Dave Draper’s Musclebuilding Q&A

I have a friend with amazing calves — no training, just born with them. How can I achieve amazing calves? In your experience, how much of physique is hereditary?

Genetics are a big influence. I’ve walked malls and airports where not a fit person can be found, and coming my way is a pair of diamond-shaped calves that flex and thunder with every stride. Atop the magnificent muscular development is a blimp in Bermudas hurrying with briefcase in hand, one more beer before boarding his craft. I think of how many bodybuilders (hello) would die for this guy’s accidental possessions.

Shoulder width and small hips, or thin skin and a tendency for muscularity — these gifts come from Mom and Dad or someone along the line. That doesn’t mean we can’t affect imperfection by training hard and right. Accentuate the positive wisely and try every trick in the book to affect improvement of the negative. Shoulders can’t be broadened, but they can be thickened. Pecs can’t be squared, but they can be striated. We do what we can do.

Under-developed calves have their own variety of approaches.

Seated and standing, high reps and multiple sets every day until you fall over is a popular method of operation. Try supersetting the two exercises.

I always liked donkey calf raises with a partner every other day… burning pain… and never ever missing a workout (10 sets of 20 reps, toes in and toes out, shaking calves when needed til total reps achieved). That is, if you live in a neighborhood where donkeys are a welcome animal.

Giving up is easy to do… for some people… but you mustn’t. Calves demand persistence.

I’d like to think I admire folks with great calves, but personally I think I might be jealous. That’s between us, okay?

Go… Dave