Ronnie Coleman is a certified legend of the bodybuilding world. Thanks to his 26 IFBB titles and 8 Mr Olympia titles, Ronnie is widely regarded as the most successful bodybuilder in history. In this article we’re going to be taking a look at one of the typical training routines Ronnie followed during his career.
Ronnie Coleman Biography
Born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1964, Ronnie started his athletic career as a middle linebacker for Grambling University’s football team. He left University with a degree in accounting, but rather than work as an accountant Ronnie became a Police Officer. In 1990 Ronnie competed in his first amateur bodybuilding competition, the Mr Texas. He won and later turned professional in 1995.
His first major bodybuilding competition win was the 1998 Night of Champions. 1998 was also the year that Ronnie won his first Mr Olympia title, beating Flex Wheeler into second place. This would mark eight years of dominance for Ronnie and would not end until he finished second to Jay Cutler in 2006. He placed 4th in the 2007 Mr Olympia and never competed again.
Ronnie Coleman Training Routine
Ronnie followed a fairly typical bodybuilding split, where he would train different muscles on different days. Monday was back, biceps and shoulders. Tuesday was legs. Wednesday was chest and triceps, and Thursday started the cycle again.
Remember that Ronnie was a professional bodybuilder (with all that this entailed), thus if you’re a natural lifter you would struggle to complete this program. It would make more sense to only train 3-4 times per week max, rather than the six times per week that Ronnie trained (unless you’re an advanced bodybuilder).
Monday
Back
Deadlifts, 4 sets – 6-12 reps
Barbell rows, 3 sets – 10-12 reps
T-bar rows, 3 sets – 10 – 12 reps
One-arm dumbbell rows, 3 sets 10-12 reps
Biceps
Barbell curls, 4 sets -12 reps
Seated alternating dumbbell curls, 12 reps
Preacher curls, 12 reps
Cable curls, 12 reps
Shoulders
Military presses, 4 sets – 10-12 reps
Seated dumbbell press, 4 sets – 12 reps
(superset with)
Front dumbbell press, 4 sets – 12 reps
Tuesday
Legs
Squats, 5-6 sets – 2-12 reps
Leg presses, 4 sets – 12 reps
Lunges, 2 sets – 100 yards
Stiff-leg deadlifts, 3 sets – 12 reps
Seated hamstring curls, 3 sets – 12 reps
Wednesday
Chest
Bench press, 5 sets – 12 reps
Incline barbell press, 3 sets – 12 reps
Flat bench dumbbell press, 3 sets – 12 reps
Flat bench flyes, 4 sets – 12 reps
Triceps
Seated cambered-bar extensions, 3 sets – 12 reps
Seated dumbbell extensions, 4 sets – 12 reps
Close-grip bench press, 4 sets – 12 reps
Thursday
Back
Barbell rows, 5 sets – 10 – 12 reps
Low Pulley Rows, 4 sets – 10 – 12 reps
Lat machine pulldowns, 3 sets – 10 – 12 reps
Front lat pulldowns, 3 sets – 10 – 12 reps
Biceps
Incline alternating dumbbell curls, 4 sets – 12 reps
Machine curls, 3 sets – 12 reps
(superset with)
Standing cable curls, 4 sets – 12 reps
Shoulders
Seated dumbbell press, 4 sets – 12 reps
Front lateral dumbbell raises, 3 sets – 8 – 25 reps
Machine raises, 3 sets – 8 – 25 reps
Friday
Legs
Leg extensions, 4 sets – 30 reps
Front squats, 4 sets – 12 – 15 reps
Hack squats, 3 sets – 12 reps
Standing leg curls, 3 sets – 12 – 15 reps
Lying leg curls, 4 sets – 12 reps
Saturday
Chest
Incline dumbbell press, 4 sets – 12 reps
Decline barbell press, 3 sets – 12 reps
Incline dumbbell flyes, 3 sets – 12 reps
Decline dumbbell press, 3 sets – 12 reps
Triceps
Skullcrushers, 4 sets – 12 reps
(superset with)
Machine pressdown dips, 4 sets – 12 reps
(superset with)
Seated tricep extensions, 4 sets – 12 reps
Calves
Donkey raises, 4 sets – 12 reps
Seated raises, 4 sets – 12 reps
Crunches, 3 sets – failure
Sunday
Rest
