Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Regardless of what you might be training for, one piece of equipment which your weight room needs is a sturdy power rack. You'll need one to do the 20-rep squat program, or to do heavy lockouts and supports like Steve Justa. You can build your deadlift like Bob Peoples or you can work on your overhead pressing, like Bosco here.
These are only a few of the many reasons to have one... In case you are interested in learning more information on some of the best ways to utilize the power rack, there are several chapters which cover this topic in detail in Dinosaur Training.
Labels: 20-Rep Squat Program, Bob Peoples, Bosco, Dinosaur Training, Power Rack, Squat Workout, Steve Justa
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Bob Peoples was known as "Mr. Deadlift" -- and it's not hard to see why. When you can pick up 700 lbs after a long day of work without even thinking twice about it, then you may end up looking like this too.
Labels: Back Development, Bob Peoples, Mr. Deadlift
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Thursday, April 02, 2009
A 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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Sunday, September 07, 2008
In the summer months, Bob Peoples like to train outside and when he wanted to give his back a rest or work on his lockout, he used this homemade leg press.
Labels: Bob Peoples, Leg Press, Tennessee Strongman
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Thursday, September 04, 2008
Why did they call him "Mr. Deadlift?" - I think this picture makes it pretty clear. Each day Bob Peoples came home after a long day of farming, took off his shirt and just trained -- and he got damn strong doing just that -- a lesson that a lot of modern lifters could stand to learn. In 1949 he set the deadlift record at 725-1/2 pounds at a bodyweight of only 189 pounds.
Labels: Bob Peoples, Deadlift, Mr. Deadlift, Tennessee, Tennessee Strongman
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
| Bob Peoples always felt that the key to a strong deadlift was a super strong lower back -- he would know, since he's history's strongest deadlifter. To accomplish certain tasks in his training, Bob often had to make his own equipment. For example, in order to gain a deeper range of motion, Bob created what he called a "Deadlift Ring," which is demonstrated here by young Bob Hise. This ring allows for roughly an extra foot of "pull." A similar exercise can be performed very effectively with a Gerard Trap Bar | Deadlift Ring |
Labels: Bob Peoples, Deadlift, Deadlift Ring, Equipment, Gerard Trap Bar, Unique Equipment
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A look at Bob Peoples'first barbell, which he made out of a couple barrels in which he would load weight: chunks of metal, concrete -- anything he could find. Peoples trained alone in his garage gym and deadlifted over 700 pounds back in the 1940's. That sure doesn't leave much room for excuses...
Labels: Barbell, Barrel, Barrel Barbell, Barrel Lifting, Bob Peoples, Deadlift, Odd Object Lifting, Unique Equipment
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Saturday, December 15, 2007
Squatting With Paul AndersonIf there ever were a man who was born to squat, it was Paul Anderson.
"Big Paul" often had a hard time finding bars which could hold enough weight so he had to improvise. He built this "barrel barbell" from a design pioneered by his friend Bob Peoples.
Paul would also train the squat in an unusual way:
He would dig a pit in the back yard and load up the bar to for over his normal full-squat max, then he would do partial movements, filling in the hole with dirt an inch at a time for each successive workout until he was working with a full movement.
Labels: Bob Peoples, Heavy Partial Movements, Paul Anderson, Squat, Strongman Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
Mr. Deadlift: Bob PeoplesOn March 5th, 1949 in Johnson City Tennesse, Bob Peoples Deadlifted 725-1/2 pounds at a bodyweight of only 185. Peoples trained by himself in his basement gym which he literally carved out of rock.
He referred to his gym as "The Dungeon" and invented many of the types of equipment and training styles that are commonplace in many modern workouts such as negatives and power rack work.
In the above picture, note the overhand grip (instead of the usual mixed-grip) and the small plates tied to the bar. You can read more about Bob Peoples and his workouts in his excellent book Developing Physical Strength.
Labels: Bob Peoples, Deadlift, Negative Training, Power Rack
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Paul AndersonPaul Anderson began as a skinny teenager with a pair of dumbbells and a stack of Strength and Health Magazines.
Soon, he was scouting out junkyards for heavier weights to lift and by the time he went to college, his lifts were near the American Records. But it wasn't until Bob Peoples taught young Paul Anderson the value of the Squat and deadlift that his strength really took off.
Paul Anderson eventually squatted 1206 pounds, benchpressed 627 pounds, one-arm pressed 380 pounds, and push-pressed an incredible 600 pounds. His Guinness Book of World Records back lift of 6,270 pounds still stands.
He also won the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and in all, broke 18 American records, 8 world records, and retired unbeaten and unchallenged.
Labels: Backlift, Barbell, Bob Peoples, Dumbbells, Gold Medal, Paul Anderson, Squat, Strength and Health
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Monday, September 10, 2007
Bob Peoples'"Dungeon" GymBob Peoples was the first man to officially deadlift over 700 pounds and did so back in the 1940's without any suits, wraps or other assorted foolishness.
| When the weather was warm he trained outside but when Winter came, he moved inside into the training area he literally carved out of stone in his basement which he called "The Dungeon." It was here that Bob Peoples pioneered many of the pieces of equipment and training techniques that are commonplace these days including the power rack, negative training, and heavy supports and partials. | Bob Peoples |
Notice the Milo Kettlebells and the makeshift circular "Trap Bar" leaning against the far wall. This allowed Bob to stand on a platform and increase his range of motion.
You can read more about Bob Peoples and his training techniques in Developing Physical Strength
Labels: Bob Peoples, Classic Strongman Gyms, Deadlift, Kettlebell, Milo Kettlebell, Power Rack, Strongman Equipment, Trap Bar
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.

Power Rack Training
"Mr. Deadlift"
Bob Peoples' World Record Deadlift
Bob Peoples' Leg Press
Mr. Deadlift - Bob Peoples
Deadlift Ring
Bob Peoples' Barrel Barbell
Bob Peoples