Clarence Bass is the author of 8 books on fitness including the Ripped series and Lean for Life. In his 60's he is still highly regarded for his spectactular physique and training wisdom. His website, www.cbass.com, is one of the best fitness resources on the net.
	Clarence Bass is seen here at age 24 performing a Snatch.

How did you first get involved in training? When did you know it would become a lifelong pursuit?
CB: My Dad, a medical doctor and an outstanding athlete in his youth, brought home a weight set when I was in the 5th grade. In a relatively short time, probably a few years, he quit lifting but I was hooked. Weight training must have satisfied a need, because I was training regularly by about 13 -- and never stopped. I wasn't satisfied with the results, of course. Looking back, however, I realize that my body responded wonderfully well. By age 15, I was stronger and better built than my friends and a few years later I was a champion Olympic lifter. I'm 65 now, and have been lifting for more than 50 years.

You were a successful competitor in Olympic weightlifting, but I heard that you didn't receive too much coaching. How did you learn these technical lifts? Any advice for someone trying to learn them?
CB: How did you know that? That's right. I've never had a weightlifting coach. I taught myself the Olympic lifts by looking at the pictures in Strength & Health magazine. By hindsight, I don't know how I did it. It didn't seem so difficult at the time, however. My Dad taught himself to pole vault by reading a book. I just seemed to have a knack for it. It was fun and I was good at it.
More training aids are now available: excellent books, videos and many qualified coaches. We offer a number of them on our website. People should take advantage of these learning tools that weren't available to me. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed.

Do you think your background in Olympic lifting has helped you as a bodybuilder?
CB: Definitely. Lifting gave me an advantage in the lower back, legs, traps, and shoulders (the military press was one of the competitive lifts; it was dropped after I stopped competing), body parts where bodybuilders are often weak. My challenge was developing the showy muscles where most bodybuilders are strong: arms, chest and so forth. I considered that an advantage, because I knew I had plenty of room to improve. That's why I was interested in bodybuilding. Improvement is the mother's milk of motivated.

What do you think about kettlebells as a training method?
CB: I consider it the poor man's Olympic lifting. Three kettlebells and you've got a whole gym; can't beat that for efficiency. What's more, it develops speed, coordination, balance and strength, and it's much easier to learn than Olympic lifting. Kettlebells are an excellent complement to bodybuilding. They will give you a more complete physique and make you a better athlete. I definitely believe in including lifts that require speed and balance, as well as strength. Believe it or not, such lifts become more important as you get older; they keep the spring in your step.

What type of training regimen are you on these days?
CB: I do a balanced routine, weights and aerobics. I focus on lifting on Saturday, aerobics on Sunday and do both on Wednesday. I walk on rest days. I don't believe in maintenance training. I periodize and always try to improve.

Do you follow a strict diet to stay lean? Are there any other things you do for your health?
CB: I don't diet. I prefer to think in terms of an eating style. I stick mainly to whole foods, lots of vegetables, fruit and whole grains, with some high quality protein and good fat in every meal. I enjoy what I eat and I'm never hungry. I follow a healthy lifestyle and concentrate on things I enjoy and do well. I stay positive.

What's your approach to combining strength and endurance training? You mention on your website that it is the path to total fitness. I also noticed that you compete in indoor rowing, which seems to combine the two. Could you tell us a little bit about that as well?
CB: As mentioned earlier, I'm always looking for ways to improve. Indoor rowing is an example. As you said, it's requires a combination of strength and endurance. The rowing motion is much like the pull in cleaning or snatching a weight. That appealed to me, of course. What really got me hooked, however, was the Concept 2 online world ranking system. The rankings allow men and women to compete with people their age and weight from around the world. It's a wonderful way to register progress. As I said earlier, progress is what keeps you motivated. Moving up in the rankings gives you a real sense of satisfaction. You don't have to be number one to be a winner. Over 90,000 people have posted times in distances from 500 meters to 5000 meters. And they are all winners, because competition helps you do your best.

You've written 8 books, including your two most recent ones "Challenge Yourself" and "Lean for Life." Which would you recommend as a starting point for the average person trying to get in shape?
CB: For those mainly interested in bodybuilding, I recommend the Ripped series of three books. If your goal is total fitness, strength and endurance, the best place to start is Lean For Life. All the books are different; a description of each one can be found on our website: www.cbass.com.

Could you tell us a bit about your new video?
CB: It's our first video. The purpose is to answer questions people ask and demonstrate things that are hard to explain properly in a book. It includes information on diet, athletic-type lifting, high-intensity aerobics, tracking body fat and motivation, plus some surprises. People want to see what my physique looks like at 65 and I show them. The feedback has been almost all positive. People seem to love the video. Making it has been a very rewarding experience.

Thanks for your time.
CB: My pleasure. I hope your readers enjoy the interview.