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Home » Bodybuilding News » Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son, Joseph Baena, Details His Favorite Pull Day Workout

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Son, Joseph Baena, Details His Favorite Pull Day Workout

Baena’s bodybuilding future may be unclear, but he’s certainly putting in the work.

Written by Terry Ramos
Last updated on April 8th, 2025

Although Joseph Baena isn’t a seven-time Mr. Olympia like his dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger, he’s clearly cut from the same cloth. Much like his father, Baena prioritizes fitness, and, according to an interview with Men’s Health, claims to work out six days a week with two-hour training sessions and 20 minutes of fasted cardio in the morning.

That’s a whole lot of time spent fine-tuning his physique, and to shed some light on his approach to back gains, Baena recently took to Instagram to show fans what his pull day looks like. Here’s the video:

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Joseph Baena (@joebaena)

[Related: How Strong Was Ronnie Coleman? Looking Back at the Incredible Strength of the 8-Time Mr. Olympia]

Joseph Baena’s Pull Day Workout

Here’s a list of the moves Baena performed during his pull day, followed by a breakdown of each one:

  • Pull-Ups
  • Reverse-Grip Pulldowns
  • Bent-Over Rows
  • Close-Grip Pulldowns
  • Chest-Supported Rows
  • Barbell Biceps Curls

Pull-Ups

“I always start my back pump with pull-up. An essential exercise for filling up the back and widening the lats,” Baena wrote.

Pull-ups require pulling dead weight in the opposite direction of gravity. The pull-up tests one’s strength for their size, also known as relative strength. The more reps one can perform on this movement, the more relative strength one possesses.

Reverse-Grip Pulldowns

The reverse grip pulldown is performed on the cable lat pulldown machine. While this exercise targets the lats, it does so using an underhand grip compared to a pronated grip (palms facing down), which activates the biceps brachii to a greater extent. In addition, it’ll place less strain on the shoulders during the eccentric portion of the lift.

Barbell Bent-Over Row

This exercise primarily works the latissimus dorsi, but it also contracts other muscles in the back, including the traps, rhomboids, and posterior deltoids. In addition, the bent-over row enables lifters to use heavier weights since it’s performed with a barbell.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Joseph Baena (@joebaena)

[Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Chris Bumstead: Breaking Down a Fantasy Bodybuilding Matchup]

As the name suggests, the barbell bent-over the row is performed in a bent position. This hip hinge mimics the same hinge required to complete a deadlift. Holding a continuous hinge in the hips while pulling weight ignites motor units in the core and lower back. As such, the barbell bent-over row makes for an excellent carryover exercise for deadlifts.

Close-Grip Pulldowns

Close-grip pulldowns are another lat pulldown variation, except using a neutral grip (palms facing each other), usually with a V-bar attachment. This movement engages the mid-back muscles, including the rhomboids, trapezius, and lats as well. In addition, the biceps are activated to pull the load.

Chest-Supported Rows

Chest-supported rows are done on a bench set at an incline, and Baena does his with dumbbells. Rowing at a slant effectively targets the upper back muscles and the lats. And it’ll give the body another angle to row, firing muscle neurons in the back that aren’t often hit since many pulling movements are horizontal and vertical rows.

Barbell Bicep Curls

Performing biceps curls with a barbell allows the lifter to utilize a heavier weights than when performing the move with dumbbells. And that heavier load could trigger greater muscle growth in the biceps.

Joseph Baena’s Bodybuilding Future

Despite posing just like his dad on Instagram and working out with bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn, Baena has yet to announce plans for an official bodybuilding debut. And despite being part of the Schwarzenegger legacy, he says he doesn’t feel pressured to live up to it.

“I don’t have to get into acting or bodybuilding,” Baena told Men’s Health in 2022. “I’m very motivated and driven. I’m happy about my relationship with my dad. But I’m more happy that I am finding joy in what I’m doing and that I’m doing exactly what I’ve always dreamed about.”

More Bodybuilding Content

  • How Strong Was Eugen Sandow? Examining the Fitness Pioneer’s Feats of Strength
  • Hunter Labrada on Why Cable Lateral Raises Are “One of the Best Ways To Train Medial Delts”
  • Jay Cutler Displays Dumbbell Bench Press Tips for Chest Hypertrophy

Featured Image: @joebaena on Instagram

About Terry Ramos

As a personal trainer and writer, Terry loves changing lives through coaching and the written word. Terry has a B.S. in Kinesiology and is an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. Find out more about Terry's training services here: terrys-training.ck.page/b777772623

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