Remembering Larry Scott

One would like to believe that simply exercising all one's life is enough to ward off the ravages of aging -- but something happens beginning around 35 for most, and even seeming to accelerate the aging process -- as we've witnessed many dying who we thought would live forever -- as well as the many others who shock us with their much too premature deaths.
Around the mid-80s, I drifted away from the bodybuilding world into the world of those dying horrible deaths from a mysterious disease called AIDS, as well as more traditional ways of dying because with the absence of world wars commencing with the latter half of the 20th century, many more were dying of age-related diseases -- because they were no longer being killed off in that manner anymore.
One of the striking things I noticed about those with dementias (Alzheimers) particularly, besides the lack of brain function and connectivity to the rest of the body, was that there was a noticeable lack of movement -- at their head, often evidenced by the atrophying of the neck muscles, and so rather than exercise for the purpose of the core muscles of the body, it seemed that the far better strategy -- was to ensure the movement, flow and development of the head, hands and feet -- at which the body's circulation is poorest.

That is the characteristic weakness of elderly bodybuilders that makes them look less than robust -- even if they continue to maintain a fairly strong core development. They are invariably atrophied at the neck, forearms and calves -- out of proportion to the much easier to maintain core muscles closer to the heart. That's seldom the problem -- as much as even the great champions of their youthful age -- begin to show this characteristic signs of aging at the head (neck), hands and feet -- that should be the highest priority in ensuring the highest functioning possible throughout life -- but which most people though they move everything else, do not move.

One of the most distinctive qualities of Larry Scott, was that his arms were particularly impressive -- mostly because he had one of the greatest ranges of movement at the wrist -- that effected the contraction of all the other muscles, that most people are not usually aware of. But he did not exhibit that range of motion at the head so much in his later years -- as he did in his peak years -- when the range of his head movements were also impressive, as well as his neck development. Arnold, Zane, and most of the former great champions, also have very limited head movement -- and thus have no means of developing the "old man's neck," as well as hands and feet, which in most people are merely as stubs -- rather than the proper focus and the design of the human body to move meaningfully and productively, and thus they age and deteriorate because of this lack oof effective movement and circulation -- despite how hard their hearts are pumping.

This is what I broached with Arthur Jones at the height of the acceptance and popularity of high-intensity training around only one axis of rotation while the rest of the body remained fixed -- and why I brought to his attention that when there was "muscle failure," it seemed to actually be "brain failure" -- caused by the lack of oxygen to the head forced to remain fixed, instead oof allowed to followed through naturally. And this is the form of movement practiced by most bodybuilders -- as well as exercisers of nearly all conventional movements -- of not moving the head, hands and feet as the primary objective, in achieving and maintaining the optimal functioning and health of the human body, which is the natural development of the human body, rather that the arbitrary form it has taken with more massive development (size) of the larger core muscles beginning with the retirement of Larry Scott as probably the culmination of the old time physique men -- who were usually relaxed and fairly normal looking until they pumped up, and transformed themselves in this ability to change -- that contemporary bodybuilders seem to lack, which is predictably very stressful for the body to maintain -- at all times.

Curiously, in reviewing some of the Iron Man videos, I notice that publisher Balik exhibits a range of head movement not usually seen in others, and for that reason, has a well-developed sternomastoid muscle, which keeps his mind sharp -- and I would think, is the solution for the notable age-old problem of lack of circulation and health at the extremities of the head, hands and feet that fail people as they age. That is the most important parts of the body to build and maintain -- as the key to longevity and health in the 21st century for aging Baby Boomer bodybuilders.