STRENGTH SENSEI BOOKSHELF
Dorian Yates: From the Shadow
An up-close and personal look at the life of a legendary bodybuilder
To many, Dorian Yates’s victory in the 1992 Mr. Olympia signaled a turning point in what it would take to win on the biggest show in muscle. Packing 275 pounds on a 5-foot-10 ½ frame, Yates was all about muscle. How Yates trained to develop such mass has been the subject of many books and countless articles. From the Shadow also covers Yates’ training but also gives the reader a deep dive into the mindset of what motivated him to become a bodybuilding legend.
As background, consider that in the 15 years before Yates’ first win, symmetry ruled the Olympia stage. Case in point: Frank Zane (1977-1979), Chris Dickerson (1982), Samir Bannout (1983), and Lee Haney (1984-1991). With the exception of Zane, who only weighed 185 pounds at 5-foot-9, all these men were well-muscled. Yates’s physique “changed the game” by introducing the world to the mass monster.
On stage in ripped condition, Yates weighed 275 pounds. His measurements included 21-inch arms, 22-inch calves, 31-inch thighs, and a 58-inch chest that tapered down to a 34-inch waist. Yates’ conditioning was superior, and the width, thickness, and detail of his back set the standard in the Iron Game.
Charles Poliquin often talked about his admiration for the word Kaizen, which translates from Japanese to “constant and never-ending improvement.” Kaizen describes Yates’ approach to bodybuilding. Even after he won his first Mr. Olympia, he sought creative ways to improve, and this mindset enabled him to win five more Sandow trophies.
Another aspect of Yates that generated interest in his physique was his promotion of training hard and heavy, but brief. Yates credits Nautilus inventor Arthur Jones and Mike Mentzer for introducing the bodybuilding world and fitness community to this form of “high intensity” training. For more on exactly how Yates trained, invest in his books, A Warrior’s Story and Dorian Yates Training Journal: 1985-1990, along with his Blood and Guts workout video. Only with this background can you see the logic in Yates’s training system.
Before exploring From the Shadow, a warning: You might want to consider only purchasing the digital version of the book as many Amazon.com reviewers complained of the poor print production of the softcover version of this book. On September 21, 2021, “Tina” from Canada wrote: “The print inside of the book was unreadable. Blank pages, pages upside down, half printed pages.” And on May 28, 2020, “Anthony” from the UK wrote: “The quality of the pressing is VERY poor.”
The eBook, published in 2018 and co-authored by Kaspa Hazlewood, appears to have no such problems as the text is readable and the abundance of photos (all black and white, many converted from color) reproduced well. And as with Yates’ physique, the book is a monster at 288 pages (print) and 376 pages (eBook).
What hardcore bodybuilding fans will appreciate is the detail Yates provides in taking the reader on his bodybuilding journey. For example, he thought his chest was “genetically average” and said that between 1991-93 he focused on incline pressing on a Smith machine to bring this bodypart up to par. Yates also discusses his fondness for Hammer Strength equipment, such that he flew to Cincinnati to meet with its inventor Gary Jones, son of Arthur Jones.
To be clear, From the Shadow is a biography that goes beyond training, beginning with his upbringing in England. He discusses what could be described as a “dysfunctional” relationship with his parents. For example, Yates’ father died at age 42. He first learned about it from a friend at school and does not know where his father was buried. How Yates’ dealt with his father’s death and his struggle to mature into manhood are extensively covered.
What the reader will appreciate is Yate’s honesty, especially concerning steroids. He describes drugs as “the nature of the business,” the consequences of their use, and expresses regret for the bodybuilding champions who we lost too soon “allegedly” from their use. However, he also says that steroids “do not make the champion,” as there are many other factors associated with success in this segment of the Iron Game.
In addition to reading From the Shadow, you should also head online and watch Yates’ interviews on The Joe Rogan Experience and LondonReal. This study will give you a deep dive into what created one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, Dorian Yates! (TSS)
[You can purchase From the Shadow by Dorian Yates and Kaspa Hazlewood through Amazon.com.)
