This past week has been firmly rooted in prep mode. With the Arnold Classic getting closer, the focus has shifted toward precision — in training, in recovery, and in how each session is executed. Even while traveling, the structure stays intact.
After spending time in Bali, I traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, where I spent much of the past week. While Bali is known for its laid-back beaches and spiritual retreats, Bangkok stands out for its fast-paced urban energy, bustling street life, and modern cityscape.
Here on the blog, the past week opened with Sculpting Sunday: My Cable Pulldown Trick for a Better Triceps Teardrop, where I broke down a small but powerful adjustment for cable pulldowns that dramatically improves triceps “teardrop” development. Locking the elbows, finishing with a hard squeeze, and controlling the negative turns a common exercise into a precise sculpting tool. It’s a reminder that details — not heavier weight — are what shape a physique.
On Motivation Monday: Discipline in Every Rep, I shared a photo from an intense training session at the B1 Gym in Dubai. The message was simple: form, control, and intent matter on every pull. Motivation comes and goes, but the standard you train to has to stay consistent.
Tuesday introduced something new with the launch of Tuesday Travelogue. In my first post to that new series, I (not surprisingly) focused on Bali, reflecting on what makes the island unique — its culture, geography, climate, and rhythm — and how environments like that can change the way you think, move, and recover. Travel and experiencing new cultures can definitely sharpen one’s perspective.
Midweek, I shared a long-form breakdown of how I train my back for real thickness. Width has never been my limiting factor — density is what I’ve had to earn. In that post, I covered how I use foundational row patterns, grip angles, kneeling lat pulldowns, strict rowing mechanics, and iso-mix sets to refine detail and separation. It’s a technical look at back training, built around intent instead of volume for volume’s sake.
The week closed with two contrasting photo moments. Throwback Thursday: Steel Versus Skin revisited a classic 2021 image — a study in contrast between steel and skin, structure and adaptation.
And Friday Flex: Aloha State of Mind shifted the tone entirely, sharing a relaxed 2024 moment from Hawaii — a reminder that recovery, reflection, and perspective are part of the process too.
It was a full week, and the momentum continues.
Coming up next week, I’ll be breaking down how to instantly improve hamstring activation on leg curls, and I’ll also be sharing a long-form post on why bodybuilding isn’t just a sport — but a lifestyle you choose every single day. Alongside that, there will be more stories, more training insight, and more moments captured through the Motivation Monday, Throwback Thursday, and Friday Flex series.
Also, don’t forget – you have one week left to participate in Alessandro’s Scavenger Hunt – Launch Edition, where I present 10 questions that can only be answered by searching through past blog entries.
And, as always, I’m eager to hear your feedback on my new blog. You can send feedback to myself and my team at feedback@theacblog.com. Let me know if there are particular training tips you’d like me to share.
I hope you had a great week, and that my posts motivate you to train, to travel, and constantly push yourself forward. I’ll see you in the next post. ✌️