Though many people believe that strength training really began on the shores of sunny Southern California through the likes of Joe Gold, Bill Pearl, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Lou Ferrigno, and others, in reality, "bodybuilding" has existed for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Greeks. That being said, the modern age of strength training truly gained its momentum first from the sands of the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, California in the 1930’s-1950’s, and then more recently, just south of there in Venice Beach in the 1960’s-1980’s. By the time the 1980’s arrived, many newer fitness brands were born, thus leading to the spread of fitness centers and health clubs around the world. Today, it is not uncommon to find multiple gyms within a few blocks of each other in certain cities.

Though most people think of "bodybuilding" as a term that describes only those weightlifters who want to find the fastest way to build muscle and gain muscle mass , in reality, bodybuilding is something that we all do every time we step into the gym – even if only to walk on the treadmill. Sure, it was the bodybuilding scene of the 1960’s-1980’s that popularized the stereotype that exists today, but we contend that without the attention that folks like Joe Gold, Bill Pearl, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and others brought to working out, many people around the world would not have access to as many workout choices as they currently do.