Build Boulder Shoulders With 7 Forgotten Exercises That Transform Physiques

Ronnie Coleman just ranked the poses that built his Olympia dynasty, Chris Bumstead stirred the pot with a Classic-to-Open hot take, and Sin City crowned new champions bound for Vegas—proof the road to Olympia glory is heating up fast.

August 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

Seven vintage shoulder moves are making a comeback, and they might be exactly what your routine is missing. Unlike the usual presses and raises, these exercises target your delts from fresh angles, pushing both growth and resilience. They’ve stood the test of time because they deliver real results, building not only size but also durability. If your current program feels stale, this arsenal will give your shoulders the shock they need. Old school methods, modern gains. [Explore the seven moves now]

Chris Bumstead just lit up bodybuilding debates with one bold take: if every Classic Physique competitor jumped into Men’s Open, the Olympia top 10 would look completely different. His reasoning is simple; these athletes have the structure, conditioning, and, with the right off-season, the size to stand tall on the biggest stage. Some legends agree the crossover could change the sport’s balance of power, with Classic emerging as the true pipeline for Open contenders. The lines between divisions may not stay so clear for long. [See how the divisions could collide]

Muscle alone didn’t win eight Sandows - Ronnie Coleman’s posing sealed the deal. He recently ranked the signature shots that brought him glory, placing Most Muscular, Front Lat Spread, Front Double Bicep, Back Lat Spread, and Back Double Bicep at the very top. Side Tricep and Side Chest followed closely, while classics like the Arnold Twist settled further down the list. The ranking reveals how much presentation matters when physiques are otherwise razor-close. For anyone chasing stage dominance, mastering these poses is non-negotiable. [Master Ronnie’s stage game]

A simple 30-day experiment proved that building a stronger grip doesn’t require marathon sessions. Ten minutes of targeted forearm and grip work, five days a week, led to dramatic improvements in strength, endurance, and function. Every day tasks became effortless, forearms looked fuller, and grip strength soared. The routine focused on crushing holds, pinching, and endurance work - quick but brutally effective. If you’ve been ignoring forearms, this challenge shows how little time it takes to see a massive payoff. [Test your grip with the challenge]

 

Two top pros unleashed a brutal, old-school hamstring leg day just eight weeks before the 2025 Olympia, dialing in tools like adduction machines, single-leg curls with yoga blocks, seated and lying hamstring curls, RDL, and hip-thrust machines. These strategic moves not only fire up knee stabilisers but also lay the groundwork for buildable, striated posterior chains. If conditioning and glute detail are Olympic-stage goals, this session is your training blueprint. [Ride the hamstring wave now]

Dropping calories doesn’t always mean hitting the treadmill for an hour. Think cleaning your house, tackling the yard, walking 10,000 steps, or squeezing in a brisk 30-minute jog. Even short bursts of HIIT can torch 400 calories faster than you expect. These “lazy” strategies fit into your day without feeling like exercise, which makes them easy to stick with long-term. The best part? You’ll rack up calorie burns while barely noticing. [Discover the lazy burn hacks]

In Vegas, the Wellness division showdown crowned Rayane Fogal the winner, earning her a direct ticket to the 2025 Olympia. She edged out Narla Vilar for the win, with Marbeli Morales Ventura landing third. With symmetry, glute fullness, conditioning, and stage presence in her corner, Fogal brought her best and secured that coveted Olympia spot. [Catch the full results]

Three divisions, three champions, and three Olympia-bound athletes. Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi dominated the 212 Bodybuilding lineup, Leonardo Vecchiato impressed in Men’s Physique, and Anna Setlak stood out in Bikini. Their disciplined forms and flawless presentations clinched victories—and Olympia invitations. Europe just sent its latest trio of contenders to the big stage in Las Vegas this October. [Check out how they locked in]

On his home turf, Fabian Mayr reclaimed his Classic Physique throne, reclaiming momentum from prior Open showdowns. On the women’s side, Rosemary Rodriguez captivated the Wellness judges with symmetry and flow to take gold. Both bodies punched their ticket to the 2025 Olympia, reasserting presence in their respective divisions and showing why comeback seasons can end in triumph. [See who’s headed to Vegas]

Getting carbs right can make or break performance, recovery, and even body composition. This calculator takes the guesswork out by factoring in your activity level, goals, and training demands to deliver personalized recommendations. Whether you’re chasing fat loss, muscle gain, or athletic performance, it shows exactly how many grams you should be eating and when to time them. Instead of demonizing carbs, it teaches how to make them work for you. Think precision fueling, not random guesses. [Dial in your carb game now]

Mike Sommerfeld brought the heat with a razor-sharp posing routine at the Spain Pro, turning heads just weeks out from the 2025 Olympia📹💪

Recovery Tip of the Day: Mouth Taping at Night

Turns out, your sleep might need a little... sealing. Mouth taping has been making waves among recovery nerds and performance junkies alike. Encouraging nasal breathing overnight can help improve oxygen exchange, boost deep sleep, and reduce that charming snoring habit. Bonus: Waking up with a Sahara-dry mouth becomes a thing of the past. Just make sure to use tape designed for skin, not whatever’s in your junk drawer. Snug, not suffocating, is the name of the game.

The Strength Bulletin

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