In the world of bodybuilding, legacies are measured in muscle, discipline and relentless repetition. But for Joe Baena, it’s also a very personal journey. Baena doesn’t just get into bodybuilding for the sake of the family legacy. For him, it’s much more personal. When you see Joe and his father, Arnold Schwarzeneggertrain together, it’s not just about lifting weights. It’s a father pushing his son beyond what he thought was possible, both physically and mentally.Joe has been acting, but recently decided to take bodybuilding seriously. Arnold, of course, needs no introduction. And Joe is quite clear about what it means to have his father as a training partner.In a recent interview, Joe said: Arnold is “the best training partner”. Why? – He pushes me. Those three words sum up the complicated, sometimes distant, but now much closer relationship between father and son.
What Joe Baena explains about his relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Joseph “Joe” Baena is a rising star in the bodybuilding world, and he’s finally revealing the secret key to success that his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger, gave him early on.Weeks after winning her first bodybuilding competition, where Baena took home three gold medals at the NPC Natural Colorado State Championships in March, the prodigy spoke to GQ about the role her father, the ‘Terminator’ star, has played in her success.Joe actually credits Arnold for getting him interested in bodybuilding in the first place. Back in college, when Joe became concerned about his health, Arnold gave him a copy of the bodybuilding encyclopedia he swears by.“My dad gave me a bodybuilding encyclopedia,” Baena said, “I was flipping through it, trying to learn how to grow biceps, and I fell in love with weightlifting. I fell in love with healthy eating. I fell in love with learning about the body and how it reacts to training, and I became very passionate about it.’Arnold does more than give advice from the sidelines. He walks right in next to Joe. They’ve trained together at the legendary Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach: father and son, the same place that helped make Arnold a legend, grunting through reps.“He’s the best coach. I don’t know what to say,” Baena admitted without hesitation.However, training with your famous dad isn’t always easy. Joe says Arnold doesn’t let it slow him down. When Joe is on empty (and low carb), Arnold finds a way to keep going. “It pushes me. It makes sure I don’t slow down in the gym. When the carbs are low and the calories are low and I start to get tired, it pumps me up,” she shared.That push is clearly paying off: Joe recently took first place at the NPC Natural Colorado State competition, including the Men’s Open Body Heavy Weight Class and Men’s Classic Physique Novice. In addition to that, he also achieved the classic INBA Iron Gladiator physique title.
Joe Baena, Arnold Schwarzenegger and their complicated father-son relationship
Looking at the rise of trends, it’s hard not to see parallels with Arnold’s career. The man is one of the greatest bodybuilders, seven times Mr. Olympia and five times Mr. Universe, before you call action movies and politics. But Joe’s path has not been straight. Back in high school, he remembers being “chubby” and being cut from basketball and football because he couldn’t keep up. Luckily, the swim team didn’t need tryouts, and that’s where he found his fitness.Also, Joe and Arnold’s relationship wasn’t always so strong. Joe grew up with his mother, Mildred Patricia Baena (Schwarzenegger’s former housekeeper), and began building a closer relationship with Arnold as a teenager after much public drama when it was revealed who his father was. So yes, there is baggage there. Over the years, but mostly through fitness, they have really connected. They share discipline, interests and goals. And even though Joe has a famous last name, he doesn’t use Schwarzenegger professionally, because he wants to do it on his own.As for Arnold, his story is legendary for a reason. Born in Austria, he started weight training as a child, moved to America, conquered bodybuilding, Hollywood and then politics. Through it all, his desire to improve himself never faded. That’s the mindset he wanted to convey to Joe.
