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How did you get started with bodybuilding?

Actually, my father took me to the gym when I was around four or five since he and my grandfather trained fighters, which they were well known for since the 1950’s. Through the years, I would perform pull-ups, sit-ups, and all sorts of cardiovascular work. I would say that this sparked my interest in fitness. However, it was during the latter half of my freshman year in high school that I began to take an interest in weights. A friend of mine persistently made an attempt to get me to workout with him, but it didn’t really appeal to me. Then the hormones kicked in and the girls became very interesting to me. Being shorter made me reconsider my friend’s offer to pack on some muscle. So, one day I went with him and hit a few sets of curls, got the “pump,” and the rest is history…

What is your training like?

I’m aware that any given training style will eventually lead to stagnation regardless of how effective it may have been initially. So, I make frequent changes and revolve it around a group of the most effective movements. I incorporate many compound movements on a regular basis, such as dips, pull-ups, pullovers, presses, and the like. One point of interest is that I am not a fan of the “either-or” mentality when it comes to training theory: high reps vs. low reps; high volume vs. low volume; high frequency vs. low frequency, core vs. isolation… You’ll see forums and even books devoted to disproving one training method over another, all resting their claims on the basis of science. Most interesting is that science does not prove one theory over another. Even the handful of tests performed in the context of advanced muscle building often involve biased assumptions, overlooked variables, and quite simply, are irrelevant when it comes to practical application. The best any of us can do is draw intelligent conclusions based on what little science there is to support advanced muscle-building. While this happens to be the basis of the majority of highly-regarded training philosophies out there, the fact is you can’t prove any one of them to be better than the other with certainty, or even close.

Obviously, there must be some merit to the majority of the most widely-accepted training approaches, even though they seem to contradict one another in various areas. World-class physiques have been built using methods that virtually oppose each other. So, my goal is to extract and apply the most worthwhile attributes of each. More often than not, you’ll find me using high-volume and working each muscle group once per week. Nonetheless, on occasion I may incorporate low volume sessions and boost the frequency, working each bodypart twice over the course of eight days. Drop sets, rest-pause, 15-to-50, 30-to-30, eccentric training, and many other “shock” strategies are utilized in orderly fashion, as well.

My Routine

On a practical basis, I may use any one of these strategies during an 8-12 week cycle and put it on the shelf, in place of others, for another 8-12 weeks. I also systematically rotate my rep range, rep tempo, exercise order, and other pertinent factors. Although there are exceptions, I often structure a specific combination of these factors and implementing throughout an 8-12 week cycle. Hopefully that doesn’t sound too complex since it’s actually quite simple…but highly effective!

What is your diet like?

I usually take in about 1 gram of protein per pound of LBW in the off-season and approximately 1.5 grams, pre-contest. I might increase or reduce this based on carb cycling strategies and training approach. When it comes to carbs and fats, pre-contest, I break each day down into small windows and match it with expenditure levels. I might take in a bit more fat over carbs during low-activity periods, even up to 30-40% of my caloric intake for that meal. This slows the digestion process and allows me to utilize the carbs more efficiently over a longer period. Along these lines, I will boost my carbs and reduce fat before and after my workout. Generally, I will pack in the majority of my carbs pre and post workout, with a bit extra for breakfast. I adjust overall caloric levels and the ratios of my macro framework in correlation with my expenditure levels since I may go from a day of training 15 clients topped off with of a brutal quad workout to a day of total relaxation.

What is your supplementation like?

I stick to the basics, such as a good whey protein, creatine, and the like. I’m sponsored by MuscleTech, which has been an incredible asset throughout my career as a competitive bodybuilder! I take a good vitamin-antioxidant and fiber supplement, as well.

Where does your motivation come from?

I’m a huge fan of the way bodybuilders looked in the mid-seventies, in terms of overall musculature and aesthetics, and I believe that a similar physique can be built without the use of drugs. At the very least, the illusion of such can be created with a reasonable degree of development, razor-sharp conditioning, and with a few strategies behind the presentation. So, my motivation comes from knowing that I can step on stage with a physique that is reminiscent of this era, and to make it appealing enough to sway up-and-coming bodybuilders toward the drug-free route in order to achieve the same or better. I want to show the world what I already know, which is that an incredible physique can be built without the use of growth-enhancing compounds; being 100% natural!

When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?

I prefer no cardio until it is necessary (fortunately, I can get away with this and do not recommend this for everybody). When cardio is a must to realize my objectives, I will utilize HIIT and remain around 170 BPM, primarily, unless I sense that I’m on the brink of over-training. In that case, I may perform low-intensity cardio just to burn a few calories and stay on pace. I personally believe that (HIIT) cardio is essential in terms of creating that skin-tight look during the final two weeks or so.

When I perform cardio, I think outside the box, away from the traditional lower-body variations.

It never made any sense to me as to why cardio=lower-body work. Pulverizing the muscles, joints, and stripping muscle in the leg region seems pretty counter-productive when you reflect upon the bottom line. A wiser approach entails making the entire body work, not just the legs. Since so many muscles are working at once, it’s easier to keep my heart-rate elevated even while working at a moderate intensity level. Likewise, I ultimately end up retaining more muscle than I would relying on sprinting and similar lower body work. In terms of practical application, I often incorporate a variety of high-intensity MMA exercises into my routine. Every muscle performs an equal amount of work in my cardio format, although I will periodically tailor the movements based on my resistance-training schedule to ensure adequate recuperation and to avoid over-training.

Plans for the future?

I want to hit my peak and show bodybuilding fans something that they have yet to see in the natural realm. The biggest obstacle that I face is staying hungry enough to follow through with what is required in order to reach this goal. Other passions tend to interfere with bodybuilding and I sometimes find myself falling off track. Even so, I’ve been working hard and plan on bringing a much improved physique to the stage in the upcoming years!

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Website: www.JimCordova.com

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