Five sets of five reps is a classic training protocol that’s been around for at least a century. While it’s impossible to say who first used this set and rep scheme, well-known advocates include:

Arnold Schwarzenegger – 7-time Mr. Olympia winner

Reg Park – Bodybuilding legend and mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger

Doug Hepburn – Canadian strongman and Olympic lifter

Chuck Sipes – 1960s bodybuilder with a powerlifting mindset

Steve Goggins – First man to total 1,100 pounds in powerlifting

The five sets of five method, usually just called 5 x 5 , has also been incorporated into several popular training routines, such as:

StrongLifts 5 x 5 (Created by Mehdi Hadim)

The Texas Method/Starting Strength (Created by Mark Rippetoe)

Ice Cream Fitness 5 x 5 (Created by Jason Blaha)

The Stron

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