Stern’s Editorial

Leo Stern: Iron and Will
By Jose Urbina

Back in 1979 I arrived in San Diego via the Navy, anxious to see what I had only read about in the bodybuilding magazines back east.  San Diego was famous as a home base for one of the throw back gyms I’ve often read about.  Ty Young, all having won the Mr. Universe title, and of course the legendary founder Leo Stern. I remember the first time I stepped through the threshold into the microcosmic world of bodybuilding and strength.  The ascension up those wooden stairs becomes a visual pump up before entering the realm of champions at the top of those stairs.  I saw the legacy of other Champions Leo had inspired throughout his lifetime on the walls.  The black and white photos of George Eiffermann, Steve Reeves, Leroy Colbert and Arnold Schwarzenegger were reminiscent of weightlifters who at one time or another sought Leo’s Advice.

Once at the top of the Stairs, Leo had you in his radar and with a wink he knew if you had intimidation in your heart or fire in your eyes.  He made me think, was I willing to enter the realm and get out of the comfort zone, take on the challenge of power and size? Speaking of size, it was hard to comprehend the size of the gym and how threes great champions workout side by side. It seemed that every other bodybuilder was titled or preparing for one.  All the essentials were there to build massive, dense, symmetrical muscle with uncanny strength.

Leo believed if you look strong you should be strong.  Also an old time dumbbell full of shot reminded every lifter up in the gym about the foundations of the Iron Man’s game and the Muscle Beach just being up the road with Gold’s and Worlds Gym, there was always an array of past and present champions that would stop by to consult with Leo or get a good workout. No matter if you were Arnold the Oak or Joe the Block, everyone paid their dues.  Work ethics and discipline is that won Leo’s scrutiny.

Every now and then the scrutiny came in the manner of colorful instructions, for example, the fine art of replacing weights back where they belong after being used in consideration for those around you.  My attention was taken by the sight of two “Thunder Cats” attacking an arm routine, like tigers to a fresh kill.  Al Brown and Robby Robinson were busting skin on the biceps when a tap hits my shoulder.  I turn around and there his, Leo Stern, Looking powerful under his light blue with sleeves rolled up work shirt.  I remember his words like it was yesterday “so you gonna work out or gawk kid” he asked “If your gawking stand aside, you’re blocking the entrance”.  The only money I had was for bus fare to get back to the base at North Island.  “That’s alright kid you get this day free, but next time its five bucks!”

That was Leo Stern.  I wasn’t sure if it was because he was ex-military? I never knew.  Through the years I heard countless stories similar to mine about Leo’s generosity.  He guided me from grappler to bodybuilder/weightlifter winning more than my share of best poser trophies in which Leo was a master choreographer of pose.  Local and international champions sought him out because of the critical eye he had in selecting the correct poses to display your particular physique on the pose dais.

Leo was a stickler for work ethic.  If he observed you putting in  work and commitment, then he would impart his methods with you.  He also dispelled the myth of the”muscle bound meathead” by encouraging members to develop themselves in other sports, such as boxing, martial arts, wrestling, to incorporate flexibility and to develop ones mental and social capabilities outside the gym by using the same principles to achieve your stressors of life is what we must deal with on a daily bases and persevering through them forges a stronger better you.
The new owner and gatekeeper to the realm is now owned by Shannon “Sherman Tank” Brown, ex-pro football player who arrived in San Diego in 1980 as Mr. Michigan and through Leo was the meanest man he’d ever met; yelling and causing because of weights being left out (remember these were not politically correct times).   Then he got to know him the true Leo was all body building mentor assisting Shannon with the diet and posing to win the Western America title.  Shannon brought in a few updated pieces equipment but for the most part the gym retains its original flavor.

Being the last beneficiary to Leo’s bodybuilding wisdom I feel fortunate to have come along when I did.  Leo instructed in the art of graceful discipline and allowed me to be a part of special group of bodybuilding alumni.

On October 9th 2009 I attended the memorial of Leo and Betty Stern along with the Stern family; past and present gym members, Shannon and Al Brown, Ty Youngs, Boyer Coe and George Coetz who delivered a great memoriam that summed up Leo Stern. Leo was an icon in bodybuilding and Bodybuilding from Leo he will be missed.  His cantankerous ways and what I like to call “Leoisms” like “you come here to workout, not for the music, and if you can’t do it in this gym you can’t do it anywhere else” Will always echo along the walls of his namesake, Leo Sterns Gym.