Sunday, January 10, 2010
Harry B. PaschallHarry B. Paschall is shown here, hard at work drawing up his super strongman character Bosco. As a young man, Paschall became inspired after watching Sandow and Saxon in action. He went on do do illustrations for Alan Calvert's Strength Magazine and, later on, Strength and Health Magazine and the British magazine Vigour. He was also a very good writer, with a number of training articles and three classic books also to his credit
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bosco, Eugen Sandow, Harry B. Paschall, Strength Author, Vigour
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Saturday, December 05, 2009
The Textbook of Club Swinging by Tom BurrowsWhereas Arthur Saxon wrote The Textbook of Weight-Lifting, Tom Burrows wrote the Textbook of Club Swinging. Both men were certainly qualified to do so.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, book, Club Swinging, Club Swinging Champion, Indian Club Book, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, The Textbook of Club Swinging, The Textbook of Weightlifting, Tom Burrows
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Friday, October 02, 2009
Arthur Saxon on the "Single-handed Dumb-bell Swing"I've seen the Swing mentioned in several modern courses, but it was a performed in a much different manner back in Arthur Saxon's day. Here are his instructions for performing the lift:
The muscles called into play are practically the same here as in the one-handed snatch, but the bell must be placed on end between the feet as shown in illustration. Keep the head down, then, with a perfectly straight arm, pull up, using a combination of muscular efforts and concentration as described in the snatch lift. Lean back and watch the dumb-bell with your eyes, and when it is at suitable height suddenly dip beneath same and twist your wrist violently, so that you may place a straight arm beneath the bell.
- The Development of Physical Power, Chapter 15
(written in 1906)
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Dumbbell Swing, The Development of Physical Power
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Saxon's Kettlebell PressSomething that I find pretty interesting is that Arthur Saxon demonstrated this unique Kettlebell pressing exercise in The Textbook of Weightlifting back in 1910, yet with all the hubbub about kettlebells these day I have never seen it listed or performed in a modern kettlebll training course. Saxon wrote that this exercise was good for building thumb strength, and I agree.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Kettlebell Exercises, kettlebell lifting, The Textbook of Weightlifting
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Wednesday, August 05, 2009
W.A. Pullum's Plank FeatAnother popular Oldtime Strongman feat was to support a heavy weight with a "leg press" of a wooden plank and a lockout with a barbell with the upper body.
The great strongman W.A. Pullum was exceptional at this feat and often used it in his performances. Pullum weighed only 120 lbs. yet was able to work up to eventually supporting nine men on the plank and three more on the barbell - a weight of over 2000 lbs.
You can also see this feat performed by Kurt Saxon, Arthur Saxon and Hermann Goerner.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Hermann Goerner, Kurt Saxon, Leg Press, Supporting Feat, W.A. Pullum
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Saxon TrioMarch 25th, 1909 was the date that the Saxon trio made their American debut at Madison Square Garden. They traveled from coast to coast with great fanfare and performed many amazing feats as a part of the Ringling Brothers Circus.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Circus, Circus Act, Herman Saxon, Kurt Saxon, Ringling Brothers Circus, Saxon Trio
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Monday, May 11, 2009
| |
A short video clip featuring Brooks Kubik and Dinosaur Training in action. Log lifting... Barrel Lifting... Anvil Lifting... John Davis... Doug Hepburn... John Grimek... Arthur Saxon... Heavy Dumbbells... Basement lifting... Power Rack Work... Grip Training... If you don't want your own copy after watching this then you had better check your pulse.
Labels: 1 Leg Squat, Anvil Lifting, Arthur Saxon, Barrel Lifting, Brooks Kubik, Dinosaur Training, Doug Hepburn, George Jowett, John Grimek, Odd Object Lifting, Press, Video
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
The Textbook of Weight-Lifting by Arthur Saxon (1910)A look at the cover of the original edition of The Textbook of Weightlifting as originally written in 1910. This book was actually produced and published by Arthur Saxon's friend Thomas Inch. Keep in mind that no one would be reading this book today if it were not for the efforts of Bill Hinbern.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bill Hinbern, book, Strength Book, The Textbook of Weightlifting, Thomas Inch
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Sunday, April 19, 2009
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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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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Monday, April 13, 2009
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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Friday, April 03, 2009
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, March 12, 2009
Arthur SaxonArthur Saxon could lift more weight overhead with one arm than most people could with two. In his performances though, audiences were far more impressed with when he lifted human weights than when he lifted iron.
In fact, the feat that often 'brought the house down' was when Arthur lifted his two brothers (Kurt on the left, Herman on the right) with this specially made barbell.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Bent Press Feat, Herman Saxon, Kurt Saxon, Saxon Trio
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Thursday, February 05, 2009
The 2 Hands AnyhowA step-by-step look at the 2-Hands Anyhow. It has been said that this lift is the ultimate test of strength, endurance and agility: it is the method by which the greatest weight has ever been lifted overhead with one hand, the complete lift lasts 12-15 seconds, and it requires practice, balance and the perfection of having to do two things at once.
Once the lifter completes a Bent Press an additional weight, in the form of a dumbbell or kettlebell is cleaned to the shoulder and pressed overhead. The greatest performance of all time in this lift is 448 pounds, lifted by Arthur Saxon in 1905.
Labels: 2 Hands Anyhow, Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Kettlebell, Oldtime Lift, Two Hands Anyhow
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
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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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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Sunday, January 11, 2009
| 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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Sunday, December 28, 2008
Arthur Saxon - The Two Dumbbell Lift"... For position I place both bells parallel to each other between the feet. Now stoop down and raise same up so that the discs or globes rest on the thighs, the bells being held together. By leaning backwards you will be able to pull the bells on to the body, from whence by a jerk you get them partly on the chest, and so to the shoulders, after which you stand in a firm position ready to sink below the weights and to move your feet to enable you to dip beneath your dumb-bells as they go aloft.
This is done by a vicious jerk, after which you sink and so get the bells overhead, the eyes to be on them as they go aloft for fear you lose the balance. If you would lift them in the clean English style, then they may be taken from between the feet, or from the sides of the feet, you to lean backwards as you pull them up and split the feet in two opposite directions, one to the back, and one to the front.
Still another way is to stand with them at the sides, and whilst in this position give them a swing to the front and then to the back and so up to the shoulders.
Take advantage of this swing, and by a movement similar to the one last described regarding the feet, you will find the bells at the shoulder. The latter position is more suitable to tall men than to short men..."
~ Arthur Saxon, The Textbook of Weightlifting (1910)
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Dumbbell Exercise, Dumbbell Lift, The Textbook of Weightlifting
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Friday, December 26, 2008
Arthur Saxon's Unusual Challenge BarbellA rare look a Arthur Saxon's unique challenge barbell - The great Sandow failed on five attempts to bent-press. Saxon, however, eaily lifted this mighty weight overhead on a daily basis.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Eugen Sandow, Globe Barbell
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Monday, June 23, 2008
of the Saxon trio, it was often Arthur who got most of the spotlight, but the other brothers were also quite strong. Here's a shot of Kurt Saxon, at 50 years old, supporting nearly half a ton of classic barbells and other weights.
The largest Barbell weighs 330 pounds and the kettlebells on his feet weight 88 pounds apeice, the barbell on his abdomen weighs 200 pounds, the barbell he is holding weighs 100 pounds and another 88-pound kettlebell on each hand.
Kurt SaxonThe largest Barbell weighs 330 pounds and the kettlebells on his feet weight 88 pounds apeice, the barbell on his abdomen weighs 200 pounds, the barbell he is holding weighs 100 pounds and another 88-pound kettlebell on each hand.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Globe Barbell, Kettlebells, Kurt Saxon, Saxon Trio, Supporting Feat
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Paul Baillargeon I have said many times that Arthur Saxon's records would never be broken... and they won't be... but the man who has come the closest was Paul Baillargeon of the famed Baillargeon Brothers of Quebec.
These six brothers (who I will feature in another post), were all incredible wrestlers and strength athletes who toured their native Canada and the US taking on all comers.
Paul, who was quite possibly the strongest of the brothers, often lifted a horse as the finale of their strength performances.
Anyhow, this picture shows him oficially bent-pressing a barbell loaded to 321pounds, a feat which he achieved on May 11, 1951, in front of Harry B. Paschall and other reliable witnesses at the Apollo Health Studio in Columbus, Ohio.
Paul Baillargeon actually did succeed in bent-pressing 375 pounds in practice a few times.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Baillargeon Brothers, Barbell, Bent Press, Harry B. Paschall, Horse Lifting, Paul Baillargeon, Quebec, Quebec Strongman
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Friday, March 28, 2008
Arthur Saxon - Master of the Bent PressIt is pretty safe to say that Arthur Saxon's records will never be broken. Saxon was certainly not a large man, but the rugged, functional muscle he possessed is especially evident in these shots.
Moving or holding heavy weights in the bent press (more of a supporting feat than a lift) likely contributed to Saxon's tremendous upper-body power.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Oldtime Strongman Feat
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Monday, February 18, 2008
| How did the oldtimers train with Kettlebells? The answer might surprise you. In his book The Textbook of Weightlifting, Arthur Saxon lists a few of the different exercises he used: the crucifix, one arm press, and several grip and forearm exercises. Of course, kettlebells also worked pretty well for Combination feats just like this one. (I think that's Kurt Saxon being pressed overhead.) |  Arthur Saxon |
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Crucifix, Feat, Human Lift, Kettlebell, Kettlebell Feat, Kurt Saxon, Muscle Out, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Overhead Support, Supporting Feat, The Textbook of Weightlifting
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Friday, February 01, 2008
Arthur Saxon's Leg Press Support FeatHeavy supporting feats were very popular with the oldtime strongmen. They could often support incredibly heavy weighst which always impressed the audience.
Here's Arthur Saxon supporting nine men on his feet, and two more (the other members of the Saxon Trio, Kurt and Herman) on a globe barbell held at arms's length.
It's been said that a feat such as this where Arthur Saxon held several thousand pounds was his greates strength feat, even topping his 448-Pound Two-Hands-Anyhow record.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Globe Barbell, Herman Saxon, Kurt Saxon, Leg Press, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Saxon Trio, Supporting Feat
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Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Arthur Saxon's Incredible Plank FeatIf you needed further proof that Arthur Saxon was one of the strongest men who ever lived, behold the following:
Arthur and the other members of the Saxon Trio used to perform several supporting feats in their act and for these feats, they employed a large, heavy wooden plank.
Unbeknownst to many, they also used this plank as a training tool to develop grip strength, each taking turns lifting it in various ways between their shows. While the other brothers did their best to deadlift it, Arthur Saxon could actually snatch the plank overhead with ease, something no one else could duplicate and a feat which humbled noted Strongman Siegmund Breitbart who visited the Trio at the Bush Circus in 1922 Berlin, Germany.
Kurt Saxon considered this to be Arthur Saxon's greatest strength feat... pretty impressive condsidering some of Arthur's other record achievements.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Plank Lifting, Saxon Trio, Siegmund Breitbart
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Friday, December 07, 2007
| The undisputed King of the "2 Hands Anyhow" Lift was Arthur Saxon. First he bent-pressed a 336 pound barbell with his right arm, then he reached down and lifted a 112 pound Kettlebell in the other. The total poundage was 448 pounds lifted overhead - a feat that will never be broken in this style. |  Arthur Saxon's 2-HandsAnyhow Lift |
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Barbell, Bent Press, Kettlebell, Strongman Feat
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Thursday, November 29, 2007
The Saxon Trio Perform at The Ringling Brothers CircusHere's a look at a very rare Ringling Brothers Circus Poster featuring Arthur Saxon and the other members of the Saxon Trio.
The poster shows a few of their feats which included several amazing supporting feats - the most impressive being the "human bridge" supporting over six thousand pounds as a car with several passengers drove over a planks that two of the members of the Saxon Trio held up with their feet.
That must have been a great one to see in person.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Circus, Circus Poster, Circus Strongman, Human Bridge, Ringling Brothers Circus, Saxon Trio, Supporting Feat
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Sunday, November 18, 2007
| Like many of the turn-of-the-century strongmen, Arthur Saxon trained with kettlebells and they are featured very prominantly in some of the books he has written. Here's a few of the kettlebell exercises he recommends:
|  Kettlebell Lifting With Arthur Saxon |
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Kettlebell Exercises, Kettlebell Workout, Kettlebells, Press
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thomas Inch"Mr. Thomas Inch, of England, doing his world's record arm push of 200 lbs., a feat Arthur Saxon thought to be impossible, owing to the difficulty in maintaining balace when the pelvis is fixed, owing to the rigidity of the legs, which the lift calls for. This is not a bent press, but is accomplished with the leg held absolutely straight. Inch is the man who put weightlifting on the map in Great Britain and is said to be England's strongest man."
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Barbell, Bent Press, Strongman Feat, Thomas Inch
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Saturday, October 06, 2007
A Look Inside Hermann Goerner's Oldtime GymIf you're a true strength fan, you can't help but love shots of classic gyms filled with classic equipment. Here's a look at one corner of Hermann Goerner's classic gym. Notice the Globe Barbells, thick-handled equipment, row of kettlebells likely used for the "Die Kette" workout.
Also notice the throwing weights attached to the wall and the Arthur Saxon circus poster on the upper left.
That must have been one hell of a fun place to train...
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Hermann Goerner, Kettlebells, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Throwing Weights
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Monday, August 27, 2007
Arthur Saxon: The Iron MasterJust before the turn of the century Arthur Saxon put more weight overhead with one hand than any man before or since -- a 371 pound bent-press.
Saxon is long gone, so too unfortunately, is the bent press -- however, his two great training books still live on: The Development of Physical Power (1906) and The Textbook of Weight-Lifting (1910)
Here's a few things that Arthur Saxon would like you to know about training:
"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 for endurance..."
"Neither do I consider a man a really strong man if he is in certain parts developed out of proportion to others. If a man has tremendous arms and chest and weak legs then he is only half a strong man..."
"A man with 15 inch biceps and a strong wrist will raise a heavier weight in any position than another man with a 16 inch biceps who has a small and weak wrist."
"Do not make the mistake of limiting your practices to any one set of lifts... Practice everything."
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Classic Strongman Gyms, Strongman Feat, The Iron Master
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
| Back in the 30's Alan Calvert created a magazine devoted specifically to strength training and called it "The Strongman" Here's an early issue featuring The Saxon trio (which I spruced up a bit.) One interesting thing about this publication is that he used very high-quality paper and not the pulp newsprint that was used for many other strength training literature of the time. Calvert obviously put a lot of thought and effort into his publications. |  The Saxon Trio |
Labels: Alan Calvert, Arthur Saxon, Saxon Trio, Strongman
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Sunday, June 24, 2007
Arthur Saxon Bent PressArthur Saxon has a legitimate claim for the greatest strength feat of all time with his bent-press of 371 pounds (he was said to have unofficially done 385 pounds.) Either way, it's a tremendous feat, to lift more weight overhead with one hand than most people can squat with!
Here's a little bit from the man himself on how he did it:
"I have often been asked what it feels like to press 350 lbs. with one hand, and perhaps to my readers the different sensations experienced will beFor more information about Arthur Saxon and his training methods, pick up copies of his two great training books: The Development of Physical Power (1906) and The Textbook of Weight-Lifting (1910)
interesting.
In the first place, immediately I start to press the weight away from the shoulder I become perfectly oblivious to everything except the weight that I am lifting.
The spectators are obliterated from my mind by the effort of intense concentration which is necessary to enable me to press the weight. I immediately engage myself in a terrific struggle in which the weight and I are competitor, and only one can win, either the weight must be lifted or else I fail.
This concentration is, of course, one of the secrets of success in lifting, as I have explained in another part of my book. It enables me to bring forward the last ounce of pushing power, and for the time being to exert strength beyond that normally possessed.
As the weight steadily rises aloft perhaps half way it wavers, the balance alters, and I have immediately, yet very carefully and quietly, to adjust my position to the altered balance of the bell.
Then I must proceed with the press, my body gradually falling lower toward the left knee, my eyes fixed all the time upon the ponderous weight balanced over my head, ready to fall at a moment's notice should I weaken or place myself in a false position, and should at this moment anyone shout out, it might startle me, make me waver, and cause the weight to fall.
Therefore, if I am attempting a world's record in this position, I generally ask for complete silence until I have either failed or succeeded, and I might mention here that to think of failure is to fail, and I always tell myself all the time that I am certain to succeed even though I am attempting a weight more than I have hitherto lifted.
Eventually, my arm is straight, and before coming to an upright position I engage in another tussle with the enormous barbell, in which I have to exert all my will power to hold together the flagging powers of tired muscles, which have been strained by the tremendous pressure which 350 lbs. brings on to them in the effort of pressing aloft.
By supreme effort of the will I fix the bell in a good position and then stand upright. Often the bar will roll on to the fingers instead of being directly over the wrist, in which case severe pain is inflicted and I have to persevere with the lift under doubly hard conditions, or drop the weight and try again."
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Bent Press, Strongman, Strongman Feat
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