Thursday, April 30, 2009
Heavy Training for French SoldiersHEAVY TRAINING FOR FRENCH SOLDIERS
"The making of men taken from civilian life into well-trained soldiers has been a problem in England as in France. Business hours left the Frenchman with little time for exercise. Their training in the manner here shown quickly made them fit, and soon after leaving the counter, lathe, or desk they have proved themselves able to undertake with endurance the long marches and successful offensives against the common enemy with complete success. Every Frenchman entering the army undergoes a preparation in gymnastics and rope climbing as here shown."
National Geographic Magazine
April 1917
Labels: French Soldiers, Military, Military Training, Rope Climbing
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Traditional Indian Club TrainingDespite the lure of more 'modern' gyms, at places like the Shri Kashi Vyayamshala physical culture school in Varanasi, India, traditional training techniques are still being taught to younger generations. Here a group of students is learning to swing the light Indian clubs. Also note the Mallakhamb, or Wrestler's Pillar in the background.
Labels: Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, Indian Physical Culture, Indian Wrestling, Mallakhamb, The Physical Body DVD, Traditional Exercise, Wrestler's Pillar
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
George Jowett: Anvil Lifting"...Talking about feats with an anvil reminds me of a particular feat that I performed impromptu which takes a great amount of confidence as well as strength. It happened at one of the times that I picked up an anvil by the horn in a smithy shop, and after that stunt I pressed the anvil to arm's length by lying it on its broadside upon the flat of my hand, which is not as easy as it sounds. After I had done this I put the anvil on the floor on its base.George Jowett
We began to talk about various anvil feats being so difficult because of its awkward unbalanced construction. One man remarked that it would be some stunt to balance the anvil on the hand upside down. That meant the face would rest on the hand and the heavy wide base on top. Somehow I conceived the notion I could do it, and accordingly I took hold of the face with my right hand, and with the help of the left arm got the weight to the shoulder.
Despite the wide base and the bad balance caused by same and the horn, I not only succeeded in balancing the anvil by its face, but pressed it to arm's length, to the amazement of all. I have done it many times since, and for this volume I performed the same feat, thinking it might interest my readers. The anvil weighed one hundred sixty-eight pounds..."
The Key to Might and Muscle, Chapter 9
Written in 1926
Labels: Anvil Lifting, George Jowett, Grip Feat, Grip Training, Odd Object Lifting, The Key to Might and Muscle
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The Two-Arm SnatchThe Two-Arm Snatch as demonstrated by Johnny Terpak. At the time that this sequence of photos was taken Terpak was the holder of the middleweight and light heavyweight American records, having snatched 260 lbs. at a bodyweight of only 160 lbs. Terpak was an eleven-time Senior National Weightlifting champion, a record in itself.
Labels: John Terpak, Olympic Lifting, Olympic Weightlifting, Olympic Weightlifting Exercise, Snatch, Two Arm Snatch
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Monday, April 27, 2009
Tearing a Mini-Deck of CardsPlenty of people can tear a regulation deck of cards but it's a whole new ball game with a mini-deck. Dennis Rogers can do this feat with ease, as well he should since his fingers are about as strong as a set of pliers.
Labels: Card Tearing, Classic Strongman Feats, Dennis Rogers, Feat
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Sunday, April 26, 2009
Professor Harrison"... We learn that Mr. Harrison first began to use the clubs three years ago, at which time his muscular development was not regarded as being very great, his measurements being: round the chest 37-1/2 inches, round the upper arm 13-7-8ths inches, and round the forearm 13-1/4 inches.Professor Harrison of London was a well-known gymnastics and physical culture teacher who was honored by Queen Victoria for his physical prowess. It was watching Professor Harrison expertly swing his heavy "war clubs" which inspired Sim Kehoe to bring club swinging back to America and promote it on a wide scale.
The clubs with which Mr. Harrison commenced weighed about seven pounds each; he has advanced progressively until he can now wield with perfect ease two clubs. each weighing 37 pounds, and his heaviest weighing 47 pounds.
The effects of this exercise on the wielder's measurements are as follows: round the chest 42-1/2 inches, the upper arm 15 inches, and the forearm 14 inches. At the same time, his shoulders have increased immensely, and the muscles of his mid-section which were weak when he first used the clubs, are now well-developed and powerful. In short, all the muscles of the trunk have been improved by this exercise."
Professor Harrison
Featured in The Illustrated London News
August 14th, 1852
Labels: Club Swinging, Heavy Indian Club Swinging, Heavy Indian Clubs, INdian Club Exercises, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, Professor Harrison, Sim D. Kehoe
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| 1. Red Lerille 2. Ray Routledge 3. Joe Lazzaro 4. William Stathes 5. Joe Abbenda 6. Bill Golumbick 7. Frank Quinn 8. Elmo Santiago 9. Mike Ferraro 10. John Gourgott 11. Leroy Saba 12. Don Van Fleteren 13. Kenny Hall 14. Pete Ganios 15. Steve Sakoulos 16. Bill March 17. Buddy Basil 18. Harold Poole 19. Paul Mintal 20. James Piesrante 21. Raymond Huecke 22. Bill Galewood 23. Michael Majoris 24. Henry Efland 25. Nick Spano |  Lloyd "Red" LerilleMost Muscular: 1. Red Lerille 2. Leroy Saba 3. Kenny Hall |
Labels: 1960 Mr. America Contest, Bill March, Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding Contest, Elmo Santiago, Joe Abbenda, Joe Lazzaro, Ken Hall, Leroy Saba, Most Muscular, Red Lerille
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Friday, April 24, 2009
Sergio Oliva - The Ultimate Physique"...Sergio’s arms are so big that they literally must be seen to be appreciated -- and some people, upon first seeing them, are almost unable to believe their eyes. In a recent full-length picture of Sergio, the width of the flexed upper arms exceeded the height of Sergio’s head -- his arms were literally larger than his head, a size ratio never before approached by anybody else.
Is that, then the "Ultimate Physique?" For most people, it is far beyond the limits imposed by individual potential; but it is almost certain that somebody will eventually exceed even Sergio's present size and proportions. I recently measured the "cold" upper arm of a 19 year old boy in New York at 19 1/2 inches, and with continued training this boy can almost certainly exceed Sergio’s measurements -- but he is at least six inches taller than Sergio, so even with Sergio’s measurements he would not have Sergio's almost unbelievable proportions, would not give the "impression of size" that Sergio does.
I am reasonably certain that Sergio could attain even more size with continued training -- while maintaining or improving his present degree of muscularity (muscular definition), and if so, then his proportions would be almost unreal. But in the meantime, until he does get larger, or until somebody at least matches his present proportions, Sergio certainly does represent the "Ultimate Physique".
~ Arthur Jones
Nautilus Bulletin 2, Chapter 36
Labels: Arm Development, Arthur Jones, Big Arms, Nautilus Bulletins, Sergio Oliva
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
 Al Tauscher | Al Tauscher, the Oregon Strongman, getting in a quick kettlebell workout back around 1916. Though he only weighed 162 pounds, Tauscher was incredibly strong. In this classic shot he presses a 105 lb. kettlebell with the left hand while simultaneously curling a 75 lb. 'bell in the right... This feat was said to be ridiculously easy for Tauscher by those who witnessed it. He could also one-arm snatch 157 pounds and one-arm clean and jerk 210 pounds, both of which were American Amateur records at the time. |
Labels: Al Tauscher, Kettlebell, Kettlebell Curls, Kettlebell Press, One Arm Clean and Jerk, one arm snatch
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Road WorkIf you're going to be an athlete, you better be prepared to run. Shown here is George Hackenschmidt training in Chicago to face Frank Gotch for the second time. (Taken in 1911) Hack is flanked by his training partners Dr. Benjamin Roller, Gus "Americus" Schoenlein, and Jacob Koch, the former World Champion from Germany.
Labels: Americus, Benjamin Roller, Conditioning Workout, George Hackenschmidt, Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt, Gus Schoenlein, Jacob Koch, Road Work, Wrestling, Wrestling Exercise
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Calf RaisesHow does Mr. America train his calves? Here's how Roy Hilligenn did it on his way to winning the 1951 AAU Mr. America title. Crude... but certainly effective. This picture was taken at Ed Yarick's Gym.
Labels: 1951 Mr. America, Calf Development, Calf Raises, Calf Training, Ed Yarick's Gym, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Roy Hilligenn
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Harry ShafranA look at a young Harry Shafran who was known equally well for his physique as well as feats of strength. Early in his career, he was a partner of Professor Adrian Schmidt and was featured in Strength Magazine as well as Strength and Health Magazine.
He ran a series of successful gyms in New York City but eventually grew tired of it and moved everything to a location near Scranton, Pennsylvania. He kept all his classic equipment in a large barn (including quite a few pieces he obtained from Warren Lincoln Travis).
Labels: Adrian Schmidt, Early Bodybuilder, Harry Shafran, Harry Shafrans Gym, Strength and Health Magazine, Strength Magazine, Warren Lincoln Travis
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 Bob Jones | Who else? The incomparable Bob Jones balancing skillfully on his thumbs on a set of Indian clubs. Bob would begin this feat with an Indian club under each finger and then flick them away one by one until he was left on his thumbs. (Which is why the clubs are scattered beneath him.) With so many "lifting" records portrayed on this site it may be easy to overlook this one but if you want a good example of a feat which will never be duplicated, this would be it. It's difficult enough to hold a handstand, let alone on the thumbs, let alone balanced on Indian clubs. |
Labels: Balance Feat, Bob Jones, hand balancer, Hand Balancing Feat, Indian Clubs, Thumb Strength
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Mike Dayton Holds Back a Hot Rod "Think of the outcome you want and firmly
believe in your ability to achieve it."
believe in your ability to achieve it."
Strongman/Bodybuilder Mike Dayton holds back a Hot Rod for the "That's Incredible!" TV show. He could also break a regulation pair of handcuffs, broke baseball bats over his leg, bent coins and performed The Hangman's Drop. Dayton was big on the power of the mind and attributed this training to his ability to perform all of these amazing feats. He even put out a course on the subject back in the 1970s entitled "Chi Mind Control" (which is all but impossible to find.)
Labels: Bat Break, Chi Mind Control, Hangman's Drop, Mike Dayton, Mind Strength, Neck Strength, Strength Feat
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Reverse Curl"One of the greatest tests of forearm strength is to curl a thick bar with the over-grip. Once I bought a round steel bar, about 3 feet long and 2 inches thick, which weighed 65 lbs. To do a two-arm curl with this steel bar was a cinch if you used the under-grip; but when you tried to curl it with the over-grip, the bar would slip out of your hands when the arms were bent half way.
Lots of lifters who could do a back-hand curl easily with a thin-handled 100-lb. bar-bell, utterly failed to do the same thing with the thick 65-lb. bar. Anton Matysek could do it easily; Juvenal, the oarsman, could do it with even greater ease; and Zottman simply played with it.
In order to curl the bar successfully, it was necessary to have tremendous gripping power in the hands and great strength in the muscles on the outside of the forearm; but the gripping power was more important.
This stunt interested me so much that I had a special bar made, which consisted of a 2 inch pipe, and from each end of that pipe projected a 1-inch iron rod. We could load up the handle by slipping plates over the 1-inch rods. At one of our exhibitions Matysek demonstrated the exercise while I explained the principles involved.
Joe Nordquest, who was present, demanded that he be allowed to try his strength, and soon there was a competition in progress. According to our rules, the lifter had to stand bolt upright and keep his elbows at his sides, in order to prevent him from getting any advantage from a swing of the body or a movement of the upper arms.
One of the two claimed that the other one was not playing fair; so before each attempt we bound a belt around their upper arms, as in shown above. Matysek finally won with 88 lbs., which was harder than curling a thin-handled 125-l.b bar-bell. Tests like that interest me far more than lifts in which a man's ability is dependent on skill as well as strength."
~ Alan Calvert
Super Strength, Chapter 17
Labels: Alan Calvert, Anton Matysek, Forearm Exercise, Forearm Strength, George Zottman, Grip Exercise, Grip Strength, Joe Nordquest, Reverse Curl, Super Strength
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Art WalgeArt Walge was a great strength athlete out of Philadelphia in the 1950's and George Eiferman's sometimes training partner. He appeared in the 1951 feature film 'Quo Vadis' in the part of Croton and also did a bit of pro wrestling as "The Cardiff Giant." Big Art had a pretty strong pair of mitts as evident by this 400 pound one-arm deadlift.
Labels: Art Walge, George Eiferman, One Arm Deadlift, Pro Wrestler
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William BarkerToo old? 75-year old William Barker shows he's still "got it" by performing a crucifix with a kettlebell handle loaded to 50 pounds hanging from each thumb. Barker had previously been featured in LIFE magazine. In 1901, Mr. Barker was a gold-medal winner at one of Sandow's competitions.
Labels: Crucifix, Eugen Sandow, kettlebell handles, Shoulder Exercise, William Barker
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Oldtime WeightliftersHow's this for a crew? This trio operated in the 1900-1910 era. From left to right: Ludwig Weigland of Munich (One-Hand Snatch: 165 lbs., One-Hand Jerk: 200 lbs., Two-Hands Press: 242 lbs.) Alois Selos (Third place winner in the 1905 World's Championship, Duisberg, Germany) and Franz Bauerfeind (Undefeated Beer Garden wrestling champion of Old Vienna).
Labels: Alois Selos, Franz Bauerfeind, German Strongman, Ludwig Weigland, Oldtime Strongmen, One Hand Clean and Jerk, One hand Snatch, Vienna, Weightlifters
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The Bent Lateral RaiseWith a pair of Aristocrat Dumbbells to provide resistance, Sig Klein demonstrates the favorite exercise of another oldtimer George F. Jowett. The bent lateral raise is primarily intended for training the rear delts.
Labels: Aristocrat Dumbbells, Bent Lateral Raise, Dumbbell Exercise, George Jowett, Shoulder Exercise, Sig Klein
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Sunday, April 19, 2009
Wrestling for BoxersHow do you train when you want to be in the meanest possible shape? The answer is "Like a wrestler" which is exactly what boxing champ Jim Jeffries used to do in his training camps. There's nothing better for buiding strength of mind AND strength of body. Jeffries' wrestling coach? None other than Farmer Burns.
Labels: Boxing, Boxing Workout, Catch Wrestler, Conditioning Workout, Farmer Burns, Jim Jeffries
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Saxon on Strength"The usual idea about strength -- I mean the idea of the average reader of health magazines -- is generally a wrong one. Although a weightlifter (and weightlifters are supposed to be very narrow-minded in their views on this subject),
I hope that I, personally, am broad-minded enough to recognize that a man does not prove himself an all-round strong man just because he is able to lift a heavy weight, especially when the weight is lifted once only.
The following is my diagnosis of real strength:
Genuine strength should include not only momentary strength, as proved by the ability to lift a heavy weight once, but also the far more valuable kind of strength known as strength for endurance.
This means the ability, if you are a cyclist, to jump on your machine and ride 100 miles at any time without undue fatigue; if a wrestler, to wrestle a hard bout for half an hour with a good man without a rest, yet without becoming exhausted and reaching the limit of your strength.
Apart from sports, enduring strength means that the business man shall stand, without a break-down, business cares and worries, that he shall be capable, when necessary, of working morning, afternoon and night with unflagging energy, holding tightly in his grasp the reins of business, retaining all the while a clear mind and untiring energy, both of body and brain."
~ Arthur Saxon
The Development of Physical Power, Chaper 3
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Endurance, Physical Training, Real Strength, Stamina, Strength, Strength Book, The Development of Physical Power
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The Gittleson DumbbellThe 'Gittleson Dumbbell is so named because it sat on my college strength coach Mike Gittleson's desk for all the years that I was at Michigan, and likely at least a decade before that. (Mike was the University of Michigan football strength coach for 30 years and produced more All-Americans and NFL Draft picks than any other college strength coach in history.)
As you can see this unforgiving chunk of Iron weighs 120 pounds - I've bent pressed it, snatched it but not yet strictly overhead pressed it ~ something I am on track to do sometime this summer.
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Dumbbell, Dumbbell Training, Football Training, Mike Gittleson, one arm snatch, University of Michigan
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Saturday, April 18, 2009
George Hackenschmidt: "Govern Your Thoughts""This rule is absolutely necessary in all stages of life if you wish to succeed, for without concentration of thought, you are courting failure.
How many people are there who are, so to speak, the shuttlecock of their thoughts! Every moment hundreds of ideas and thoughts rush through their brain, causing an expenditure of energy without adequate return in results.
Just fancy a man at the Bisley rifle range taking aim and shooting at the same moment as he thinks of something quite different. Do you think he will carry off the King's prize, or indeed, any prize? No, he will not even hit the target.
If, therefore, you wish to become healthy and strong, you must give your thoughts to the full and without restriction in this direction, even to the most insignificant performances of your daily life. Concentrate your mind upon the idea of acquiring health and strength!"
~ George Hackenschmidt
The Way to Live, Chapter 4
Labels: Concentration, George Hackenschmidt, Govern Your Thoughts, Mental Strength
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Bill Pearl's GymIn 1962, Bill Pearl moved to Los Angeles and took over George Redpath's gym in east L.A. Bill actually had several other health clubs previously in Northern California. Rather than spread himself too thin, he closed the other locations to concentrate on making this new centralized location the best it could possible be. -- Bill took a great deal of care in doing things first class.
The newly re-named "Bill Pearl's Gym" became one of the hotspots for bodybuilding and weightlifting out on the west coast. Plus, he had some nifty shirts for the gym. Maybe we can talk Bill into reprinting those...
Labels: Bill Pearl, Bill Pearl's Gym, Bodybuilding Gym, Classic Gym, George Redpath
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
Kurt SaxonAmong the members of the Saxon Trio it was Arthur who got most of the spotlight but the other members were quite strong in their own right. Kurt Saxon for example, could bent-press over 300 pounds at a bodyweight of only 170. His exceptional muscularity is evident even in this old photo.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Kurt Saxon, Oldtime Strongman, Saxon Trio
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Winter TrainingYou think a few inches of snow is cause to miss any workouts? Not by a long shot. This was the view of the backyard lifting platform a few Winters back. Yes, those are 200-pound sewer caps drilled out for use as barbell plates.
Labels: Barbell Plates, Barbells, Heavy Metal, Heavy Weight, Odd Objects, Winter Training
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Paramount Olympic SetsYork was always the standard as far as quality Olympic barbell sets... but Muscletown was a long way for some folks to travel. Out on the West coast, a lot of people got their start with Paramount barbells and plates.
Labels: Advertisement, Barbell, Barbell Plates, Gym Equipment, Paramount Barbells, Paramount Olympic Sets
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Joe RagusaStrongman Joe Ragusa does a... actually I don't know what you call this one.. a neck lift? ... either way it looks pretty extreme. The bar is loaded to 655 pounds and it sure doesn't look very comfortable. Joe could also do a two-finger deadlift with 515 pounds and backlift an Elephant. This picture was snapped at Muscle Beach.
Labels: Back Lift, Elephant, Heavy Partial Movements, Heavy Weight, Joe Ragusa, Muscle Beach, Neck Strength
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Two Masters of the Bent-PressYou never knew who might pop in for a visit at the York Barbell Company in this case, two of the great masters of the bent-press: Bert Elliott on the left and Al Beinart on the right. They were both in town for the 1963 Senior Nationals.
While at York, they couldn't help but take a crack at bent-pressing the famous Cyr Challenge Dumbbell. Each man was able to bent-press the dumbbell for two reps joining a very exclusive club of strongmen.
Labels: Al Beinart, Bent Press, Bert Elliott, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell, Senior Nationals, York Barbell Company
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Classic Strongman Feats: The Human LinkCertain strongman feats are just classics and one of those is the The Human Link. Louis Cyr performed it all the way back in the late 1800s with a couple draught horses... Dennis Rogers does the same feat today with motor cycles or jet planes -- and you can find pretty much every major strongman in between having performed the same feat as well.
Here's Johan Dykhorst of South Africa performing the human link with an automobile on each arm. At the time this picture was taken he was the director of a large physical culture gym in Johannesburg, South Africa. Aside from the Human Link, Dykhorst was also great at some of the more conventional lifts, among them a straight arm pullover with 215 pounds which was equal to his bodyweight - a phenomenal achievement.
Labels: Car Lift, Classic Strongman Feats, Human Link, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Pullover, South African, South African Strongman, Straight Arm Pullover
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Eugene CaouetteEugene Caouette is another name in the great Quebec Strongman Tradition. The giant French Canadian stood well over six feet and tipped the scales at 460 pounds! His best lifts were a Crucifix with a pair of 76-pound dumbbells, a Kennedy Lift with 1354 pounds, one-arm snatch 173-3/4 pounds (with either hand) and a one-arm clean and jerk of 213 pounds.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Crucifix, Dumbbell Crucifix, Eugene Caouette, Jefferson Lift, Oldtime Strongman, One Arm Clean and Jerk, one arm snatch, Quebec Strongman
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Training The Backlift with Mac Batchelor If you want to train The Backlift, you'll need a special setup and plenty of weight. Here's how Mac Batchelor used to do it. Mac preferred to train the backlift for high reps, on the order of 30-40 reps, usually with a ton or so.
Labels: Back Lift, Heavy Partial Movements, Heavy Weight, Mac Batchelor, Supporting Feat
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Paul AndersonSure, plenty of people have come along who have squatted more than Paul Anderson but no one has made it look as easy. Here 'Big Paul' squats 800+ pounds in nothing but a singlet without even breaking a sweat.
Labels: 800 Pound Squat, Leg Strength, Paul Anderson, Squat
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Blame it on Muscle BeachYou never knew what might happen at Muscle Beach with so many crazy strong folks around. Here's a bit of horse play with Ike Berger on the bottom and record-setting shot putter Parry O'Brien up top. O'Brien grew up in Santa Monica and no doubt his exposure to weightlifting and physical culture with the Muscle beach gang contributed to his success.
O'Brien was the first man to put the shot over 60 feet and won more than 116 consecutive competitions. He competed in four consecutive Olympic games, winning the Gold in 1952 Helsinki Games and the 1956 games in Melbourne, Australia.
Labels: 1952 Olympics, 1956 Olympics, Barbell Lift, Ike Berger, Muscle Beach, Parry O'Brien, Santa Monica California, Shot Put, Supporting Feat, York Deep Dish 45 Pound Plate
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Ellwood HolbrookA look at strength star Ellwood Holbrook at the time when he rightly took home the 'Best Arms' sub-category and placed fourth overall at the 1941 AAU Mr. America Contest. Holbrook weighed only 165 pounds or so and routinely bent-pressed well over his bodyweight. Hollbrook didn't do any special training other than his focus on the bent-press. After a long day of construction work he trained in his garage with nothing more than an Olympic set.
Labels: 1941 Mr. America, Bent Press, Best Arms, Ellwood Holbrook, Elwood Holbrook
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Andre ReverdyAndre Reverdy was a Massachusetts strongman who was most active in the 1920's. He weighed only 113 pounds but could bent press 168 pounds, tear cards, bend steel and, as shown above, pull a car with his teeth. He was coached in these classic strongman feats by Professor Attila.
The above photo was taken at one of Bernarr Macfadden's Physical Culture shows held at Madison Square Garden. Reverdy pulled this car full of passengers -- with his teeth -- the entire length of the arena.
Labels: Andre Reverdy, Bent Press, Bernarr Macfadden, Car Pulling, Professor Attila, Steel Bending, Teeth Lifting
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Jimmie PayneJimmie Payne was one of Jack LaLanne's good friends and training partners at the original Muscle Beach scene in Santa Monica, California. Payne's background in hand balancing served him well, first as a lifting champion, then as a physique title holder (He competed in the Pro Mr. America four times) and finally as a stage athlete. He and his lovely partner Cindy Layne performed across the country as "Payne and Layne."
He was no slouch in 'normal' lifts either, accomplishing a straight-arm pullover with 160 pounds, deadlifting 500 pounds for 8 reps and a standing press with a pair of 115-pound dumbbells.
Labels: Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Act, Hand Balancing Feat, Jack LaLanne, Jimmie Payne, Muscle Beach, Pro Mr. America, Santa Monica California
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Giving Bob Hoffman a LiftSometimes Bob Hoffman had to call up the York Gang when he needed a lift... That's Steve Stanko on the right and Stan Stanczyk on the left.
Labels: Bob Hoffman, Car Lift, Odd Object, Odd Object Lifting, Stan Stanczyk, Steve Stanko
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Harry RobinsonHarry Robinson, the secretary of the Australian Weight Lifting Association, gets in a quick bent press workout circa 1929. These particular weights once belonged to the great Scottish Highland Games Champion Donald Dinnie.
Labels: Australian Strongman, Bent Press, Classic Equipment, Classic Kettlebells, Donald Dinnie, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Harry Robinson, Kettlebells, Weight Set
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Monday, April 13, 2009
Do NOT Try This One At HomeDo NOT Try This One At Home - Bob Trombley, a former Mr. Michigan supports over 500 combined pounds on his feat and at arms length while his friend Bob Herzog jumps over him, the barbells and a few sharpened spearheads just to keep things interesting. The slightest miscue could have meant serious injury for both of them.
Labels: Barbells, Mr. Michigan, Supporting Feat
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The Bridge PressThe 'bridge press' was an early precursor to the modern bench press. In this case though, no bench required and the bar began on the abdomen and was heaved to begin the lift. The lift was also aptly referred to at times as "the belly toss."
This was a favorite lift of Arthur Saxon and I'm sure it served him well in developing strength for his wrestling pursuits. Saxon's record of 386 pounds was broken by Joe Nordquest with a lift of 388 pounds (shown above).
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Belly Toss, Bench Press, Bridge Press, Chest Exercise, Joe Nordquest
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Pinch-Grip ChinsDoing one pinch grip chin with bodyweight is impressive but doing so with added weight is out of this world. Here's Arthur Metzler, the Navy strongman performing a pinch-grip chin with an extra 75 pounds tied around his waist. If you're interested in training for this feat, that's a pretty nifty setup for doing so.
Labels: Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Pinch Grip, Pinch Grip Chinup, Pinch Lift
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Thursday, April 09, 2009
The Mighty Atom's Shoes... Speaking of shoes, here's a pair which used to belong to The Mighty Atom. These currently reside in Slim the Hammerman's Dungeon Gym. -- If you're lucky and know a few people who know a few people you may actually get to see them in person someday... Otherwise, if you show up uninvited at the Hammerman's place you can expect a size-16 boot print on your forehead.
Labels: Dungeon Gym, Slim The Hammerman, Strongman Memorabilia, The MIghty Atom, The Mighty Atom's Shoes
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Bent HorseshoeIn the world of Strongmanism there are bent horseshoes and there are bent horseshoes. This one was turned inside out by the hands of "The Human Vise" Pat Povilaitis.
Labels: Bending Feat, Bent Horseshoes, Horseshoes, Steel Bending, Strongmanism
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Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Sig KleinProfessor Attila created several pieces of training equipment for building ab strength. Among them, the Roman Chair, the Roman Column and the Roman Board, seen here demonstrated by Sig Klein. Sig is lifting 35 pounds here in the "layout," a terrific test of abdominal power.
Labels: Abdominal Development, Abdominal Exercise, Abdominal Training, Professor Attila, Roman Board, Roman Chair, Roman Column
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Vince's GymIf you wrote a letter to The Iron Guru back in the day, you would have received a response on this nifty stationary. Vince certainly had style.
Labels: Iron Guru, Vince Gironda, Vince's Gym
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Art LevanBesides being a a great Olympic lifter (10x National Champion in the 126 lb. class) Art Levan was the master of several unusual feats of strengh as well. Here he hangs by his teeth with a 70-pound kettlebell in each hand.
Labels: Art Levan, Jaw Strength, Kettlebells, Olympic lifter
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Wally Zagurski Lifts The Cyr DumbbellWally Zagurski was one of the few men who could bent press the famous Louis Cyr Dumbbell, pictured above. He was also a great weightlifter and competed in the 1932 Olympics. The Cyr Bell can still be seen at the York Barbell Hall of Fame.
Labels: 1932 Olympics, Bent Press, Cyr Dumbbell, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell, Wally Zagurski, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Hugh CassidyBack in 1964, Hugh Cassidy won the Super Heavyweight class in the very first IPF Powrlifting World Championship held at York, Pennsylvania. He deadlifted 790 pounds as a 296 pound Superheavyweight. After his competitive lifting career came to a close he decided to slim down a bit to around 200 pounds or so, although he still kept training. Here's a look at a few of his favorite 'toys.' The man obviously had an eye for good equipment.
Labels: Hugh Cassidy, IPF, Powerlifting, World Champion
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KongThe man known only as Kong, who claimed to have the world's strongest neck, lifts 502 pounds. Another unuaual feat of strength which he performed was having a partner smash bricks laying on his neck with a sledge hammer. Interestingly, he was also a vegetarian.
Labels: Build Neck Strength, Kong, Neck Development, Neck Lift, Neck Strap
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Stan JonesStan Jones, the great football player from the University of Maryland played 13 seasons in the NFL, 12 of which with the Chicago Bears. Jones is also well known as one of the first great players to specifically concentrate on weight lifting in order to become a better player -- this was in the 50s and 60s, long before strength training was popular (or accepted). He was enshrined in the Pro-Football hall of Fame in 1991. Here's Stan easily putting his 220 pound training partner overhead after a workout.
Labels: Football, Football Training, Stan Jones, Strength Training, York Barbell Club t-shirt
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Cigarette CardsA hundred years ago, when you bought a pack of cigarettes, you also received a small trading card. These trading cards often featured athletes as well as -- ironically enough -- exercises and ways of staying healthy or getting in better shape. The above set dates to around 1920 and features a few Indian Club exercises.
Labels: Cigarette Card, Club Swinging, INdian Club Exercises, Wooden Indian Clubs
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Clash of the Titans: Grimek vs. StankoWhat would happen if two of the greatest strength athletes in history went head to head? Whether bodybuilding, olympic lifting or unusual feats of strength, I would say the matchup between John Grimek and Steve Stanko is pretty evenly matched. Only history knows the outcome of this armwrestling match...
Labels: Arm Wrestling, John Grimek, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Steve Stanko
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Monday, April 06, 2009
Yussif MahmoutYussif Mahmout was a great turn-of-the-century catch wrestler who faced Frank Gotch on April 14th, 1909. Mahmout caused an uproar when he entered the ring barefoot as was the custom in his native Bulgaria. The Gotch camp protested, believing it was a ploy to avoid Gotch's vicious toe hold.
The referee ruled in Mahmout's favor and the match commenced as originally intended... it turned out to be a moot point with the American champion throwing the Bulgarian twice inside of seventeen minutes.
Labels: Bulgarian Wrestler, Catch Wrestler, Pro Wrestler, Step Over Toe Hold, Yussif Mahmout
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 The Incline Press | Ike Berger does include, occasionally, some presses on the incline bench to build pressing power. |
Labels: Arm Strength, Ike Berger, Incline Press, Pressing Exercise, Upper Body Exercise, Upper Body Movement
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Mac BatchelorMac Bachelor was well-known for his feats of grip strength but he was a fine all around strength athlete. Here's 'Big mac' getting in an impromptu "odd object" workout while working at his tavern in California. Mac's thick bone structure is evident, it should come as no surprise why Mac was never defeated at armwrestling.
Labels: Arm Wrestling, Grip Strength, Mac Batchelor, Odd Object Lifting
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The Good DumbbellThe Good Dumbbell, so named for it's former owner Bill Good is the world's heaviest exhibition dumbbell (weighing 2150 pounds.) You can read more about it here. For a number of years the Good Dumbbell was displayed on this stand at a water company near Adamstown, Pennsylvania. You used to be able to go visit it although it has disappeared in recent years and the current whereabouts are unknown.
Labels: Bill Good, Challenge Weight, Dumbbell, Famous Dumbbell, Good Brothers, The Good Dumbbell
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Chinese Stone Lock ExercisesA look at an original chinese source detailing some of the many exercises which can be done with stone padlocks. They share many similar movements with kettlebells, but, as you can see, there's a lot more to stone lock training than that.
Labels: Ancient Kettlebells, Chinese Stone Lock, Kettlebells, Stone Lock, Stone Lock Exercises, Stone Lock Training
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Vintage Strength MachinesMany people are under the mistaken impression that 'strength machines' are recent inventions. The fact of the matter is that machines have been around almost as long as barbells and dumbbells. This chest machine (along with many other machines) dates to around 1880 or so and first appeared at the Hemenway Gymnasium.
Labels: Chest Development, Chest Exerciser, Chest Machine, Exercise Machine, Hemenway Gymnasium, Vintage Strength Equipment, Vintage Strength Machines
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Sunday, April 05, 2009
 John GrimekThe 1941 AAU Mr. America contest is notable since it was the second time it was won by John Grimek - the first and last time any man won it twice. The next year they changed the rule so that someone could only win it once -- figuring (probably rightly so) that Grimek would keep winning the contest indefinitely. | 1. John Grimek 2. Jules Bacon 3. Frank Leight 4. Elwood Holbrook 5. Ludwig Schusterich 6. Terry Robinson - Paul Como - Paul Davis - Roland Essmaker - Melvin Kahn - Constantine Kosiras - Tommy O'Hare - Joseph Peters - Steve Stern - Kimon Voyages - Elmer Witmer - Harold Woomer Most Muscular: Ludwig Schusterich Best Chest: Frank Leight Best Back: Paul Davis Best Abs: Melvin Kahn Best Arms: Elwood Holbrook |
Labels: 1941 Mr. America, 1941 Mr. America Contest, Bodybuilding Contest, Elwood Holbrook, Frank Leight, John Grimek, Jules Bacon, Kimon Voyages
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Milo SteinbornOn October 19th, 1921, at Hermann's Gym in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Alan Calvert, George Zottman and others witnessed Henry "Milo" Steinborn perform the following lifts:
He concluded these lifts with six full squats with 402 pounds... even more impressive from the standpoint that he loaded and unloaded the barbell onto his shoulders unassisted!
Labels: Alan Calvert, Clean and Jerk, George Zottman, Henry Milo Steinborn, Hermann's Gym, One hand Snatch, Snatch, Squat
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Friday, April 03, 2009
Breitbart's Muscle BuilderIn addition to his training courses and strength performances, Siegmund Breitbart also created some of his own training equipment. To work on his steel scrolling he devised this "muscle builder" apparatus, a series of flexible pieces of steel with a handle on either end. This setup allowed for a number of unique training movements similar to traditional steel bending as well as the ability to adjust resistance by adding or subtracting bands.
Labels: Bending Strength, Breitbart's Muscle Builder, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Oldtime Strongman Exercise, Siegmund Breitbart, Steel Bending, Steel Scrolling
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New England's Strongest Man Contest 1926One of the first strongman contests in this country was "New England's Strongest Man" contest, which was sponsored by the Boston Globe in 1926. The contest consisted of four lifts:
When the dust settled John Y. Smith was the winner by 15 pounds. He was sixty years old at the time.
Labels: Continental, Deadlift, Jerk, John Y. Smith, New England's Strongest Man Contest, One Arm Deadlift, Strongman Contest
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| In 1996 Alice J. Hoffman wrote the first book about Indian Clubs to be published in over 50 years. Unlike all previous books on Indian clubs, Hoffman focused on them as art objects and antiques rather than their use as a physical training tool. Many weights and styles of clubs are pictured and the shear number of variations and some of the history behind them makes for some interesting reading. Overall, this book was quite an unusual and expected undertaking... well worth tracking down if you are a serious Indian club fan. |  Indian Clubs by Alice J. Hoffman |
Labels: Custom Indian Clubs, Indian Club Book, Indian Clubs, Indian Clubs by Alice J. Hoffman
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| Incredible handbalancing feats were a common sight at the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, California. Here's what I'm talking about: Starting at the top is professional hand balancer Gene Miller, Jack Lalanne, Deforest "Moe" Most, the Original Sports Director of Muscle Beach, and at the bottom is weightlifting and bodybuilding champ Harold Zinkin. This feat that is even more impressive than you might realize. Most people can't get into a full back bend position in the first place, Zinkin does so while supporting 400+ pounds. This picture was taken in 1944. |  Handbalancing on Muscle Beach |
Labels: Gene Miller, Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Feat, Harold Zinkin, Jack LaLanne, Moe Most, Muscle Beach, Santa Monica California
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Jaw StrengthMany of the oldtime strongmen used teeth lifting in their performances and also as a neck developer. If you do decide to incorporate this lift into your training, please do so safely. Here's a classic shot of Jim Murray, managing editor of Strength and Health Magazine using aYork custom-made mouthpiece to lift a 200-pound dumbbell.
Labels: Dumbbell, Jaw Lifting, Jaw Strength, Neck Exercise, Neck Strength, Strength and Health Magazine, York Barbell Club t-shirt
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Joseph VanderzandeJoseph Vanderzande, the great Belgian strongman was a contemporary of Arthur Saxon. Vanderzande is widely recognized as the strand pulling champion of the late 1800s (note the pair of chest expanders on the platform behind him.) He was said to have been able to "pull" several reps with a 20-strand chest expander with a 297 pound level of resistance.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Belgian Strongman, Block Weights, Chest Expander, Chest Expander Feat, Globe Dumbbells, Joseph Vanderzande, Ring Weights, Strand Pulling, Strand Pulling Feat
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Thursday, April 02, 2009
| George "Rasso" Stanglemeier was an early German strongman famous for his arm strength and development. In fact, he was one of the first strongmen to curl over 200 pounds. He was the leader of the group of strongmen known as the Rasso Trio (who were famously defeated by Apollon.) |  George "Rasso" Stanglemeier |
Labels: Apollon, Bicep Strength, George 'Rasso' Stanglemeier, German Strongman, Rasso Trio
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Claude "Samson" ChampagneAnother Samson (There are many 'Samsons' in this game) This time Claude "Samson" Champagne of Quebec certainly earned his nickname with superhuman feats like this one: letting a five ton truck run over his chest.
Labels: Claude Champagne, Quebec Strongman, Supporting Feat
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 Upside Down Training | As mentioned several times, John Grimek trained in a variety of different ways. Here's a little something that he came up with: upside down training. Grimek was doing this as far back as the 1920's and even installed a special apparatus in the doorway of the old York Gym which allowed him to hang by his ankles. This technique had two purposes: 1. To stretch out his back and keep it flexible after a heavy workout. 2. A new angle literally for some basic exercises. Grimek's favorite upside down exercises were pullovers and lateral raises. |
Labels: Dumbbell Exercises, John Grimek, Lateral Raise, Pullover, Upside Down Training, York Gym
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5 lb. Indian ClubsSometimes my training is as crazy as my hairstyle - yow! Anyhow, here's a look at some custom 5-pound Wooden indian clubs that I had commissioned. A lot of folks have been asking about heavier clubs. If we're going to do that, we're going to do it right. These clubs are nearly identical to those once manufactured by Sim Kehoe. As you can see, the manufacturer did a fine job with them.
Needless to say I was very pleased with how these clubs turned out. I am considering having several sets of these made up and featuring them on the website for ongoing sale although we will likely change the design a bit, maybe use a darker stain... It's hard to say exactly where we will go with this concept but look for it down the road a ways.
Swinging heavy clubs like these is a great way to build thicker wrists and stronger forearms but I strongly STRONGLY advise anyone who may be interested in taking up club swinging to master the light clubs first before you even think of touching these. -- Yes, this makes a big difference in your results.
Labels: 5 lb. Indian Clubs, Club Swinging, Custom Indian Clubs, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, John Wood, Physical Culture Equipment, Sim D. Kehoe, Wooden Indian Clubs
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You Can Bench Press 400 lbs. by "Big" Bill AntonReaders of the classic Iron Man Magazine will no doubt remember this ad, it ran there for years. I've never actually seen "Big" Bill's course and I'm wondering how it is. Pretty good I suspect. The 13th man in the world to bench press over 400 pounds can't be wrong!
Labels: 400 Bench Press, Advertisement, Bench Press, Big Bill Anton, Iron Man Magazine, Mail Order Course, Training Course
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Bob Peoples' World Record DeadliftA look at Bob Peoples' World Record Deadlift of 719 pounds at a bodyweight of just over 181 pounds. The secret to Peoples' deadlift ability was the strength of his low back - his style of deadlifting was performed with nearly straight legs and most of the lifting coming from a round-back position.
He reasoned that this caused the weight to come closer in line with the bodies natural center of gravity, allowing more weight to be used (provided the back muscles were strong enough.) -- Obviously it worked. At the time, this poundage was the greatest ever achieved by any amateur lifter of any bodyweight.
Labels: Back Strength, Bob Peoples, Deadlift, Deadlift Training, Mr. Deadlift
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Sandow and the Human DumbbellA very happy birthday to Mr. Sandow who was born on this date in 1867. Sandow's greatest fame came with the legendary Florenz Ziegfeld (of Ziegfeld Follies fame) as his manager. Sandow's performance of muscle control and unique feats of strength thrilled audiences as he traveled from coast to coast. One of his most famous stunts is pictured above -- bent pressing a large "human dumbbell."
Labels: Bent Press, Bent Press Feat, Eugen Sandow, Human Lift, Performing Strongman
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Paul KronusAs a young man, Paul Kronus of Germany was inspired to become a strongman after watching a performance by Karl Abs. During the 1920's Kronus traveled throughout Europe and the U.S. performing feats of strength, among them this harness lift of a car said to weigh 3600 pounds.
Labels: Car, German Strongman, Harness Lift, Karl Abs, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Paul Kronus, Supporting Feat
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Goerner The MightyOne of Hermann Goerner's favorite feats was a "leg press" support of a group of folks seated on a wooden plank. His best performance of this feat was twenty four men totaling over 4100 pounds.
Labels: Feats of Strength, Goerner The Mighty, Hermann Goerner, Leg Press, Supporting Feat
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 Kettlebell Curls | I recall reading somewhere that performing curls with a kettlebell is not a 'good' exercise... Having tried them myself and done them for a while now, I think they are actually pretty good. Sig Klein thought so too, in fact, he listed curls among his favorite kettlebell exercises. |
Labels: Bicep Exercise, Curl, Kettlebell Curls, Kettlebell Exercises, kettlebell lifting, kettlebell training, Sig Klein
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Ben Darwin The Modern SamsonMany strongmen called themselves "Samson" but Ben Darwin took it literally. Like the biblical Samson, Ben Darwin's strength came from his hair - in this case, pulling a loaded seven passenger Sedan over 100 feet. This feat was accomplished in September of 1945.
Labels: Ben Darwin, Car, Hair Pulling, Hair Strength Feat, Pulling Feat, Samson
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Grip and RipHere's Dennis Rogers making short work of the Manhattan phone book. Note the technique. As you can see, learning to correctly rip phone books can build grip and wrist strength, as well as allow you to perform other interesting ripping feats, notching, double rips etc. Incorrect phone book tearing, however, is nothing more than a parlor trick and is not the least bit impressive.
Labels: Dennis Rogers, Phonebook Ripping, Phonebook Tearing, Strongman Dennis Rogers
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Farmer Burns"You might read all the literature ever printed, and listen to all the lectures ever prepared, and watch the world's greatest athletes and all of this would not do you a great deal of good so far as making yourself proficient is concerned.
THE ACTUAL WORK IS WHAT COUNTS. In order to develop your muscles to a degree that will be helpful, the student must take up the work systematically. He must not hope to make progress too rapidly, but if the practice is carried on with regularity, and an earnest and determined effort is made, nothing in the world will prevent a normal man or boy from becoming a splendid athlete.
The importance of enthusiastic application cannot be over-estimated. Do not read the lessons and expect that to make you an athlete. It won't. Study the exercises and then prepare to give regular time to the work EVERY DAY."
~ Farmer Burns
Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture
1912
Labels: Conditioning, Farmer Burns, Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture, Physical Training
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Levering The Gama ClubTo my knowledge, I am the only man in the world to accomplish this feat: a picture perfect to-the-nose-and-back lever of the Gama Club. The "Gama Club" is a modern representation of the trophy from traditional Indian wrestling called a Gurz, which can be seen here. In this case, the 'Gama Club' weighs 32 pounds with a 1-1/2 inch thick handle.
It's a little shorter than a regulation sledge hammer but a lot heavier. Like I said, a lot of strong people have attempted to do this but no one so far has been able to... I think the Hammer Man would be proud.
Labels: Gama Club, Gurz, John Wood, Leverage Exercises, Leverage Feat, The Great Gama, Wrist Strength
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