism. We should not be too harsh with our judgement of these people however . . . for they just don't know. The reader should remember that I too was brought up in the old school of thought in weight training. I thought that a guy who used springs, krusher grips, chinning bar, etc., was pretty much of a sissy, and that the only real way was through dumbbells and barbells. It has been only during the last 10 years or so that I've seen the light and while I still feel that nothing can take the place of the weights for a staple diet . . . these other pieces of apparatus definitely fill in the gaps and tie together loose ends, making up the complete package of a type of physical perfection we have the privilege of seeing today which outstrips anything seen in the past. Now that I've had my say, I am going to let Marvin Eder take over, and from this point on I am experiencing his viewpoints, gained from my recent interview with him. 

The chinning bar, even in its most elementary form, is definitely not for the total beginner. The reason for this is that the average beginner does not possess sufficient arm strength and development to utilize the chinning bar to its greatest advantage, which is back molding, and long before his back becomes thoroughly stimulated, his arms give out. 

There are much better arm exercises with weights, such as curls, which develop the arms quickly and soon give you the power to chin often enough and with enough added weight attached to the body to ideally stimulate the back. Therefore, the total beginner should not try his hand with the exercises which will be listed later on until he has had at least six months of regular weight training. 

In addition, quite a few beginners are overweight, and they can try to chin day after day until they grow blue in the face and have hands filled with blisters . . . and still they won't be able to pull themselves up. Not until they have reduced their bodyweight, or converted the fatty tissue into muscle will they be able to use the chinning bar with benefit. 

Even the more advanced bodybuilder may find some of the exercises a bit difficult at the start. He will have to grow used to them. Once he does and can really take a chinning workout, it won't be long before he will find that his jackets are being stretched taut across the shoulders and upper back, and his physique will show many, many new bumps and ridges of impressive muscle. 

Note: not just many . . . many, many bumps.  

Because the action is new and novel, with you in a sense exploring virgin territory, there will be a new enthusiasm associated with your training. You will also find that for some time you will improve rapidly in performance on the various chinning exercises and begin to wonder if this blowhard will finally get to the goddamn chinning variations already . . . 

Perhaps the one great secret of the developmental possibilities of chinning is that the entire shoulder girdle unit works hard and in unison in it. Such action is not to be found so completely elsewhere, though the "lat" machine and pulleys do embody much of this principle. In addition, there is that extra S-T-R-E-T-C-H in chinning which literally pulls the shoulders wide and allows more space for the accumulation of upper back muscle. 

Another important feature is that just hanging by the hands from a chinning bar, with a bit of weight attached to the body gives the whole spinal column a straight and direct pull . . . this sets the skeletal framework into a straight line and helps to relieve nerve pressure, which in itself is a mighty valuable aid. Scoliosis, or spinal curvature has been known to be beneficially aided in this manner. 

So aside from a purely physical development reaction, chinning boasts numerous other health giving aids . . . a sort of double dividend for your investment. 

And finally, to the lumps, bumps, and chinning variations. Let's watch this free software randomly change fonts! 

The first, and simplest form of bodybuilding chins is with a wide grip on the bar, with palms facing forward, as shown above (photo 2). Pull up until the back of the neck touches the bar and then lower and repeat. How many repetitions you can perform will of course depend upon your physical strength. When you can perform 10 or 12 chins with just your own bodyweight, add some weight in the form of weight plates or iron boots. 

Being that you have quite a variety of different chins to practice, at first only one set of each style will be enough. Later on you can perform 2 or 3 sets. It is not recommended to go beyond this number. 

Because chinning places a lot of strain on the upper back, shoulders and arms, it will be wise to perform your chins before you exercise those parts of your body with weights. In fact, Marvin Eder, Reg Park and others prefer to take a chinning workout pretty much by itself and not make it a part of their general all around program. This is a good idea and you can use the chins for in between training, or if you have the time you can work on the chins either in the mid-morning or early afternoon, and then the other exercises later in the day. But, however you do them, make sure that they are performed before your arm, back and shoulder movements. 

Exercise 2 is similar to the first, except that the grip is much wider and you hold onto two handles, such as kettlebell handles, as shown in photo number one. The advantage of this sort of chin is that it pulls back, practically apart, widening it considerably, packing on a lot of muscle right under the armpits. 10-12 repetitions with bodyweight, and when you feel this is easy add some weight to the body. 

The next chin will require the use of the vertical bars the latest chinning apparatus have. Grasp onto these bars as shown, and pull the body up as in the regular chin. Photo 3 shows how to do this. Vertical bar chinning will spread your shoulders, making them an inch or more wider in time. 

The concentration, half-way chin is Reg Park's favorite. Nothing compares with it for filling in that section of the upper back directly under the rear head of the deltoid. Pull yourself up about halfway with both hands. Remain in this position, but now pull hard with the right arm only and try to lift the right side up to the bar, while the left remains in a fixed position. Lower the right side and perform the identical movement with the left. This is a really tough one with 6 reps each arm being enough. 

The fascination of a one arm chin holds most bodybuilders in its grasp. Many try it, but few succeed. By using a combination of the vertical bar and the high horizontal bar, you can train yourself until you will find it easy. Photo 5 shows how one hand is held onto the high bar, with the other on the vertical bar. Pull up with the arm. Assist yourself with the arm on the vertical bar, just sufficiently to permit a complete chin. As you gain strength in this exercise help yourself less and less with the vertical bar, until finally you will not need it at all. 5 or 6 chins with each arm will be just right. 

The final exercise again features the vertical bar. This exercise will stretch the lats, making them round and full, with a massive, wedge-like curve of massive proportions and did I mention massive twice because I'm too rushed and/or lazy to find another similar descriptor? 

Grasping the vertical bar with both hands as shown, feet braced securely, round your upper back as much as possible, dropping your grip down the on the bar until it is as low as possible. The lats will probably ache from the stretch in this position. Now twist the upper body from side to side so that the full strain is first on the right and then the left side. The pull will be tremendous and you will practically feel the lats grow massive from this one shown in photo 6. A little of this stretching goes a long way, so take it easy at first. 

As you can see, the standard horizontal chinning bar and its newer brother, the vertical chinning bar can be used for many, many valuable and unusual exercises. Just another important step forward in the science of bodybuilding which will in time render our present ideals of upper back perfection obsolete, just as the incline bench, cheating exercise, flushing system and all other advanced bodybuilding practices we at Weider have led you to believe we "invented" even though lifters have been doing all of it for ages before we claimed to have "innovated" any of them. Go figure! 

Enjoy Your Lifting!