What Lee Haney looks like now: 8x Mr. Olympia

Absolute Mr. Olympia and his program.

Lee Haney's video workouts are full of positivity. The bodybuilder not only is not afraid of difficulties, but also helps his players to improve their morale. He alternates encouragement with clear instructions. Each of his steps is precise and rhythmic, Lee does not make unnecessary body movements, due to which time is saved and it becomes possible to increase the number of approaches (sets). The secret of success of this titled athlete lies in the high volume of training.

Execution technique

Initial position

• Set the Smith machine bar at a height that matches the length of your arms;
• Stand with your back to the machine, stabilize your lower back by drawing in your stomach;
• Move your shoulders away from your ears, lowering your shoulder blades toward your pelvis and slightly contracting your diamond shape;
• Grab the bar symmetrically with both hands;
• The distance from each palm to the stands should be the same;
• The grip should be made in such a way that bending at the elbow joint is comfortable;
• For most people, this is a grip 10cm wider than shoulder width;
• Remove the bar from the belay supports by simply turning it towards you

Movement

1. Bending your arms at the elbow joints, pull the bar up as far as possible;
2. The elbows should bend at the same time;
3. In order to ensure sufficient amplitude, raise your shoulders and engage your trapezius;
4. The buttocks can become an “obstacle” in the way of the bar, so it is allowed to slightly push the barbell back;
5. Lowering the bar should be slow;
6. The thrust is accomplished through the rear deltoid, the trapezius only helps the movement;

Deadlift by Li Hanei. Or as they also say - Lee Haney-Honey deadlift with a barbell for the rear delts and trapezius

Errors

• The athlete's chest is strongly curved, his back is round;
• The lumbar region is either too arched or curved, there is no stability in it, the spine changes angle with each pull;
• Instead of deadlifts, the athlete does shrugs with a barbell behind his back, that is, he lifts and lowers the weight by lifting his shoulders;

Body-building

Since the early 1980s, Haney began to participate in the most important bodybuilding tournaments and did not fall below 3rd position. In 1984, the man became Mr. Olympia for the first time and received the statuette 8 times, stopping in 1991. In terms of the number of titles, he surpassed the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom he once looked up to just like Sergio Oliva. Only Ronnie Coleman in 2005 was able to repeat Lee's record.

Great to meet up with 8 x Mr O Lee Haney… Chatting and laughing now the competitive days are over… Mutual respect ✊

Posted by Dorian Yates Sunday, September 15, 2020

Lee Haney and Dorian Yates

During his competitive years, the bodybuilder weighed 112 kg with a height of 180 cm, and his biceps girth was 51 cm. Haney leaned on high-volume training, unlike Dorian Yates, who insisted on working until “failure.” The American believed that a large number of repetitions stimulates the muscles, while training to the limit begins to burn them.

After finishing his competitive career in 1991, the athlete went into business, opening a chain of gyms, where he was engaged in coaching and consulting.

Recommendations

• The spine is stable, it is better not to make movements in the hip joints, removing the buttocks from the path of movement of the bar. It is recommended to slightly bend forward to make the movement more uniform and smooth;
• It is better to pull the Haney row to the upper part of the lower back, that is, in the deepest possible amplitude, and at the same time control the position of the body so as to avoid helping yourself by changing the angle of the spine;
• At the extreme point of amplitude, the elbows should look up, and the angle of flexion at the joint should be acute;
• To perform this deadlift correctly, you need good muscle awareness. Ideally, the movement begins at the shoulder joint and is initiated by the rear deltoid, with the elbows then bending. Those who bend their elbows first transfer some of the load to the biceps;
• It is also not allowed to work at the expense of the wrists; it is better not to bend them too much, because this shifts the emphasis to the forearms.

Personal life

Haney is an exemplary family man, as befits a good Christian. A man’s personal life commands respect no less than his professional success. He met his future wife Shirley at the age of 6. The children were friends for a long time, then they grew up, fell in love with each other and became a family. They had a daughter, Olympia, and a son, Joshua. The Haneys live in Georgia.

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A post shared by Lee "Hercules" Haney (@lee_haney_official) on Nov 7, 2020 at 12:17pm PST

Lee Haney and his daughter
Bodybuilder are engaged not only in charity work, but also in missionary activities. The man even hosted a program on a Christian radio station, where he reminded that during physical development one should not forget about spiritual self-improvement. The athlete’s biography is an example to follow for thousands of athletes striving to achieve high results.

Execution options

There is a separate category of exercises that are most convenient to perform with a fixed barbell, that is, in a Smith machine. This movement falls into this category. Pulling free weights is not convenient, if only because it requires a tilt of the back, and to stabilize the bar you will have to engage the triceps, which will complicate the exercise and make it less accessible. You can do a crossover Haney row by attaching a long handle to the lower block, but this option also requires good coordination.

Achievements

The titled bodybuilding star not only holds the record for the number of first places at Olympia, but also many other trophies and titles. Among them:

• first place at the World Championships in the “heavy weight” subcategory (1982);
• victory in 2 categories at once at the “Nationals” competition (same 1982);
• in 1983, Haney became the champion of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, took 2nd place three times (British Grand Prix, Swedish Grand Prix and World Cup Grand Prix) and twice won silver (World Championship among professional athletes , "Mr. Olympia").

It was with Hein’s arrival in the sport that the Olympia expert commission began to pay attention to the harmony of the constitution. Previously, this indicator was not key. The champion could be chosen only for well-developed muscles of group 1.

In total, the bodybuilder participated in 22 major competitions. During his career, he never fell below 3rd place. The secret of Lee Haney's success is a training program built on a system with a large number of approaches.

Analysis of the exercise

Many bodybuilders mistakenly classify the Lee Haney deadlift as an isolation exercise. It is not right. In fact, it is a complex row for developing the trapezius and deltoid muscles, with an emphasis on the rear deltoid. It follows that a slight lift of the shoulders in the exercise is not a significant technical error. A significant emphasis on lifting and performing in the shrug style makes it difficult to concentrate on the goal.

Sometimes the movement is performed with dumbbells, this allows you to overcome the natural asymmetry in the development of the human body. But in most cases the movement is performed in a Smith machine.

What muscles work

For Smith, the following layout of working muscles is advisable:

• Trapezius and rear deltoids as prime movers;
• The levator scapulae and rhomboid muscles contribute to movement;
• The biceps and the entire complex of leg muscles, as well as the abs, stabilize the position of the arms and body;
• An exercise with a strong forward bend also involves the quadriceps in a static manner.

Lee Haney Row / Pumping up the rear delts

Preparing for the exercise

There are two polar opinions here. Some experts believe that the best preparation is a set of pull-ups with a reduced amplitude, plus a joint-type warm-up of the shoulder girdle and light stretching. Others believe that the warm-up should include 1-2 sets of standing or bench presses, since the deltoids will be a priority. The second opinion is more scientifically substantiated, but in the practice of bodybuilding and fitness both options are found.

Warm-up sets for this exercise are mandatory; beginners should strive to perform them with minimal weight. For most people, a light stick or body bar is suitable. Sometimes it is recommended to warm up with dumbbells, although biomechanically this movement will be somewhat different.

Proper execution

• The emphasis in movement is on working the shoulders and trapezius, rather than the elbows and biceps. Start of movement - from the shoulders;
• The head should not lie on the chest, and the neck should not bend forward;
• Natural deflection in the lower back is allowed, but should not be hypertrophied;
• The shoulders are engaged when the elbow has not yet begun to bend; bending the elbow is the second phase of the exercise;
• The arms at the extreme point must be straightened completely. The movement behind the back assumes a short amplitude and does not contribute to its increase, so you need to consciously increase the amplitude and increase muscle stretching due to this;
• At the top, the elbows should be raised and close to each other, this contributes to the correct distribution of the load and allows you to perform the exercise with the correct mechanics;
• It is important to synchronize movement with breathing. There can be two options - holding your breath while ascending or exhaling while ascending; you need to choose the most convenient one;
• The exercise is performed in a fairly large number of repetitions, so you need to try not to change the angle of the spine and keep the amplitude the same;
• It is not recommended to change your grip during training; sometimes it turns out that the athlete does not grip the bar comfortably, and he has to move his palms, but it is better to avoid this

Errors

• Excessive deflections and humps in the spine;
• “Inserting” the elbows at the bottom of the exercise;
• Body building and cheating;
• Movement due to shoulder shrug;
• Hasty work without delay at the top of the amplitude;
• Disproportionately heavy weights

Recommendations

The grip allows you to work with your hands under your shoulders or in a position slightly wider than your shoulders. This work allows the athlete to avoid overloading the joint. A narrower grip is not recommended due to the anatomically unnatural position of the shoulders.

Childhood and youth

Lee Marvin Haney was born in 1959 into a religious family living in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The boy studied at a Methodist school and was fond of sports since childhood. At first it was football, and at the age of 12 the child reached for the iron, which he no longer let go of. This did not stop him from paying attention to his studies and graduating from college with a degree in child psychology. While receiving his education, the young man defended the honor of the educational institution by playing in the local football team.

ICA conference at the Arnold Classic - Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger & Lee Haney Posted by Maria Dalton Saturday, March 13, 2010

Lee Haney and Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding became a passion, and the results were not long in coming. Already in his youth, Lee tried his hand at his first competitions and won victories there. The young man became “Mr. America” among teenagers, and then won the status of “Mr. Universe”. The stunning successes did not turn the guy’s head: the fact is that he dedicated all his victories to God himself, with whom he entered into an agreement in exchange for success to serve the Creator with good deeds.

It seems that the Almighty accepted the guy’s proposal and began to favor him in everything. But he did not break his promise: having achieved phenomenal success and winning endless awards, Haney continued to invest most of his income in a village for abandoned children. The bodybuilder provides conditions under which former street children receive a roof over their heads, upbringing, education, play sports and realize their potential.

Inclusion in the program

The inclusion of an exercise in a training program is determined by its characteristics. This exercise can be considered multi-joint and complex, so its inclusion in the program is due to its nature. The movement is included after the main press on the chest or shoulders, and is compensatory for it along the planes of load distribution.

The movement is usually performed for 8-12 repetitions; its inclusion in the program in a low-repetition mode is not justified. Everyone eats, anatomically this is not the most natural movement and it is better to protect your joints when performing it.

Lee Haney now

What does a bodybuilder do today in his free time from training and interviews?

1. Lee writes books.
2. Appears on the radio.
3. Acts in films.
4. Manages a network of sports clubs.
5. Sponsors an orphanage with a zoo, built with his own money.

The famous bodybuilder serves as chairman of the sports council, organizes youth tournaments and teaches a bodybuilding course.
The 58-year-old champion also loves observing nature and spending time with his family.

Biography

Since childhood, Lee Haney has been actively involved in sports. At first he was interested in football, but then he decided to not just be in good physical shape, but to become really big and strong. Lee Hein never spoke publicly about why he chose bodybuilding, but even if at first it was a simple hobby, it later grew into a lifelong pursuit. When he turned nineteen, he became the winner among young men at the Mr. America tournament. The bodybuilder’s family was religious, and at the age of seventeen, Lee fully believed in the existence of a higher power. It was at this age that he asked God to accompany him in victories, and in return the young man promised to devote himself to serving him.

The guy had good luck in bodybuilding. His first tournament, where he competed in the youth category, brought Haney victory. The national competition is followed by the Mr. Universe competition, where Lee again comes out on top, earning one of the most coveted titles for any bodybuilder. Haney believed that he owed his success entirely to God, thanks to whom he was able to achieve such impressive victories in tournaments. After two successful performances, he became a complete believer. Lee took religion seriously and decided to take the path of a true Christian.

Hayne became a professional bodybuilder in 1983. He managed to take third place at Mr. Olympia. For many, this result seems quite impressive, given the fact that he performed for the first time. It seemed to Lee that this was not enough. To feel confident, he needed to win first place in every competition. For the next seven years, Hayne truly became the best in every tournament. From 1984 to 1991, the bodybuilder became invincible. When he won in 1990, Lee wanted to retire from performing. The reason for this is his admiration for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the best bodybuilder in the world and owner of seven Sandow statuettes, whose fame he did not want to encroach on. But, having decided to compete, he won in 1991. Lee later marveled at how easily he managed to climb to the top of the podium.

Haney ended his professional career as a competitive bodybuilder at 32 years old. He decides to devote himself to business. Lee acquires first one and then another fitness center. His business is going well. This is evidenced by the refusal of the titled bodybuilder to participate in Mr. Olympia, to which he was invited as a participant in 1995. According to Haney, winning the tournament would in no way make him more popular, since he is quite famous. In addition, the size of the prize money, ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 dollars, was not at all interesting to him. The business brought in much more money. A larger sum could have changed Haney's decision. If we were talking about 400,000 or half a million dollars. Li cannot be called a selfish person. He created a special village. It houses children who, for various reasons, were left without parents. He spends the lion's share of his income on it. Children live in good, comfortable houses, have excellent nutrition, study, and play sports. They live the life they would lead in a prosperous family.

Shrugs

The essence of the exercise is from starting position 1, you need to raise your shoulders up to your neck, then you get position 2. You can perform it with dumbbells, a barbell or kettlebells. In our gym it is convenient to use weights, since there are a lot of them and they are always practically free. It is possible to perform this exercise while sitting, but we work with the trapezius, so doing it standing is not at all necessary. Shrugs are performed in 3 approaches, 15-12 times.

The following exercise was invented by the famous eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney. It is named after him.

Charity

Haney spends a considerable part of the money he earns on charity. He founded a village for children abandoned by their own mother and father. Everything there is organized according to Christian laws. Children are fed, live in cottages, attend school and, of course, sports activities.

The staff of this village is well selected; they are teachers, educators, and medical workers who know their stuff. The whole life of these children is as close as possible to the life of the same children who have their own parents; the children are not limited in anything, they live in normal conditions.

Performance history