Another strong mofo - Kevin Tolbert

[Debaser]

Kevin Tolbert is the adopted son of Dr. Ken Leistner, another fantastic lifter and one who has written numberous articles in hardgainer and cyberpump. Using abbreviated low volume training Kevin has managed these achievements:

Was a 5'9" 220 pound running back at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ran a 4.5 40.
Performed 20 to 23 reps with 375 lbs and 15 x 405 lbs in the bench press at a bodyweight of 230 lbs.
Benched 510lbs in a legal, competitive style.
Performed 30 x 600 lbs in the barbell squat at a bodyweight of 248 lbs.
Performed 30 reps of 450 lbs in the deadlift in the spring of 1985 at a Gold's Gym in Philadelphia - immediately after a performing a set of squats for 30 reps [weight unknown] taking only the time necessary to change the weight.

Tolbert's measurements were accurately measured as:

33" thighs
20 1/2" arms
52" chest
20" neck.

All those lifts are pretty impressive but all I've got to say is, 600 x 30 squats? Jesus christ...I believe he has also done single deadlifts for over 800 lbs, I read that somewhere else that I can't find off hand...

 

[DrBones]

fuck... thats pretty immpressive

 

[WarriorPL]

VERY impressive. What i don't understand why all lifts are given in such high reps. Why not just give 1RM's?

 

[Debaser]

He probably didn't train very often with 1RMs. You usually don't with hardgainer style training.

 

[RusPA81]

VERY impressive. What i don't understand why all lifts are given in such high reps. Why not just give 1RM's?

In college football and I believe the military, they do strenght testing in reps, although I have never heard of them testing with reps of that high of a weight. They usually do 225 and 275 depending on position for bench.

 

[louden_swain]

VERY impressive. What i don't understand why all lifts are given in such high reps. Why not just give 1RM's?

Because they lead to injury. I never max out, but I have an idea what it may be.

 

[coolcolj]

strong and impressive, but he sure ain't training the right way for an athlete

Now Adam Archuletta trains the way an athlete should...

 

[Debaser]

I think weight lifting was his focus, not to be a football player.

I'm still amazed at 600 x 30 squats, that's BRUTALLY strong right there. Unheard of for a natural lifter.

Ask yourself how many natural lifters you know that can do 600 x 1? How bout 400 x 20? It would take probably over 5 years to reach 400 x 20 naturally, and that's genetically beyond the reach of many people anyway. To do 600 x 30 fucking reps is inhuman.

 

[louden_swain]

This guy certainly has very impressive numbers!!

 

[coolcolj]

who could have been a once in a lifetime genetic freak too

 

[louden_swain]

I am a little skeptical on the 600lbs x 30. . . .thats just truly amazing!!!

 

[supersizeme]

I have no doubt the guy was strong as shit, but I gotta call bullshit on those stats. First off...30 reps of 600? Give me a break. Maybe...maybe maybe if he was doing quarter squats that might be remotely possible. But 30 reps parallel at 600 is not human, not even juiced human on PCP.
And 30 reps of anything squats followed immediately by 30 reps of 450 deads. i don't know if anyone's done a 20 rep set of breathing squats, but to say it's physically exhausting is a bit of an understatement. Maybe if he did the bar or 135 for 30 reps. Even if he was doing quarter squats that's still way too taxing to be able to pull 450 for THIRTY REPS immediately afterwards. LOL jesus. I believe 450x30 is entirely possible but not immediately after that kind of squatting.

i have no doubt that some elite members could pull it off though.

 

[collegiateLifter]

altough i know doc leistner can do something like 450 for 20 or 30 on squats, i am not sure i believe 600 for 30 either

 

[Debaser]

Well, I WOULD agree, if this were coming out of say, musclemag. But this is hardgainer/cyberpump information, who are notorious for honest information.

 

[strengthfiend]

Yeah I could pull the 450 x 30, but the 600 x 30 is bullshit. I saw Hugo Girard squat 700 for 8 with no belt and that was unreal, so I don't think it's possible.

Strengthfiend

 

[Debaser]

See above post.

 

[Dirty Workout]

600x30 is ABSOLUTELY SICK!!!!!!

 

[bander]

the 600x30 was a full squat, no quarter squats, that's the only squat Dr. Ken has his trainees do... as far as it actually having happened or not, I have no reason to believe that it didn't based solely on Dr. Ken's reputation for his honesty and straightforwardness. And if you've seen pictures of Kevin Tolbert it doesn't look like he can't squat.

here's an article he wrote that mentions it...

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/cyberpump2.htm

 

[slobberknocker]

Because they lead to injury.

Bad form leads to injury.

 

[Tweakle]

anyone else getting a p&b flashback over this topic? No, ah well.

no fucking way was Tolbert a natty. 600x30 is unlikely but who knows maybe you're right he was a beast & his other lifts are awesome.

 

[bander]

Dr. Ken lying about Tolbert's progress? That's a pretty strong accusation to make against someone who's been in the game as long and is as respected as him.... especially without any sources to back it up.

 

[b fold the truth]

I think that he went to the US Pro Qualifiers for Strongman in 1997 in Vegas...I believe.

First of all...he is a strong dude...no questions about it. Don't take away any of his accomplishments...very impressive no matter if he was drug free or a genetic freak or not.

CCJ: I agree that this isn't the best training for an athlete. It didn't help him a lot in that contest.

louden_swain: Where did you get that 1rm's cause injuries? I have hurt my back numerous times doing HIGH REPS...not singles. Myself, as well as many others, feel that lower reps are MUCH safer than higher reps. Maybe you should think about doing more for injury prevention and prehab so that you will not be injured more by the heavy weights.

Dr. Ken squatted 407 x 23 I believe...took about 2.5 minutes I think. Pretty cool video. They were all below parallel.

Debasser: I am a member at Cyberpump and quite often rumors tend to fly there like wild fire. I have expressed my opinions there many times that so many people are stuck in the dark ages and a lot of misinformation goes through that board...lots. Just because it was said there...doesn't mean that it was correct.

Still...he is a VERY strong person and a good athlete.

B True

 

[coolcolj]

This is a very old thread BTW, why are people digging up the past?

 

[thebrute]

damn..that's fuckin awesome and 600x30 on squats is ungodly!! tb

 

[Debaser]

I would agree to some extent about the rumors b fold, except this was in the original H.I.T. faq, that was merely posted on cyberpump.

I'm pretty sure Kevin Tolbert was natural...just an absolute genetic freak. I could be wrong, however. If you look at a picture of him he looks enormous, yet it almost suits him like a normal person. He doesn't look like he was just jacked up with drugs, in other words. I'm not sure this counts for much, but also as Dr. Ken's son he would probably share the same opposition to drug use.

 

[WalkingBeast]

louden_swain: Where did you get that 1rm's cause injuries? I have hurt my back numerous times doing HIGH REPS...not singles. Myself, as well as many others, feel that lower reps are MUCH safer than higher reps. Maybe you should think about doing more for injury prevention and prehab so that you will not be injured more by the heavy weights.


B True [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree. Whenever Ive gotten a strain or pull from an exercise it was always from high reps. One situation where I attempted 315 with no warm-up weighing 160, did cause a real good pull in my pec though, and couldnt bench for over a month. But I think with good warm-ups one rep maxes are pretty safe. Atleast this has been my experience so far.

 

[b fold the truth]

I hope my post didn't come across wrong. I just meant that I train my body to be used to heavy loads in different positions. Mostly with dead and GM variations...as well as reverse hypers, etc...

Seriously...did NOT mean to offend anyone.

B True