Arnold Schwarzenegger is easily the most recognizable bodybuilder of all time, so it’s no surprise that at least one of his children is considering following in the seven-time Mr. Olympia‘s footsteps. Schwarzenegger‘s 21-year-old son, Joseph Baena, who clearly inherited his dad’s looks and build, started bodybuilding about a year ago, and his progress so far is pretty impressive.
Baena, a student at Pepperdine University, started posting photos and videos of his workouts and posing on Instagram as he got into bodybuilding, and he’s garnered tons of support from followers who constantly compare him to his father. In a YouTube video with famous bodybuilder Mike “The Titan” O’Hearn, the Austrian Oak’s prodigy even revealed that he definitely wants to try doing a competition. In just a year, he’s done some serious training without any coaching, so he definitely has potential to grow in the sport.
Filling Schwarzenegger’s massive, legendary silhouette won’t be easy—even for someone with a fair share of his genetics and a solid work ethic—but Baena is well on his way. Check out some of his best fitness posts, and follow his journey on Instagram at @projoe2.
It’s impossible not to notice that Baena has made serious gains in the upper-body department since he began his quest to get big. He’s looking pretty swole in this recent shot.
If you think this photo looks familiar, you’re not alone. When Baena posted this shot of himself striking one of his dad’s iconic poses, more than 12,000 users liked it and over 700 commented. Some loved his interpretation of the pose, while others criticized his physique and his decision to copy Schwarzenegger. To be fair, Baena has only been pursuing bodybuilding for about a year, and the photo of Schwarzenegger in question was taken in the mid-’70s after he’d already won six Olympias. We say give the kid some time to catch up.
Even without a coach, Baena is progressing quickly on his mission to get big. It looks like he’s got serious potential, especially if he decides to tap one of the industry’s top trainers to fine-tune his nutrition and build his physique.
The resemblance between Baena and his father is undeniable, and so is the fact that Gold’s Gym has been the Mecca of Bodybuilding since the days when Schwarzenegger himself graced the Olympia stage. These days, aspiring bodybuilders still flock to the legendary gym to craft their dream physique.
Baena’s bodybuilding posts are filled with positive comments and comparisons to his dad’s famous physique. At just 21, Baena is still young, and many commenters are encouraging him to follow the same path that Schwarzenegger did in his prime.
Four-time Mr. Universe and former competitive powerlifter Mike O’Hearn worked out with Baena at Gold’s, and the pair released two YouTube videos on O’Hearn’s page documenting the training session. In the video, Baena says he definitely wants to try doing a competition, most likely in the Men’s Classic Physique division.
Baena raised eyebrows when he hashtagged #classicphysique on this set of videos. He’s said he wants to try doing a show, but it remains to be seen whether he’ll stick with it and become a powerhouse in the Men’s Classic Physique division.
Based on his Instagram posts, Baena has been working out for about a year. Despite the short timeframe, it looks like his dad’s genetics plus his dedication to the gym have done him well in his quest to build a Golden Era-style physique.
Much like his dad back in the day, it seems that Baena is always flexing. But let’s face it: You would, too, if your physique were on its way to being a dead ringer for a young Schwarzenegger’s.
Baena can’t rely on genetics alone to build a physique that rivals a young Arnold’s. Here, he gets after it on leg day, doing some tried-and-true movements to achieve the pump he strives for.
