Until recently, I never knew that the line between strength training and bodybuilding was so blurred. But the old man will make an attempt at giving his interpretation of the differences.

strength training: training with sole intent of gaining strength.

bodybuilding: training with the sole intent of improving "looks," primarily training to get bigger, better-looking muscles.

There is nothing wrong with either of those two types of training. The problems arise when folks begin to intertwine the two.

When a bodybuilder trains, he does not train to get stronger; he trains to get bigger muscles. This is not to say that he cannot get "stronger" within the confines of his bodybuilding goals. By stronger, I mean that he can progress on poundages and reps on the leg curl machine and increase the dosages of goofy supplements, etc. But he limits himself in that area when his goals are set to get bigger muscles and a better-looking physique.

When a strength trainer trains, he does not train to get bigger muscles; he trains to get stronger. This is not to say that he cannot get bigger muscles and a better-looking physique within the confines of his strength training goals. But he limits himself in that area when his goals are set to get stronger.

You cannot have your proverbial cake and eat it, too. A strength trainer is in it for strength, and a bodybuilder is in it for looks. When a bodybuilder says to me that he wants to get stronger, my question is, "then why are you a bodybuilder?" When a strength trainer says to me that he wants to get bigger muscles, my question is, "then why are you a strength trainer?"

A lot of people think that the door swings both ways. They hold that a bodybuilder should use strength training to get bigger muscles, because it is a known fact that strength almost equals size. However, I don't think you will find too many true strength trainers that believe bodybuilding will get them strong. Why? Because the strength trainer knows the score. He knows that since his goal is to get strong, he shouldn't worry about size.

When a guy says that his goal is to get bigger muscles and that THAT is why he trains, what is he? Come on now folks- you all know the answer by now. He is a bodybuilder. If a guy says that he would forfeit some strength for size, what is he? This is a little tougher, but stay with me here. He is a bodybuilder.

Who do you people consider to be "strength trainers?" Mike Mentzer, who spent his life bodybuilding and then threw together some "strength" philosophy to reach out to the fence-straddlers of strength training and bodybuilding? Andrew Baye, who looks like a model and supports a "strength" system that was designed for women and the elderly?

You know who I consider to be strength trainers? Magnus Ver Magnusson, Gerrit Badenhorst, and Bill Kazmaier are just a few. You know who I consider to be bodybuilders? Mike Mentzer, Dorian Yates, and Lee Haney are just a few. Exceptions? Lou Ferrigno was a bodybuilder who became strong enough to compete at the strength level. Jon Pall Sigmarrson was a strength trainer whose physique allowed him to compete at the bodybuilding level. But here are a few interesting questions. Do you think that the World's Strongest Man competitors cared about how their muscles looked when there were trying to carry the husafell stone? Do you think that the Mr. Olympia competitors cared how strong they were when they were on stage showing their lat spreads?

It's all about the one thing that should be on both the minds of bodybuilders and strength trainers: the goal. If you are a bodybuilder and you want bigger muscles, go ahead and do strength training lifts. Nine lifters out of ten will get bigger. But do not fool yourself into thinking that you are a strength trainer. Because when a strength trainer why you are doing those heavy deadlifts, and you reply that you are doing them to get bigger muscles, he'll know what you are: a bodybuilder.

Just some useless thoughts from a narrow-minded old man who cannot understand why the line is so blurred!