Q&A with Jose Raymond | The Boston Mass Addresses our Problems
Q&A with Jose Raymond
The Boston Mass Addresses our Problems
Save the Guillotines for the French Revolution
Jose, have you ever tried the guillotine press for chest? It’s when you bring the bar to your neck on the flat or incline bench press instead of to the chest. I’m kind of scared to find out if it does work because it seems extremely dangerous.
Yes, I’ve tried guillotine presses once, and I do not recommend them unless you want to ruin your shoulders. I actually have to use a narrow grip and keep my elbows close to my body in any pressing movement to avoid shoulder pain. Therefor I don’t recommend them.
Too Many “IFBB Pros?”
Just curious about something. Since you earned your pro card four times before you accepted it, what do you think about how much easier it is to turn pro in the IFBB now? With the addition of Bikini and Physique plus more pro cards for Masters, it seems like half the people on Facebook have “IFBB Pro” in front of their names now. Do you think the pro card has lost some of its former prestige in recent years?
I’m not even 40, but I come from a different time/era. Being an IFBB Pro used to mean something. It was a title to be respected and earned. Today it seems like everyone and anyone has it in front of their name on Facebook, and I’ve never even heard of half of them. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a hater and I’m happy they have reached a goal, but how satisfying was it really to get it after only one or two years of competing or in some cases in their second show ever? There used to be a pecking order where you were groomed and forced to “pay your dues.” By the time one turned pro, everybody knew your name already and that included men’s and women’s bodybuilding, Fitness and even the early days of Figure. Today I have no clue who most of these pros are or even what division they compete in. Still, I congratulate them on their achievements. I just personally wouldn’t get overly excited about something that 55 other people also achieved that same day in the same show!
How Much Cardio for Natties?
Hey Jose, would you recommend twice-daily cardio (two 45-minute sessions, one post-workout, one before the last meal) to someone currently training naturally on a low-carb diet, or could it result in muscle loss? I take BCAAs [branched-chain amino acids] before and after cardio, and my protein intake is 1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight.
I would say this is an individual thing regardless of being natural or not. Some people can get away with lots of cardio, and some people shrivel up like a raisin. When I was getting ready for the Team Universe and Musclemania shows and 100 percent drug-free, I would do upwards of two hours of cardio without losing muscle. Then again, I’m genetically a little more on the heavy side, so I need lots of cardio to show my best condition. Give it a try and find out for yourself, but if you’re a hardgainer and naturally pretty lean to begin with, I would not suggest so much cardio.
21s Are #1 for Guns
What is your favorite biceps exercise?
Probably 21s with a nice light barbell. It puts the least amount of strain on my joints and gives me a killer pump. A lot of guys who have trouble with their biceps usually never even give higher reps a try, and they are missing out big-time.
Pain Don’t Hurt!
Jose, I just read an article on you in MD. How the hell do you stay motivated when it seems like every joint in your body is screaming with pain? Ron Harris ran down the aches and pains, and yet you still pound away with no pain relievers to help. I know you take your time warming up, but how do you get up every day and continue at the level you have to? Reading shit likes this keeps me going, so thanks for putting up with the pain. Your legacy is gonna be blue-collar, focus and work like no other … including Branch. Sorry, Branch!
Thanks for the compliment, but I’m no Branch! That dude came back from an injury and won when most would never see a stage again! I guess I’m just used to years of playing football and wrestling in pain with various injuries. I don’t use pain relievers because growing up, they were never in my house— so I don’t buy them today. Plus I don’t want to add any more stress to my kidneys than I have to. Most of the kidney issues you hear about with pro bodybuilders are due to recreational drugs/prescription painkillers (Percocet,Vicodin, OxyContin) not P.E.Ds [performance-enhancing drugs]. The best thing I can do is ice, rest, warm up a ton and choose the right exercises along with proper technique to allow me to perform the best I can.