Dorian Yates knows volumes about the effects of specific training methods on the body, and he believes that training to failure can be one of the most effective ways to build an appreciable physique.

On January 19, Yates, the six-time Mr. Olympia champion, appeared on Andrew Huberman's show and shared how exhausting the muscles while training can help them grow significantly.

Yates said, “When people come to train with me, I say, Our objective is to get an exercise and go to real muscular failure...You’ve got to train, you’ve got to overload. And during this process, you’re not growing. You’re creating damage and stress to the muscle, which then has to recover and overcompensate."

However, Yates knows how overstressing can also lead to muscle dysfunction and damage. Hence, he stressed the need to stop at the right point, saying, "Do enough to stimulate but not too much because you have to recover from that."

The training-to-failure approach is effective for athletes seeking intensity or limited access to weight, as well as for experienced muscle builders. However, some must avoid this training.

People Who Need to Avoid Dorian Yates’s Suggested Muscle-Building Approach

Given that a veteran like Yates advised the training-to-failure approach, it's understandable that it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. Resorting to this method without proper muscle conditioning can have adverse effects.

According to BarBend, the first group that should avoid this training approach is beginners.

Newcomers often try to push every set to the point of complete exhaustion. However, they need to realize that training to failure doesn't translate to building more muscle. It can only be beneficial after proper muscle conditioning and experience in training.

Injury-prone practitioners and people recovering from injuries and surgery should also refrain from trying Yates's suggested technique. Training to failure puts an insane amount of pressure on the muscles and joints, which might result in injury or hinder recovery.

So do you think you're experienced enough to try out Yates' technique? Please be careful if you do.

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Souvik Roy