Lee Labrada and Shawn Ray were top names in the sport throughout the 1980s and ’90s, yet they have remained active in retirement. Taking to YouTube on December 13, 2024, they walked fans through a rigorous upper body training session and offered expert posing tips.
Lee Labrada was known for putting together masterful posing routines that complemented his aesthetic and conditioned physique. While he never laid claim to the Mr. Olympia title, he came close, having trailed behind bodybuilding legend Lee Haney multiple times.
Shawn Ray also struggled to get past Lee Haney on the Mr. Olympia stage. Like Labrada, he remains one of the most impressive bodybuilders to not claim the Sandow trophy. Nevertheless, his attention to detail during workouts and outspoken nature have kept his star power bright since stepping away from the stage.
Bodybuilding Legends Lee Labrada and Shawn Ray Smoke Upper Body Workout
Find the exercise list below:
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- Nautilus vertical chest press
- Barbell Curl
- Cable tricep pushdown
- Lat pulldown machine (reverse and wide grip)
- Shoulder press machine
- Pec fly machine
- Flat bench ab crunch
Nautilus vertical chest press
During their first exercise, Lee Labrada paid respect to Shawn Ray’s prime physique.
“Shawn always had an amazing physique. He was just one of those guys that used to set the standard and I’ll tell you what, going into that 1988 Mr. Olympia, he’s fresh off the Nationals win, youngest National Champion ever [22 years old] and this guy was coming on strong. He had a great debut in Los Angeles, then, after that, it was 12 straight years of top five Mr. Olympia.”
Barbell Curl
They reminisced about their time attempting to defeat eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney.
“It was always motivational training around guys like this. It was one of those things that kept driving you and we were both working hard to beat the likes of Lee Haney.”
Cable tricep pushdown
Before hitting cable tricep pushdowns, Shawn Ray gave his thoughts on active competitors in today’s era.
“The look is everything. This is all we have on YouTube now is to go back and look at those routines. I think some of the guys when they go back 10-20 years like we have, they’ll wish they had a do-over, they’ll wish they put in a little bit more time and effort because I can watch the guys from the ’80s and 90’s timelessly.”
Lat pulldown machine (reverse and wide grip)
They also bonded over creating artistic posing routines, something that has largely fallen by the wayside in modern bodybuilding.
“When you practice enough, it’s like you mentioned earlier, it’s like brushing your teeth and riding a bike. When you practice enough, you’ll hear the beat and the body will just follow.
You might be in your head and you miss the first cadence or whatever but you can catch up number one because you’ve been guest posing. Number two, this is what you do every single day after you train. The posing is just as important as the breakfast in the morning, as the work in the afternoon.”
Shoulder press machine
Ray discussed how he handled physical burnout throughout his career.
“No [I wouldn’t take that day off]. That day would become a cardio day because I’m already in my head. I’m already in my head that my body is physically burnt. So I don’t need a day off, I just need to re-change, and recalibrate the type of exercises I’m doing. Some people can’t do it. It’s either all or none.”
Pec fly machine
Focusing on a stretch and squeeze, Ray likened the pec fly machine to cable crossovers, a crucial movement he utilized toward the end of bodybuilding preps.
“I’ve always said stretch and squeeze, right? That’s my thing. This is very similar to a cable crossover standing up. That was a staple in my routine the last four weeks,” said Ray. “Not so much [bench pressing] I would do it but it would never be my first exercise, that way I pre-exhaust the muscles.”
Flat bench ab crunch
They finished up with flat bench ab crunches and Ray reflected on the final posing routine of his career.
“You can feel them in your hip flexors as well. My last time on a bodybuilding stage posing was in 2002, Okinawa, Japan. For the military, I knew it was [my last routine]. I retired in ’01, I went back in ’02 kind of as a farewell thing.”
Even decades after they retired from the sport, Labrada and Ray offer unique perspectives on how to craft masterful posing routines. They also boast exceptional longevity in a sport where long-lasting health is hard to come by.
RELATED: Lee Labrada and Rich Gaspari Share Their ‘Ultimate’ Back and Shoulders Workout
Watch the full video from the Labrada Nutrition YouTube channel below:
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