"It's not the kind of car you drive, it's the size of the arm hanging out the window". (Sign as you enter Gold's Gym Venice parking lot)

This says it all, doesn't it.

You know this place is about bodybuilding and the atmosphere, emphasis and the in your face attitude is purely and uniquely Gold's Gym in Venice. We all know that outside of Venice, Gold's Gyms are more mainstream health clubs that cater to mass fitness audience. I heard the successful owner of 4 Gold's Gyms in the Kentucky and Indiana area say "the target audience is women 25-45 and the men will follow." Actually most Gold's outside of Venice are trying to shake the hardcore bodybuilding image that they believe intimidates women and reduces their potential to maximize membership. I have often said that any club can have the right weights, plates and equipment but it’s the atmosphere that makes it a great gym.

Gold's Gym in Venice makes no attempt to hit a mainstream target audience. It is purely bodybuilding and it has the right atmosphere if you are serious about training. To average person, this Gold's might be considered grungy. No carpet graces the floor. No chrome equipment reflects pristinely around room. No disinfectant bottles with towels to wipe down the equipment. (I have always wondered why a guy would bother to wipe down equipment when he never sweat on in the first place. Excuse me, I am off subject). And yes here there was no air conditioning to keep your sweat in check.

But this Gold's is by no means a dungeon or a Petri dish for breeding disease. It was clean with paper towels as needed to wipe up. The equipment is state of art. Seems every major equipment builder wanted their equipment on display at this gym. But the gym also had the old school benches, squat racks and chin bars. Shock mats replace carpet so weights are not broken and noise minimized their on return (drop) to the floor.

The structure housing for the "Mecca of Bodybuilding" is a 3 distinct warehouse type buildings connected by large doors as well the famous outdoor weight room under a canopy. Walls are very high inside. Large steel roll up doors were also open to the outside. Ventilation was exceptional with large fans moving air in hot pockets. I found it quite comfortable to train, even better than an A/C controlled room and this was last week of July!

Gary Strydom inside the Mecca of Bodybuilding

At normal height, mirrors are standard fare. You will see yourself train! This is critical to all bodybuilders monitoring their immediate progress for motivation as well maintaining correct form. The high portions of the walls are loaded with pictures of all the past greats to present in bodybuilding. One wall is dedicated to Mr. Olympia another to Mr. America (now NPC USA).

One major surprise was the men's locker room. I figured it would be every bit as spartan as the gym area. To the contrary, the new wood lockers wrapped the walls and facilities were spotless. No odors made me want to check out early. An attendant was there straightening up at least one time while I was there.

I trained twice at Venice and was surprised to see so many Pros and National Level competitors coincided at my times. Dorian Yates, Bob Cicherillo, Dan Decker, Mike Ergas, Tito Raymond, and Tim O'Hearn are the ones I can remember. Surprisingly, as many greats that were roaming the gym, the attitude was friendly and inclusive. I did not feel like an outsider. Often with greatness comes arrogance. This was not my experience. I was treated as if I was part the club. Appropriate courtesies of "excuse me", "am I in your way" or "are you working here" were common place toward me and others by guys obviously much bigger than me.

Probably the most shocking event on my last workout was a guy that walked up to me and says "is your name Scott". Well "yes" I answered. This obviously seasoned bodybuilder stuck out his hand and said his name, Joe Tong. I was almost speechless. Joe and I go way back to when I trained in Louisville, Kentucky. Joe was 21 at that time and seriously training. I helped him with his posing; training and we did some socializing. He was a great friend that I had lost track. Joe, now 41, has competed nationally and has changed "just a bit" so that I did not immediately recognize him. When he smiled he was unmistakably "Joe". We talked old times for about 15 minutes and I learned he was friends and training partner with Gary Strydom. Everyone knows Gary had one the best physiques on the circuit with great aesthetics including perfect symmetry and balance and one of the best shaped chests in the late 80 and early 90's. Frankly, Gary was one of my favorites during this time. Recently, Gary has made a return to competitive bodybuilding and looks every bit as sharp as he did a decade ago. Check out his website sometime.

I walked out the Gold with workouts that rivaled the quality I would get at my regular gym. The seriousness of those training around me quickly motivated me to really make my "Sweat harden to Muscle". It is easy to understand why a rising bodybuilder would want to train amongst the biggest and best bodybuilders in the world.

"The Firehouse"- Who needs a juice bar when you have this.

During my first workout, Dan Decker, 2006 USA competitor, was doing a photo shoot with Irv Gelb. After the photo shoot and my workout, Dan introduced to me to the Firehouse. Just a block away from Gold's and around the corner is this restaurant for the bodybuilder. Its name aptly derives its name from the old wooden firehouse building that houses this dining establishment. The only thing missing are the Dalmatians sitting at the entrance.

Gary Strydom Posing in Front of the Firehouse

The menu proudly offers protein shakes and meals prepared specifically for the bodybuilder completing an intense workout. Where else can you get a Buffalo Scramble (primarily egg whites and buffalo meat) and a protein smoothie. Dorian Yates and a group of others sat at nearby table gobbling similar fare.

So what is the take away from this article? Here it is….you need to go the Gold’s in Venice for the gym experience of a lifetime. Getted pumped so you are fired up to hit the weights every day just a bit harder.

By the way, parking is at a premium so the sign also read "Parking for Gold's Gym members only. Violators will be picked up and carried away" And I know just guys to do it.

Well maybe fast cars and big arms do go together...see below.

Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle".....Scott

This article is property of Bodybuilding Program Zone and may not be reproduced without written permission from Scott Jameson. Besides it wouldn't be right....Scott