Thursday, January 31, 2008
| The list of champion athletes who have trained with Chest Expanders is quite long. ... Stanislaus Zbyszko happens to be one of them. The great Polish wrestler, was well known for his incredible strength, in addition to his grappling ability. Back then, just as today, Chest expanders, no doubt, allowed him to train some of the smaller muscles that "weights" won't always get to. |  Stanislaus Zbyszko |
Labels: Chest Expanders, Stanislaus Zbyszko, Training Equipment, Wrestling
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| Simon Javierto shows incredible abdominal Muscle Control circa 1922. This feat is acomplished by complete exhalation of the air from the lungs, drawing in the abdominal wall to fill the vacuum, and then, by bending slightly forward, contracting the rectus abdominus. Simon lived in the Philippines and learned his training entirely through Earle E. Liederman's mail-order courses. |  Simon Javierto |
Labels: Earle E. Liederman, Muscle Control, Muscle Control Feat, Philippines, Simon Javierto, Vacuum
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 Heavy Indian Clubs | Swinging heavy Indian Clubs (or Meels) is a training exercise that goes back thousands of years. It has always been popular with wrestlers and other combat athletes since it builds upper-body strength as well as stamina, especially when done for high repetitions which is the traditional way to swing clubs. This rare photo dates to the late 1890's. That sure doesn't look like the kind of guy you would want to mess with. |
Labels: Heavy Clubs, Indian Club Swinging, Iranian Martial Arts, Meels, Traditional Exercise
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Benoit CoteBenoit Cote was another great Canadian strongman from Quebec and the rival of fellow countryman Doug Hepburn.
The two met head to head at a four-lift (Press, Bench Press, Squat, Deadlift) contest in 1961. While Hepburn bested Cote in the bench press and overhead press, Cote beat Hepburn in the squat and deadlifted 752-1/2 pounds (shown above) to win.
Labels: Bench Press, Benoit Cote, Canadian Strongman, Deadlift, Doug Hepburn, Quebec Strongman, Squat
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Just Another Workout at Dr. Ken's PlaceDespite what you may have read, heard or believe, REAL training is about effort -- but the best part is, if you do it right, you'll get out of it exactly what you put into it, maybe even more.
As you can see, when Dr. Ken trains, he gives it his all... and so should you.
Labels: Anchor Chain, Chain Dragging, Dr. Ken Leistner, Dr. Ken Workout, Dragging, Effort, Odd Object Lifting, Workout Routine
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Harry Shafran's GymHarry Shafran was an oldtime lifter who owned a couple successful gyms in New York back in the 1920's. Eventually he grew tired of big city lift and retired to a farm near Scranton, Pennsylvania where he converted the large barn in the back of his house into one of the greatest gyms of all time.
Here's a look back in time... Globe dumbbells, climbing ropes, Milo kettlebells, gymnastic rings, swedish bars -- note the double handled kettlebells used for swingbell exercises.
A half-moon bench can be seen in the foreground. This unique piece of equipment was used specifically for chest expansion exercises and used to be quite common.
Labels: Classic Strongman Gyms, Equipment, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Gymnastic Rings, Half Moon Bench, Harry Shafran, Harry Shafrans Gym, Oldtime Strongman Exercises, Swingbell Exercises
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 Bert GoodrichThe First Mr. America | The first ever AAU Mr. America was Bert Goodrich, shown here on an early cover of Iron Man Magazine. Bert got his start by training with Earle E. Liederman's courses and was a tremendous athlete in highschool, excelling in hand balancing, swimming, and track and field events. He went on to became a stuntman in several Hollywood Movies and later opened up his own gym. |
Labels: AAU, Bert Goodrich, Bodybuilding, Cover, Earle E. Liederman, Iron Man Magazine, Mr. America
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| The "side press" is a looser version of the dumbbell press - contrast the picture on the right with the one here. Because it's a bit of an "anyhow" lift, much more weight can be used than a strict dumbbell press. You should be able to press well over a hundred pounds in this manner. Paul Anderson could side press over 300 pounds with ridiculous ease. |  The Dumbbell Side Press |
Labels: Dumbbell Press, Dumbbell Exercise, Exercise, Feat, Paul Anderson, Press, Shoulder Exercise, Side Press
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John Davis Lifting The Apollon WheelsI've covered John Davis lifting the famous Apollon Wheels before, but you've probably never seen it from this angle before. This shot is from a French Newspaper and probably hasn't seen the light of day for over five decades.
You saw it here first...
Labels: Apollon's Wheels, Challenge Weight, John Davis, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Thick Bar Lifting
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
| John Grimek had his eye on lifting the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell for a long time. Needless to say the ponderous weight defied his attempts to lift it, just as it had for the better part of nearly a century. Finally, Grimek succeeded in bent-pressing the thick-handled dumbbell overhead and added his name to a very short list. You can currently see the Cyr Challenge dumbbell at the York Barbell Hall of Fame in York Pennslyvania. |  John Grimek Bent-Presses the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell |
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell, Shot Loaded, Strongman Equipment, Thick Handle, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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John McWilliams - "Mr. Arms"John McWilliams was an incredibly strong and powerful bodybuilder of the late 1940's and 1950's who was well known for his arm development.
While many bodybuilder inflated their numbers, John McWilliams used to offer a reward if anyone could measure his arms at LESS than 19-1/2 inches!
He ran a successful gym in Dayton, Ohio (The Dayton Health Studios at 131 E. Third Street) and wrote several training articles for Iron Man Magazine. He also had his own arm development course.
Labels: Arm Development, Bicep Strength, Bodybuilder, John McWilliams
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 Lionel Strongfort | Lionel Strongfort, (Real name Max Unger) began his strongman career as a pupil of Professor Attila Strongfort went on to thrill audiences all over the world with his incredible and very dangerous Human Bridge feat where he supported over 7,000 pounds in the Tomb of Hercules position. Strongfort was also one of the most successful Mail Order Muscle Barons and his training courses on "Strongfortism," which only required bodyweight and some light dumbbells, were incredibly popular in the early 20th century. |
Labels: Human Bridge, Lionel Strongfort, Mail Order Muscle Courses, Max Unger, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Professor Attila, Strength Author, Strongfortism, Supporting Feat, Tomb of Hercules
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Nautilus Omni MachinesThe Nautilus Omni machines were used primarily during the Colorado Experiment and provided training advantages that no other piece of equipment ever provided - a footpedal that allowed the trainee to perform the exercise in a negative only or negative accentuated manner in the most efficient way possible.
These were the only machines, before or since, that allowed all five distinct methods of training to be performed.
Labels: Casey Viator, Nautilus Machines Nautilus Omni Machines, The Colorado Experiment, Training Equipment
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| Ivan Poddubny was one of the greatest of the Russian Strongman wrestlers. He was born in a small village and worked hard jobs even from a young age. After some training, he joined the russian circus, performing feats of strength and wrestling all comers. After 40 years, he retired undefeated on both counts. He is still a well-known sports hero in Russia with several big wrestling tournaments bearing his name. |  Ivan Poddubny - "The Russian Hercules" |
Labels: Circus, Circus Strongman, Ivan Poddubny, Russian Strongman, Wrestler, Wrestling
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As a young man, Monte Saldo apprenticed at one of Eugen Sandow's Gymnasiums and eventually became a performing strongman himself.
Saldo's incredible motor car support feat (which put him in considerable danger if something were to ever get out of hand) made him one of the top earning strongmen of the day.
As you can see, he was pretty rugged.
Saldo went on to become of the great masters of Muscle Control and teamed up with his friend Maxick to establish the Maxalding system.
Labels: Maxick, Monte Saldo, Muscle Control, Oldtime Strongman, Supporting Feat
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Kevin TolbertKevin Tolbert is Dr. Ken Leistner's adopted son - and easily one of the strongest men who ever lived. If you've read any of Dr. Ken's writings, especially The Steel Tip Newsletter, you know Kevin's name pretty well.
Kevin went on to play running back at the U.S. Naval Academy. At 5'9" and 220 pounds, Kevin could run a legit 4.5 forty yard dash. As for his marks in the weightroom, here's a few:
Those aren't misprints...
Here's Kevin doing a couple anvil curls while finishing up a workout in Dr. Ken's basement in the mid-1980's. I was fortunate to have Kevin as a strength coach at the University of Michigan for a few years.
Labels: Anvil, Anvil Curls, Anvil Lifting, Bench Press, Dr. Ken Leistner, Kevin Tolbert, Odd Object Lifting, Squat, Steel Tip Newsletter
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
| Lest we forget, that Indian Clubs actually did come from India... This sequence is from The Encyclopedia of Indian Physical Culture and is featured as a method for keeping the shoulders strong and flexible. It was suggested that children especially should be taught the Indian Club exercises in order to build a foundation of strength as well as good posture. |  Indian Clubs |
Labels: Encyclopedia of Indian Physical Culture, Indian Club Benefits, INdian Club Exercises, Indian Clubs, Indian Physical Culture, Shoulder Exercise, Wooden Indian Clubs
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Friday, January 25, 2008
Hans BeckHans Beck was a great German weightlifter and Strongman toward the end of the 1890's. He won two German championships and a European Championship from 1895-1897 and was the first man to "continental" and jerk 330 pounds (as pictured.)
Like many German Strongmen, he was also very good at barrel lifting feats pressing a 249 pound barrel overhead for three repetitions and a barrel filled to 275-1/2 pounds for one rep.
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Barrel Lifting Exercises, Bench Press, Continental, German Strongman, Hans Beck, Jerk, Oldtime Strongman Feat
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 Joe Nordquest | Joe Nordquest was one of those rare individuals who seemed to posses incredible strength at whatever lift he tried. He could perform a one-finger and holdout with a 70-pound dumbbell and his record 388 pound "shoulder bridge press" still stands, (at least to my knowledge.) Here is Joe Nordquest in mid-bent press. (He could bent press nearly 300 pounds with ease.) -- Gotta love that globe barbell. |
Labels: Bent Press, Globe Dumbbell, Joe Nordquest, Oldtime Lift, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat
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Edward Aston, Britain's Strongest ManEdward Aston was The World's Middle-weight Weightlifting Champion, British Heavy-weight Champion Weightlifter, and Britain's Strongest Man from 1911-1934 (Retiring undefeated.)
Here Aston demostrates his unique version of the "clean pull" - note the position of the elbow. -- This simple adjustment in technique will allow you to "pull" up to 15% more weight!
Labels: Art of Expander Pulling, Britains Strongest Man, British Champion, British Strongman, Clean Pull, Edward Aston, Globe Barbell, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Upper Body Exercise
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Thursday, January 24, 2008
Paul Anderson Winning the 1956 Melbourne OlympicsWith this lift, Paul Anderson won the Gold Medal in the heavyweight class at the 1956Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia.
It sure didn't come easy...
Big Paul was suffering from an ear infection at the time which caused him to lose his balance and stagger once he had the weight overhead, thus missing several lifts he would normally make with ease.
Here's how he ended the day:
Though he totaled, 1101 pounds, it was far from his best. Still, it was a gold medal winning performance, and one that cemented his name in the history books.
Labels: Bench Press, Clean and Jerk, Gold Medal, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Olympics, Paul Anderson, Snatch, Total, weightlifting
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 Karl Norberg | Next time you are thnking that you are "too old" just take a look at Karl Norberg, shown here bench pressing 380 pounds at 69 years of age. Norberg could bench press over 300 pounds well into his 80s. (Wow!) At the same event where this picture was taken, Karl Norberg also military pressed 230 pounds with ease. |
Labels: Bench Press, Karl Norberg, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Overhead Press
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Bert Assirati Does a One-Hand Handstand, circa 1948While many hand balancers experts are of the smaller, "gymnastic-type" physique, there were actually several larger strength athletes who could perform hand balancing feats with ease.
The great Canadian Champion Doug Hepburn was a great hand balancer, as was the famous British strongman and Professional wrestler Bert Assirati, (shown here.)
At a young age, Bert was taught how to do all manner of hand balancing feats by an ex-circus performer. You can certainly tell by this picture that he has power to spare.
Labels: Bert Assirati, British Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Feat, Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Feat, One Hand Balance
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Friday, January 18, 2008
| I count the reverse curl as one of the true "secret" exercises -- it is simple to do, very effective and will hit one of the most important areas of your body that no other exercise will match. To do it, simply curl with your palms facing down instead of up -- Keep your elbows tight, the bar should move in a semi-circle, this is not a "clean." Anton Matysek could perform this lift with a 3" thick-bar loaded to 88 pounds and tied a belt around his arms to keep it strict. |  The Reverse Curl - Anton Matysek |
Labels: Anton Matysek, Exercise, Oldtime Lift, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Reverse Curl, Thick Bar, Upper Body Movement
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 "Good" Dumbbells | Harry Good (of Good Brothers fame) established the Good Barbell Company in the late 1930's and ran it all the way into the 1970's. With the nature of the business back then, the "Good equipment" was more prominent locally. These 75-pound Good Dumbbells sat in a cental Pennsylvania YMCA for the last 50 years. |
Labels: Globe Dumbbells, Good Brothers, Good Dumbbells, Harry Good, Strongman Equipment
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| The oldtime performing strongman Clevio Massimo possessed one of the most rugged physiques of all time. His dense musculature and thick ligaments are evident in this picture. You can find out more about Clevio Massimo in The Mark Berry Bar Bell Courses. |  Clevio Massimo's Forearm Development |
Labels: Clevio Massimo, Forearm Strength, Ligament Strength
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 Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliot | Two fixtures in the Santa Monica, California Muscle Beach scene share a laugh in the late 1950's - Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliott. Chuck Ahrens was a man of immeasurable power, and Bert Elliott was a champion weightlifter and bodybuilder (He won the 1954 Sr. Nationals Weightlifting Title in the 165 Pound Class (totaling 765 pounds), the 1953 "Iron Man" bodybuilding contest as well as the 1954 AAU Mr. Southern California.) At their feet is Bert Elliott's 201 pound "challenge" dumbbell which he could bent- press with ease. |
Labels: AAU, Bent Press, Bert Elliott, Bodybuilding, Challenge Weight, Chuck Ahrens, Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Iron Man, Mr. Southern California, Muscle Beach
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| The "Muscle Out" is an oldtime lift where a weight is held at arms length to the front or side of the body. Generally a block weight or ring weight was used. This lift is quite a test of shoulder strength. If you can accomplish this feat with a 56-pound weight, like the French gentleman on the right, you are indeed strong. |  The Muscle Out |
Labels: Blockweights, Exercise, French Strongman, Muscle Out, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Ring Weights, Shoulder Exercise
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The Zander MachinesGustav Zander was a Swedish physician who created over 70 different exercises "machines" at the turn of the century. His machines were very meticulously designed with a very intricate system of pulleys and counter balances in order to account for the physics of the human body.
These machines are from a 1906 catalogue. The machine pictured on the left was for forearm flexion/extension and on the right, a machine which trained leg flexion and extension.
Despite their obvious similarties in appearance, Arthur Jones had no prior knowledge of Zander machines when he designed his Nautilus Machines. (Which actually function quite a bit differently.)
Labels: Arthur Jones, Gustav Zander, Nautilus, Nautilus Machines, Vintage Strength Machines, Zander Machines
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
1971 AAU Mr America Casey ViatorOn June 12th, 1971, Casey Viator went on to win the AAU Mr. America bodybuilding contest in the most dominating fashion imaginable.
In addition to winning the overall title, in that contest Casey also nearly swept the sub-categories of Best Arms, Best Back, Best Chest and Most Muscular.
The only award Casey did not win at that contest was "Best Abdominals" (probably because He won everything else.)
Find out his exact training here.
Labels: AAU, Back Exercise, Best Arms, Best Back, Best Chest, Bodybuilding, Casey Viator, Most Muscular, Mr. America
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The Brothers MarxJohn Grunn Marx and his brother Aloysius used to perform together as "The Brothers Marx" - American Gladiators, The Strongest Men Living.
(It was actually brother Al who taught John Grunn the strongman trade.)
As this oldtime strongman poster indicates, their act consisted of the lifting of large globe dumbbells, kettlebells and various supporting feats... And as also indicated on the poster, their apparati was available for inspection.
Labels: Aloysius Marx, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, John Grunn Marx, Kettlebells, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Oldtime Strongmen, Performing Strongmen, Poster, Supporting Feat, The Brothers Marx
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Harold ZinkinHarold Zinkin, shown here on the cover of the June, 1947 issue of Strength & Health Magazine, won the 1941 "Mr. California" bodybuilding contest and was a fixture on the original Santa Monica Muscle Beach scene where he thrilled the crowds with feats of strength, hand balancing and acrobatics.
Zinkin later invented the Universal Gym Machine.
Labels: Bodybuilding, Cover, Golden Age Bodybuilder, Hand Balancing, Harold Zinkin, Muscle Beach, Strength and Health, Universal Machine
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008
James J. Corbett's Indian ClubsIndian Clubs used to be very popular with turn-of-the-century boxers because they will build strong and well-conditioned shoulders.
This pair of indian clubs once belonged to the great Heavyweight Boxing Champion James J. Corbett who used them in his training circa 1895 (he held the championship belt from 1892 to 1897.) You can make out his name written in black ink on the left-most club.
Corbett certainly looks like he trained.
These clubs are 17 inches long which means they weigh around a pound each. They also once were on display in "The Ring" Boxing Museum.
Labels: Boxing, Indian Clubs, James J. Corbett, Shoulder Exercise
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Sandow's One Arm DeadliftSandow was a master of many different kinds of strength feats. Don't know if he ended up lifting this 1500 lb. block of sandstone (doubtful) but he sure looked like he could.
While you may not have a stone like this around, the one-arm deadlift while straddling two benches or platforms to increase the range of motion is an excellent exercise. Normally I don't recommend straps but Sandow can get away with it when he's lifting that kind of weight.
Labels: Eugen Sandow, Oldtime Strongman Feat, One Arm Deadlift, Stone Lifting
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Louis Cyr Strikes a Classic PoseThis picture was taken in the late 1800's, a time when the subject of a photograph had to stand still for long periods of time -- which means the globe dumbbell that Louis Cyr is holding aloft here is likely just a prop.
Cyr did, however, did possess the ability to move such huge weights.
He once jerked a 132 pound dumbbell for 36 reps and his bent press of 273 pounds beat Eugen Sandow's mark. Also note the rather impressive Ring Weight.
Labels: Dumbbell Press, Globe Dumbbell, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Overhead Press, Ring Weights, Strongman Equipment
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The Mighty Atom - Nail BitingThere are several good steel benders in the world right now but here is a feat we are unlikely to see again any time soon: The Might Atom could actually bite through nails. As Bob Hoffman and other members of the York Gang look on, "The Atom" bites a nail in half during one of his appearances at the York fair.
I don't know for sure but I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being the bitten nail that can seen in the The York Barbell Hall of Fame.
Labels: Bob Hoffman, Feat, Joseph Greenstein, Nail Biting, Oldtime Strongman Feat, The MIghty Atom, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Otto Arco Performs "The Rope"The art of muscle control is about training voluntary control of involuntary muscles. Here, the great muscle control master Otto Arco demonstrates one of the most difficult and impressive muscle control feats -- "The Rope."
You'll notice the abdominal muscles are tensed while holding an abdominal vacuum, a very striking effect.
This feat is much more difficult (and much more impressive) with the arms overhead like this, indicating that Otto Arco was truly in a class by himself.
Labels: Muscle Control, Muscle Control Feat, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Otto Arco
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 John Davis | Can you curl like John Davis? -- In Dinosaur Training, Brooks Kubik looks at John Davis' curling ability in detail. John Davis, as reported in an article in The Iron Master by Osmo Kiiha, could curl 215 pounds at a bodyweight of just 193 pounds. -- That's 1.11 times bodyweight, a staggering feat of strength. Here's John Davis curling 205 pounds in damn good form. |
Labels: Barbell Curls, Bicep Strength, Dinosaur Training, Feat, John Davis, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Osmo Kiiha, The Iron Master
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Wednesday, January 09, 2008
 Earle E. Liederman | Earle E. Liederman began his strength career as a strongman on the vaudeville circuit, traveling the country performing feats of strength and acrobatics. Eventually he grew tired of the traveling life and wrote a series of training courses which became incredibly successful, making him one of the first Mail Order Muscle Barons. His first training course showcased a number of exercises that could be done with chest expanders and bodyweight exercises. Theses courses were very popular since they did not require a lot of equipment and could be done at home. |
Labels: Chest Expander, Earle E. Liederman, Mail Order Muscle Courses, Oldtime Strongman, Strength Author
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| W.A. Pullum was a great British Strongman who set scores of strength records during his competitive career. Like many Oldtime Strongmen, Pullum had his own strength challenge. Using the special thick-handled globe barbell shown here, a lifter had to do a "One Hand Anyhow" with a poundage equal to 1-1/2 times his own bodyweight and simultaneously lift a kettlebell loaded a third of the barbell poundage with the other hand. Pullum used to perform this "double-bodyweight" feat twelve times per week but in all his years, his "challenge" was never accepted. |  Pullum's Challenge Barbell |
Labels: British Strongman, Challenge Weight, Globe Barbell, Kettlebell Lift, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Pullums Challenge Barbell, Two Hands Anyhow, W.A. Pullum
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The One Arm Chin-UpIt is estimated that not more than one person in a hundred thousand can perform a chin-up with one hand. Here Paul Holloway, one of the lesser-known members of the York Weightlifting team, shows the three stages of the feat.
Notice he is chinning himself with only two fingers -- he was actually able to chin himself using only one finger with ease, but had to use two for this series in order to hold himself still long enough to obtain the pictures.
In the October, 1937 Issue of Strength and Health Magazine Holloway outlines his exact training in detail: a series of progressive chin-up exercises until he was able to reach his goal. This training approach should really come as no surprise...
Labels: Back Exercise, Bodyweight Feat, Bodyweight Training, Exercise, Finger Strength, Grip Exercise, One Arm Chin up, Paul Holloway, Strength and Health, Strongman Feat
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Sandow Lifts The Rolandow BarbellI've mentioned the Rolandow Barbell before. And as I also mentioned, it goes back a long way and that several famous strongmen have lifted it...
Here's a look at Eugen Sandow rocking the Rolandow Barbell back into position so that he can bent press it in 1902 or so.
The thick handle is, of course, a distinguishing mark of real "Oldtime" barbells and Rolandow lifted it many times.
Kind of amazing that a century later you can go to the York Barbell Company Museum (where the Rolandow Barbell Currently Resides) and touch the very same weight that so many great strongmen once lifted.
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Eugen Sandow, G.W. Rolandow, Globe Barbell, Rolandow Barbell, York Barbell Company Museum
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| Chuck Ahrens was a giant of a man who was a part of the Muscle Beach Scene of the late 1950's. He trained at Vic Tanny's Gym and there were reports of him performing incredible feats of strength such as overhead presses with 160-pound dumbbells (for reps!), benchpressing 400 pounds for 28 reps, curling 225 with ease and tricep extensions with over 300 pounds. His shoulders were reliably measured at an incredible 26-5/8 inches across. In this famous picture, taken at Muscle Beach in 1957, Chuck Ahrens does a "muscle out" with a 75 pound girl standing on his arm. |  Chuck Ahrens |
Labels: Barbell Curls, Chuck Ahrens, Dumbbell Press, Muscle Beach, Muscle Out, Tricep Press, Vic Tanny's Gym
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Apollon One of the barbells that the great French Strongman Apollon used to lift during his performances had a 2-1/2 inch thick diameter handle and was made up of two hollow spheres which could be loaded with sand to adjust the weight.
This barbell weighed 143 pounds empty and filled with sand it tipped the scales at 198 pounds. Just before he was to perform, a rival strongman played a trick on Apollon and replaced the sand-filled spheres with solid iron ones which brought the weight of the barbell to 341 pounds.
During the performance, Apollon lifted the barbell with ease... Apollon's strength was so great that he did not even notice the difference!
Labels: Apollon, Globe Barbell, Grip Feat, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Thick Handle
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Monday, January 07, 2008
| Stanley Radwan was a catch wrestler and strongman who performed during the 40s and 50s in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He is not especially well known outside of the Cleveland area but very well known and well loved inside the Cleveland area especially among the Polish community. This event poster from 1949 advertises him pulling cars with his teeth, biting through steel, breaking chains, bending horseshoes, bend nails and spikes, nail driving by hand, tearing decks of cards, and performing the human link feat. It was said he could also bend coins with his hands. |  Stanley Radwan |
Labels: Bending Feat, Coin Bending, Nail Bending, Nail Driving, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Polish Strongman, Stanley Radwan, Steel Bending
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The Nautilus CamThe unique advantage that the Nautilus Machines had over traditional freeweights is that they used cams like this one to manipulate the leverage of certain exercises effectively eliminating the sticking points and thus enabling a greater percentage of muscle fibers to be utilized during training.
The Nautilus BulletinsLabels: Arthur Jones, Nautilus, Nautilus Cam, Nautilus Machines
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 Pudgy Stockton | There has never been, nor will there ever be anyone like Pudgy Stockton. -- A pioneer for women in strength training, as you can see here she was power and grace in action. Pudgy promoted the first women's weightlifting contests and also had her own column "Barbelles" which ran in Strength and Health Magazine for ten years. Here, Pudgy Stockton clean and jerks 135 pounds (at a bodyweight of just 118 pounds) on the sands of the original Muscle Beach Santa Monica, California. |
Labels: Barbell, Pudgy Stockton, Santa Monica California, Strength and Health Magazine, weightlifting
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Vic BoffVic Boff's tremendous contributions to the Iron Game stretch far and wide but no doubt his biggest was to endevor to keep the past alive. In 1983, Vic Boff organized a birthday celebration for Sig Klein. This celebration went over so well that it became an annual event which continues to this day.
Thus the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen (AOBS) was born.
Through the organization, Vic was able to honor those individuals who he felt epitomized and upheld the true spirit of the Iron Game (often times, individuals who received little recognition otherwise.)
Here's Vics message, written in the program each year:
"Over the years, our Fraternity has grown slowly but solid. We have set an example to keep our ideals and philosophy alive...Carry on.
The tenets of Physical Culture and Strongmanism will never die as long as we keep our fire of ideals and enthusiasm alive-circulating with constructive information. To all athletes, young and old, who use drugs or are contemplating their use. Don't let vanity get the best of you.
Study the lives and works of the great men of yesterday. Step into their footsteps and by doing so, bring out the best that is in you, physically, mentally and spiritually."
We sure will Vic...
Labels: AOBS, Iron Game, Oldtime Strongman, Physical Culture, Vic Boff
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Milo Triplex KettlebellsMany people think kettlebells are uniquely Russian, but while they certainly have a long history in Russia, kettlebells also have a long tradition in America as well.
In 1902, Alan Calvert established the Milo Barbell Company and kettlebells were among his first products.
He went through several different designs, the patent shown above is for the Milo "Triplex" Kettlebell which was patented in 1919.
The Milo Triplex shown did not have a shot-loaded compartment but instead had globed plate "slices" inside the outer shell.
The rotating handle should also be noted.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Kettlebell, Milo Barbell Company, Milo Triplex Kettlebell, Strongman Equipment
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Swingbell Exercises with Jules Bacon, Mr. America 1943I've mentioned the Swingbell before, now here it is in action.
As you can see you can do several exercises with a swingbell that would be difficult with normal barbells or dumbbells dumbbells. Swingbell Exercises are particularly good for strengthening the abdominal muscles.
That's 1943 Mr. America winner Jules Bacon demonstrating.
Labels: Abdominal Training, Exercises, Jules Bacon, Mr. America, swingbell, Swingbell Exercises
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| Heavy one-arm overhead supports were very popular with oldtime strongmen since they could work up to some truly impressive weights which always wowed their audiences. Sandow was able to lift a horse in this manner. Here Anton Matysek supports well over a quarter ton overhead. |  Heavy One-Arm Overhead Supports |
Labels: Anton Matysek, Eugen Sandow, One Arm Support, Overhead Support, Supporting Feat
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Sunday, January 06, 2008
Thick Bar TrainingAn impromptu shot from a training session last summer. Should there be any question why so many of the oldtime strongmen lifted with Thick Bars?
This thick-handled globe "dumbbell" once belonged to the French Strongman Apollon.
Labels: Apollon, Forearm Strength, Globe Dumbbell, Grip Strength, John Wood, Thick Bar, Thick Bar Lifting, Thick Bar Training
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 The Hammerman's Hammers | Took this shot a few years back at a special dinner honoring Slim the Hammerman. That's Slim's Challenge Ax on the left followed by his two sledge hammers with their distinctive markings on the handles and chromed weights. They are sitting on a special oak carrying case. If those hammers could talk I bet they could tell some stories... |
Labels: Challenge Weight, Equipment, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Sledge Hammer Leverage, Sledgehammers, Slim The Hammerman
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The Hip LiftThe Hip Lift is an old time exercise for building leg power. -- It involves using a belt attached to a heavy weight that will just clear the floor when the legs are straightened.
Several thousand pounds are able to be lifted in this manner.
On the left, Charles MacMahon hip lifts a heavy barbell circa 1917 at the Milo Barbell Company.
On the right, John Grimek uses the very same setup to train for Warren Lincoln Travis' Challenge at the York Barbell Company in 1949.
Labels: Charles MacMahon, Exercises Leg Strength, Hip Lift, John Grimek, Leg Power, Milo Barbell Company, Oldtime Strongman Feat, York Barbell Company
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The Look of PowerYou'll often hear talk of the "look" of power... Sandow unquestionably had it. He trained with light dumbbells, heavy dumbbells, block weights, chest expanders, muscle control, heavy supports, bodyweight calisthenics, gymnastics exercises and a whole lot more --- but however he trained, he did so progressively...
Labels: Blockweights, Chest Expanders, Dumbbell Training, Eugen Sandow, Progressive Resistance Training
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
| You can see why they say Steve Reeves has the classic physique -- he looked like a Greek statue brought to life. He was also one of the most successful bodybuilders of all time, winning almost every contest he entered including the 1947 AAU Mr. America title. Reeves trained at the York Barbell Club in York, PA for the 1950 NABBA Mr. Universe contest (which he won.) While there, John Grimek, watched him train, and later wrote an article about what he saw in the November, 1964 issue of Muscular Development Magazine. |  Steve Reeves |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Exercises, John Grimek, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Muscular Development, NABBA, Steve Reeves, Workout
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Sig Klein Demonstrates The Tiger Bend PushupSig Klein was a master of many bodyweight feats in addition to his weight lifting prowess. He credits the Tiger Bend Pushup for taking his overhead press to championship levels. The tiger bend pushup is also one of the best supplementary exercises for building hand balancing skill.
Labels: Bodyweight Training, Exercise, Hand Balancing, Overhead Press, Pushup, Sig Klein, Tiger Bend Pushup
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 The Arm of Apollon |  ApollonIt has been said that Apollon is the greatest of the Oldtime Strongmen and this picture shows a pretty good reason why. This is a rare photograph made of a plaster cast of Apollon's arm when he was in his prime. While Apollon's upper arm is certainly impressive at over 20 inches, it is his 16-1/2-inch forearm which simply boggles the mind. It should be no surprise why Apollon was so adept at feats of grip strength. |
Labels: Apollon, Arm of Apollon, Forearm Strength, French Strongman, Oldtime Strongman
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Anvil Lifting - Roy Hilligenn 1951 Mr. AmericaHow's this for odd object lifting? 1951 Mr. America Roy Hilligenn does some squats with a pretty big anvil on his back.
Roy Hilligenn weighed around 175 pounds and I bet that anvil isn't too far off...
Labels: Anvil, Anvil Lifting, Mr. America, Odd Object Lifting, Roy Hilligenn, Squat
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| Vern Weaver won the AAU Mr. America contest in 1963. He was well known for his superb back development could power clean close to 400 pounds! Here's a look at one of his weekly routines: Monday and Thursday: |  1963 Mr. America Vern Weaver |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Cover, Mr. America, Strength and Health, Strength and Health Magazine, Vern Weaver, Workout Routine
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The Roman ColumnAs mentioned several times on this blog, it was Professor Attila who invented the Roman Column.
Shown here, the Roman Column is an actual column in which the traineee hangs suspended vertially and moves to a horizontal position using the power of his legs and abdominal muscles.
Eugen Sandow used to perform this feat either holding a heavy barbell or a human being.
On the left is the original Roman Column, in one corner of Sig Klein's Time's Square Gym.
Labels: Equipment, Eugen Sandow, Professor Attila, Roman Column, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Strongman Equipment, Vintage Strength Equipment
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 Barrel Lifting | Lifting Barrels and Kegs has long been a Oldtime strongman Tradition since it builds a unique kind of strength -- especially is the barrel is only partially filled... If water (or beer) is sloshing around inside the barrel, it becomes a "live" weight, and a tremendous test of strength -- and it takes a lot less weight than you think. A partially-filled barrel weighing as little as fifty pounds can give you a tremendous workout. Suggested barrel lifting exercises include: |
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Barrel Lifting Exercises, Barrels, Exercise, Keg Lifting, Lifting Barrels, Odd Object Lifting, Press, Strongman Equipment, Wooden Barrel
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Friday, January 04, 2008
| Professor Attila was one of the true innovators of the Iron Game. It was Attila who came up with the idea for hollow equipment which could be loaded with shot to increase the weight. Professor Attila also invented several oldtime strongman exercises such as the bent press, the Roman Chair, the Roman Column and the feat of tearing decks of poker cards in half. It was also Attila who inspired a young Eugen Sandow to start strength training after Sandow watched Attila's strongman performance -- eventually, Attila became Sandow's mentor and coached him to even greater heights. |  Professor Attila |
Labels: Bent Press, Eugen Sandow, Oldtime Strongman Exercises, Professor Attila, Roman Chair, Roman Column
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Milo and The BullMilo of Crotona was one of the greatest athletes of antiquity, winning the wrestling title in the ancient Greek Olympiad six times.
It was said that he built his great strength by carrying a newborn calf on his back each day. As the calf grew larger, so did Milo's Strength. After many days of this, Milo was able to carry a full grown bull on his shoulders -- and thus progressive resistance exercise was born.
Labels: Ancient Greece, Feat, Milo of Crotona, Olympics, Progressive Resistance Exercise, Strongman Feat, Supporting Feat
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| "The Most important muscles of the body and also the most neglected are the muscles of the mid-section." ... That's how the York Abdominal course begins, and I agree. Bob Hoffman and the York Barbell Company produced several training courses like this one and they are all classics. That's John Grimek on the cover, using the York abdominal board for situps. |  The York Abdominal Course |
Labels: John Grimek, Training Course, York Abdominal Course, York Barbell Company
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 Angled Rope Climbing | Another training option for using climbing ropes is to climb on an angle. While this exercise still builds upper body and grip strength it stresses these muscle groups in a whole new way than traditional up-and-down rope climbing. This rope climbing exercise is also especially useful if your ceilings are not very high. William Bankier aka "The Scottish Herculese" used angled rope climbing specifically to build his biceps. It was said that his only bicep exercise was a single ascending and descending of an angled 30-foot climbing rope. |
Labels: Angled Rope Climbing, Bicep Exercise, Bicep Training, Climbing Ropes, Exercise, Manila Climbing Rope, Rope Climbing
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The Quarter-Sized Deck Tear by Dennis RogersEvery Strongman should be able to rip a deck of playing cards in half, but you truly need a whole other level of strength to accomplish this feat.
Like only Paul Von Boeckmann before him, Dennis Dennis Rogers is able to tear this quarter-sized chunk out of a deck of playing cards - a simply incredible feat of finger strength.
Labels: Card Ripping, Dennis Rogers, Finger Strength, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Paul Von Boeckmann
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 Steve Stanko Demonstrates The Barbell Pullover | It used to be that benches didn't have uprights on them which mean if you wanted to do "the bench press" (or the supine press, as it was originally called), you had to do a pullover off the floor with the weight to get it in the proper position. ... And it was found that the pullover by itself turned out to be a fine exercise. That's Mr. America and Mr. Universe winner Steve Stanko demonstrating the barbell pullover off a 16" bench with 322 pounds -- pretty impressive! |
Labels: Back Exercise, Barbell Exercise, Exercise, Pullover, Steve Stanko
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The SwingbellA piece that you used to see all the time in the old magazines that has all but disappeared these days is the Swingbell -- essentially a combination of traditional free weights and medicine ball training exercises.
As you can see, a swingbell consists of a dumbbell bar loaded in the middle rather than the ends. It is grasped at either end and used for a variety of rotational and "circular" movements.
Labels: Equipment, Strongman Equipment, swingbell
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Thursday, January 03, 2008
| Before authoring over 50 books on strength training and meeting Arthur Jones, Ellington Darden was a very successful bodybuilder in the 60's and 70's. Interestingly enough, Ellington Darden won the 1969 Mr. Texas Bodybuilding contest, the same contest where a 17 year old Casey Viator finished 4th. This shot was taken a few days after Ellington Darden won the 1972 AAU Collegiate Mr. America Contest. |  Ellington Darden |
Labels: AAU, Arthur Jones, Bodybuilding, Casey Viator, Collegiate Mr. America, Ellington Darden, Mr. Texas, Strength Author
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Slim The HammermanLevering a Sledge Hammer is a simple exercise, performed with a simple tool that will build incredible wrist strength. Keep practicing and maybe you'll do 28 pounds like Slim The Hammerman (Yeah Right!)
Labels: Grip Feat, Hammer Training, Sledge Hammer Exercise, Sledge Hammer Leverage, Sledge Hammer Training, Sledgehammer, Slim The Hammerman, Wrist Strength
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| This unique piece of equipment, know as Sang, is from Traditional Iranian Martial Arts and is quite literally a "Shield" - just like the ancient warriors used to take into battle, albeit adapted into a training exercise in the "modern" age. Each of these shields are made of hardwood and weigh between 20-40 kilograms. The method for training with these impliments is for an athlete to lie on his back and alternate twisting and turning them in the air for maximum repetitions without letting them hit the ground. A respectable score in youth and adult tournaments is 72 times in 7 minutes. |  Unusual Training Equipment: Sang (The Shield) |
Labels: Back Exercise, Equipment, Iran, Iranian Martial Arts, Sang, Traditional Exercise
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Indian Club Exercises... A look at some of the graceful arcing movements of Indian Club training. These exercises help build strength and flexibility in the shoulders and upper-body in ways no other piece of equipment can match. It is for this reason that Indian Clubs are a worthwhile addition to every program.
Keep in mind that these are not wild, random swinging movements but very precise exercises and patterns designed to train strengthen the joints and "open up the chest" in a specific way.
Labels: INdian Club Exercises, Indian Clubs, Physical Culture Equipment
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Thomas Inch's Chest Expander FeatThe name Thomas Inch often conjures up visions of his famous "Unliftable" Challenge Dumbbell and other feats of grip strength but he was actually a quite well-rounded strongman with many other types of feats to his credit.
One of Inch's specialties was feats with chest expanders, he even wrote a training course, about them: The Art of Expander Pulling.
Here's Thomas Inch pressing a 30-strand rubber chest expander while supporting two 154-pound men on his outstretched arms.
Labels: Art of Expander Pulling, Chest Expander, Chest Expander Feat, chest expander training, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Rubber Chest Expander, Thomas Inch
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| 1. Take a light barbell and place it across the shoulders or grasp a dumbbell in either hand. 2. Standing erect, raise one foot off the floor and balance on the other foot. 3. Begin the exercise by sitting down into the deep knee bend keeping the raised leg straight and pointing forward, not allowing the leg to touch the floor as shown. |  Harry Good - One-Leg Squat |
5. Inhale when lowering, exhale when lowered, inhale when raising and exhale when erect.
6. Work up to 10 repetitions with each leg then increase the weight 2-1/2 pounds or 5 pounds.
7. Hold the position shown, Bending forward greatly simplifies the exercise.
Labels: 1 Leg Squat, Exercise, Good Brothers, Harry Good, Leg Exercise
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Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Arthur Saxon's Incredible Plank FeatIf you needed further proof that Arthur Saxon was one of the strongest men who ever lived, behold the following:
Arthur and the other members of the Saxon Trio used to perform several supporting feats in their act and for these feats, they employed a large, heavy wooden plank.
Unbeknownst to many, they also used this plank as a training tool to develop grip strength, each taking turns lifting it in various ways between their shows. While the other brothers did their best to deadlift it, Arthur Saxon could actually snatch the plank overhead with ease, something no one else could duplicate and a feat which humbled noted Strongman Siegmund Breitbart who visited the Trio at the Bush Circus in 1922 Berlin, Germany.
Kurt Saxon considered this to be Arthur Saxon's greatest strength feat... pretty impressive condsidering some of Arthur's other record achievements.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Plank Lifting, Saxon Trio, Siegmund Breitbart
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Tuesday, January 01, 2008
 Casey Viator | Casey Viator was easily one of the strongest bodybuilders of all time -- here he is curling 225 pounds during one of his workouts. There was no secret to Casey's success -- basic exercises trained at an intensity level that has to be seen to be believed. Don't let anyone tell you curls are a worthless exercise -- building stronger biceps will help with a stronger "pull" and also balance out tricep development which means stronger presses. ...All worthwhile goals for every strength athlete. |
Labels: Arm Development, Barbell Curls, Barbell Exercise, Bicep Strength, Bodybuilding, Casey Viator
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| Stone lifting is a traditional sport in many different cultures that goes back thousands of years both as a test of strength and as a method of training. Most of the examples of famous stone lifting that you hear of come from European countries but there are examples of it all over the world This commemorative stamp, which features stone lifting as a traditional sport, was issued in French Polynesia. |  Stonelifting in Polynesia |
Labels: French Polynesia, Lifting Stones, Stamp, Stone Lifting
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