December 28, 2023
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a legendary figure in bodybuilding, has inspired countless enthusiasts with his extraordinary physique, dedication, and his contribution to the sport. His legacy in bodybuilding, marked by his seven Mr. Olympia titles, continues to influence the fitness community. Known for his unique training methods and philosophies, Schwarzenegger's approach to bodybuilding has become a blueprint for success for many aspiring bodybuilders and personal trainers in Richmond BC.
In this article, we dive into Arnold Schwarzenegger's 6-day workout split, otherwise known as, “The Arnold Split” or "The Blueprint to Building Mass" a regimen developed with MusclePharm that played a pivotal role in crafting his iconic physique. This workout plan, known for its intensity and focus on muscle isolation, targets different muscle groups each day. Designed for those who are serious about bodybuilding, the workout plan is a staple in many Richmond gyms, targeting different muscle groups each day for optimal growth.
Schwarzenegger's success is not only a result of his physical training but also his mental discipline. His teachings go beyond the gym, emphasizing the importance of mindset, consistency, and recovery in achieving bodybuilding excellence.
The 6-Day Workout Split:Overview And Benefits
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Blueprint is an intensive program designed for those committed to gaining serious, quality muscle mass. This methodology is not a shortcut; it's a disciplined approach integrating a 6-day workout split, focused on maximizing muscle growth while minimizing fat gain. The strategy combines rigorous physical training, a strategic diet, and effective supplementation, all inspired by Schwarzenegger's own successful bodybuilding practices.
Structured and Intensive Training: The 6-day workout split ensures a comprehensive approach to muscle building. Each day targets specific muscle groups, allowing for intense focus and adequate recovery time for each muscle group.
Maximized Muscle Engagement: This split allows for a higher frequency of training each muscle group, leading to increased muscle engagement and growth potential.
Variety and Adaptability: Incorporating a variety of exercises and methods like the 1-10 Method, Stripping Method, and Max Effort within the 6-day split keeps the training diverse and adaptable. This variety helps in continuously challenging the muscles and preventing plateaus.
Consistency and Routine: Having a 6-day split instills a sense of routine and consistency, which is crucial for steady muscle growth and development.
Balanced Muscle Development: By splitting the workouts across six days, each muscle group can be worked on thoroughly, ensuring balanced development and reducing the risk of imbalances or injuries.
Enhanced Recovery: While the training is intense, the 6-day split allows each muscle group to recover adequately before being worked again, which is essential for muscle growth and avoiding overtraining.
Focused Intensity: With each day dedicated to specific muscle groups, workouts can be more focused and intense, leading to greater endurance and strength gains.
Comprehensive Muscle Growth: The combination of this structured workout split with Arnold's recommended diet and supplementation plans ensures that all aspects of muscle growth are addressed, leading to significant improvements in size, strength, and overall physique.
Incorporating the 6-day workout split into Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Blueprint to Building Mass" elevates the program's effectiveness, making it a powerful tool for those aiming to achieve substantial and quality muscle growth through a disciplined, comprehensive approach.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Training Philosophy
Arnold Schwarzenegger's training philosophy is centred around the fundamental goal of building significant muscle mass. This approach is designed for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts who aim to achieve a physique characterized by substantial, lean muscle rather than mere bulk. The core of this philosophy lies in a no-nonsense approach that combines rigorous weight training with a disciplined diet and supplementation regimen.
Arnold's method goes beyond the simplistic idea of lifting weights and eating a high-calorie diet. It's a comprehensive strategy that demands intensity, dedication, and a deep understanding of how to effectively stimulate muscle growth both in and out of the gym.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Sample Workout Routine
Day 1: Chest, Back & Abs (Monday)
Chest Exercises
- Flat Barbell Bench Press
- Incline Barbell Bench Press
- Superset: Dumbbell Flyes with Dumbbell Pullover
Chest Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6 (Low Angle Incline)
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2 (Medium Angle Incline)
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5 ,5 ,5 ,5 (High Angle Incline)
- Week 4: Max out on either incline or flat, then 20, 15, 12 on the others (Low Angle Incline)
Back Exercises
- Wide Grip Chin Ups
- Superset 2 of the Following: Bent-Over Rows, Dumbbell Rows, TBar Rows
Back Rep Ranges
- Wide Grip Chin-Ups: 4-Sets to Failure
- Deadlifts: 10, 6, 4 OR 5, 5, 5 OR 12, 10, 8
- Bent-Over Rows- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6, Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2, Week 3: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6, Week 4: 20, 15, 12
Abs
- Leg Raises (5 Sets of 25 Reps)
- Decline ¾ Sit-Ups (5 Sets of 25 Reps)
Day 2: Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps, Forearms (Tuesday)
Shoulder Exercises:
- Clean & Press
- Superset 1: Dumbell Press with Full Frontal Raise
- Superset 2: Lateral Raises with Upright Rows
Shoulder Rep Ranges:
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
- Clean & Press/Arnold Press: 5 Sets of 5 Reps
Bicep Exercises
- Barbell Curls
- Superset: Seated Incline Two-Arm Dumbbell Curls with Concentration Curls
Bicep Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
- Barbell Curls: Week 2 and 3: 1-10 Method
Tricep Exercises
- Close-Grip Bench Press
- Superset: Barbell Skull-Crushers with One-Arm Overhead Dumbbell Extension
Tricep Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
Forearm Exercises
- Superset: Wrist Curls with Reverse Wrist Curls
Forearm Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
Day 3: Legs, Calves, Abs (Wednesday)
Leg Exercises
- Squats
- Straight-Leg Deadlifts
- Good Mornings (Do Once A Week)
- Lunges
- Superset: Leg Extension with Leg Curls
- Superset: Standing Calf Raises with Seated Calf Raises
Leg Rep Ranges
- 5 Sets of 8-12 Reps for Each Exercises
- Deadlifts: 10, 6, 4; 5, 5, 5 or 12, 10, 8
- Good Mornings: Only do once a week, choose a day
- During Week 4, choose one day to try a 1-Rep Max
Abs
- Kneeling Cable Crunch (4 Sets of 25 Reps)
Day 4: Chest, Back, Abs (Thursday)
Chest Exercises
- Flat Barbell Bench Press
- Incline Barbell Bench Press
- Superset: Dumbbell Flyes with Dumbbell Pullover
Chest Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6 (Low Angle Incline)
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2 (Medium Angle Incline)
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5 ,5 ,5 ,5 (High Angle Incline)
- Week 4: Max out on either incline or flat, then 20, 15, 12 on the others (Low Angle Incline)
Back Exercises
- Wide Grip Chin Ups
- Superset 2 of the Following: Bent-Over Rows, Dumbbell Rows, TBar Rows
Back Rep Ranges
- Wide Grip Chin-Ups: 4-Sets to Failure
- Deadlifts: 10, 6, 4 OR 5, 5, 5 OR 12, 10, 8
- Bent-Over Rows- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6, Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2, Week 3: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6, Week4: 20, 15, 12
Abs
- Leg Raises (5 Sets of 25 Reps)
- Decline ¾ Sit-Ups (5 Sets of 25 Reps)
Day 5: Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps, Forearms, Abs (Thursday)
Shoulder Exercises
- Arnold Press
- Superset: Behind-The-Neck Press with Full Frontal Raise
- Superset: Rear Delt Flyes with Upright Rows (Lying Face Down on Incline Bench)
Shoulder Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
- Clean & Press/Arnold Press: 5 Sets of 5 Reps
Bicep Exercises
- Barbell Curls
- Superset: Seated Incline Two-Arm Dumbbell Curls with Concentration Curls
Bicep Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
- Barbell Curls: Week 2 and 3: 1-10 Method
Tricep Exercises
- Close-Grip Bench Press
- Superset: Tricep Pushdown with One-Arm Overhead Dumbbell Extension
Tricep Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
Forearm Exercises
- Superset: Wrist Curls with Reverse Wrist Curls
Forearm Rep Ranges
- Week 1: 30, 12, 10, 8, 6
- Week 2: 30, 8, 6, 4, 2
- Week 3: 30, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5
- Week 4: Max out on ONE major exercise then 20, 15, 12, 10 on the others
Day 6:Legs, Calves, Abs (Saturday)
Leg Exercises
- Front Squats
- Deadlifts
- Good Mornings (Do Once A Week)
- Lunges
- Superset: Leg Extension with Leg Curls
- Superset: Standing Calf Raises with Seated Calf Raises
Leg Rep Ranges
- 5 Sets of 8-12 Reps for Each Exercises
- Deadlifts: 10, 6, 4; 5, 5, 5 or 12, 10, 8
- Good Mornings: Only do once a week, choose a day
- During Week 4, choose one day to try a 1-Rep Max
Abs
- Kneeling Cable Crunch (4 Sets of 25 Reps)
Day 7:Rest Day(Sunday)
How to Perform
- On each designated day, you perform the listed exercises for that specific muscle group. For example, on Monday, you would do the Chest exercises, then repeat these exercises on Thursday.
- The repetition (rep) ranges vary each week to progressively overload the muscles. It's important to follow these rep ranges as closely as possible.
- Some exercises have supersets, where you perform two exercises back-to-back with no rest in between. This is part of the program's design to maximize muscle engagement and endurance.
- The routine is designed to give muscle groups adequate rest between workouts while still maintaining a high frequency of training each muscle group twice a week.
This approach helps balance muscle building and recovery, ensuring that each muscle group receives focused attention twice a week with adequate rest in between sessions.
Is The 6-Day Workout Split for You?
Deciding if Arnold Schwarzenegger's 6-day workout split is right for you involves careful consideration of several factors, including your fitness goals, experience level, time availability, physical condition, recovery capabilities, nutritional habits, mental strength, lifestyle, adaptability, and long-term commitment. This workout split is specifically designed for those looking to achieve significant muscle gain and strength improvement, making it ideal if your primary goal is to build a muscular, well-defined physique. However, its intensity and frequency might be overwhelming for beginners, posing a risk of injury or burnout.
The program requires a substantial time commitment, as it involves six days of training each week. You'll need to evaluate if your schedule can handle this level of dedication without affecting other areas of your life. Physically, the workout demands a lot from your body, so it's important to ensure you're capable of handling intense workouts and don't have any existing conditions that might worsen. Quick recovery is also essential, as each muscle group has a relatively short rest period before being worked again.
Nutritional support is a key component, requiring you to follow a strict diet plan to fuel your workouts and aid muscle growth and recovery. Mental fortitude is just as crucial, as the intensity and frequency of the workouts demand high commitment and motivation. Additionally, you should consider how this workout regime fits into your overall lifestyle, including the time needed for meal planning, preparation, and rest. If you prefer a varied workout routine, this structured and repetitive program might pose a challenge.
Finally, it's essential to assess whether this workout regime is sustainable for you in the long term, as it's not just about short-term gains but integrating fitness into your life sustainably. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 6-day workout split is a potent tool for achieving remarkable muscle gains but requires clear muscle-building goals, time commitment, and both physical and mental strength.
Book a Free Personal Training Consultation in Richmond BC
At BLK BOX GYM, our Richmond personal trainers are ready to guide you on your fitness journey. Whether you're new to fitness or an experienced enthusiast, our personal training in Richmond, BC, offers various workout splits to help you achieve your muscle-building and strength goals.
Discover how we can help you become the best version of yourself by booking a free consultation today at our Richmond personal training studio. Our approach, inspired by Schwarzenegger's legendary methods, is tailored to meet your individual needs and preferences, ensuring a unique and effective fitness experience.
Join us at BLK BOX GYM in Richmond, BC for a transformative fitness journey that goes beyond the gym. Let us assist you in sculpting a physique that not only reflects your hard work but also embodies the principles of one of bodybuilding's greatest icons, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Don't miss this opportunity to redefine your fitness and achieve new heights in muscle development and strength. Book your free consultation and take the first step towards a stronger, more confident you.
Written by
Ken Lu
Ken has a Bachelor's Degree of Psychology from the University of British Columbia, specializing in Sport Psychology. As well as being a Certified Personal Trainer, Ken is also a Movement & Mobility Specialist, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He has trained for and won the 2018 NPAA BC Men's Physique Championship.