Accomplishments
Jones' ideas helped move the public's notion of bodybuilding and strength-training exercise away from the Arnold Schwarzenegger school of training, which involved hours in the gym using free weights, to High Intensity Training. This involves short, single sets with maximum intensity, which, according to theory, triggers maximal muscular growth. Famous individuals who trained under the rules of Jones include Casey Viator (who participated in the Colorado Experiment), Eddie Robinson (who worked with and participated in and trained under Jones's nautilus leverage line which is now Hammer Strength;, Mike Mentzer, Sergio Oliva and Dorian Yates.
His publications include the Nautilus Bulletins, which aim to dispel contemporary myths of exercise and training.
The 1977 film Pumping Iron is cited as generating a fitness revolution of sorts that resulted in gyms full of Nautilus equipment and other similar strength-training exercise machines.
Currently, Nautilus, Inc. markets the Bowflex, Stairmaster and Nautilus product lines. These new product lines are not affiliated with Jones. The Bowflex "power rod" bending technology is in part based it due to use of variable resistance.
The Nautilus machines and the company he formed to sell them made him a multimillionaire and landed him on the Forbes list of the 400 richest people. At one point, financial analysts estimated that Nautilus was grossing $300 million annually. He sold Nautilus Inc. in 1986 for $23 million. He also sold MedX in 1996 and then retired.
On August 28, 2007, Jones died from natural causes at his home in Ocala, Florida, at age 80. He is survived by two daughters and by two sons, Gary and William Edgar Jones. Gary Jones created Hammer Strength strength training machines.
Read more about this topic: Arthur Jones (inventor)