Building a gym from scratch is a major milestone for the two-time 212 Olympia winner Shaun Clarida. His new “GK Jungle Gym” is 5,000 square feet of nostalgic heaven with over 90 pieces of almost exclusively rare vintage machines and free weights. 

Clarida’s Texas facility is for his private use only to prepare for the 2024 Olympia, set for Oct. 10-13, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Giant Killer” is determined to reclaim the 212 crown, which he conceded in ‘23 to reigning champ Keone Pearson.

Check out the tour Clarida gave of his gym on Sep. 9, 2024, below:

Clarida’s new posing room is a 120-square-foot, fully blacked-out space featuring a glass wall and special lighting to mimic the Olympia. The 212 legend poses after every workout to perfect his routine. He creates content and fuels up in a separate room split into an office and kitchenette.

Clarida’s Gym Setup

Clarida has an arm machine for every training angle, arranged by muscle group. His favorites are the Gymleco alternating biceps curl and an EZ-bar overhead extension machine. 

Having a machine to go overhead…press up with our triceps is important.

Clarida’s right, as research indicates that the triceps grow better via a full stretch during overhead extensions. (1)

Clarida uses plate-loaded machines to stabilize heavy lifts. Alternatively, he performs free-weight barbell exercises in a Hammer Strength power rack, except for squats, which he does on machines.

Clarida locks into standing and seated lateral raise machines, understanding their importance for shoulder width and V-taper development. Likewise, his back development is owed to his “Death Row Valley” of back machines, each with unique mechanics, movement patterns, and grips.

Clarida strikes a most muscular pose on Gymleco’s pec deck, isolating the chest by squeezing the bars down and together. He performs flyes without gripping handles, squeezing the pads together with his elbows for better precision.

Clarida utilizes his Paramount three-in-one shoulder press, upright row, and rear delt raise station. He is equally excited about his multi-angle lying machine press-flye combo with adjustable rotating handles to simulate unstable dumbbells.

The gym centerpiece is a full-sized Gymleco cable machine with multiple customized 350-pound weight stacks. Clarida supplements upper body isolation exercises with more angle options. 

Special Benches, Iron Dumbbells, and Squat Central

Clarida raved about Watson’s limited edition scapula bench, which he uses often. Shaped like a paddle, the bottom half resembles a normal training bench, while the backrest is a narrow arched pad. The design allows the back to curve around the pad and opens up the pecs for a deeper stretch during chest flies.

Definitely a piece you don’t go super heavy on.

Clarida prefers using a variety of bench styles and shapes, including his ergonomic curved bench, which conforms to his natural back arch. He pairs all bench work with full-iron dumbbells weighing five to 150 pounds. 

Entering Clarida’s squat zone, there’s every machine from jamn squats, to hack squats, sissy squat variations, a Pit Shark for belt squats, pendulum, swing squats, leg and hip presses, extensions, and leg curls. 

Clarida enjoys the unique benefits and challenges of each leg exercise. He trains them all with the same brutal intensity to maximize growth.

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Featured image: @shaunclarida on Instagram

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