Earlier than selfie sticks and temper lighting, the fitness center was a spot to place a hundred percent into any carry with out caring about likes or subscribers. Luckily, the cameras nonetheless rolled nevertheless, as Ronnie Coleman not too long ago shared probably the most retro clips you’ll see for some time, repping 495 kilos with an unimaginable show on the entrance squat.
The 12 months was 2000, and Coleman was capturing his legendary coaching DVD, The Unbelievable. Within the DVD itself, we see the large man headed to the fitness center in his Dodge Viper, donning shiny yellow tights and a “Shut Up and Squat” T-shirt — simply to make his intentions abundantly clear. The fitness center in query was the Metroflex Fitness center in Arlington, TX, the place Coleman crushed a herculean exercise together with hack squats and barbell weighted lunges, however this specific entrance squat clip retains going viral, as a result of it has all the things {that a} classic coaching video ought to should make it a basic. Grunting? Examine! Questionable wardrobe? Examine? Proof that old-school bodybuilding is just not for the faint of coronary heart? Examine!
Ronnie Coleman’s Viral 495-Pound Entrance Squat Nonetheless Shocks Lifters
As Coleman reached for the Barbell, we meet Metroflex fitness center proprietorBrian Dobson, who’s carrying a camouflage stringer and a pair of excessive lower denim shorts. “There’s no man who trains tougher, wherever,” stated Dobson on the DVD itself. Time would show that he wasn’t mistaken.
After warming up, Coleman might be seen gripping the bar and attending to work. “I’ve the sunshine weight on it now,” jokes The King, with 5 45 kilos plates on both aspect of the bar. After some encouraging “Yeah!” motivation from Dobson, Coleman cranks out ten strong reps earlier than re-racking the bar. And, since a regular Olympic barbell weighs 45 kilos, this locations the full load at 495 kilos.
Regardless of how surreal the clip seems in 2026, entrance squats are nonetheless a staple for individuals who want to construct larger quads, glutes, hips, and hamstrings. However in terms of bodybuilder’s who carry heavy, Coleman was typically in a league of his personal. Within the “Unbelievable” DVD, Coleman deadlifted 800 kilos for 2 repsand later upped his entrance squat weight to 585 kilos for 4 reps.
“Subsequent era will say it’s AI,” wrote one amazed Instagram viewer. “Goosebumps,” wrote one other. “These denim shorts are legendary,” concluded the feedback.
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