A resurfaced training clip from the late 1980s shows how Michael Jordan trained and transformed his body to dominate one of the NBA’s most physical eras.

An old clip of Jordan's strength training resurfaced on the internet recently, giving an insight into what made him such a powerful athlete. Fitness coach Fred Duncan uploaded the video on Instagram, which showed Jordan engaged in an intense gym session with his trainer, Tim Grover.

According to the caption, Jordan started weight training after getting tired of being “pushed around” by some physically dominating teams like the Pistons. It was during a time when strength training wasn't considered fruitful for basketball players. Many athletes feared that strength training could potentially damage their skill, touch, or fluidity.

The caption mentions, "Jordan understood the real issue. He was a basketball player first, so anything he did in the weight room had to support the game, not interfere with it."

Thus, his training approach was straightforward and without any elaborate machines or cutting-edge techniques. It consisted of exercises like bench presses, dumbbell work, pulldowns, and rows. He had a clear approach to training; everything done in the gym was to enhance his performance. Here is everything it includes:

• Chest, Shoulders, and Arms
• Legs
• Core Training

The clip generated a lot of buzz online, with a lot of people commenting on Jordan's physique and fitness.

Internet Reaction to Michael Jordan’s Strength Training

Even after years of retirement, Michael Jordan manages to impress people now and then. The latest point to get added to the list was this strength training video. Here are some of the comments that the video generated:

One user wrote just one word, and it was enough to convey his feelings; he wrote, "GOAT."

Another user got into detail explaining the routine in the video, "Compound lifts, free weights and cables (vertical pulls) + some barbell work ~ top 3 isolations like the bicep barbell curl… so simple & so fundamental."

Another comment on his form was, "full stack on the lat pulldown, bruh."

One user joked, "I love everything except the gloves."

Another user gave a shout-out to Jordan's trainer, Tim Grover: "Tim Grover is a legend, too. If you haven’t already, check out his book Relentless."

Challenging the approach on strength training being bad for basketball players, one user wrote, "If you want to jump higher: lift heavy. If you want to run faster: lift heavy. If you want to be an athlete: lift heavy."

Jordan’s transformation helped him elevate his game while bringing focus on strength training, and it has now spread across modern basketball.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil