Mike Israetel - sage or egomaniac??

[NoSmilez]

I think a lot of it comes down to how he presents himself. He presents himself as the voice of hard-won common sense that's "cutting through b.s." Nobody gets away with more b.s. that then people that effectively present themselves as the one cutting through it.

I guess I necro'd this comment, but hey, I was just got recommended him by Youtube after constantly telling them not to, so its relevant to me.

I think you can't stay on top in terms of fitness youtubing without becoming one of those people you hate. I saw some of Dr. Mike's new videos and it was pretty bad. He was doing stupid combo exercises. I am pretty sure he is self aware of his content.

Clown curl.

 

[Kforcer]

I think you can't stay on top in terms of fitness youtubing without becoming one of those people you hate. I saw some of Dr. Mike's new videos and it was pretty bad. He was doing stupid combo exercises. I am pretty sure he is self aware of his content.

Clown curl.

You think it is a matter of running out of stuff to say, basically? Where ultimately you choose novelty and content over truth?

 

[Kforcer]

TBF Fujita was a high level wrestler - Japan Olympic alternate and a handful of respectable showings at the national and international level. Good luck outwrestling that dude without a high level wrestling background, especially when that dude is in possession of the blunt object known as Fujita's skull...


Kazuyuki "Iron Head" Fujita made a fighting career out of having a thick skull. This is that skull's story. Like many mixed martial artists, Fujita started as a wrestler. Unlike many mixed martial artists, he never learned a second skill. It would take him 60 minutes to describe to you what he thinks a kick is, and he attempts submission holds the same way he tries on hats-- confusedly pulling in random directions with no results. That's because his skull is measurably thicker than a normal skull. If you were to take an x-ray of it, you'd fire your medical equipment for coming in to work drunk. He was created by filling a cement truck with coconut sperm, and no one was more surprised than that cement truck. Since he was diagnosed with this head, he has been searching for the man who would one day destroy it. I understand many readers don't follow or relate to the sport of mixed martial arts, but those readers are in luck because I speak fluent Nerd. Each section will have a Nerdsplanation to help everyone enjoy this skull's terrible and ridiculous journey.

Worst Life Ever: The Story of Kazuyuki Fujita's Skull

He was created by filling a cement truck with coconut sperm, and no one was more surprised than that cement truck.

www.cracked.com

Oh yeah, Fujita was an absolute beast. His double was super-quick. And I mean, as the article points out, against Kerr and Shamrock, he basically won via hit points. Well, it was more like, he had enough hit points to beat Kerr and Shamrock, who lost no hit points but push their constitution scores far beyond their capacities.

 

[ChickenBrother]

Oh yeah, Fujita was an absolute beast. His double was super-quick. And I mean, as the article points out, against Kerr and Shamrock, he basically won via hit points. Well, it was more like, he had enough hit points to beat Kerr and Shamrock, who lost no hit points but push their constitution scores far beyond their capacities.

True. But if there's one sport that causes you to max out both hit points and constitution, it's wrestling. That is, as long as your knees, shoulders, neck, hips and skull hold out.

 

[italiamusica]

I think Mike says a lot of ridiculous shit just to be funny and create "content" that people talk about, but he genuinely seems to know what he's talking about and seems to care about getting, what he considers, the right info out there.

 

[zapataxiv]

I think you can't stay on top in terms of fitness youtubing without becoming one of those people you hate. I saw some of Dr. Mike's new videos and it was pretty bad. He was doing stupid combo exercises. I am pretty sure he is self aware of his content.

Clown curl.

tbf
the clown curl is just an expansion on his lying down curl which is something he has been pushing for a while now

his argument is basically on brand, more stretch and time under tension. do it controlled and for high reps.

I haven't tried clown curls but I do the lying down curls and they do hit differently imo

 

[NoSmilez]

You think it is a matter of running out of stuff to say, basically? Where ultimately you choose novelty and content over truth?

He has to make a video everyday. He has been on fire for the past few years. He is probably running out of content. Like you said he is supposed to be the guy that is cutting through the BS.


The fly curl press is bullshit but he probably has to make this video. His biggest money maker is the app with a monthly subscription. People will quit if there isn't new content for it.

 

[NoSmilez]

tbf
the clown curl is just an expansion on his lying down curl which is something he has been pushing for a while now

his argument is basically on brand, more stretch and time under tension. do it controlled and for high reps.

I haven't tried clown curls but I do the lying down curls and they do hit differently imo

I understand. It started out as the incline curl he was pushing. I have no real issue with that but then you can see it morph to the lying down cable curl and now it's in the final form of the clown curl. I don't want to get too autistic with the literature but incorporating stretch isn't necessary on every exercise. I am not saying it isn't effective but you can check the literature and the effectiveness is a bit overstated. My criticism of Dr. Mike stems from championing the clown curl then declaring hammer curls as useless now. It's pretty much Athlean X's ______ exercise is killing your gains.



I am into fitness. This gen of lifters is highly autistic and pedantic. Dr. Mike and Jeff Nippard sort of gave birth to these guys. They are into optimization and over analyzing the exercise selection/mechanics vs the actual hard training. Nowadays I am just like do what you like to do in the gym as long as you are consistent and can progressively overload with it. We have gone full circle. The current trend in fitness now is very low reps but heavy load for hypertrophy.

Oh here is some content I find amusing.

 

[Phisher]

I think you can't stay on top in terms of fitness youtubing without becoming one of those people you hate. I saw some of Dr. Mike's new videos and it was pretty bad. He was doing stupid combo exercises. I am pretty sure he is self aware of his content.

Clown curl.

I just saw the anti-hammer curl video he did, which was one of the biggest crocks of shit that I've watched on bodybuilding YouTube. Even worse than most of Athlean-X's stuff.

The best lifting channels don't have massive followings.

To keep getting a ton of views, the biggest ones have to clickbait, talk about petty beefs with other people, or say inflammatory shit to get people to hate watch.

 

[NoSmilez]

I just saw the anti-hammer curl video he did, which was one of the biggest crocks of shit that I've watched on bodybuilding YouTube. Even worse than most of Athlean-X's stuff.

The best lifting channels don't have massive followings.

To keep getting a ton of views, the biggest ones have to clickbait, talk about petty beefs with other people, or say inflammatory shit to get people to hate watch.

I think you are right. I think most channels that are informative will run out of content or become unpopular if they don't engage in extras. There is only so much to talk about hypertrophy in terms of lifting. Some of the new content that I see argue about sarcomere fiber recruitment. It's too much optimization for fitness.

 

[Phisher]

I think you are right. I think most channels that are informative will run out of content or become unpopular if they don't engage in extras. There is only so much to talk about hypertrophy in terms of lifting. Some of the new content that I see argue about sarcomere fiber recruitment. It's too much optimization for fitness.

TBF There's always some amount of new content for the decent channels because there's always some new bullshit training fad to be debunked. I think that latest one is that doing more than 8 reps is somehow bad for hypertrophy.

But overall, there really isn't that much to say, and most of the good content creators don't upload that much beyond the growth phase of their channels and take long hiatuses.

 

[Xoleth]

Lyle is an asshole but most of the criticisms are valid.

I agree
It continues

The horror



0:00 Prologue0:22 Chapter 1. introduction1:05 Chapter 2. An overview of Mike’s cosmetic surgery1:44 Chapter 3. A critical analysis of Mike’s cosmetic surgery2:15 3.1. Lyle’s Instagram comment5:06 3.2. On Mike’s responses to Instagram comments6:29 3.2.1 Regarding Mike's tan9:32 3.2.2. Regarding Mike’s gatorade and cereal contest prep diet11:51 3.3. On the possible implications of Mike’s surgery for his competition results14:16 3.3.1. Aesthetic concerns15:53 3.3.2. Physiological concerns22:05 3.4. On when cosmetic surgery might be justifiable for a competitive bodybuilder23:55 Chapter 4. On body dysmorphia25:47 4.1. Body dysmorphia among bodybuilders29:30 4.2. On Mike's distorted priorities34:10 4.3. On liposuction recovery35:25 4.4. In Mike’s defence: Lyle’s thoughts on cosmetic surgery more broadly38:23 4.5. On the patience of Mike's wife, Christle39:50 4.6. On body dysmorphia treatment42:54 4.7. On clinical diagnoses for mental illness48:29 Chapter 5. On when to walk away from competitive bodybuilding57:32 5.1. Speculations on why Mike hasn't walked away from competitive bodybuilding1:00:09 Chapter 6. Conclusion1:03:35 Epilogue

 

[zapataxiv]

I understand. It started out as the incline curl he was pushing. I have no real issue with that but then you can see it morph to the lying down cable curl and now it's in the final form of the clown curl. I don't want to get too autistic with the literature but incorporating stretch isn't necessary on every exercise. I am not saying it isn't effective but you can check the literature and the effectiveness is a bit overstated. My criticism of Dr. Mike stems championing the clown curl then declaring hammer curls as useless now. It's pretty much Athlean X's ______ exercise is killing your gains.



I am into fitness. This gen of lifters is highly autistic and pedantic. Dr. Mike and Jeff Nippard sort of gave birth to these guys. They are into optimization and over analyzing the exercise selection/mechanics vs the actual hard training. Nowadays I am just like do what you like to do in the gym as long as you are consistent and can progressively overload with it. We have gone full circle. The current trend in fitness now is very low reps but heavy load for hypertrophy.

Oh here is some content I find amusing.

the hammer curl vid came up in my feed but i didnt watch it. as you said basically if you want to be youtuber you have to play the game and part of that is click bait.
even nipps says that just doing stuff like you said progresive overload with intensity is best. he just wanders though the woods of intricate details for content

another example is i just a vid mike put up about creatine being useless...

i still wouldnt say eh is a bad as athlean x but yea fght with monsters and you become one is apt

 

[BroScienceTalkatWork]

Dude just cranks out junk.

"Why volume is killing your gainz!!"

Next week

"Why lifting heavy is killing your gainz!"

I just.. His whole aura man. Dude is so devious and simultaneously unsure of himself. I hope he cut out the tren tho..

 

[NoSmilez]

the hammer curl vid came up in my feed but i didnt watch it. as you said basically if you want to be youtuber you have to play the game and part of that is click bait.
even nipps says that just doing stuff like you said progresive overload with intensity is best. he just wanders though the woods of intricate details for content

another example is i just a vid mike put up about creatine being useless...

i still wouldnt say eh is a bad as athlean x but yea fght with monsters and you become one is apt

I have fitness content playing in the background. I got this playing now. Creatine is back!

 

[Kforcer]

Does anyone feel like Israetel is to Allen Roberts what Donald Trump is to Pat Buchanan? I.E., Allen Roberts--or Alan maybe it is--sort of tried to have the same format as Mike and even a similar look, got some attention but basically petered out and then Israetel took that playbook and used it to mass success.

Or maybe a better comparison would be a pro-wrestler that took another wrestler's gimmick and blew up with it, like Hulk Hogan and Super Star Billy Graham.

 

[NoSmilez]

I gave this a listen. Some stuff I agree with and some I don't. They really love their stretch.

inclines-overrated
pec deck-overrated
cambered incline bench-underrated
dips-mixed
deficit pushup- underrated
Bench-underrated
Decline cable crossover- overrated
Hammerstrength plate loaded incline - overrated

 

[zapataxiv]

I gave this a listen. Some stuff I agree with and some I don't. They really love their stretch.

inclines-overrated
pec deck-overrated
cambered incline bench-underrated
dips-mixed
deficit pushup- underrated
Bench-underrated
Decline cable crossover- overrated
Hammerstrength plate loaded incline - overrated

stretch is his whole thing
I think he is pretty on the money for hypertrophy stuff
like the incline it was not all incline db presses but limited ROM press with too much weight
instead control and going down to the lower part of the armpits is good
I agree because if you are going heavy and your shoulders and stuff aren't shot to shit use a barbell
take advantage of the extra ROM you can get from the dbs

 

[NoSmilez]

stretch is his whole thing
I think he is pretty on the money for hypertrophy stuff
like the incline it was not all incline db presses but limited ROM press with too much weight
instead control and going down to the lower part of the armpits is good
I agree because if you are going heavy and your shoulders and stuff aren't shot to shit use a barbell
take advantage of the extra ROM you can get from the dbs

The hypertrophy stuff is up for debate. The current literature shows mechanical tension is the primary driver of hypertrophy. The stretch might have benefit or not. Without getting into a science circle jerk there is literature that stretch might have no benefits past a beginner's stage.

It is the current debate but I am more of do what doesn’t hurt you and makes you feel good.

Science constantly flip flops when human studies are conducted. The whole stretch mediated hypertrophy is based on animal studies. They took a bunch of birds and tied heavy weights to them for hours. The way RP lift weights using a big stretch is only for a min and some change. The load is also less.

 

[zapataxiv]

The hypertrophy stuff is up for debate. The current literature shows mechanical tension is the primary driver of hypertrophy. The stretch might have benefit or not. Without getting into a science circle jerk there is literature that stretch might have not benefits past a beginner stage.

It is the current debate but I am more of do what doesn’t hurt you and makes you feel good.

Science constantly flip flops when human studies are conducted. The whole stretch mediated hypertrophy is based on animal studies. They took a bunch of birds and tied heavy weights to them for hours. The way RP lift weights using a big stretch is only for a min and some change. The load is also less.

yea I have listened to a couple talks by JM Blakely about mechanical tension
and I put way more value on what he says than Mike
the thing is there are many ways to king a cat
although I guess you limit that tension with intensity weights that you struggle to move
in my own experience I put on way more mass powerlifting than I ever did doing bro splits
but adding in high rep hypertrophy with a big stretch has helped me to get some bigger muscles on places that were lagging
so idk it's more complex than just one way or the highway