Arthur Jones (inventor)

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For other persons named Arthur Jones, see Arthur Jones (disambiguation).

Arthur Jones, born in Arkansas in 1926, is the founder of Nautilus, Inc. and MedX, Inc. and the inventor of the Nautilus exercise machines, including the Nautilus pullover, which was first sold in 1970.

1 Accomplishments
2 Other Interests
3 Trivia
4 References
5 External links

[edit] 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, to High Intensity Training. This involves short, single sets with maximum intensity, which, according to science, triggers maximal muscular growth. Although credited with helping several high-profile bodybuilders make significant size and strength gains, High Intensity Training is not universally acknowledged as the best training method. Famous individuals who trained under the rules of Jones include Casey Viator (who participated in the Colorado Experiment), Mike Mentzer and Sergio Oliva & Dorian Yates

His publications include the Nautilus Bulletins (see links), which aim to dispel contemporary myths of exercise and training.

The 1977 film Pumping Iron is cited as generating a fitness revolution of sorts which resulted in gyms full of Nautilus equipment and other similar strength-training exercise machines. Nautilus, Inc. markets the Bowflex, StairMaster, and Nautilus product lines.

Jones has in the past been named on Forbes list of the 400 richest people. He sold Nautilus Inc. in 1986. As of 2006, he lived in Ocala, Florida.

[edit] Other Interests

Jones often prides himself on being a generalist, something which he describes as a move away from the stubbornness and short-sightedness of 'specialists'. He attributes this in part to his upbringing in a family of physicians (see below), as he found their attitudes toward medicine revolved around what they were taught and nothing else.

Jones has travelled and 'adventured' widely, setting up camp for two years or so at a time in different places such as Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Mexico City.

Jones is also the creator of the "Jumbolair" estate, originally created as a haven of 350 acres (1.4 km²) for orphaned African elephants and other wildlife.

Jones is an accomplished pilot with a flying record of over 44,000 hours, which is especially useful for the import-export businesses that he has been in the habit of setting up.

Jone's also founded MedX Corporation, in which he invested millions to develop medical based exercise and testing equipment. The MedX Medical Machines inspired thousands of physicians and chiropractors to utilize specific muscle strengthening to relieve back pain and other muscle and bone related ailments.