Robby Robinson, known as “The Black Prince,” built his name in bodybuilding’s golden era, winning Mr. America, Mr. World and Mr. Universe, and later the Masters Olympia. 🏋️
As of October 2026, Robinson was reported to be 80 years old and still sharing physique photos, after a false death rumour in 2025 that he himself knocked down. His long career is the reason his old favourites still get talked about today.
This article looks back at one particular list: the exercises Robinson named, body part by body part, in a YouTube video in which he talked through his own favourites. It is a historical record of what he reportedly picked, not a training plan for readers.
One honest note up front: none of the photos in this article show Robinson himself. No verified free photo of him was available, so the pictures show other gym-goers doing the named exercises, and every caption says so plainly.
Chest: Dumbbell and Barbell Presses
For chest, Robinson would not settle on a single move. He named dumbbell presses and barbell presses together, as a pair.
He also moved between incline and flat versions, rather than sticking to one angle. The idea, as he described it, was to cover the chest from more than one direction.
Biceps: Curls With Strict Posture
Robinson’s biceps pick was the curl, but his real emphasis was on how it was done. He talked about keeping the back against a wall and the shoulders pulled back, so the weight stayed on the biceps.
He also stressed turning the wrist during the curl, saying a straight, locked wrist would not work the biceps the same way. Posture, in his account, was what made a simple curl count.
Triceps: Close-Grip EZ Bar Press and Rope Extensions
For triceps, Robinson named the close-grip EZ bar press first. He liked it because, in his words, it reached across the triceps while also bringing the front shoulders and chest into play.
His second triceps pick was the rope extension, shown in the photo above. He advised keeping the elbows close to the sides of the head, so the movement stayed on the triceps rather than drifting elsewhere.
Back: Chin-Ups and T-Bar Rows
Robinson kept his back list short: chin-ups and T-bar rows. He mentioned chin-ups to the front and to the back, treating both as part of the same favourite.
The T-bar row was his second back pick, a heavy rowing move that rounded out the pair. Together, the two moves covered pulling from above and pulling from in front.
Readers who want Robinson’s wider weekly structure, rather than this picks list, can read the companion guide: Robby Robinson Training Split: A Comprehensive Guide. That guide is a separate article and its content is not repeated here.
Abs: Hanging Leg Raises and Lying Leg Raises
For the midsection, Robinson named hanging leg raises and lying leg raises. He described them as moves that worked the whole abdominal area, rather than one small part of it.
He also linked the hanging version to the classic V-taper shape, the wide shoulders narrowing down to a tight waist that golden-era physiques were known for.
Quads: Squats
Robinson’s quad pick needed no debate: squats. In his own short summary, “Squats work the whole body.”
He treated the squat as a full-body cornerstone rather than a legs-only move, and he described the leg press as a lighter alternative for a day when the lower back needed a break.
Three more picks, in Robinson’s own list
A note on the pictures: the three picks below have no photo, on purpose. No verified free photo of any of them was found, and using a photo of a different exercise in their place would have been misleading. They are described here in words only, with no heading of their own.
Shoulders — behind-the-neck press. Robinson said he would build shoulders with the behind-the-neck press, with a barbell or dumbbells, keeping an arched upper back so the deltoids did the pressing. This is a demanding move that needs good shoulder mobility, and it does not suit everyone — anyone with shoulder trouble should be cautious with it.
Hamstrings — stiff-leg deadlifts. For hamstrings, Robinson named stiff-leg deadlifts, again with an arched upper back and the pressure kept on the hamstrings. The deadlift photos available showed bent-knee conventional deadlifts, which are a different lift, so none is used here.
Calves — donkey calf raises. For calves, Robinson’s old-school favourite was the donkey calf raise, done bent forward with a partner sitting on the lifter’s back. It was a golden-era gym staple, rarely seen in modern gyms, and no verified free photo of it could be found.
A careful word before anyone tries these
This article describes what one veteran bodybuilder reportedly favoured. It is general fitness information only, not medical advice and not a programme.
Several of these moves, especially behind-the-neck pressing and stiff-leg deadlifts, ask a lot of the shoulders and back. Stop straight away if anything causes sharp pain, and consider asking a qualified coach to check your form before trying an unfamiliar lift.
Frequently asked questions
Where did Robinson’s list come from? From a YouTube video in which Robinson talked through his favourite exercise for each body part, later written up by FitnessVolt. The old 2024 version of this article listed the same picks.
Why are there nine picks if some body parts have two exercises? The “nine” counts body parts — shoulders, chest, biceps, triceps, back, abs, quads, hamstrings and calves — and several of those parts have two named moves.
Why is there no photo of Robinson himself? No verified free photo of him was available for this refresh, and the old article’s Instagram photos were not reused. All pictures here show other gym-goers and say so in their captions.
Was Robinson really still training at 80? As of October 2026 he was reported to be 80 and sharing physique photos, after publicly dismissing a 2025 death hoax. This article makes no claim about his health beyond that reported fact.
For more on Robinson’s later years, see Bodybuilding Legend Robby Robinson Defies Age. For the wider world of arm and back training, see the triceps workout guide, the best V-shape exercises guide, and the old-school calf workouts guide.