John McCallum - THE Complete Keys to Progress

The Complete KEYS TO PROGRESS

Copyright 1993 IronMind Enterprises, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews. For further information contact the publisher.

Cataloging in Publication Data

McCallum, John

The complete keys to progress by John McCallum: Edited by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

1. Weight training 2. Bodybuilding 3. Fitness and health I. Title

GV546.M37 1993 796.41 93-80635

ISBN 0-926888-01-3

ISBN (mobi edition): 978-1-93686-414-0

Published in the United States of America
IronMind Enterprises, Inc., P. O. Box 1228, Nevada City, CA 95959

Printed in the U.S.A. First Edition

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11

John was an accomplished story teller and writer; it was one of his passions.
I hope others will enjoy Johns stories as much as our family has over the years.

His loving wife, Kitty

Other IronMind Enterprises, Inc. publications:

SUPER SQUATS: How to Gain 30 Pounds of Muscle in Six Weeks by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

IronMind: Stronger Minds, Stronger Bodies by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

Mastery of Hand Strength by John Brookfield, foreword by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

MILO: A Journal for Serious Strength Athletes, Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D., Publisher and Editor-in-chief

Powerlifting Basics, Texas-style: The Adventures of Lope Delk by Paul Kelso

Of Stones and Strength by Steve Jeck and Peter Martin

IronMind Training Tablet No. 1 by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

IronMind Training Tablet No. 2 by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

Sons of Samson, Volume 2 Profiles by David Webster

Rock, Iron, Steel: The Book of Strength by Steve Justa

Paul Anderson: The Mightiest Minister by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

To order additional copies of The Complete Keys to Progress or for a catalog of IronMind Enterprises, Inc. publications and products, please contact:

IronMind Enterprises, Inc.

P. O. Box 1228

Nevada City, CA 95959 USA

tel: (530) 265-6725

fax: (530) 265-4876

website: www.ironmind.com

e-mail: sales@ironmind.com

John McCallum, both literally and figuratively, shaped an entire generation of would-be musclemen with his unparalleled ability to simultaneously entertain and inform: His original Keys to Progress articles have become classics and in addition to inspiring many of todays top muscle writers, many feel that these articles established the highest standard in the field. We have presented these articles as they first appeared in Strength & Health, where they ran from the June 1965 issue through the November 1972 issue. The appendix contains the eight articles, also from Strength & Health, that preceded the formal beginning of the Keys To Progress seriesincluding such mega-classics as Johns articles on measurements and on the breathing squat.

When you read John McCallums articles, you will learn more than how to get big and strongfrom head to toeor even how to improve your health in the process. Johns articles will make you laugh and will also give you a sense of social history and personal values. And while you might not even have been born when JFK was assassinated or when The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show or when there was a war in Vietnam, you will probably still get a sense of personal involvement as Johns articles touch on the major cultural tides of the 1960s and 1970s. Also touching you very personally, Johns articles will open your eyes to the importance of being more than just pounds and inchesno matter how dear these things are to youand without preaching, will underline the importance of becoming a well-rounded person.

Say what you want about this fine point or that, John McCallums articles remain a road map par excellence for anyone seeking more size and strength. In fact, if anyone tells you that things have changed 180 degrees since Johns articles first appeared, to use a McCallumism, they are probably after your money.

So whether this is your second time around, or your first introduction, sit back and learn, laugh and benefit from the all-time grandmaster, John McCallum.

Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.

IronMind Enterprises, Inc.

Nevada City, California

Theres a young man down the street from me who trains with weights. Hes been at it for about three years now but youd never know to look at him. Hes got no build at all. My grandmothers been dead for twelve years and she probably still looks better than he does.

He came over to my house to talk one night. He brought an arm-load of magazines with him.

I told him to sit down. He dumped the magazines on the coffee table. Hes a thin jittery type. He sits on a sofa like his back pockets were full of broken glass.

I asked him how he was doing with his training.

Not too good, he said. I cant seem to gain weight.

I asked him what program he was doing.

He rattled off a jumble of exercises like a tobacco auctioneer milking the crowd. I never even heard of half of them.

Gee, I said. Thats an awful lot of work. How long does it take?

About three hours.

How often?

Six days a week.

Man, oh man, I said. No wonder youre not gaining weight. Why dont you go longshoring? Youd work about half that hard and theyd pay you for it.

He looked a bit hurt. I wouldnt gain weight longshoring.

Youre not gaining a heck of a lot training either.

No, he said. Im a bit thin.

I took a good look at him. You could open milk tins on his knee caps. Yeah, I said. You are a bit.

He squirmed around like hed been kicked and I began to feel sorry for him.

Look, I said. Whered you get the idea you had to train that hard?

He picked up one of the magazines. Here.

I took the magazine and started thumbing through it. It wasnt from York. I turned page after page and they all looked the same and finally I said, What in heck is this? A catalogue?

No, no, he said. Keep going.

I kept going and about half-way through the book I came to a story about a guy who was double bumping his pecs or something. I recognized his picture. He built up at Yaricks and he looked better then than he does now.

I passed another half dozen pages of advertising and came to a story about a guy who said the wonder system produced his thrilling legs.

I closed it up at this point. Ive seen lots of good legs but the only ones that ever thrilled me were on girls.

I handed the book back. Not bad, I said. Slip it under your coat when youre leaving, will you? The postal authorities may be casing the place.

He looked a little puzzled. Dont you read them?

No, I said. I read Peanuts. Its not quite as funny but it makes more sense.

Well, I dunno, he said. Theres lots of stuff in there about gaining weight.

Do you follow it?

Sure.

Did you gain any weight?

Well, no, he said. But Im gonna stick with it. I got lots of starch in my spine.

You got lots of rocks in your head. You could put muscles on a lamp post in three years.

You think theres a better way to gain weight?

Certainly.

How?

So I told him:

I said, Gaining weight isnt complicated. Its the easiest thing in the world. But theres certain principles to follow and youre not following any of them.