“Worst Possible Exercise”: Despite Insane Physical Transformation, Bradley Cooper’s Brutal Workout for ‘American Sniper’ Meets Exercise Scientist’s Criticism

Published 05/27/2023, 4:00 PM EDT

In the constantly changing world of bodybuilding, athletes and fitness lovers continuously seek out innovative exercises and methods to enhance muscle growth and sculpt their bodies. However, certain exercises may not deliver the desired results and could pose potential risks to athletes. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the limitations and potential drawbacks of specific exercises in order to make informed decisions about workout plans.

Recently, Exercise Scientist Mike Israetel critiqued Bradley Cooper’s workout routine for the movie American Sniper in a YouTube video on the Renaissance Periodization channel. The criticism came after Vanity Fair’s YouTube channel posted a video featuring Bradley Cooper’s trainer, Jason Walsh, discussing the trap bar deadlift exercise he used to train the actor for the film. Israetel firmly believes that the trap bar deadlift ranks among the worst exercises for safely building muscle.

The risk-reward ratio of trap bar deadlifts

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Israetel points out that the trap bar deadlift involves several muscle groups simultaneously, which stops individual muscles from achieving their maximum potential, ultimately hindering muscle growth. He emphasizes that this exercise involves a maximum amount of spinal loading, resulting in an unreasonable risk-reward ratio. The sports consultant asserts, “You need to impose the maximum amount of spinal loading and that just seems like a risk-reward ratio that doesn’t make any f**king sense” Additionally, he highlights that only performing partial reps at the top of the movement causes the exercise to bypass the deep and painful stretch at the bottom, which is essential for optimal muscle growth.

The fitness author’s critique brings up questions regarding Bradley Cooper’s workout plan and Jason Walsh’s guidance, his trainer. Mike, a professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappler, holds the belief that the trap bar deadlift might not be the optimal choice for Cooper to safely build significant muscle mass. He expresses concerns about the exercise’s limited muscle engagement and the potential risk of excessive spinal loading.

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Israetel’s perspective: Evaluating the effectiveness of exercise selection for muscle growth

It is important to remember that fitness industry professionals often have varied opinions based on their unique experiences and expertise. Although Walsh’s training method was customized for Cooper’s needs during the production of American Sniper, Israetel’s critique suggests that other exercises might have been more beneficial for muscle growth. As an exercise scientist, Mike’s knowledge adds weight to his argument, highlighting the importance of exercises that directly focus on muscles for maximum growth and development.

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Furthermore, Mike Israetel’s comments highlight the possible impact of Hollywood and the movie industry on workout routines and training techniques. He suggests that trainers collaborating with actors in Hollywood might focus on visual appeal rather than maximizing muscle growth. In this situation, the fitness trainer’s statement regarding the trap bar deadlift reveals his priority for muscle development, instead of meeting the requirements of the entertainment world.

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Written by:

Jaishin J is an American sportswriter at EssentiallySports. He has a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail. Jaishin holds a Master's degree in Journalism and has honed his skills as a content creator during his one year as a Jr Content Executive and five years as a freelance content writer and video producer.

Edited by:

Parth Sharma

“Worst Possible Exercise”: Despite Insane Physical Transformation, Bradley Cooper’s Brutal Workout for ‘American Sniper’ Meets Exercise Scientist’s Criticism

The risk-reward ratio of trap bar deadlifts

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Israetel’s perspective: Evaluating the effectiveness of exercise selection for muscle growth