Jim Park Bodybuilder

Jim Park was a bodybuilder in the 1950's, he was 5'7" tall and 190 pounds. His bodybuilding titles included Mr. America 1952, Mr. World 1953 and Mr. Universe 1954. He was also a World War II veteran, he was a Boy Scouts Leader for 40 years and he coached a power lifting team at his local gym.

Jim Park Workout

Jim Park trained very hard in the gym, some of his famous quotes on his workout methods include:

"If my training partner did 10 reps, I did 11."

"Once a week I started at the heavy end of the dumbbell rack and did curls until I could only lift the 2 1/2 lb dumbbells once."

Jim Park Diet

He was also a student of the low carbohydrate high protein Rheo Blair method, he ate mostly meats with some vegetables, protein shakes and protein pills every day. Every once in a while when he felt his energy was too low, he would "carb up" by drinking a milk shake.

Photo of Jim Park After Using Rheo Blair's Protein and Amino Acids

Under Rheo Blair's tutelage, Jim Park went from an unknown bodybuilder with an average physique to Mr. America...in less than four months! And even more amazing is this amazing transformation was done without drugs! This was back in the 50's before steroid use became so widespread in bodybuilding.

The Mind of a Champion

Jim also was a strong believer in the using power of the mind to achieve success, the following article is from the July 1953 issue of "Strength & Health Magazine".

Attitude and Training

by Jim Park, Mr. World

The Importance of a Correct Mental Approach To Weightlifting and Bodybuilding is Discussed

In The past few months I have been giving exhibitions all over the United States and I have come in contact with a lot of bodybuilders. In conversations after exhibitions I am often asked what I do for my arms, calves, etc. Of course, the only authentic and authorized account of my Training has already appeared in the November, 1952, issue of Strength & Health, but I repeat the exercises I do for benefit of my questioners and am often surprised to hear the remarks like the following: "Oh, but I'll never get bigger calves, They're not shaped right." Or, "I'm too small-boned to get any bigger."

This attitude is the topic of my article. First, as an example, I'll use my own case which is, naturally the one I know best. When I started training I was a husky boy of 19, setting out to get a 16-inch arm and a 45 inch chest. My thoughts weren't on how long it would take or how hard I would have train. I knew I'd reach the goals I'd set and started out to achieve them. In other words, I sold myself in the idea that I was going to get what I set out for, I didn't say, "I won't be able to get 16-inch arms because my bones aren't shaped right."

A lot of fellows I've met have adopted a defeatist attitude and I'm sure this has the effect of slowing their progress. I believe attitude has almost as much to do with getting good results as does having a good training system. When I was competition in weightlifting, the first thing I would do is tell myself: "this weight is light and I'll lift it easily." In other words, I'd sell myself on the idea and almost invariably succeed with the lift.

When champions like John Davis, Norb Schemansky, Pete George, Tommy Kono and Stan Stanczyk are on the platform, they most certainly aren't telling themselves, "This weight is heavy. I won't make it." Pete George is an especially good example of a lifter who gets the utmost from the mental preparation, concentration on succeeding with the weight he intends to lift.

These men, like all champions, know that to adopt a defeatist attitude would mean failure. A good Salesman is good because he is sold on the product he is selling. In order to succeed in any venture he has to have confidence in himself and his ability. Now, as to changing your attitude, I'm not sure I can help, but I will offer a suggestion: Always look at thing on a long term basis. Don't expect a half-inch gain on your arm overnight. In my opinion, most bodybuilders would be better off to throw the tape measure away and train for symmetry, rather than size for size sake.

Some of you doubtless have poor calves and say to yourselves, "What's the use of working on them. I trained them hard for two weeks and they didn't get any bigger." I have gained more than two inches on my calves since I started weight training and I only started serious training on them about two years ago. They grew an inch in the past year. But-I told myself I needed bigger calves and set out to get them. Like others I know, I didn't shrug off the problem and simply say, "I was born with small calves."

I hope you readers will get the drift of what I've tried to convey. It can be summed up, I guess, in John Paul Jones famous quotation: "Don't give up the ship." In the future, concentrate on your exercises and, above all, adopt a better mental attitude. Your mind and body work together, so with a sincere belief in yourself, your chances of success are doubled. I know there are limitations to what you can achieve with what you start with, but if can believe in yourself I'm sure you will benefit greatly from it. Remember, as the song said, to accentuate the positive-and don't give up before you start.

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