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The Battle for the Olympia VI 2001
Mitsuru Okabe's "Battle for the Olympia VI" is the latest in the continuing series of documentary style footage of the bodybuilders training for this year's Mr. Olympia competition. If you are not familiar with the "Battle for the Olympia" tapes, Mitsuru videotapes most of the competitors as they prepare for the Big O from 3 weeks out all the way up to the final week of the contest. These videos allow the viewer to witness exactly how the professional bodybuilders train only weeks away from the biggest contest in the world. Since the competition is so close, we also get to see all these bodybuilders in the best shape of their lives and see first hand the mind set of the pros as the big day rapidly closes in. The 2001 Mr. Olympia was unique because it featured one of the biggest line-ups in Olympia history - 21 competitors. There were many rookies competing in their first Olympia, new professionals who promised all year to shake things up. "The Battle for the Olympia VI" devotes most of it's time on these rookies along with some established veterans (Shawn Ray, Chris Cormier). The tape begins in Jacksonville, Florida as we watch Dexter Jackson train his delts and arms three weeks before the contest. Dexter is in great shape and his genetically perfect delts and arms look incredible as he pumps them up under the watchful eye of his trainer. After the workout, Dexter poses in the gym and, judging by the shape he displays in the gym, it is quite obvious that he will step onstage in peak condition. Claude Groulx is up next as Mitsuru travels down to North Miami Beach. Claude looks thick and hard as he trains his delts and back in a posh Miami gym full of neon and color. I never realized how incredible Claude's traps were until I saw this video. There is one part of the tape that shows a close-up of Claude's traps flexing and contracting during an exercise and I couldn't even figure out what muscle it was until the camera pulled back to reveal those freaky traps. The next bodybuilder on the tape is Florida pro Darrem Charles. Darrem tells us in a voice-over that his physique is just beginning to mature and we should all watch out in the next few years as his body gains more weight to go along with his great lines and muscularity. Darrem's metabolism is so fast, he never has to do cardio and only has to diet for about 4-5 weeks to reach peak condition. Darrem also poses at the end of his workout and displays a physique that could be a little harder but, hey, he still had three weeks to go. He is able to show off striated thighs after only a week of dieting. The camera travels to the East Coast to film the next bodybuilder, the ultra-wide Orville Burke. Orville had a great year in 2001, winning the Night of the Champions and placing in the top 6 at the Olympia. We watch as Orville bombs his chest in a workout that features slow, concentrated reps with moderate weights. His freaky back is a sight to see as Orville walks around the gym. Next up is controversial bodybuilder King Kamali training in his hometown of Virginia. The presence of Kamali livens up the video since his personality is somewhat loud and colorful. Kamali is very confident and aggressive and those traits come to the forefront during his training session. Although only two weeks out from the Olympia, the King still pushes himself to use the heaviest poundages possible. He reps out with 675 pounds during the deadlift in the rack exercise. Mitsuru then travels to the West Coast to show us Kamali's nemesis Craig Titus training with wife Kelly Ryan. Craig explains his new training and diet program under the tutelage of former Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates. Their objective for the Olympia was to get Craig's waist as small and tight as it was when he won the USA Championships in 1996. One humorous part of the video is when Craig states that he has to place in the top 10 at the Olympia so he and Kelly can buy a pool for their new house in Vegas. Since Craig eventually finished in 12th place, I guess he'll save money on chlorine this year. Olympia veteran Shawn Ray is next on the tape. This was Shawn's 13th Mr. Olympia competition so he's obviously been down this road before. Shawn is always entertaining as he is not afraid to speak his mind on the current state of affairs in bodybuilding. Shawn's posing display at the end of his segment reveals a mature, prize-winning physique that always places in the top five no matter who his competition is. Mitsuru moves his camera over to Gold's Gym Venice for the next two bodybuilders featured on the tape. Marvelous Melvin Anthony is the first one shown training at the Mecca. Anthony is being put through the paces of his back workout by champion trainer Charles Glass. Melvin shows full muscle bellies and tons of potential not to mention some hilarious sound effects as he moans and groans through each set that Glass subjects him to. Another veteran, Chris Cormier, is the next bodybuilder highlighted at Golds. Chris was favored as one of the few bodybuilders to give Ronnie Coleman a run for the money at this year's Olympia. He is also one of the strongest bodybuilders around as evidenced by his easy handling of 405 pounds on the incline bench press. When Chris poses after the workout, however, it is obvious that he won't be in peak condition in time for the show. Another first time Olympian, Tom Prince, is up next. Tom is filmed during a light shoulder workout in Marina del Rey, California. He comments on the voiceover that he believes it is a mistake to continue to train very heavy during the last few weeks prior to a contest. He mentions that he suffered a shoulder injury while training heavy in final preparations for the 1999 Nationals and doesn't intend to make that mistake again. One of the most impressive physiques on the tape is Dennis James. Dennis is filmed working out at Milos Sarcev's PowerHouse Gym in Placentia, California and he looks incredible! So lean and ripped that his face looks almost unrecognizable, Dennis still displays one of the thickest physiques competing today. Another Olympia veteran, Kevin Levrone, is filmed in his hotel room in California. Kevin was in town for a series of photo shoots right before the Olympia and he is truly in peak condition as he poses for Mitsuru. It's interesting to note that the bodybuilders who are in top shape in the weeks leading up to the contest usually are the same ones who place high at the Olympia. It's also fascinating to watch the different pysches of the competitors as they deal with the pressure of putting it all on the line with the best physiques on the planet. After some great footage of the Olympia Expo and backstage footage of the top competitors pumping up, Mitsuru allows us to witness 2001 Mr. Olympia runner-up, Jay Cutler, as he goes through a shoulder and tricep workout for the cameras. Jay is in peak condition the day after the Olympia and it is remarkable to see how thick and ripped he was for this competition. All in
all, "The Battle for the Olympia VI" is a great addition to
the series. Where else can you see a dozen of the best bodybuilders
in the world all on one videotape? The only disappointment to this year's
tape is that there is no footage of the current champ, Ronnie Coleman.
Also, previous Olympia top-runners such as Flex Wheeler and Lee Priest,
were not competing this year so they're formidable presence is also
missing from the tape. Other than these small oversights, "Battle
for the Olympia VI" is great viewing and a perfect tool to watch
to pysche yourself up before going to the gym. |
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