A.V. trainer honored for pioneering drug-free bodybuilding
Date: 19-08-2010
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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Adjacent to Jack O’Bleness’ house on Highway 18 is his “Monster Maker” gym.
For a gym that attracts elite bodybuilders from across the world, it seems a little small and grubby. The worn-out dumbbells, benches and machines look like they’re at least 15 years old.
But even without a state-of-the-art facility, O’Bleness’ has been producing “monsters” for more than 60 years. And unlike some bodybuilding monsters, his are drug-free.
The 83-year-old Apple Valley resident has recently been inducted into the U.S. Natural Bodybuilding Hall of Fame for his contribution as a pioneer of the sport. O’Bleness has helped put on about 250 drug-free competitions and trained hundreds of clients.
“I wanted to show what they could do without drugs,” O’Bleness said. “With your genetics and hard training, you can do just as well.”
O’Bleness started bodybuilding at age 16 and started training others at 22. Since then, he’s transformed bodybuilders from countries including Germany, Japan and Pakistan into champions through his 2 1/2-month program.
His gym moved from Redondo Beach to Inglewood to Apple Valley, where he’s been living with his wife for the past 18 years.
A big man himself at nearly 250 pounds, O’Bleness once could bench press 415 pounds. And although he’s now in a wheelchair recovering from a head-on auto collision a few years ago, O’Bleness still trains local athletes and residents, helping improve their performance and health.
