Addicted to Life – The Reg Park Story

The inspirational and heart-warming documentary DVD, “Addicted to Life – The Reg Park Story” is a tribute to a great and humble man.

Reg Park, former Mr Universe and best known as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s inspiration and one of the early actors in the Hercules’ movies, adopted South Africa in the 1950’s as his home country. He assisted with training of the 1995 victorious Springbok rugby team.

Park passed away in 2007 after a lifetime of inspiring all who met him.

Reg Park was a man for all seasons. Known throughout the world as one of the greatest ever bodybuilders he was also a loving husband and father, businessman, actor, healer, teacher and mentor.

This movie provides an insight into the man behind the public façade and is testimony to the fact that, with hard work and dedication, Park achieved ‘legendary’ status and was nicknamed ‘The Legend’.

“Addicted to Life – The Reg Park Story” features interviews with many fascinating people who have been influenced by ‘The Legend’. It is a story that will fascinate you and sadden you – but most of all it will inspire you!

Reg Park revolutionised the way bodybuilders trained and many of his techniques became accepted training standards. Included with his life story is a bonus DVD, titled “Train the Reg Park Way.” In it Reg’s son, Jon Jon, reveals some of his training secrets. Along with professional trainer, Steve Uria, they demonstrate how he trained each of the major muscle groups in the body. This DVD contains valuable tips and training advice for both novices and those more experienced.

Just released (in June) and on sale in all leading DVD stores at R169.95, this is the ideal gift for Dad’s of all ages this Father’s Day.

For a stockist near you, e-mail carol@crystalbrook.co.za and for more information, visit www.plumproductions.co.za

More About the Movie:

Born in Leeds in northern England, Park was a natural sportsman and started playing soccer for Leeds United as a schoolboy. He excelled on the athletics track and by the time he returned from national service in Singapore he had set his mind on becoming Mr Universe.

The movie follows Park’s single-minded determination in achieving that goal and he emerged from the ravages of post-war England to conquer the bodybuilding world and beat the Americans at their own game. He won an unprecedented three Mr Universe titles over a span of 14 years and along the way he revolutionized training regimes and inspired generations of bodybuilders.

His most famous protégé was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Says Arnold: “Reg Park was the first person who gave me a glimpse of what my life could someday become if I dreamed big and worked hard. My life was never the same. He was so powerful and rugged-looking that I decided then and there that I wanted to be a bodybuilder. I wanted to be Reg Park.

"I could not have picked a better hero to inspire me.”

For most people that would have been enough, but it was not for Park. His never-ending search to learn and grow, lead him into other fields where he also excelled. He became a celebrated actor starring in six Hercules movies that came to define the ‘sword and sandal’ genre of the muscular screen hero.

He created his own business empire that included an exhaustive schedule of public performances including a strong-man act and posing routine. He created a mail-order company selling training equipment and supplements and also published the most popular physical culture magazine in Britain at the time.

Early in his career he visited South Africa on an exhibition tour that played to sell-out crowds across the country. He met his wife to be on this trip and so began two love affairs: one with the woman who was to become his wife and the other with South Africa, which also lasted the rest of his life.

So strong was the pull of both, that Park eventually settled in Jo’burg in 1958 where he raised his family and almost single-handedly elevated the profile of bodybuilding in SA. He started a chain of gyms on the Highveld and for years he organised the Mr Republic of South Africa contest and brought the cream of the world’s bodybuilders to our shores.

Park revolutionized the way people trained and prepared for competition and created posing routines – incorporating music into these routines for the first time at the suggestion of his wife - who had been a professional ballet dancer.

Park’s incredible understanding of the body and how it worked lead him to becoming a leading figure in the rehabilitation of people with a wide range of injuries. He eventually sold his chain of gyms and returned to his first love which was training and inspiring others. Thousands of Johannesburg residents were trained over the years by Park and influenced by his positive attitude and energy.

His influence affected people like Bruce Fordyce and Gary Player who sought out his advice. He was enlisted by the coaching team of the 1995 Springboks to help prepare Balie Swart for his role in the front row of the World Cup rugby team. In the movie, Swart shares the lessons he learned from Park that have stood him in good stead throughout his life.

He was a committed family man and his home was where he was happiest. This story is also one of the most endearing love stories. He doted on his wife Mareon – to whom he was married for 55 years. Nothing made Park happier than coming home after a long day at the gym to his wife’s cooking and time spent with his son, Jon Jon, and daughter, Jeunesse.

Park was always a gentleman – humble in victory and gracious in defeat – which didn’t happen very often!

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Reg Park with his protege Arnold.jpg