Friday, January 30, 2009
Physical Training in Ancient Turkey The gymnastic exercises of the students of Mekteb-i Sultani, taken in Istanbul, Turkey, circa 1879. Note the use of large globe dumbbells, ring weights, kettlebells and the high bar for gymnastics. All very interesting in that the equipment looks very similar to that which was often used by Apollon.
Labels: Ancient Training, Apollon, Globe Dumbbell, Istanbul, Kettlebells, Ring Weights, Turkey, Vintage Strength Equipment
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John B. BaileyJohn B. Bailey, professor of sparring and gymnastics. This picture dates to April 28, 1870. Note the large indian clubs in the background... equally useful for sparring AND gymnastics. Though not particularly muscular, you can tell this gent knows his way around the ring.
Labels: Gymnastics, Indian Clubs, John B. Bailey, Sparring, Wooden Indian Clubs
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
The God of Wrestling: Karl GotchKarl Gotch was known as 'The God of Wrestling' in Japan and he is still regularly featured in Japanese wrestling magazines. It's with good reason, every major star in the Japanese professional wrestling and 'shootfighting' scene, had roots in Karl Gotch's training which focused heavily on bodyweight conditioning and calisthenics. You can find out more about it here.
Labels: Bodyweight Calisthenics, Bodyweight Conditioning, God of Pro Wrestling, Karl Gotch
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| ... Many women report that they don't want to lift weights lest they get "big and bulky." If anything, the correct application of resistance training will lead to... Well, see for yourself. One of the Iron Game's lovliest "barbelles" is Joan Farbotnik, wife of the famous Mr. America and Mr. World winner John Farbotnik. Joan trained regularly at her husband's gym in Pasadena, California and it doesn't seem to have left her worse for the wear. |  Joan Farbotnik |
Labels: Barbelle, Joan Farbotnik, John Farbotnik, Killer Legs
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Bob Hoffman - "Functional Training"Modern "functional training" methods advocate training in an unstable environment. This is not a new concept, however, Bob Hoffman pioneered it decades ago on some warm York, Pennsylvania afternoon: try repetition clean and presses while balanced on the gunwale of a canoe. John Grimek looks on in amazement.
Labels: Bob Hoffman, Clean and Press, John Grimek
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Joe NordquestJoe Nordquest the famous strongman from Ashtabula, Ohio, performed a number of unusual strength feats during his career. This was all the more amazing since he did it all on one leg, having been in a train accident as a child. Nordquest's feats include: a left-arm bent press of 277-1/2 pounds, balanced on one hand while holding a 100-pound dumbbell in the other and a 388-pound 'shoulder bridge' press. Judging by the picture it's not difficult to see how he was able to move such weights. His brother Adolph was also a great strongman.
Labels: Adolph Nordquest, Bridge Press, Hand Balancing Feat, Joe Nordquest
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Tommy Kono - Nail DrivingThe number of strength stars who also practiced Nail Driving is quite extensive. Among them famous weightlifter and sometimes bodybuilder Tommy Kono, shown here performing strength feats at the 1960 Jr. Nationals Weightlifting contest held in his home town of Sacramento, California.
Labels: Feats of Strength, Jr. Nationals, Nail Driving, Tommy Kono
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Charles RigoulotCharles Rigoulot was the last great strongmen to lift primarily shot-loaded globe barbells. He did so until late in the 20s, well after plate-loaded equipment became the norm. The very last Olympic Games which gave lifters a choice between using "new" barbells and plates and "outdated" Shot-Loaded globe barbells was at the 1924 games held in Paris, France.
...The very same games where Rigoulot won the gold medal in the heavyweight class. He was the only lifter in the contest to choose shot-loaded barbells. Perhaps he knew a secret...
Labels: 1924 Olympics, Charles Rigoulot, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Shot Loaded, Shot Loaded Barbells
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Owen Carr and Al TauscherA selection of great oldtime weights: barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, kettlebell handles and a thick-handled exhibition bell. On the left is Owen Carr, a physical education director in the Portland, Oregon School district for over forty years and the man that organized the first weightlifting team in the state of Oregon.
On the right is Al Tauscher, Carr's friend and training partner. Both strongmen were regularly featured in early issues of Strength Magazine. This picture was taken around 1916.
Labels: Al Tauscher, Globe Barbell, Kettlebell, kettlebell handles, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Owen Carr, Stage Barbell
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Demetrius TofalosThe great Greek Lifter Demetrius Tofalos finishing up a lift with a classic barbell in an early weightlifting contest. Tofalos was the gold medal winner at the 1906 Olympics.
Labels: 1906 Olympics, Demetrius Tofalos, Globe Barbell
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Arthur Saxon: Master of The Bent Press'The Iron Master' Arthur Saxon shows his form on the Bent Press. These pictures are well over a hundred years old but Saxon's incredible upperbody strength, especially in terms of back development, is quite evident.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Barbell, Bent Press, Feat
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Jack LaLanneA familiar face from the cover of the January, 1942 issue of Strength and Health magazine. He's still going strong today. Jack LaLanne turns 95 years young in September of 2009.
Labels: Bodybuilding Magazine, Classic Bodybuilder, Cover, Jack LaLanne, Strength and Health Magazine
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A Congress of Japan's Famous Strong MenHere's a pretty interesting item, a poster from the Barnum and Bailey Circus advertising "A Congress of Japan's Famous Strong Men." Based on the attire, I would expect to see sumo wrestling and/or grappling such as is pictured in the top half of the poster.
The bottom illustrations are intriguing though: Sumo wrestlers engaging in stone lifting, steel scrolling, live animal wrestling, horseshoe bending... and of particular interest is the gent in the bottom right holding a kettlebell in each hand. This poster is from the 1921 Circus season.
Labels: Barnum and Bailey Circus, Circus, Circus Poster, Horseshoe Bending, Japan, Japanese Strongman, Kettlebells, Stone Lifting, Sumo Wrestlers
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Monday, January 26, 2009
Alyce Yarick's Squatting FeatHere's a strength feat you probably didn't know about: Alyce Yarick, wife of Ed Yarick (of Yarick's Gym fame) once performed 105 consecutive squats with 115 pounds. This feat occured at one of her husband's variety shows.
Labels: Alyce Yarick, Ed Yarick, Ed Yarick's Gym, Killer Legs, Squat, Squat Workout, Squatting Feat
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Reg Park Bench Presses 300 PoundsReg Park bench presses 300 pounds the hard way -- with a pair of 150-pound BARBELLS. Wow! This stunt is very difficult and requires a great deal of strength, balance and coordination.
Labels: Barbell Bench Press, Bench Press, Reg Park
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Carl BuschCarl Busch was a great strongman and wrestler who was active in the early 20th century. After winning the 1901 German national title, he toured europe performing feats of strength and wrestling all comers. He even wrestled the great Frank Gotch to a draw under Greco-Roman rules. Busch also wrestled the likes of George Hackenschmidt, Professor Roller, and even Farmer Burns.
As far as feats of strength, Busch could bent press 250 pounds at a bodyweight of 175. Here he does a Crucifix with a pair of German Kettlebells.
Labels: Bent Press, Carl Busch, Crucifix, Farmer Burns, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, German Strongman, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Kettlebell, Strongman Feat, Wrestler
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Sunday, January 25, 2009
Joe BonomoJoe Bonomo famous strongman, actor and movie stunt man often lifted "human" weights instead of barbells. Here, he gives a friend a lift.
Interestingly, lifting human weights is often much more impressive to an audience than lifting twice as much iron. Bonomo starred in a number of early silent movies and serials. He was Lon Chaney's stunt double in the 1923 version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Labels: Human Weight, Joe Bonomo, One Arm Support, Overhead Support
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Bernarr MacFadden's Muscle Builder MagazineThe early physical culture pioneer Bernarr MacFadden published one of the earliest physical training magazines entitled 'Muscle Builder'. Each issue featured training articles and tips from the great strongmen and early bodybuilders of the day.
This is the cover of issue #1 published in March of 1924 which features Earle E. Liederman - a good choice. 'Muscle Builder' ran for 29 issues and copies are very tough to come by.
Labels: Bernarr Macfadden, Cover, Earle E. Liederman, Early Bodybuilder, MacFadden Publication, Muscle Builder, Muscle Builder Magazine, Muscle Magazine
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Saturday, January 24, 2009
Stan StanczykThe great Olympic lifter Stan Stanczyk was the first lifter to win three successive World titles in three different weight classes. Lifting for the York Barbell Club, he won five in all. He also won six Senior National titles, a Gold Medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, a Gold at the 1951 Pan-American Games and a Silver Medal at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
Stanczyk set eight word records during his lifting career. He was also a fairly good bodybuilder, placing very respectably in the few contests he entered. Once his competitive weightlifting career ended Stanczyk moved to Miami and opened a bowling alley. He was as meticulous with his bowling as he was with weightlifting, he kept track of every game he ever bowled (lifetime average of 190!)
Labels: 1948 Olympics, olympic weightlifter, Stan Stanczyk, World Champion, York Barbell, York Gang
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 Mr. American 1949 Jack Delinger | 1.Jack Delinger 2. Melvin Wells 3. Bill Melby 4. Harry Smith 5. Valerio Pasqua 6. Jim Krznarich 6. Stan Stanczyk 6. Kimon Voyages 9. Everett Sinderoff 10. Joe Shaw Jack Delinger won the overall title although Melvin Wells won the "Most Muscular" Sub-division. |
Labels: 1949 Mr. America, 1949 Mr. America Contest, Cover, Jack Dellinger, Kimon Voyages, Melvin Wells, Mr. America, Stan Stanczyk, Strength and Health Magazine
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Friday, January 23, 2009
An Unusual BarbellJ. J. Brown doing a few overhead presses with a very interesting looking barbell in a gymnasium at the Shakespeare Avenue police station in Chicago, Illinois circa 1924. I wonder if he borrowed it from Arthur Saxon.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Globe Barbell, Overhead Press
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Monday, January 19, 2009
| Dennis Rogers can rip a deck of cards faster than anyone on the planet, he can also easily drive nails through wooden boards with his bare hands. One day he had an idea: why not combine these two elements into one amazing feat? The result was to drive a nail through a full deck of cards, a feat never before imagined, let alone completed, by any other strongman. Needless to say this feat goes over huge when performed in front of an audience. |  Naildriving Through a Deck of Cards |
Labels: Deck of Cards, Dennis Rogers, Dennis Rogers Nail Driving, Feat, Nail Driving, Strongman Dennis Rogers
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Saturday, January 17, 2009
| 1. Roy Hilligenn 2. Malcolm Brenner 3. Marvin Eder 3. George Paine 5. Pepper Gomez 6. Keith Stephan 7. Victor Nicoletti 9. Joe Sanceri 9. John Witkowski 10. Ken Cameron - Max Grunig - Ed Heckinger - Elwood Holbrook - Ed Holovchik - Dominick Juliano - Alvin Lee - Newman Lewis - Ralph Mascaro - Allen Moraes - Elias Rodriguez - Stan Stanczyk - Carlin Venus - George Waselinko - Monte Wolford |  Roy Hilligenn won the "Most Muscular"award as well as the overall title |
Labels: 1951 Mr. America, AAU, Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding Contest, Carlin Venus, Elwood Holbrook, George Paine, Malcolm Brenner, Marvin Eder, Pepper Gomez, Roy Hilligenn, Stan Stanczyk
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Friday, January 16, 2009
Wall PulleysWall Pulleys were one of the first commercially available pieces of training equipment and were a common sight in gyms in the later 19th and early 20th century. Pugilists used to use them for building punching power as well as developing upper body endurance.
Here the great Light-heavyweight boxer from Philadelphia Tommy Loughran gets in a quick workout while his trainer Jack Brady looks on. These two shots are especially rare as they are two different shots taken at the same moment from two different cameras. They were taken in 1929.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Boxing Training, Oldtime Boxers, Tommy Loughran, Wall Pulleys
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hermann Goerner's Challenge BarbellA look at Hermann Goerner's challenge barbell: 330-3/4 pounds with a 2-3/8-inch thick handle. Goerner could easily clean and jerk this unique barbell without moving his feet, a feat no one else was ever able to duplicate.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Hermann Goerner, Thick Bar, Thick Handle
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Indian Club Swinging At WorkDuring the last century, a few minutes of Indian Club Swinging were not out of place during the normal work day. These sessions helped relieve tension and stress thus sallowing for more productive work to be accomplished. Above is George Kersten, the longtime judge of Cook County Illinois. The good judge certainly had his hands full in the city of Chicago during Prohibition years. Still, he never missed am opportunity to swing the clubs. These pictures are dated 1922.
Labels: Indian Club Benefits, INdian Club Exercises, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs
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 Chest Expander One Leg Squat | Weightlifting champ Dick Bachtell demonstrates an exercises that probably hasn't been seen for five or six decades: a One Leg Squat while holding a chest expander. Bachtell was a great all-around lifter so it's no surprise that he was able to accomplish this unique lift. |
Labels: Chest Expander, Chest Expander Exercises, Chest Expander Feat, Dick Bachtell, One Leg Squat
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Madame Yucca - The Female HerculesA rare poster featuring Madame Yucca as perforoming in the Forepaugh and Sells Brother Circus. The Female Hercules was shown lifting various globe weights overhead, harness liftnig several animals including an elephant and even lifting an anvil with her teeth. Note the use of kettlebells for one and two arm lifts. The poster dates from 1898.
Labels: Adam Forepaugh, Anvil Lifting, Circus, Circus Poster, Feat, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Harness Lifting, Madame Yucca, Sells Brothers Circus, Strongwoman, Teeth Lifting
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Standard BarbellMany a strength athlete began his strength career on a standard barbell set just like this one. Note the plates positioned to resemble globes.
Labels: Barbell, Equipment, Standard Barbell
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 Kimon Voyages | A rare shot of the classic bodybuilder Kimon Voyages who competed in the AAU Mr. America six times without winning. His best finish was 6th in 1947 -- that was a tough one, Steve Reeves took the crown that year. Voyages did, however, win the Junior Mr. America in 1942 and Mr. New York State in 1948. It was reported that Voyages was fond of high rep squatting for leg development and conditioning. He once squatted 200 pounds for 100 straight reps. |
Labels: Bodybuilder, Classic Bodybuilder, Jr. Mr. America, Kimon Voyages, Mr. America Contest, Mr. New York State, on Voyages
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 The Handstand Press | A simple yet very effective exercises is the handstand press. The boxes are there, of course, to increase the range of motion. This was a favorite exercise of the great weightlifting champion Tony Terlazzo (pictured here) who used it to increase his barbell overhead press. Terlazzo was a 13-time Weightlifting national Champion, something to think about if you're working on your press too. |
Labels: Bodyweight Exercise, Bodyweight Feat, handstand, Handstand Press, Pressing Exercise, Tony Terlazzo
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Mr. America 1961 Ray RoutledgeRay Routledge, 1961 AAU Mr. America on the cover of the December 1960 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. Routledge was also the 1961 NABBA Mr. Universe.
Labels: 1961 Mr. Amerrica, AAU, Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding, Cover, Mr. America, NABBA, Strength and Health Magazine
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 Otto Arco | Otto Arco doing what he does best: looking impressive without doing much at all. In 1907, Arco became the second man in the world to hoist double bodyweight overhead with a 278-1/2 pound lift at 138 pound of bodyweight. He was also the first to one hand snatch over bodyweight with a 145-pound lift. Arco was a great wrestler, gymnast and hand balancer. He and his brother Pete performed with several different circuses in the US and abroad. |
Labels: Gymnast, One Arm Lift, one arm snatch, Otto Arco, Polish Strongman, Wrestler
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Sandow's Harness Lifting One of Sandow's favorite leg exercises was harness lifting a heavy weight. He would adjust the length of the chain to different lengths in order to train different leg muscles. Not only was this a very productive movement in itself, it also allowed him to become accustomed to heavy weights and practice some of the feats for his strength performances.
Labels: Eugen Sandow, Harness Lift, Harness Lifting, Leg Exercise, Performing Strongman, Supporting Feat
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Irvin Johnson's Hi-Protein Food... a few years later Irvin Johnson would change his name to Rheo H. Blair and his "Blair's Protein" would become known as the best protein powder of all time. Johnson's Hi-Protein was available in five flavors: plain, vanilla, chocolate, coconut and black walnut... which all seem a bit familiar.
Irvin Johnson's Hi-Protein FoodLabels: Food Supplement, Hi-Protein, Irvin Johnson, Protein Powder, Rheo H. Blair
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Sunday, January 11, 2009
Jack JohnsonThe first African American heavyweight boxing Champ Jack Johnson certainly earned his title inside the ring and out. When he did finally get his shot he had lost only two of his previous 63 fights going back almost a decade prior. As far as preparation for the ring, Johnson's condition bears the unmistakable mark of physical training and the old photos from the training camps in his era certainly back it up.
He threw the medicine ball performed calisthenics, jumped rope, chopped wood and generally engaged in exactly the kind of physical training he would have needed to in order to compete for(and Win!) the Heavyweight championship of the world.
The tale of the tape from the Johnson/Jeffries fight indicates that Johnson had a 7-7/8 inch wrist, 15-1/4 inch flexed forearm and 17-inch flexed upper arm all at a 210-pound bodyweight.
You may not realize this but Jack Johnson also was a performing strongman after his boxing days were over and one of his favorite feats was the human chain.
Labels: Boxing, Human Link, Jack Johnson, Medicine Ball Training
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 Finger Lifting | Finger Lifting is always popular due to the fact that a person can truthfully prove he can lift more with one finger than another can lift with both hands. Beyond a doubt, the greatest men in the world on this exercise who can handle the greatest poundages are Warren Lincoln Travis, Adolph Nordquest, John Y. Smith and Ottley R. Coulter, who, at 132 pounds could out lift many heavyweights. All four men here owe most of their success in this lift to their knowledge of muscular leverage and know just how to apply their muscular power. |
Labels: Adolph Nordquest, finger lifting, Finger Strength, Grip Feat, John Y. Smith, One Finger Lift, Ottley Coulter, strongman lift, Warren Lincoln Travis
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Killer Legs www.oldtimestrongman.com
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| Bob Jones certainly has my vote for the greatest hand balancer of all time. Here's a look at another one of his amazing feats: Jones could balance on a piano bench on his thumbs! Make no mistake about it, this level of strength and skill took years to develop. |  Bob Jones |
Bob Jones' thumbsLabels: Bob Jones, hand balancer, Hand Balancing, Thumb Strength
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| Over a century later, Arthur Saxon still holds the greatest bent press poundage ever recorded. The man who has come the closest under official conditions was Al Beinart who managed 330 pounds and trains at Yaco's Gym in Detroit. The hardest part of the lift, according to Beinart, is getting the weight to the shoulders. This is the style that he used. and with 300+ pounds, that's an impressive feat by itself. |  Al Beinart |
Labels: Al Beinart, Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Dumbbell, Yaco's Gym
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Saturday, January 10, 2009
Emil Bregulla - The Terrible Pole"Emil Bregulla was a famous wrestler who took on all comers from coast to coast as he traveled with sideshows and carnivals. He had another challenge as well: Bregulla also demonstrated his prowess, which was considerable, with the large kettlebell at his feet.
Labels: Carnival Strongman, Challenge Weight, Emil Bregulla, Kettlebell, sideshow, The Terrible Pole, Wrestler
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Josef GraflWeightlifting contests have changed a bit over the last hundred years. You won't see any more that are held outside like this one from 1909. That's Josef Grafl, the great strongman from Vienna, Austria, lifting above. Grafl was the man to beat in the early 20th century, winning championships in 1908 through 1911 and again in 1913.
Labels: Josef Grafl, Vienna, World Champion
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| Tony Terlazzo was one of America's greatest Olympic weight lifters. Lifting for the York Barbell Club, Terlazzo was a Gold medal winner in the 60 kg class at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, set seven world records, won two world championshios and achieved an unprecedented 13 Senior National weightlifting titles. His best clean and jerk was 144.5 kg in the lightweight class. |  Tony Terlazzo |
Labels: 1936 Olympics, Clean and Jerk, Gold Medal, Muscletown USA, National Champion Weightlifter, olympic weightlifter, Tony Terlazzo, World Champion
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Barrel lifting goes back a little farther than Dnosaur Training... The Japanese painter Hokusai is best-known as author of the woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and his most recognized print The Great Wave of Kanagawa. Among his many drawings was this one, "Sakadaru o sashiageru otoko" showing a man lifting a sake barrel overead with one arm. |
Odd Object Lifting in Ancient JapanLabels: Barrel Lifting, Hokusai, Japan, Odd Object Lifting, One Arm Lift
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Friday, January 09, 2009
Bill PearlThere is little doubt that Bill Pearl is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He won nearly every contest he ever entered (including 1953 AAU Mr. America, 1953, 1961, 1967, 1971 NABBA Mr. Universe and 1965 Mr. USA), appeared on dozens on bodybuilding magazine covers, ran a successful gym, authored several best selling training books, performed classical feats of strength and today still trains regularly and runs a thriving business. Here's how he looked on the cover of the September, 1957 issue of Ironman Magazine.
Labels: 1953 Mr. America, AAU, Bill Pearl, Bodybuilding, Iron Man Magazine, Mr. America, NABBA, Strength Author
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Signor Lawanda - The Iron Jawed ManSig Lawanda, The Iron Jawed Man, was an early circus performer whose signature feat was to use his teeth to lift a barrel on which two men sat - an incredible feat of neck strength. He famously appeared with P.T. Barnum
Labels: Barrel, Circus Strongman, Feat, Iron Jawed Man, Jaw Strength, Neck Strength, P.T. Barnum, Signor Lawanda, Teeth Lifting
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Thursday, January 08, 2009
Gary ClevelandGary Cleveland, 2-time Senior National Champion weightlifter, York Man, strength author an all-around nice guy does a few weighted dips to build his pressing strength. Gary placed 5th in the 82.5 kg class at the 1964 Olympic games held in Tokyo, Japan. Cleveland was a very good presser.
He went on to write a number of training articles for several different publications and also self-published a successful newsletter called the Avian Movement Advocate which was devoted to many different facets of strength training, philosophy and physical culture.
Labels: 1964 Olympics, Avian Movement Advocate, Dips, Gary Cleveland, olympic weightlifter, Strength Author, Weighted Dips, York Barbell Club t-shirt
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Sunday, January 04, 2009
| Results: 1. Steve Stanko 2. John Farbotnik 3. Eric Pedersen 4. George Eiferman 4. René Leger - Jules Bacon - Keevil Daly - Joe Lauriano - Juhani Vellamo |  Steve Stanko was the winner of the 1947 Mr. Universe Contest (The first ever held) |
Labels: Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding Contest, Bodybuilding Magazine, Cover, George Eiferman, John Farbotnik, Jules Bacon, Mr. Universe, Steve Stanko, Strength and Health Magazine
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Rigoulot's BarbellOne of the most famous barbells in history is the special weight that Charles Rigoulot made his 314-pound snatch and 402-pound clean-and-jerk. Andy Jackson, manufacturer of the famous Jackson Olympic-type Barbells, is here shown with a copy of the famous Rigoulot barbell made up for the strongman 'Sailor' Jim White. The bar is 9' in length, the revolving globes are 18-inches in diameter.
Labels: Andy Jackson, Challenge Weight, Charles Rigoulot, Clean and Jerk, Famous Barbell, Globe Barbell, Jackson Barbell Company, Snatch
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
'The Strongman' MagazineOne of Alan Calvert's forays into publishing was 'The Strongman' magazine which began publication in June of 1931 (the first issue featured Sandow on the cover.) Each issue highlighted the greatest strength athletes of all time and how they trained. 'The Strongman' ran for 16 issues but was eventually absorbed into Calvert's Strength Magazine.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Cover, Muscle Magazine, The Strongman
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
J.C. Tolson's Challenge RingweightThe great strongman J.C. Tolson had a Challenge Weight with which he would perform his favorite feat. He could lift this 90-pound ringweight overhead with the little finger of one hand only! Thousands of strongmen tried to duplicate this feat yet failed. Tolson could do it with ridiculous ease.
Labels: Challenge Feats, Challenge Weight, Grip Feat, J.C. Tolson, Ring Weights
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Two Kinds of Overhead PressSig Klein demonstrates two different kinds of overhead press: the 'strict' press on the left and more of a 'push-press' on the right. The merits of both are discussed in The Milo Bar Bell Courses.
Labels: Milo Bar Bell Courses, Milo Barbell Company, Overhead Press, Push Press, Sig Klein, Strict Press
www.oldtimestrongman.com
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, January 01, 2009
Otto ArcoThe great strongman Otto Arco gives further evidence why you don't have to be "huge" to be impressive. Arco never weighed more than 150 pounds yet was easily more muscular than most modern strength athletes. Arco achieved his tremendous form through a variety of training methods, traditional weight lifting, gymnastics and Muscle Control.
Labels: Back Development, Gymnastics, Muscle Control, Otto Arco, weightlifting
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
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