Size dictating knowledge: Yes and No

[Debaser]

I'll be the first to admit that there are a lot of huge guys who are utter morons when it comes to training, and got by with great genetics and/or gear.

However does it really work the other way? The guys I see that have intelligent training concepts and ideas are generally pretty big. It makes sense, I think. If their methods worked then why would they look like they barely worked out? I'll list a few...

Doggcrapp is a monster. I believe he's 300 lbs fairly lean. He has helped hundreds of people make astounding gains, including myself. I have put on over 40 lbs, in less than a year, naturally. I do not have elite genetics either. A lot of people are coming around on the training board, some of us are working pretty hard to get people on the right track (check out the sticky on the training board). I can't emphasize how many people this man has helped achieve their goals. Most of whom are clean and not genetic supermen.

IronAddict, unless you visit animal's board or the gotfina board, you probably do not know about him. But he too has helped countless people achieve their goals. He preaches low volume, higher intensity methods. He realized after 10 years of following bullshit volume split routines and reaching the height of 180 lbs at 6'1" that these methods will just not cut it for the average (or below) trainee. After discovering hardgainer/HIT methodology he reached 235 naturally I believe. He has been as heavy as 270 lbs at time, now he sits at 240 lbs 8% BF at 40 years old. Not too shabby.

Others that I know less of but that seem to follow the same grain; these guys know their shit and practice what they preach:

Realgains
Silverback (gotfina)
John Christy (hardgainer mag)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some guys and for that I apologize

 

[The Terminator]

Well it's sort of hard to listen to someone's advice when you see them post a pic and they are 25% bf and look like they have hardly ever been in a gym. But some people are really knowledgeable about every aspect of this yet still look poor. Perhaps it plays into the old adage of the mechanic who knows everything about cars yet drives the worst running vehicle on the road...

 

[Zoomster]

I am a firm believer in the been there done that equals credibility.
so many times I am in my gym watching some personal trainer that took a three course trying to give advice to people. I can't buy that.

 

[sustaMarc]

I sometimes work out at NYSC-that gym got the smallest pussies as trainers, its pretty sad

 

[jubei]

Always listen to the Huge Guys. First of all, these "huge guys" are huge for a reason. They train hard, eat properly, get enough rest and supplement to be where they are. Most of this knowledge has undoubtably come from trial and error and could potentially save you alot of trouble.

It makes me sick seeing goofy haired personal trainers with 13 inch guns telling me how to do dumbell curls. My arms are 18, his are barley 13, what could he possibly know that I don't. I don't read about curls in a book but I concentrate on every rep in every set. I would gladly go to a "big guy", tell tell him my goals and get him to figure out where your going wroing, because he's been there one time too. etc.

 

[cockdesiel]

Im in agreement with terminator. It is hard to follow the advice of someone that isnt in shape, but not impossible for me. I've learned that sometimes those indiv. are very knowlegable and were probably in shape at one point, now unmotivated for whatever reason. I'm not above listening to anyones advice, just as long as its logical and practical

 

[ironmaster]

In my opinion, a picture is worth a thousand words when it comes to bodybuilding credibilty.

 

[jubei]

exactly my point

 

[Zyglamail]

I am a firm believer in the been there done that equals credibility.
so many times I am in my gym watching some personal trainer that took a three course trying to give advice to people. I can't buy that.

I have seen this as well, but I have also seen the personal trainer who doesnt look like much take a hefty/weak individual and transform them into something anyone would be proud of.

I feel its impossible to judge a book by its cover. We all have different goals and ambitions, different working conditions and family commitments. We all have our ups and down, mental and health issues we have to deal with. I think we call all say we have seen a scrawny runt who really seemed to know his/her shit on any given aspect of training, we can also say we have seen human juggernauts and wonder how they can get dressed in the morning without help. My point is we all have different goals, some to compete and some get simple satisfaction out of helping others. Its easy to say "been there done that equals credibility." but what about the scrawny trainer with crappy genetics who works out but is nothing special whoc has spent many years helping hundreds of people? In all fairness I feel if he has directly, successfully trained hundreds of people then I would think that qualifies him as a "been there done". Maybe not personally but at the same time they have hundreds of cleints succeed under their tutalage and thus have much more exposure and a much broader base of what works and what does not based on direct contact and directing those he/she trains, than the average joe gym rat who only works on themself.

If any of you have been in a teaching environment you will know what I mean that teaching others is one of the best ways to learn yourself. Your continually asked questions form varying perspectives, things you may have never noticed or thought about, this further pushes you and in the end results in some of the best knowledge you will ever attain.

 

[JordanK25]

Most of the huge guys at my gym are idiots. They use poor form and a super shitty diet. They use huge amounts of gear to make up for their lack of knowledge/willpower. Everytime they tell me about their new stack I'm thinking to myself "Maybe you should learn how to eat and train and you won't need 1500 mgs a week of gear...". Of course I don't say that out loud because most of them have anger management problems