Tom Platz Leg Workout: How He Acheive Best Legs?

Hey there, fitness fans! Ever heard of Tom Platz? If not, you’re in for a treat. This guy is a legend in the world of bodybuilding, especially when it comes to leg workouts.

Tom Platz wasn’t just any bodybuilder – he was known as “The Golden Eagle” and “The King of Squats”. Why? Because his legs were so big and muscular, they looked like they belonged to a different person!

Platz competed in bodybuilding from the 1970s to the 1990s. During this time, he pushed his legs to the limit. He used a workout routine that was so intense, it shocked everyone who saw it.

His main focus? Deep barbell squats with super heavy weights. But he didn’t just do a few – he did a ton of them!

What made Platz’s leg workouts special wasn’t just the exercises he did. It was how he did them. He always used perfect form and technique. This helped him build legs that were as big as those of the largest bodybuilders in history.

Now, you might be thinking, “That’s great, but I’m not a pro bodybuilder.” Don’t worry! While Platz’s exact workouts might be too much for most of us, there are still lots of useful things we can learn from him.

In this article, we’re going to dive deep into Tom Platz’s leg workout. We’ll look at what he did, why he did it, and how you can use some of his ideas to improve your leg workouts.

Tom Platz Leg Workout

Tom Platz Leg Workout

[Picture Credit: GymTalk.com]

So, are you ready to learn from the King of Squats? Let’s get started!

Tom Platz Leg Workout

Tom Platz’s leg workout was not for the faint of heart. It was tough, and intense, and pushed the limits of what most people thought was possible. Here’s a breakdown of what his typical leg day looked like:

  1. Squats: This was the heart of Platz’s workout. He would do several sets, often with 20-30 reps each. Sometimes, he’d even go up to 50 or 100 reps! He used heavy weights, often over 500 pounds.
  2. Hack Squats: After regular squats, Platz would move to hack squats. These were done on a machine and allowed him to go even deeper than regular squats.
  3. Leg Extensions: To target his quads, Platz would do leg extensions. These isolated his quadriceps muscles.
  4. Leg Curls: To balance out his leg development, he’d do leg curls for his hamstrings.
  5. Standing Calf Raises: Platz didn’t neglect his calves. He’d do standing calf raises with heavy weights.
  6. Seated Calf Raises: To hit his calves from a different angle, he’d also do seated calf raises.
  7. Leg Press Calf Raises: As a final calf exercise, Platz would do calf raises on the leg press machine.

Remember, Platz would do multiple sets of each exercise, often with very high reps. His workouts could last for hours!

Disclaimer for Beginners

Now, before you rush off to try this workout, let’s talk about something important. Tom Platz was a pro. He had been training for years and knew exactly what his body could handle.

For beginners, trying to copy his workout exactly would be a bad idea.

Here’s why:

  • Risk of Injury: Doing too much too soon can lead to injuries.
  • Overtraining: Your body needs time to recover. Doing too much can slow down your progress.
  • Burnout: Such intense workouts can be mentally exhausting. You might get discouraged and give up.

If you’re new to working out, here are some tips to get started safely:

  • Start with 1-2 leg workouts per week
  • Focus on learning the proper form for each exercise
  • Use light weights at first
  • Get plenty of rest between workouts
  • Increase your workout intensity slowly over time
  • Eat well to support your workouts
  • Be patient – building muscle takes time!

Remember, even Tom Platz didn’t start out doing these crazy workouts. He built up to them over many years. Your goal should be steady, safe progress.

Tom Platz Leg Workout Exercises

Let’s take a closer look at the exercises that made up Tom Platz’s legendary leg workout:

  • 1. Squats

Squats were the foundation of Platz’s leg routine. Here’s how he did them:

  • He used very deep squats, going well below parallel
  • He often did 20-30 reps per set, sometimes more
  • He focused on perfect form, not just moving heavy weights
  • He would pause at the bottom of each squat for extra intensity

Why it works: Squats work all the major muscles in your legs – quads, hamstrings, glutes, and even calves. By going deep and doing high reps, Platz maximized muscle growth and endurance.

  • 2. Unique Squats

After regular squats, Platz would move to hack squats. Here’s what made his hack squats special:

  • He used a squat machine, which allowed for an even deeper range of motion
  • Again, he focused on high reps, often 20 or more per set
  • He kept tension on his legs throughout the entire movement

Why it works: Unique squats target the quads and glutes even more than regular squats. The machine helps keep perfect form, allowing for very deep squats.

  • 3. Leg Extensions

To isolate his quads, Platz would do leg extensions:

  • He did these towards the end of his workout when his legs were already tired
  • He focused on squeezing his quads at the top of each rep
  • He often did these for high reps, 15-20 or more

Why it works: Leg extensions isolate the quadriceps, helping to sculpt and define the front of the thighs.

  • 4. Leg Curls

To balance out all the quad work, Platz also did leg curls for his hamstrings:

  • He did both lying and seated leg curls
  • He focused on controlled movements, not swinging the weight
  • He aimed for a full stretch and contraction on each rep

Why it works: Leg curls target the hamstrings, helping to balance leg development and prevent injuries.

  • 5. Standing Calf Raises

Platz didn’t neglect his calves. He started with standing calf raises:

  • He used heavy weights for these
  • He focused on a full range of motion, stretching at the bottom and squeezing at the top
  • He often did 15-20 reps or more per set

Why it works: Standing calf raises target the gastrocnemius, the larger, more visible calf muscle.

  • 6. Seated Calf Raises

To hit his calves from a different angle, Platz also did seated calf raises:

  • These were done on a machine, with the knees bent
  • Again, he focused on the full range of motion and high reps
  • He often did these after standing calf raises

Why it works: Seated calf raises target the soleus, a deeper calf muscle that’s key for overall calf development.

  • 7. Leg Press Calf Raises

As a final calf exercise, Platz would do calf raises on the leg press machine:

  • This allowed for very heavy weights
  • He could get a deep stretch at the bottom of the movement
  • He focused on squeezing his calves hard at the top of each rep

Why it works: This exercise combines the benefits of standing and seated calf raises, allowing for heavy weights and a full range of motion.

Tom Platz – The King of Squats!

Now that we’ve looked at his workout, let’s talk about why Tom Platz was called “The King of Squats”. It wasn’t just because he did a lot of squats – it was how he did them.

Platz’s squat sessions were legendary. Here’s what made them special:

  • Extreme Weight: Platz regularly squatted over 500 pounds for high reps. That’s more than most people can lift even once!
  • High Reps: While many bodybuilders do 8-12 reps, Platz often did 20, 30, or even more reps per set.
  • Perfect Form: Despite the heavy weights and high reps, Platz always used perfect form. He went deep on every rep.
  • Mental Toughness: Doing 20+ reps with 500+ pounds requires incredible mental strength. Platz pushed through pain that would make most people quit.
  • Frequency: Platz sometimes trained legs 3 times a week. Most people need a week to recover from one leg day!

Here’s a story that shows just how intense Platz was: Once, after already doing several heavy squat sets, he did a set of 12 reps with over 600 pounds. Most people couldn’t do that fresh, let alone after a tough workout!

Platz’s dedication to squats paid off. His legs grew so big and muscular that they looked almost unreal. Even today, decades after he retired, bodybuilders still talk about Tom Platz’s legs with awe.

But remember, Platz didn’t start this way. He built up to this level of intensity over many years of hard training. If you want to improve your squats, start where you are and gradually increase the weight, reps, and intensity over time.

Top 10 Popular Bodybuilders to Follow for Leg Workout Inspiration

While Tom Platz is the king of leg workouts, there are many other bodybuilders known for their impressive leg development. Here’s a list of 10 bodybuilders you might want to check out for leg workout inspiration:

  1. Ronnie Coleman: 8-time Mr. Olympia known for his intense leg workouts.
  2. Tom Platz: Of course, the King of Squats himself!
  3. Dorian Yates: 6-time Mr. Olympia who revolutionized leg training.
  4. Branch Warren: Known for his super intense leg workouts.
  5. Flex Wheeler: Had some of the most aesthetically pleasing legs in bodybuilding.
  6. Lee Priest: Despite being shorter, he built massive, well-defined legs.
  7. Frank Zane: Known for his perfectly proportioned physique, including his legs.
  8. Phil Heath: 7-time Mr. Olympia with incredibly detailed leg development.
  9. Dexter Jackson: Known for his longevity in the sport and consistently great legs.
  10. Johnnie Jackson: Powerlifter turned bodybuilder with impressively strong legs.

Each of these bodybuilders has a unique approach to leg training. While they all have impressive legs, they’ve achieved them through different methods.

Some, like Ronnie Coleman and Branch Warren, are known for super heavy, intense workouts. Others, like Frank Zane, focused more on perfect form and proportions.

By studying different approaches, you can find ideas to incorporate into your leg workouts. Remember, though, that these are all professional bodybuilders.

Don’t try to copy their routines exactly, especially if you’re just starting. Instead, use their workouts as inspiration and adapt the ideas to your fitness level.

FAQs:

Let’s answer some common questions about Tom Platz’s leg workout:

  • Q: How often did Tom Platz train legs?

A: At his peak, Platz trained legs up to 3 times a week. This is much more than most bodybuilders, who typically train legs once or twice a week.

  • Q: How long were Tom Platz’s leg workouts?

A: Platz’s leg workouts could last 3 hours or more. He took long rest periods between sets to recover for the next intense set.

  • Q: What rep ranges did Tom Platz use?

A: For squats, Platz often did 20-30 reps, sometimes even more. For other exercises, he usually stayed in the 15-20 rep range.

  • Q: Did Tom Platz use any special training techniques?

A: Yes, Platz used techniques like pre-exhaustion (doing isolation exercises before compound moves), supersets (doing two exercises back-to-back), and giant sets (doing several exercises in a row without rest).

  • Q: How did Tom Platz recover from such intense workouts?

A: Platz paid a lot of attention to nutrition, eating plenty of carbs and protein. He also used massage and other recovery techniques.

  • Q: Did Tom Platz always have strong legs?

A: No! Early in his career, Platz focused more on his upper body. It was only later that he started his intense leg training.

  • Q: How did Tom Platz train calves?

A: Platz did a mix of standing and seated calf raises, always focusing on the full range of motion and a strong squeeze at the top of each rep.

  • Q: Did Tom Platz suffer any injuries from his intense training?

A: Yes, over the years Platz had several knee surgeries and dealt with various muscle strains and tears. This is one reason why his extreme style of training isn’t recommended for most people.

  • Q: Can Tom Platz still do heavy squats today?

A: Due to wear and tear on his knees, Platz can’t do the super deep, heavy squats he used to. However, he can still do lighter squats to parallel depth.

  • Q: Is it safe for me to try Tom Platz’s leg workout?

A: For most people, especially beginners, Platz’s full workout would be too intense and could lead to injury. It’s better to start with a more moderate routine and gradually increase intensity over time.

Tom Platz Leg Workout – Wrapping Up

Wow, we’ve covered a lot about Tom Platz and his legendary leg workouts! Let’s wrap things up by summarizing the key points:

  • Tom Platz built some of the most impressive legs in bodybuilding history through incredibly intense workouts.
  • The core of his routine was heavy, high-rep squats, often doing 20-30 reps with weights over 500 pounds.
  • He also used other exercises like hack squats, leg extensions, leg curls, and various calf raises to build complete leg development.
  • Platz’s workouts were extremely demanding, often lasting 3 hours or more, and performed up to 3 times per week.
  • While his exact routines are too intense for most people, we can learn valuable lessons from his approach:
  1. Focus on compound exercises like squats
  2. Use proper form and full range of motion
  3. Don’t be afraid of higher rep ranges
  4. Push yourself, but know your limits
  5. Be consistent and patient – great results take time
  • For beginners, it’s crucial to start with more moderate workouts and gradually increase intensity over time.
  • Even if you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to copy Platz’s workouts exactly, you can use his dedication and work ethic as inspiration for your fitness journey.

Remember, building impressive legs (or any other body part) isn’t just about one workout or one technique. It’s about consistent effort over time, proper nutrition, and adequate rest and recovery.

Tom Platz’s leg workouts are a testament to what the human body can achieve with extreme dedication and effort. While his exact methods may not be suitable for everyone, his passion and commitment to his craft are truly inspiring.

So, next time you’re doing squats or any other leg exercise, think of Tom Platz. Push yourself a little harder, go a little deeper, or do one more rep than you thought you could. That’s how legends are made!

Keep training hard, stay safe, and who knows? Maybe someday they’ll be calling you the new King (or Queen) of Squats!

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