Arthur Jones – Complete Profile: Height, Workout and Diet

Arthur Jones was a prolific inventor. Bodybuilder and entrepreneur from the USA. He invented the Nautilus exercise machines and also devised the high-intensity training system that revolutionized the way we looked at bodybuilding and muscle growth. This article explores his biography and accomplishments.

Arthur Allen Jones (Inventor)

Date of Birth – November 22, 1926

Died – August 28, 2007 (80 years)

Nationality – American

Arthur Jones Biography

Arthur Allen Jones was born on November 22, 1926, in Morrilton, Arkansas, and grew up in Seminole, Oklahoma. He was a pioneer in the field of strength training, particularly in weight training. Jones did not have a highly accomplished educational background to boast. However, with an unparalleled learning mentality, drive, and imagination, he became one of the most important figures in the history of bodybuilding and left a lasting impact on the industry.

Although his formal education was limited, Jones claimed to have read all the books in his father’s medical library. In 1941, Jones dropped out of school and focused on fitness training at Vic Tanny’s gym in Santa Monica to get into the Navy. He noticed that the traditional barbell and other equipment available in the gyms were inadequate to help the human body achieve maximum results in terms of size and strength gain.

To address all the flaws with this traditional equipment, Arthur Jones developed a Nautilus prototype in 1948. However, he did not make the complete and final version until approximately two decades later. The final product, called the ‘Blue Monster’ was exhibited at the 1970 Mr. America contest in Culver City, California. However, the technology and his thought process were so far ahead of the time that the machine and Jones’ philosophy became a point of debate and ridicule initially.

Marketing these new machines and building a business from selling them was another challenge that Arthur Jones faced at the time. Back then, the knowledge and general awareness about gym equipment and its impact on training was limited. As a result, Jones devised the high-intensity training system using his training principles and the Nautilus equipment.

By 1978, Jones had started to conduct a series of Nautilus Fitness Seminars which helped tremendously in popularizing the training system as well as the Nautilus gym equipment. The company started making millions every year and Jones became a multi-millionaire. The sales reached new peaks every year and Jones soon made it to the Forbes 400 list. However, he sold Nautilus Inc. for $23 million in 1986.

He then financed MedX corporation and devised a new generation of machines to address lower back, neck, and knee issues. He sold MedX in 1996. Jones passed away on August 28, 2007, due to natural causes at his home in Ocala, Florida.

Bodybuilders trained/influenced by Arthur Jones

Arthur Jones left a huge impact on the bodybuilding and fitness industry as well as the sport of competitive bodybuilding. Casey Viator was the first popular bodybuilder who trained under Jones for the famous Colorado experiment. Highly accomplished names like Mike and Ray Mentzer, Mr. Olympia winner Sergio Oliva, and six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates were famous bodybuilders who trained under Jones’ high-intensity training system and achieved remarkable success.

Arthur Jones Workout

Arthur Jones has left a massive footprint in bodybuilding with his incredible contribution and revolutionary training methods. He refused to accept the traditional approach to bodybuilding and employed new techniques and inventions to gain strength and muscle.

His training philosophy proposed a diagonally opposite point of view from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s school of thought which involved high training volume, primarily using free weights and traditional equipment.

Back then, the training systems were still in their developmental stages and Arthur Jones observed a fundamental flaw in their strength curve. Jones noticed that the stress on the muscles during most exercises varied significantly throughout the range of motion. 

He addressed this problem by inventing the Nautilus machines which put the muscles under constant stress throughout the exercise to increase the potential of muscle and strength growth by increasing the time spent under tension.

High-intensity training

Most bodybuilders in the past took the high-volume route to achieve growth. However, Arthur Jones made high-intensity training the foundation of his training philosophy and revolutionized the way we look at bodybuilding and muscle growth.

Instead of the regular way of training where you perform multiple sets to stimulate a muscle group, Arthur Jones upheld the idea of doing only one set per muscle group. However, this one set has to be performed to absolute failure and beyond.

According to him, this approach could lead to maximum muscle stimulation and growth. In short, the revolutionary inventor argued that you don’t have to spend hours and hours in the gym. Going to absolute failure with a lower volume of training is equally efficient.

The Colorado experiment

To test the practical viability of the high-intensity training system, Arthur Jones started an experiment with bodybuilder Casey Viator. Popularly known as ‘The Colorado Experiment’, it involved Viator training for 14 sessions over 28 days using the training methods and equipment designed by Jones.

The experiment was conducted under Colorado State University’s supervision. The institute conducted scientific supervision and meticulous measurements of Viator’s training and progress. The results of the experiments were remarkable as Casey Viator gained significant amounts of muscle mass and lost body fat.

However, Jones’ contemporaries were skeptical about the experiment and debated the legitimacy of the results. Although the results of Casey Viator’s training were phenomenal, many experts opined that Viator’s muscle memory and steroid use could have a potential impact on the results.

The debate has never been settled completely and there are still opposing opinions on the effectiveness of high-intensity training. However, this training philosophy revolutionized the way we think of bodybuilding and muscle growth beyond any doubt.

Ideal Training Routine by Arthur Jones

Arthur Jone published the ‘Ideal Workout’ in the popular bodybuilding magazine Muscular Development in June of 1970. Jones used the principles of high-intensity training and the Nautilus training equipment to formulate this workout. The purpose of this article was to convey the efficacy of both to achieve growth as a bodybuilder and promote his brand.

Typically, the idea behind revolutionizing the training methods or designing new equipment is to make faster progress in terms of muscle, strength, and endurance gained through training. Arthur Jones believed that the high-intensity training and Nautilus equipment were the right combination to achieve both.

High-intensity training involves rigorous exercising for a full-body workout. Therefore, the training frequency is significantly lower than the traditional training methods. The ideal workout involves a three-day training split. Each muscle group is worked with one intense set to stimulate growth.

Jones’ ideal training routine for maximum growth is as mentioned below:

Monday and Wednesday

1st cycle

• Full Squats – 1 set of 20 reps
• Lat Machine, Pullover type – 1 set of 20 reps
• Lat Machine, Rowing type – 1 set of 15 reps
• Lat Machine, Behind the Neck type – 1 set of 15 reps
• Regular Chin-Ups – 1 set of 10 reps
• Parallel Bar Dips – 1 set of 15 reps
• Pectoral Machine, Low type – 1 set of 12 reps
• Pressing Machine – 2 sets of 12 reps
• Curling Machine – 2 sets of 10 reps
• Triceps Machine – 2 sets of 12 and 10 reps, respectively
• Wrist Curls – 8 sets of 15 reps
• Calf Raises – 3 sets of 20 reps
• Stiff-Legged Deadlifts – 1 set of 15 reps
• Grip Machine – 2 sets of 20+ reps

2nd Cycle

• Full Squats – 1 set of 15 reps
• Lat Machine, Pullover type – 1 set of 15 reps

Notes:

For wrist curls, do two cycles of four sets each, as fast as possible – one set each of regular wrist curls, reverse wrist curls, front wrist curls, and rear wrist curls, in that order, in each cycle.

Squatting must be done rapidly enough to bring the trainee to a state of momentary breathlessness. The pullover (dumbbell or the lat machine variant) should be done immediately thereafter without a rest period between the exercises.

Friday

• Full Squats – 3 sets of 10, 8 and 6 sets
• Lat Machine, Pullover type – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Bench Press – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 6 reps
• Lat Machine, Rowing type – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Lat Machine, Behind the Neck type – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Pectoral Machine, High type – 2 sets of 8 and 10 reps
• Standing Barbell Curls – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Triceps Pulley Curls – 2 sets of 15 and 12 reps
• Wrist Curls – 8 sets of 15 reps
• Calf Raises – 3 sets of 20 reps
• Stiff-Legged Deadlifts – 1 set of 15 reps
• Grip Machine – 2 sets of 20+ reps

Arthur Jones’ Modified Training Program

The modified weekly training program for high-intensity training by Arthur Jones is as follows:

Monday and Wednesday

Cycle 1

• Full Squats – 1 set of 20 reps
• Stiff-Arm Pullovers – 1 set of 50 reps
• Barbell Rowing machine, for lats – 1 set of 12 reps
• Behind-the-Neck Chin-Ups – 1 set of 12 reps
• Regular Chin-Ups – 1 set of 10 reps
• Parallel Bar Dips – 1 set of 15 reps
• Dumbbell Decline Press – 1 set of 12 reps
• Standing Barbell Press – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Standing Barbell Curls – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Triceps Pulley Curls – 2 sets of 15 and 12 reps
• Wrist Curls – 8 sets of 15 reps
• Calf Raises – 3 sets of 20 reps
• Stiff-Legged Deadlifts – 1 set of 15 reps
• Grip Machine – 2 sets of 20+ reps

Cycle 2

• Full Squats – 1 set of 15 reps
• Stiff-Arm Pullovers – 1 set of 30 reps

Friday

• Full Squats – 3 sets of 10, 8 and 6 reps
• Stiff-Arm Pullovers – 2 sets of 20 and 15 reps
• Bench Press – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 6 reps
• Barbell Rowing Motion for Lats – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Behind-the-Neck Chin-Ups – 2 sets of 12 and 10 reps
• Dumbbell Incline Press – 2 sets of 12 and 10 reps
• Standing Barbell Curls – 2 sets of 10 and 8 reps
• Triceps Pulley Curls – 2 sets of 15 and 12 reps
• Wrist Curls – 8 sets of 15 reps
• Calf Raises – 3 sets of 20 reps
• Stiff-Legged Deadlifts – 1 set of 15 reps
• Grip Machine – 2 sets of 20+ reps

Arthur Jones Diet

Diet and nutrition is an undeniably important aspect of bodybuilding and fitness training. While one might be able to get away with a less-than-optimal training routine, diet can absolutely unforgiving when it comes to progress.

To achieve the best results through high-intensity training, Arthur Jones prescribed a simple diet philosophy. He believed that dieting was a lot simpler than most people made it appear. Jones was against any fad dieting trend and recommended a well-balanced and nutritious whole-food diet to achieve maximum results.

He recommended eating a variety of foods in categories like grains, vegetables, meats, dairy, and poultry to get all the necessary macro and micronutrients in the required quantities.

This generally means:

• Multiple Servings of Fruits and Vegetables
• Multiple Servings of Cereals and Grains
• At Least Two Servings of Meat, Fish and Poultry
• At Least Two Servings of Milk and Dairy Products

According to Jones, the high-intensity training diet should have at least 60 percent of your caloric intake from natural carbohydrates while protein and fats should constitute 25 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

Arthur Jones kept the rest of the dieting criteria fairly simple. He advised keeping the caloric intake higher than the maintenance level if muscle and size gain were the goal and vice versa when the goal was to lose weight.

To Conclude…

Arthur Jones hated the idea of being a specialist and prided in being a generalist with a broader worldview. He was able to achieve remarkable success in different areas of interest due to his curiosity and the ability to question traditional notions and ideas. His life is a great example of the impact one can make by simply being aware of the environment and trying to do things that challenge the traditional understanding.

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