Jason Arntz Under the Tutelage of Dorian Yates

By Joe Pietaro
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Updated: July 22, 2009

Back in the 1930s, entire families would gather around the radio in anticipation of the next episode of a popular crime drama. A famous line during the opening was its signature phrase, one that still is revered today.

“Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows.”

Times have changed and society has moved on from radio to high definition television, but that simple statement rings true as much now over seven decades later. The main difference is that ‘The Shadow’ is not a vigilante crime fighter, but rather a six-time Mr. Olympia.

England’s Dorian Yates shares the same nickname as the old time radio hero and ruled the bodybuilding world from 1991 to 1997. He still is heavily involved in the sport after retiring with his Temple Gym chain and as a staff writer for Muscular Development magazine. These days Yates has taken on another task in training Jason Arntz, the 37-year-old New Jersey native who has been a regular on the new IFBB 202 circuit.

“I usually do my own dieting and contest preparation for the past 10 or 11 years, ” Arntz said after a guest posing appearance at the NPC Empire States. “Now I’m working with Dorian Yates and I’m going to take a little different approach. If you’re going to learn from somebody it might as well be the best. So we’ll see what we can cook up with him this year.”

Arntz current weight is 220 so it will be fairly easy to make weight come September at the 202 Olympia. “I eat pretty good all year,” he said, so a strict diet for me is the last three or four weeks. But I’ve been dieting for the last three weeks and going to kick it into gear starting on Monday (July 20).”

Since turning pro in 1998, the 5’5″ Arntz has found the terrain difficult against the bigger competition. Oddly enough he had his best finish in his rookie show. Arntz placed fifth at the 1999 Toronto Pro and then had to wait until the 202 division was formed to see anything higher.

At the 2008 New York Pro 202, Arntz finished in the top three and then placed fourth in the first 202 show at the Mr. Olympia. That show was sort of a test run to gauge interest in that division and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Proving that point is the fact that this year the posedown and placings will be announced on the Olympia stage at the Orleans Arena as opposed to the expo stage, something that Arntz definitely approves of. “I’m real happy about that,” he said. “You felt like a second-class Olympian (at the expo).” Being tutored by the great Dorian Yates will definitely make Arntz feel like a first-class citizen, especially if he can win the title this year.