Larry Wheels is continuing to learn from the best. On May 13, 2025, Wheels absorbed back training and posing tips from bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler as he aims to earn an IFBB Pro card.
Since his retirement in 2013, four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler hasn’t stopped shaping the next generation of bodybuilding talent. At 51 years old, he remains in tremendous shape. He trains seven days a week and still carries an impressive level of mass and conditioning.
With a background in powerlifting, strongman, and arm-wrestling, Wheels recently decided to try out bodybuilding. In 2023, he took a close second place at the Amateur Olympia contest in Classic Physique. While he considered quitting bodybuilding, Wheels is back, aiming to excel in another sport.
Jay Cutler Guides Larry Wheels Through Back Training & Runs Him Through a Posing Session
Find their exercise selections below, featured in Wheels’ latest YouTube video:
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- Reverse Grip Pulldowns (Underhand grip)
- T-bar rows
- One-arm dumbbell rows
Reverse Grip Pulldowns (Underhand grip)
Cutler told Wheels to think about pulling a back double biceps while hitting reverse grip pulldowns.
“You see this movement? Think about the front double, you feel it pull the lats,” shared Cutler. “You can feel the lats come out, yup [it mimics the front double biceps pose.”
During his prime, Cutler typically didn’t work out with a partner and said he stuck to 45-60-second rests, which he said allowed him to skip some cardio in the lead-up to shows.
“If I trained with someone which I never really did, I would go, the partner would go. That would be my speed. My tempo wouldn’t be where, I know for sure, you’d rest minutes. I would rest 45-60 seconds between each set. So basically, if a partner went, I went, but I’m a faster trainer back in the day when I did it.”
T-bar rows
Cutler emphasized that training tendencies differ between individuals. While his training style had similarities with Ronnie Coleman’s, he explained that ‘The King’ had a specific chest routine of only three movements: flat barbell press, incline press, and decline barbell press.
“Pros didn’t get together and train as often. I trained with Coleman, but he had a style of training that was similar to mine. Anything we went into the gym and did, he grew. He was very loose with his training, and he was a very simplistic trainer. His chest routine was flat barbell, incline barbell, and decline barbell. He would do it every single week.”
One-arm dumbbell rows
Cutler shared that training with straps isn’t an absolute necessity on back training days, and credited the one-arm dumbbell row as his favorite movement for growing the back.
“My favorite movement for back right here.”
“You think this is better than any machine?” asks Wheels.
“I think so because it lengthens the lat,” replied Cutler.
“I can’t get as good of a stretch with anything else than dumbbell rows. This gives me the best stretch.”
Posing Session
Wheels practiced his quarter turns in standing relaxed and mandatory poses in front of Cutler.
“Good width,” said Cutler. “Tight stomach. Remember, when you do this quarter, stay tight in the midsection. Not too much, see when you don’t flex the pecs you won’t see those striations.”
On the side chest pose, Cutler gave Wheels a quick tip.
“Remember, keep this [the serratus] nice and tight”
Jay Cutler isn’t the first high-profile bodybuilder to extend a helping hand to Wheels. Wesley Vissers, who recently landed in second place at the Detroit Pro, also joined him for a helpful workout. They worked together to build bigger chests, triceps, and delts fit for the Classic Physique division.
Larry Wheels looks to be hitting a new gear ahead of his return onstage. Fans look forward to seeing whether he can earn his Pro card in the days to come.
Watch the full video from the Larry Wheels YouTube channel below:
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