When it comes to training the lower body, no one quite mastered it like bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler. This led Classic Physique standout Mike Sommerfeld to join him for a brutal leg day workout on December 26, 2024.
Jay Cutler remains the only athlete to win back the Mr. Olympia title after losing it. He accomplished this feat in 2009 when he cemented his legacy with an iconic quad stomp photo at the Mr. Olympia, defeating Branch Warren and Dexter Jackson for gold.
While he retired in 2013, Cutler remains a fixture in the bodybuilding community, regularly collaborating with Pros and sharing training tips. Mike Sommerfeld narrowly missed out on the Mr. Olympia title to Chris Bumstead in his last outing, making him the number-one contender to the throne in 2025. But before he continues his pursuit of Olympia glory, he plans to win his first Arnold Classic title in March.
Jay Cutler and Mike Sommerfeld Team Up to Annihilate Leg Workout Months from 2025 Arnold Classic
Find their exercise selections below:
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- Seated Leg Curl Machine
- Standing One-Leg Leg Curl Machine
- Stiff leg Dumbbell Deadlift
- Lying Leg Curl Machine
- Leg Extension Machine
- Leg Press
- Barbell Walking Lunge
- Hip Adduction Machine
Seated Leg Curl Machine
During seated leg curl machine reps, Cutler discussed rep ranges with Sommerfeld.
“I try to do at least eight for anything but 12 is usually I mean everyone kind of makes that joke because I always say 12 reps but I don’t know… I just feel like that seems to be about the range,” shares Cutler.
Standing One-Leg Leg Curl Machine
Cutler shared how he approaches paused reps during this movement.
“You see this little pause right here? I don’t lengthen the tissue totally, but I keep that tension but I just kind of lock that spot right there. Yeah [in the stretched position].
I’d have to come here to get a full contraction. Most people go through the reps like this, constant right, but for me, even after a third or fourth rep I sometimes pause, reset my head a little bit and do more repetitions,” explains Cutler.
Stiff leg Dumbbell Deadlift
Sommerfeld discussed whether he prefers dumbbells or barbells when performing stiff leg deadlifts.
“It’s like 70 percent I do dumbbells, that’s what I feel the best,” Sommerfeld shared.
Cutler opened up on his training split used throughout his prime.
“When I was training I would train five total days but I would do three on, one-off, two on, one-off. I know what it’s like. Sometimes you don’t want to take those days off. Obviously, I’d do cardio on certain days. I do cardio seven days a week.”
Lying Leg Curl Machine
In his heyday, Cutler revealed he would do 40 sets of quads and hamstrings weekly to build his iconic lower body.
“I would do 40 sets total of quads and hamstrings. Yeah [every week],” shared Cutler.
Sommerfeld also reviewed his approach to leg training.
“Every set I count is at least straight failure until I can’t move the weight. So what I do every leg day, eight sets total, but I train upper, lower, upper, lower, upper, lower, rest. Yeah, like three leg days a week, eight sets.”
Leg Extension Machine
Moving through sets on the leg extension, Cutler revealed how long a typical training session lasted for him.
“Now about an hour, back in the day, probably an hour and a half,” said Cutler.
“With all that volume,” asks Sommerfeld.
“Yeah. Because my rest time was like 45 seconds, 60 seconds max,” Cutler said. “Remember, I trained alone most of the time.”
Leg Press
Sommerfeld carefully pushed through reps on the leg press and pushed his knees outside during repetitions.
“I’m trying to push my knees outside and put all my pressure to my baby thumb on the outside, try to avoid too much teardrop,” shared Sommerfeld.
Barbell Walking Lunge
Taking a page out of Ronnie Coleman‘s playbook, the boys proceeded with barbell lunges in the parking lot. Cutler discussed how to perform them to properly engage the glute and hamstring.
“I’m going to go down and then you can come back,” says Cutler. “This is nothing. This is light. So what I’m trying to do, I try to keep my chest up a little bit and really engage my glute and hamstring right? So ideally, we’re trying to do at least 12 a side.”
Hip Adduction Machine
Sommerfeld admitted that he studied Cutler’s workouts extensively to help him prepare throughout his respective career.
“I tried to study every rep, every kind of tempo you used, positions, foot placement, everything,” said Sommerfeld. “Since then, my wife is doing barbell rows, free barbell rows.”
“Reverse grip were my favorite and using my fingers as hooks but I felt it in my back a little more,” replied Cutler.
Mike Sommerfeld is training diligently ahead of his upcoming contest in Columbus, Ohio. If ‘Mike the Badass’ hopes to take home the title, he’ll have to get through a tough lineup, including the reigning 2024 Arnold Classic champion Wesley Vissers.
Taking training tips and wisdom from Jay Cutler, Sommerfeld appears to be in a good position ahead of the Arnold Classic. Don’t miss his performance when the Arnold Sports Festival kicks off from February 27 to March 2!
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