Bodybuilders Urs Kalecinski and Sam Sulek are two of the sport’s most popular competitors in Classic Physique. In a recent YouTube video shared on May 19, 2025, Kalecinski and Sulek got massive pumps during a back workout and practiced posing together.
Sam Sulek has made huge jumps in the IFBB Pro League lately. He claimed the Classic Physique Overall title at the 2025 NPC Legends Classic. This set him up with an opportunity to compete at the 2025 Arnold Amateur. While some doubted his potential, Sulek thrived under pressure, securing his IFBB Pro card in the second contest of his career.
Kalecinski, meanwhile, continues to refine his physique for the upper echelon of Classic Physique. He took third place at the 2024 Olympia, won by the now-retired Chris Bumstead. With both athletes enjoying the off-season, they collaborated during a training session, offering insights and tips to their fan base.
Urs Kalecinski and Sam Sulek Team Up to Build Bigger Backs
Find the exercise selections featured in Kalecinski’s YouTube video below:
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- Isolateral Front Lat Pulldown
- Chest Supported T-Bar Row
- Assisted Pull-Ups
- Row Machine
Isolateral Front Lat Pulldown
They debated the benefits of using one arm or two arms on the front lat pulldown machine.
“I like to do it with both hands today because I see them everywhere, they are doing it with one arm but I prefer both hands,” said Kalecinski.
“It depends. If I’m doing something lighter, I might want to do one arm because I’m not winded after, it’s just a burn, but if I’m moving stuff around, sometimes I do think if you do your right side first, what, you got to take a breath? Or just do it right after,” shared Sulek.
If Kalecinski had to choose, he would prefer two arms because it best mimics a back or front double biceps pose.
“I think about it like opening up a pose. You need both sides to contract, and the mind-muscle connection you get from those is super important,” shared Kalecinski.
Chest Supported T-Bar Row
Kalecinski and Sulek practiced rest-pause reps throughout chest-supported t-bar rows.
“You take 10 to 12 to 15 seconds in between and then you go again,” explained Kalecinski.
Assisted Pull-Ups
After getting tired of rows, they moved into assisted pull-ups and discussed exercises that effectively build the lats.
“Kind of rowed out,” said Sulek.
“We can do thickness. Yeah, [pulldowns are great for thickness],” shared Kalecinski. “This machine is super good. Chin over the bar, it’s like one rep but maybe for CrossFit, but not for bodybuilding.”
Row Machine
Kalecinski shared that, unlike other sports, it’s one of the few where athletes tend to do less as they get more advanced.
“That’s weird we are doing the only sport where you do like less when you are more advanced,” shared Kalecinski. “When I was starting up, I did like 30 sets of chest, probably like 25 of those was for delts or something.”
Sulek added that he followed the ‘five-by-five’ rule when he began bodybuilding, sticking to five sets of five movements.
“When I started, I got in my head five-by-five, five sets, five movements,” said Sulek.
Posing Session
Kalecinski worked with Sulek through mandatory poses, providing him with body cue tips. The rising social media star believes more lat pulldowns and t-bar rows could translate to a thicker back when he returns to action.
“That’s the shitty thing about Classic, doing stuff you love [movements they prefer], but you can’t do it,” explained Kalecinski.
Sulek made his intentions in the sport known in 2025. He recently discussed his plan to use the next four to five months to bulk up his physique. He’s targeting improvements in his arms, hamstrings, quads, and triceps, believing that more size could be his ticket to his first Pro show victory.
Sulek is taking in valuable learning lessons from Kalecinski, who has remained a top-three talent in Classic Physique for years. In time, fans hope to hear about Sulek’s next bodybuilding contest.
RELATED: Sam Sulek’s Controlled and Heavy Leg Day Routine During Off-Season
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