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Farewell To One Of The Greatest Figures In American Physical Training

(This is an article that was posted on Bob Whelan’s naturalstrength.com site by another weight training legend, Bradley J. Steiner).

By Bradley J. Steiner

Unfortunately, one of the first items of news I got this morning upon awakening was that Arthur Jones, the genius who invented the Nautilus Exercise Machines (ie the “intelligent barbells”, as he often referred to them) has passed away. All of us who love sensible physical training and who appreciate that there have been precious few real HEROES who, in the course of weight training’s history in America, have done anything to advance proper physical training, have lost a friend and an ally.

May God rest Arthur’s soul.

I knew of Arthur Jones since he first began to publish his ideas in the REAL IronMan Magazine (ie the original Publication that another giant in this field — Peary Rader — had founded). I was privileged to be a regular contributor to IronMan, and what struck me powerfully was how Jones’ theories — if you read them and tried to understand them — grew out of, and capitalized upon, the true and functional principles of progressive resistance exercise that Rader, myself, and a number of others had always endeavored to present.

What Arthur Jones was doing, however, went a couple of steps ahead of the game. Arthur Jones had found a way to take the principles that those of us who knew physical training and who loved it understood WORKED, and he developed machinery by which he argued HE COULD MAKE IT WORK EVEN BETTER! To use an analogy: People who were civilized all knew about the phenomenon of the electric light; but when the LASER light was discovered, it advanced the science of light and propelled it into a new dimension by taking the basic principle and doing MORE with it.

Not surprisingly, the Nautilus theories and machines — and even Arthur Jones, himself — were attacked, criticized, ridiculed, and vilified. However, the criticism and attacks were always of a kind that reminded us of a hysterical witch doctor screaming about the threat that was posed to any of the tribe who were foolish enough to seek the help of a medical doctor.

The critics didn’t comprehend what Arthur Jones was talking about. The critics couldn’t grasp how Jones’ machines were intended to INTENSIFY (not “replace”) the progressive resistance experience that weight training put the body through. Arthur Jones had begun development of a METHOD and of a SERIES OF TRAINING MACHINES that took the sensible principles of weight training, and enabled them to be more efficently employed — thus cutting enormous amounts of time from the training regimen of the strength and muscle seeker.

Those of us who already understood the correct principles of weight training and who considered Arthur Jones’ presentations objectively could only feel admiration for the man. The derision and the disrespect came from the sort of ignoramuses one expect such derision and disrespect to come from: ie those who had no idea of the proper training principles, and who didn’t feel any need to acquire any knowledge of them.

Some objections were raised about Arthur Jones’ “personality”. Many “didn’t like” him. Well, when he walked the earth, many “didn’t like” Jesus Christ, either. Being “disliked” — as far as we have been able to determine in our 60 years — means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the person, his values, his behavior, and that which he really and truly stands for, is, and that which he has contributed.

Thanks to one of our dear friends, Greg Anderson, I was not that long ago able to contact Arthur Jones, personally. I wrote to the man. He responded, and in his letter gave me his telephone number. I called him and, for about an hour or so, I had a most cordial and interesting conversation. That Arthur Jones was “no nonsense” perhaps offended or bothered some. I found it refreshing. Jones and I spoke about a number of things, and what impressed me (perhaps I am flattering myself here) is how ALIKE we seemed to be.

We both spoke as though we had known each other for a very long time. Jones was
pleasant, direct, clear, and a delight to know. His observations of humanity
— like my own — left him somewhat, shall I say, “underwhelmed”. Well, so what? His detractors perhaps numbered themselves amongst those about whom (we feel) Jones spoke and wrote with justifiable criticism, BECAUSE HE FOUND THOSE WHOM HE CRITICIZED TO BE DISHONEST, IGNORANT, AND STUBBORNLY COMMITTED TO BELIEFS FOR WHICH THERE SIMPLY WAS NO JUSTIFICATION (and, I would add, for which Jones had provided irrefutable arguments against!). Should one expect loving and benevolent praise for those people — from the man who was the very target of their mindless and unjust assaults?

In fact, when one considers who and what Arthur Jones was, and when one considers the petty and moronic nature of his critics his detractors, Arthur Jones was amazingly gentle and tolerant, in my opinion.

Arthur Jones, like Peary Rader, Harry B. Paschall, Bob Hoffman, and a few very special others, is gone. His contributions are, when considered, enormous and incredible. Doubtless there will be the collection of liars and second handers who will now jump at the opportunity to speak of how “they are presenting Arthur Jones’ great methods”, ad nauseum (when they either never knew Jones, or attacked him when he was alive). To hell with them.

Neither I — nor, I dare say, Arthur Jones — would be surprised at any of this disgraceful nonsense. We will simply remember a great innovator, a brilliant individual, and a permanent benefactor of all who possess the brains to listen to the message that he left us. We admonish our kindred spirits in the IRON GAME to do the same.

Arthur Jones, through his contributions, will live on forever in the minds and in the hearts of those who cherish sensible physical training. Through his works he will benefit generations not yet born. THAT’S A HERO!

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A legend in the world of fitness has died.

Arthur A. Jones, inventor of the Nautilus exercise equipment and founder of the Jumbolair estate in Anthony, died at about 4:40 a.m. today at his Ocala home.

Jones was 80. His son, William, said he died of natural causes.
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