Monday, October 26, 2009
Here's a rare shot of Bert Elliott taking the famous Neil Lewis Arm wrestling trainer for a test drive. Arm wrestling was very popular out on the West Coast scene at the time and the Neil Lewis trainer offered a unique way to train for it.
Labels: Armwrestling, Armwrestling Equipment, Bert Elliott, Neil Lewis Armwrestling Trainer, Unique Equipment
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Friday, October 09, 2009
A look at modern Bent-Press master Bert Elliott in action at the AAU Southern California Weightlifting Championships, circa early 1960s. Note how balanced (and therefor stable) Elliott is, you could draw a straight line between the arm holding the barbell and his right foot. - That's the only kind of form that will allow the Bent-Press to "work."
Labels: AAU, Bent Press, Bert Elliott
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Friday, May 29, 2009
When you think about it, this is one hell of a strength feat: Weightlifting and strongman champ Bert Elliott supports his friend Cliff Graham in a hand stand position, then slowly presses him to lockout. It's one thing to do this with a barbell but with a human being, perfectly balanced the whole time? Simply an amazing display of strength and skill by both athletes.
Labels: Bert Elliott, Cliff Graham, Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Feat, Press
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, April 16, 2009
You 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
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Sunday, February 08, 2009
"Big Paul" - Paul Anderson -- shows how it's done, pressing 415 pounds for a double at Muscle Beach. Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliott are visible in the crowd.
Labels: Bert Elliott, Chuck Ahrens, Overhead Press, Paul Anderson
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Bert Elliott's 276 Pound Bent PressBert Elliott performs a bent-press with 276 pounds on a russian Olympic set at a strength show at Pasedena, California in the 60's. This lift was approximately 100 pounds over bodyweight for Bert. That's Pat Casey spotting on the right.
Labels: Barbell, Bench Press, Bert Elliott, Feat, Pat Casey, Russian Olympic Set
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting | When the great weightlifter Bert Elliott was stationed overseas during the Korean War -- did he miss any workouts? No... he just lifted rocks instead of weights. That's a pretty hefty sized boulder that Bert is Bent-Pressing. |
Labels: Bent Press, Bert Elliott, Odd Object Lifting, Rock Lifting, Stone Lifting
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, March 20, 2008
Bert Elliott Bent-Press | The great weightlifter Bert Elliott was also a specialist in the bent-press. He had a special 201-pound globe "Challenge" Dumbbell that few could budge but which he could lift with ease. It was thought by many "old time" weight lifters that due to the incredible midsection strength that was developed by the bent-press, improving that lift would also improve one's total. Sure looks that way here. |
Labels: Bent Press, Bert Elliott, Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, Oldtime Strongman Feat, weightlifting
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Friday, January 18, 2008
Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliot | Two fixtures in the Santa Monica, California Muscle Beach scene share a laugh in the late 1950's - Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliott. Chuck Ahrens was a man of immeasurable power, and Bert Elliott was a champion weightlifter and bodybuilder (He won the 1954 Sr. Nationals Weightlifting Title in the 165 Pound Class (totaling 765 pounds), the 1953 "Iron Man" bodybuilding contest as well as the 1954 AAU Mr. Southern California.) At their feet is Bert Elliott's 201 pound "challenge" dumbbell which he could bent- press with ease. |
Labels: AAU, Bent Press, Bert Elliott, Bodybuilding, Challenge Weight, Chuck Ahrens, Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Iron Man, Mr. Southern California, Muscle Beach
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Monday, July 09, 2007
| Bert Elliot was a bodybuilding champ in the 1950's and 60's who had an interest in real oldtime strength training. He even shaved his head and dressed like a turn of the century strongman to complete the effect. Here he is standing in front of some pieces of his famous collection of oldtime equipment: globe barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and indian clubs. (Notice the very old Hand Grippers on the wall.) Wonder were his stuff is now? | ![]() |
Labels: Bert Elliott, Globe Barbell, Hand Gripper, Kettlebell, Strongman, Strongman Equipment
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!
This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.

Bert Elliott and The Neil Lewis Arm wrestling Trainer
Bert Elliott in Action
Bert Elliot ~ Hand Balancing Feat
Two Masters of the Bent-Press
Big Paul
Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting
Bert Elliott Bent-Press
Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliot