Louis Cyr's Weights

Louis Cyr's Weights

A rare picture of some of Louis Cyr's weights. Note the Ring Weight in the foreground and the fact that most of these classic weights have thick handles. You can tell a lot of strength was built with these weights.

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Steve Reeves

Steve Reeves

Steve Reeves, the 1947 Mr. America shows why he was known as THE Classic Physique. Reeves' favorite exercises for building his 23-1/2" wide shoulders were lateral raises and the behind-the-neck press.

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P. Ivanov - The Man Who Conquered Nature

P. Ivanov - The Man Who Conquered Nature

Physical Culture exists in many forms... Here's some from "Mother Russia" that you probably haven't yet heard of: P. Ivanov was a man who born and raised during the troubled years of revolution and civil war in Russia. He often wondered the reasons for such suffering... and one day an idea entered is mind: an answer to his questions.

Ivanov reasoned that suffering and hardship occured when Man tried to divorce himself from nature with artificial environments. Consequently life and survival became dependent on these conditions often breeding struggle, mistrust, indifference or loneliness among people.

Instead Man should strive to live with nature, instead of in opposition to her...

It was then that Ivanov began his experiment, to free himself of these dependencies by gradually conditioning himself to wear less clothes in freezing climates and to go long periods without food or water.

Eventually he became immune to cold weather and disease. He would most of his days shirtless and barefoot in the unforgiving Russian winter. As he spread his ideas, he was often called "Master of Nature" since he no longer concerned himself with the harsh conditions that became commonplace for most people.

The 12 keys to Ivanov's "Method" are listed below:

1. Twice a day take a cold bath in natural waters so that you feel good. Bathe in whatever you can - lakes, rivers, a bath, take a shower or pour water over yourself. Finish a hot bath with cold water.

2. Before bathing or after it, and if it is possible at the same time, go out in the nature, stand barefooted on the earth or on snow in winter for at least 1-2 minutes. Breathe in the air several times through your mouth and thankfully wish good health for yourself and all the people of the world.

3. Don't drink alcohol or smoke.

4. Once a week, try to go without food and water for one day.

5. At 12 Sunday, walk barefooted outside and breathe in and out several times and think positive thoughts. After that you can eat all that you like.

6. Love the nature surrounding you. Do not spit around you and do not spit anything out of yourself. Get used to it - this is your health.

7. Greet everyone everywhere, especially old people. If you wish to have good health yourself make it a point to greet everybody.

8. Help people whenever you can especially the poor, ill, hurt or needy. Do it with cheer. Respond to his need with soul and heart. You will make a friend in him which will help the cause of peace in the world.

9. Win over the stinginess, laziness, egoism, fear, falseness and pride in yourself. Trust the people and love them. Do not talk unjustly about them and do not take close to your heart the negative thoughts about them.

10. Free your mind of the thoughts about illnesses, disabilities and death. This is the greatest Victory of your life.

11. Do not separate thoughts from action. You have read - good. But the most important thing is to ACT!

12. Talk of and give the experience of this business to others, but do not brag and think too highly about yourself. Be modest.

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An Interesting Grip Feat

An In Interesting Grip Feat

Grip Feats come in all shapes and sizes. Here's John Grimek performing an interesting one that can be done just about anywhere: pick up a chair by the leg keeping it level the whole time. Grimek could do it with extra weight, as shown by the barbell plate on the seat.

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Tendon and Ligament Training: Chuck Vinci

Tendon and Ligament Training: Chuck Vinci

A "secret weapon" of many strength athletes is specific training for tendons and ligaments using very heavy supports. Here Olympic Champion weight lifter Chuck Vinci does heavy supports in the rack position with 500 pounds. Chuck Vinci set twelve world records in his career so he knew a thing or two about getting strong.

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Slim The Hammer Man: Steel Scrolling

Slim the Hammer Man is primarily known for his hammers but he has much more in his repertoire of strength feats. Slim is an excellent Nail Driver and Horse Shoe Bender. Here he scrolls a long piece of steel into an artistic shape. Needess to say Slim must depend on the strength of his mind as well as his muscles to perform this feat.

Slim The Hammer Man: Steel Scrolling

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One Finger Zen

One Finger Zen

Shaolin Monks are not "Strongmen" per se, but they certainly share a lot of similarities, one of which is training for one specific feat for years until it is mastered. This one is referred to as "One Finger Zen" or a handstand held on a single finger!

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Early Leg Press

Early Leg Press

Say what you want about modern gyms but you may not realize how good you have it. If you wanted to do the "leg press" exercise years ago, here's the setup you would need. This exercise was featured in some of George Jowett's training courses.

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Brosius' Gym

Brosius' Gym

What a great gym! - This fantastic facility was established by George Brosius, a pioneer gymnastics coach and famous "Turner" in the Milwaukee area. More on him and his amazing story at a later date. Gotta love the indian clubs, climbing ropes and medicine balls. This pictures dates from the 1920s.

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Ancient Training Techniques for Modern Warriors

Pat Miletich - MMA Fighter, 5X UFC Champ

"With over 40 professional fights I've had to deal with a number of injuries including a partial rotator cuff tear, a jammed shoulder,and cartilage damage.

I went through extensive rehabilitation with limited success. I was introduced to Indian Clubs a little over 2 years ago and I can tell you since using the clubs on a regular basis, my shoulder now feels solid and 100%.

Indian Club Exercise are now a necessary part of Miletich Fighting Systems training. Not only for me, but all our fighters."

- Pat Miletich - MMA Fighter, 5X UFC Champ

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Dio Lewis

Dio Lewis was an early physical culture pioneer who was outspoken on the role of temperence, clean living and physical training as a part of education. His system of gymnastics was eventually adopted by schools and laid the groundwork for modern physical education.

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John Davis - Dumbbell Clean and Press

John Davis - Dumbbell Clean and Press

A classic shot of the great John Davis cleaning and pressing a pair of 142-pound dumbbells at Ed Yarick's gym. This lift is likely one of the greatest lifts ever accomplished.

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York Chest Expanders

York Chest Expanders

The York Barbell Company was most famous for selling barbells, but they featured a variety of other types of equipment as well. One of the most popular was chest expanders which were much easier to transport places than heavy weights.

In fact, York had several different types of chest expanders, the flat band type, similar to Noe's Graduated Xercisor, the round cable type, similar to modern chest expanders and the metal spring type, similar to those used in Strand Pulling Contests.

Regardless, you can get a great workout with all of them (but be sure to wear a shirt if you're training with metal springs!)

All About Strand-Pulling
by Syd Devis

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The Pommel Horse

The Pommel Horse

Like most gymnastic events, the Pommel Horse has its roots in military training. In this case approximating mounting and dismounting a real horse. Early pommel horses actually looked like a horse although once it was adopted into physical training the pommel horse became much more symmetrical, thereby allowing for more elaborate moves. It has been said that the pommel horse is one of the most difficult and technically demanding of all the gymnastic events. This shot was taken at the 1896 Olympics.

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Steve Reeves - HERCULES!

Steve Reeves - HERCULES!

Many actors have played the mythical Greek hero Hercules, but certainly one of the most memorable was bodybuilding legend Steve Reeves. Although the 1947 Mr. America winner played Hercules only twice -- in the 1958 film "Hercules" and its sequel "Hercules Unchained" (1960) -- they became very popular, and many more "Sword and Sandal" pictures followed.

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Jim Park - 1952 Mr. America

Jim Park - 1952 Mr. America

1952 AAU Mr. America Jim Park, on the cover of the June 1952 Iron Man Magazine. Park also won the 1952 Mr. World and 1954 Mr. Universe bodybuilding contests.

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Sandow's Combination Outfit

Sandow's Combination Outfit

Eugen Sandow was quite the entrepreneur in his day. This "combination developer" is a chest expander which also comes with other attachments specifically designed for leg work which you can just make out in the open box. Pretty cool... This one's mint and I got it for a song.

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John Terry

John Terry

John Terry was America's best featherweight lifter during the 1930's. Lifting for the York Barbell Club, he was a four-time Senior National Champion (1938 through 1941) and a two-time Olympian (1936, 1940 (he qualified but the 1940 games were eventually cancelled)). At a bodyweight of just 132 pounds he could deadlift over 600.

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Maurice Jones

Maurice Jones

"... If you're really lucky you might see, jogging along the 11 mile path that circles the park, a broad and bulky gentleman who is perhaps the best built, probably the best conditioned and certainly the most modest man of all time. His name is Maurice Jones. He stands about 5'8", varies his weight at will between 205 and 235, and packs more pure muscle than any six people you'll ever meet.

Maury, as he's called, is a truly modest man. Getting his shirt off is like pulling teeth. Getting him in front of a camera is tougher than getting your old lady in front of a firing squad.

Maury is the finished product of sensible weight training. He's a trained athlete in every sense of the term. His muscles are enormous, yet he carries himself with the grace and agility of a cat. He's an all-around strongman, not a one lift specialist. He performs as well on a reverse curl as he does on a squat or a deadlift. He has superb health and unbelievable endurance. Someone once said that Maury can lift anything not nailed down. They should have added that he can also run up the side of a mountain with it..."

- from "Running," The Keys to Progress by John McCallum

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Kettlebell Crucifix Lift

Kettlebell Crucfix Lift

Walter Donald demonstrates the Crucifix with a pair of great MILO Kettlebells.

"... what the English lifters call "the crucifix lift," and which the European lifters call "holding in the balance." One of the most popular of all strength tests is to hold a weight straight out from the shoulder in one hand; and it is a common thing to see a group of workmen or athletes in an impromptu competition with the object of seeing which one of them can "muscle-out" the heaviest weight. In some parts of the country they allude to this stunt as "off-arming." No matter what you call it, it is a fine test of strength, because anyone can do it without practice, there being little skill required." - Chapter 10, Super Strength by Alan Calvert

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Karl Norberg - 475 Pound Bench Press at 75 Years Old

Karl Norberg - 475 Pound Bench Press at 75 Years Old

The Mighty Norseman Karl Norberg just kept getting stronger with every passing year. Here he is at 75 years old benchpressing an incredible 475 pounds! Check out that form -- there's no monkeybusiness there, and few people of any age who could do this these days

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Mark H. Berry

Mark H. Berry

Mark Berry was well known for his excellent training courses but his contributions to the strength world extended far beyond that. He was a very successful featherweight lifter in the American Continental Weight-Lifter's Association (ACWLA) during the mid-1920's.

He also became the editor of Strength Magazine, director of the Milo Barbell Company and helped establish the Association of Bar Bell Men (ABBM) which was a governing body for weightlifting and bodybuilding.

In addition to these accomplishments, Berry was also a coach for the 1932 and 1936 Olympic weightlifting team and was an early mentor to a young John Grimek.

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