Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Unfortunately the software for the old Blog (which you are reading right now) recently became obsolete so we were forced to start up a new Blog on a new platform. You can find visit the New Blog by either clicking on the picture above or this link: New Blog! This Blog and all its contents, will still always be available at this address in case you want to visit.
Labels: Oldtime Strongman Blog
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, April 22, 2010
A look at a very old training guide: 'Indian Clubs and Dumbbells' by Spalding from the American Sports Publishing Company of New York. The date on this one is November, 1902, although the training info is certainly just as relevant today.
Labels: Dumbbells, Indian Club Book, Spalding, Spalding Indian Clubs, Training Gruide
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Hans Streyer "The Bavarian Hercules" is shown here lifting 528 pounds with his middle finger. It should also be pointed out that this picture, dating to the early 1880's, is the first known image of a kettlebell.
Labels: Beer Garden Lifter, finger lifting, Finger Strength, German Strongman, Hans Streyer, One Finger Lift, Stone Lifting, The Bavarian Hercules
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A look at 1945 Mr. America CLancy Ross on the cover of the March, 1954 issue of The Reg Park Journal. I actually have this issue and it is chock full of great training articles, including Reg Park's favorite dumbbell routine as well as another good one on how he trained the bench press.
Labels: Bench Press, Bodybuilding Magazine, Clancy Ross, Cover, Dumbbell Workout, Reg Park, The Reg Park Journal
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Saturday, April 17, 2010
It is pretty amazing that Kettlebells are as popular today (or even more so) than they were a hundred years ago. This Swiss athlete was a World champion back in 1921.
Labels: Kettlebell, Kettlebells, Swiss Strongman
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
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Labels: Grip Equipment, Grip Tools, Physical Culture Magazine, Sports Grip, Unique Equipment, York Rist-Rassler
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A-ha! I knew it! It all makes sense now! Flesh over steel... Pat Povilaitis' other nickname (besides The Human Vise) is "Terminator" - and it is quite fitting one when you are talking about spikes, nails and horseshoes in his hands.
Labels: Horseshoe Bending, Nail Bending, Pat Povilaitis, Spike Bending, Steel Bending, Steel Bending Strongman
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Friday, April 02, 2010
New Jersey Born Henry Wittenberg, who recently passed away at the age of 91, was one of the greatest wrestlers who ever lived. Unbelievably, he never even wrestled until he got to college but by his Junior Year, he was doing very well in many prestigious tournaments.
After college, he entered eight AAU tournaments - and won all of them. In an era where many people inflate their numbers, Wittenberg legitimately won over 300 straight matches. He won a Gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics and came back to win Silver in 1952 at Helsinki. He doesn't have any World Championships to his credit because his employer, The New York Police Department, would not allow him the time off.
One of the notable things about Wittenberg is that he was one of the few athletes at the time who actively lifted weights. His coaches at the time forbade him to do so, but Wittenberg understood how important it was and would not hear of it. They gave in and allowed him to keep lifting weights so as long as he didn't let it be known.
Later on, he wrote this book on Isometrics which has gone through five printings.
Labels: 1948 Olympics, 1952 Olympics, Gold Medal, Henry Wittenberg, Isometric Training, Isometrics, Silver Medal, Wrestler, Wrestling Exercise
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Another look at "Mr. Arms" John McWilliams who was one of the first bodybuilders who stretch the tape to 20 inches. McWilliams concentrated on basic exercises and progression in his training routines.
Labels: Arm Development, Bicep Development, Big Arms, Bodybuilder, John McWilliams, Mr. Arms
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Monday, March 29, 2010
Syd Strachan, of Aberdeenshire, is among the few strength athletes to successfully lift The Dinnie Stones. Syd was six feet tall and weighed just under 200 lbs. when he lifted the stones which weighed just over 700 pounds combined. Syd actually successfully lifted the stones on two occasions, once in 1971 and later in 1973.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Dinnie Stones, Grip Strength, Syd Strachan
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!
This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.

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Spalding's Indian Clubs and Dumbbells
Hans Streyer
Clancy Ross on The Reg Park Journal
Kettlebells
Pat Povilaitis
Henry Wittenberg
John McWilliams