Exercise Scientist Critiques Urs Kalecinski’s Shocking Size Increase

Mike uses Urs's spider curl technique as a teaching model: at the bottom, resistance is zero; at the top, maximum. Without assistance, you stop when the top becomes impossible, never fully fatiguing the stronger bottom/middle. Urs uses his off‑hand to nudge the dumbbell up on the concentric, then lowers it under strict control. This lets him use a weight that challenges the bottom as well as the top. He shows Urs doing the same on a machine curl, indicating the principle applies broadly. Mike also notes that the spider curl position prevents any body swing or delt involvement, making it an ideal exercise for those who struggle to connect with their biceps.

Mike addresses Urs's pre‑contest situation: being very lean makes it hard to increase performance. Urs likely couldn't keep adding weight, so he aimed for a 'PR vibe' in another way — perhaps higher reps or more volume with intense focus. Mike contrasts this with the typical gym‑goer who, seeing a drop in strength, thinks the workout is a waste and trains half‑heartedly. He argues that the ego hit from lower numbers can be as damaging as the physical limitation. The solution is to consciously redefine what 'hard' means for that session. He ties this to his broader philosophy (as implemented in the RP Hypertrophy App) of starting a mesocycle with reps in reserve and progressively adding load or reps, but acknowledging that during a cut autoregulation may require switching tactics. The key message is: never let a lack of load progression derail the entire session; always find a way to challenge the muscle.

Mike connects this directly to Urs's story: Urs had to fight the scale harder than his appearance because the Classic division enforced a weight cap. His best look was above that cap, so the scale was becoming the enemy. For the average person, if you set out to hit 160 lbs but at 168 you're shredded and bigger than ever, that's a massive win. Mike contrasts this with his own experience of extreme hunger at low calories, suggesting that pushing beyond that point is miserable and unproductive. He encourages people to use body weight as a helpful guide but not to become a slave to a number; the visual outcome is what matters.

Mike points out that when bodybuilders get bigger, proportions can get thrown off. However, looking at side‑by‑side photos, he sees exactly the opposite: Urs's lats billow out further, arms are notably bigger, chest is fuller, and his quad sweep is dramatically improved — 'walking around with a different person's legs.' The consequence is that his waist appears smaller relative to lats and quads, creating an even crazier taper. Mike argues this is a testament to Urs's genetics — his body wants to grow muscle so much that even at 260 lb the added tissue improves his classical proportions. This sets up a unique competitive advantage in the Open division.

Mike argues that Urs is young, ultra‑dedicated, ultra‑intelligent, and patient — traits that combined with his frame and response to training/drugs mean his growth ceiling is still far off. He compares the situation to imagining if Ronnie Coleman had tried to stay in Classic; it simply wouldn't work because his body wanted to be 300+ lb. Mike believes Urs's first Open off‑season is already producing insane results and that the next step is pushing stage weight to 270–280, a size at which he could realistically challenge for the overall title. The underlying logic: the Open division rewards freaky size combined with good shape, and Urs now has both.

Mike explains that Urs was in contention for the Classic title, finishing top three the previous year, so he had a strong incentive to stay. However, the human body sometimes just wants to get bigger, especially with the standard pro drug and food protocols and Urs's genetics. During the off‑season, Urs likely ballooned to a point where the cut would be excessively miserable — reminiscent of the hunger Mike experienced on 2,700 kcal while weighing 80 lb less. The pivot to Open was therefore a logical response to his physique's natural trajectory, not a failure of planning. Mike approves of the decision, noting that it allowed Urs to present his best look.