Dorian Yates workout routine from 1987 to 1992 is an advanced bodybuilder routine that he followed during the middle of his competitive bodybuilding career.
This routine is a 4 or 5 day body part split that hits the following muscle groups per day:
- Day 1: Chest, Biceps, Triceps
- Day 2: Legs, Calves (Heavy)
- Day 3: Rest
- Day 4: Back, Shoulders
- Day 5: Rest
- Day 6: Chest, Biceps, Triceps
- Day 7: Legs, Calves (Light)
Because of how Dorian splits his workouts, each week has 4 or 5 training sessions in it. This is reflected in the spreadsheet.
Table of Contents
1987-1992 Dorian Yates Training Style
While Yates’ later training style (i.e. Blood n Guts style training) utilized just 1 intense working set, his training from 1987 to 1992 used more volume: 2 working sets.
Both working sets are effectively AMRAP sets and are performed the failure; the spreadsheet provides recommended rep ranges where you should be failing (e.g. 6-8 reps means perform an AMRAP set where the last rep you can muster is the 6th, 7th, or 8th rep).
During these years Yates often used the drop set and, if necessary, forced rep technique for his second working set. After the first working set, he would rest 45 to 60 seconds, reduce the load by 10 pounds or so, and perform another set to failure.
Spreadsheet: Dorian Yates 1987 – 1992 Workout Routine
Dorian Yates 1987-1992 Workout Routine Spreadsheet | LiftVault.com
Body Part Split
Dorian would divide his training up by the following muscle groups per training session. Only the working sets are shown in the tables below.
Chest, Biceps, Triceps Workout
A triple drop set means performing one set to failure, dropping the weight, immediately performing another set to failure, dropping the weight, and performing a third and final set to failure. This is one triple drop set. Two of these are performed for the dumbbell fly.
| Exercise Movement | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Bench Press | 2 | 6-8 |
| Incline Press | 2 | 6-8 |
| Dumbbell Flys (Triple Drop Sets) | 2 | 6-8 |
| Concentration Curls | 2 | 6-8 |
| Barbell Curls | 2 | 8-10 |
| Hammer Curls | 2 | 10-12 |
| Cable Extensions | 2 | 10-12 |
| Lying Tricep Extensions | 2 | 8-10 |
| One Arm Dumbbell Extensions | 2 | 8-10 |
Legs, Calves Workout
Dorian used two different leg workouts: heavy and light. The heavy workout is shown below. The light workout uses the same exercises, but in the 15-20 rep range.
| Exercise Movement | Sets | Reps |
|---|---|---|
| Leg Extensions | 2 | 8-12 |
| Leg Press | 2 | 8-12 |
| Hack Squats or Smith Machine Squats | 2 | 8-12 |
| Leg Curls | 2 | 8-12 |
| Stiff Leg Deadlifts | 2 | 8-12 |
| Standing Calf Raises | 2 | 8-12 |
Back, Shoulders Workout
| Exercise Movement | Sets | Reps |
| Close Grip Pull Downs | 2 | 8-10 |
| Weighted Chins | 2 | 6-8 |
| Bent Over Row | 2 | 8-10 |
| Hyperextensions | 2-3 | 12-15 |
| Seated Dumbbell Press | 2 | 8-10 |
| Seated Dumbbell Lateral Raises | 2 | 8-10 |
| Bent Over Lateral Raises | 2 | 8-12 |
| Shrugs | 2 | 8-12 |