Dorian Yates was into Kung Fu, thanks to Bruce Lee, before becoming 6x Mr Olympia champion
Former Mr. Olympia champion Dorian Yates remains one of the best bodybuilders of all time. Winning the title six times in his long and illustrious career, Yates was responsible for introducing the mass monster era in the realm of bodybuilding. In a recent podcast, Froch on Fighting, Yates opened up about his journey while talking to former British boxing icon Carl Froch.
Having spent a few months of his childhood years behind bars, this is when Dorian Yates realized he is made for bodybuilding. Even before that, he had developed a strong inclination towards combat sports like Kung Fu. Additionally, as a kid, Dorian Yates was also fond of the popular cartoon character Tarzan.
Yates said on the podcast:
"When I was really young like it was the Tarzan movies, you don't have them anymore...this guy swinging through the jungle, pretty muscular, and its like, also he was a loner...he was a force for good." (03:42)
"I really got interested in Kung Fu, and Bruce Lee. All Bruce Lee movies and everything...I had Bruce Lee posters on the wall before I knew really what bodybuilding was, but he had a physique, although he was very small, still had a physique and everything. He did weight training and I loved that. I did a little bit of Karate but what I found was liking the conditioning more than the actual trying to learn the moves of karate." (04:01)
How bodybuilding started for Dorian Yates
Further in the podcast, Dorian Yates touched on the subject of how his bodybuilding journey started. Being arrested during the British riots as a kid, Yates was in a juvenile detention centre for six months.
Fortunately, his sentence was later reduced to three months. It was during this time that he realized his calling for bodybuilding and powerlifting. Living amidst the notorious kind, Dorian Yates understood that he wasn't like the other inmates. Utilizing his time there by lifting weights and pumping iron, he was determined to change his life for the better when he was released.
Recalling his past, Yates said:
"I realised with 300 guys in there that I had the best physique and this is something I really enjoyed and I could be good at it. I knew I was different from everybody...I got treated differently by all the lads in there, I got the prison officers treated me with some level of respect just because they know just because how I carried myself and they were like you're not supposed to be in here." (05:34)
Standing true to his words, Dorian Yates went on to establish a name for himself in the realm of bodybuilding. Having won six Olympia titles during his career, Yates still inspires millions of people to take up lifting and live a long and healthy life.