Aziz Shavershian, or Zyzz as most bodybuilding circles knew him, was an influential fitness instructor. Before his untimely death in 2011, Zyzz was a pioneer of “aesthetic bodybuilding,” where you work specific muscle groups for a visually pleasing body rather than to build strength. His influence lives on as people learn his training techniques for a killer physique, including his legendary arm workouts.
We’ll focus on arm workouts and help you attain arm muscles like Zyzz in a few weeks.
In Proportion to Zyzz
Zyzz’s arms last measured 17 inches in diameter, but that shouldn’t be your goal. He was around 6’1” in height, so the size of his arms was proportional to his body type. Remember, his workout routine was about building aesthetics, so be inspired and build muscle in line with your natural body shape.
The Routine
The routine itself is quite simple, focusing on the triceps, biceps, and shoulders. It involves plenty of bicep curls, triceps extensions, and close-grip bench presses.
Following Zyzz’s plan to the letter, your daily workout would go something like this:
- 4 sets of shoulder press, alternating with barbell & dumbbell every week (8-10 reps)
- 3 sets of upright rows super-setted with lateral raises (8-10 reps)
- 3 sets of front raises (8-10 reps)
- 3 sets of lying rear delt raises (8-10 reps)
- 3 sets of close-grip bench press (8-10 reps)
- 4 sets of pulldowns (8-10 reps)
- 3 sets of skull crushers (8-10 reps)
You’re free to adjust this routine to fit your needs, especially if you’re trying to focus on certain muscles for more toning or development.
Side Note on Steroids
It was found later that a lot of his progress was due to steroid injections. While it’s not quite possible to get to “Level Zyzz” naturally, dedicated training and muscle gain will still get you where you need to go. No arm workouts go to waste.
