Bob Peoples' Deadlift Ring

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

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Bob Peoples' Barrel Barbell

Bob Peoples' Barrel Barbell

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...

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Ed Zercher

You might have heard of Ed Zercher from the famous lift which bears his name but the St. Louis native was a master of many different lifts. Here's Ed Zercher deadlifting 536-pounds at a bodyweight of only 155.

Ed Zercher

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Arthur Dandurand at 48 Years Old

The great Canadian Strongman Arthur Dandurand at 48 years old, still looking very impressive. As far as feats of grip strength, Dandurand could deadlift 550 pounds with one hand and reverse curl 177 pounds.

Arthur Dandurand at 48 Years Old

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The Kennedy Lift in Action

The Kennedy Lift in Action
A look at the Kennedy Lift in action - performed by Quebec Strongman Claude "Sampson" Champagne. The Kennedy lift can be a useful alternative to the traditional deadlift and many oldtimers swore by it. Nice lift - that's over 600 pounds!

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The Stiff-Leg Deadlift

The Stiff-Leg Deadlift

The Stiff-Leg Deadlift is a very, very effective power-building exercise that is seldom seen theses days. It is performed just like it sounds, and is shown here in mid-movement by the great Oldtime Strongman Michael Mayer, who was one of the first men to jerk 300 pounds overhead.

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"The Great" Joe Rollino

"The Great" Joe Rollino
The Deadlift -- a great exercise then and now... "The Great" Joe Rollino gets in a deadlift workout in a shot taken a few decades back. Joe learned how to rip playing cards and bend horse shoes as a protege of Warren Lincoln Travis. Joe recently celebrated his 103rd birthday and is as feisty as ever.

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The Kennedy Lift

The Kennedy Lift
Back in 1890, Richard K. Fox, the publisher and founder of The Police Gazette held a competition to determine the strongest man in America with the prize being this belt.

Fox's challenge was to lift an unusual weight that he devised - a huge block of metal, 24-inches square, weighing in at 1030 pounds, with two handles sunk into the top. The challenge was to lift this weight clear of the floor with the hands alone.

On the day of the contest over a dozen strongmen arrived to test their strength. None lifted the weight, save J.W. Kennedy of Quincy, Illinois, who straddled the weight and grasped a handle in front and behind.

Thus, that lift became forever known as "The Kennedy Lift."

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John McWilliams - Big Arms For You

The well-known bodybuilder John McWilliams wrote his own arm development course entitled "Big Arms for You" which he advertised in Iron Man Magazine for years. As you can see, his arms were quite impressive. -- McWilliams wasn't all show though, he also had a 710 pound deadlift to his name.

John McWilliams - Big Arms For You

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Benoit Cote

Benoit Cote
Benoit Cote was another great Canadian strongman from Quebec and the rival of fellow countryman Doug Hepburn.

The two met head to head at a four-lift (Press, Bench Press, Squat, Deadlift) contest in 1961. While Hepburn bested Cote in the bench press and overhead press, Cote beat Hepburn in the squat and deadlifted 752-1/2 pounds (shown above) to win.

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Hermann Goerner 4-Finger Deadlift

Hermann Goerner

The German Strongman Hermann Goerner specialized on unusual feats of grip strength. Here's a great lift you can try -- the 4-finger deadlift (that's using the index and middle fingers of each hand.) This picture shows Goerner lifting 595-1/2 pounds in that manner on November 30th, 1933, in Leipzig, Germany.

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German Strongman Karl Moerke

German Strongman Karl Moerke
Karl Moerke was a German Strongman in the early 1900's. At a bodyweight around 250 pounds at a height of only 5'2 Moerke was quite the powerhouse.

He could deadlift 650 pounds, jerk 375 pounds (shown here), and had a 19-inch neck. It was Moerke whom Milo Steinborn defeated to win the German Heavyweight Weightlifting Championship.

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G.W. Rolandow

G.W. Rolandow was a Swiss Strongman who publically challenged Sandow to a contest on several occasions only to have Sandow turn him down each time. Rolandow accomplished the following lifts: One Arm Snatch - (Right Arm) 180 pounds Bent Press - 298 Pounds Partial Deadlift 1650 Pounds Tomb of Hercules Support - 3500 Pounds Card Tearing - three card decks at once

G.W. Rolandow

Rolandow could also jump over a table, 36 inches high and 25 inches wide while holding a 75 pound dumbbell in each hand.

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Wilbur Miller Stalks The Bar

To get the most out of training, there should be a certain attitude of confidence in all you do... Here's Wilbur Miller a few moments before pulling a heavy deadlift. Is there any question at all whether he will make this lift?

Wilbur Miller Stalks The Bar

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Al Gerard

Al Gerard

Two decades ago, Al Gerard, a Powerlifter from North Carolina invented a piece of training equipment that would change strength training forever. His Gerard Trap Bar allowed trainees to train their legs without overtraining the lower-back. The Trap Bar became the piece of equipment for every gym. Al was able to deadlift over 725 pounds using his invention.

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The One-Arm Deadlift

L.A. Chappell deadlifts 448-1/2 pounds with one arm in the 1920's. He would go on to lift over 500 pounds in the same manner. The one-arm deadlift is a fantastic grip developer and a worthy addition to your training program. Note: the cambered bar.

The One-Arm Deadlift

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David Prowse

David Prowse
Before he was Darth Vader in the Star Wars movies, David Prowse was the Britsh Heavyweight lifting Champion in 1962, 1963 and 1964.

At 6' 7 and 265 pounds, he deadlifted 678-1/4 pounds, jerked 335 pound behind the neck as well as competed in bodybuilding, Olympic Weightlifting and tossed the caber in the Highland Games.

He also was the first man other that Donald Dinnie to lift the Dinnie Strones (which he did in 1964.) Prowse also once owned the Inch Dumbbell, having purchased it from Reg Park.

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Al Gerard and The Gerard Trap Bar

Al Gerard and The Gerard Trap Bar
Al Gerard was a powerlifter from North Carolina who devised a unique "frame" which allowed him to increase his deadlift without putting undue stress on his back.

He named his invention the "Trap Bar" because of its shape -- using the Trap Bar, Al was able to deadlift over 745 pounds. Soon the Gerard Trap Bar was featured in many strength publications such as Iron Man Magazine, Powerlifting USA and Hardgainer Magazine (above.)

Once people understood its unique advantages, The Gerard Trap Bar became one of the "must have" pieces of training equipment for leg and back development..

Here's a few reasons why:

The knees don't interfere with the bar while the lifter assumes a more upright position when starting a lift.

The weight moves directly upward instead of sideways, placing more emphasis on the target musculature.

The lifter has better control of the bar throughout the full range of motion.

The weight moves in line with the ankles which improves leverage.

Lower back stress is reduced while the weight is moved in line with the natural center of gravity.

Shearing forces on spine and knees are reduced.

The shrug exercise is an integral part of every strength athlete's program. Strong upper back, neck and shoulder muscles are essential in all sports. The Gerard Trap Bar makes "shrugs" more comfortable because there is no bar contact with the upper thighs and lower front torso area; thus, more range of movement yields more muscle use and development.

It's easier to maintain good form -- elbow and wrist-joint strain is reduced by eliminating opposite grips, and standing shrugs yield improved trapezius development because the bar never contacts the thighs interfering with range of motion.

A The Gerard Trap Bar moves the weight mass 16% closer to the perpendicular plane of the lower back than a conventional straight bar.

Unlike most of the classic equipment that is featured on this blog, The Gerard Trap Bar is still available, and you can get your own right here: The Gerard Trap Bar - It's Back!

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Mr. Deadlift: Bob Peoples

Mr. Deadlift: Bob Peoples
On 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.

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Weightlifting Champion John Davis

Weightlifting Champion John Davis

John Davis was one of America's greatest Olympic weightlifting champions. Throughout his career he won two gold medals: 1948(London) and 1952(Helsinki) He was also a Senior World Champion in 1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, and 1951. His best Olympic lifts were: Press - 342 Pounds Snatch - 330-1/2 Pounds Clean & Jerk - 402 Pounds

He also excelled in a number of other lifts, deadlifting 705 pounds, squatting 525 pounds eight times in succession, curling 215 pounds, chin himself with either arm multiple times, a right-hand lift of 8 pounds on a Weaver Stick in the Forward Lift style and one of the few men in history to Clean and Jerk the Apollon Wheels

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Doug Hepburn

Doug Hepburn was born in Vancouver B.C. on September 16th, 1927. He was of average height and build and took up weight lifting to bulk up.

Soon it became apparent that Doug wasn't so average after all --- he began to progress very quickly in his training.

Although he had a slight handicap (a club foot) that did not stop him from becoming one of the most powerful men in history. He became a Senior World Champion in 1953 and set eight World Records during his career.

Here's a look at some of his best lifts: Right Hand Military Press - 175 Pounds Two Hands Press (Off Rack) - 440 Pounds Behind Neck Press - 350 Pounds Two Hands Curl - 260 Pounds Bench Press - 580 Pounds Jerk-Press (Off Rack) 500 Pounds Two Hands Snatch - 297-1/2 Pounds Two Hands Clean & Press - 381 Pounds Squat - 760 Pounds Two Hands Deadlift - 705 Pounds

Doug Hepburn

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Dumbbell Training

Presses and Curls... Shrugs and Deadlifts... Rows and Bench Presses... everyone loves training with dumbbells. In fact, dumbbell training has actually changed very little since the days of the ancient Greeks. I'm sure this old pair of York Globe 100's has seen many good workouts...

Dumbbell Training

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Old School Strength: Wilbur Miller

Old School Strength: Wilbur Miller
Wilbur Miller was Kansas wheat farmer who became the best amateur deadlifter in America back in the 1960's.

He trained by himself when the day's farm chores were done.

In 1963, Wilbur Miller pulled an official AAU record 705 lbs. and a year later topped that when he pulled 715 at the very first National Powerlifting Tournament held in York, Pennsylvania.

Wilbur Miller was also widely known as having some of the strongest hands around -- notice the palms forward grip in the deadlift pictured above.

He could also close the "Extra-Heavy" Iron Man Hand Gripper with ease.

You've got to admit -- it looks pretty darn cool when the bar is loaded all the way to the end like that.

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Malcolm "Mac" Richards

Malcolm "Mac" Richards
"Mac" Richards started powerlifting when he was 57 years old and within a year set new Masters World Records in each of the three lifts: squatting 425 pounds, benching 308 pounds, deadlifting 479 pounds and totaling 1212 pounds.

In the years that followed, he won 18 National titles and four World Powerlifting Championships.

Here were his marks at the age of 75 years and 198 lbs, (Still Masters records for the International Powerlifting Association, by the way.)

Squat: 440 pounds
Bench: 330 pounds
Deadlift: 470 pounds
Total: 1240 pounds

Mac was inducted into the York Barbell Powerlifting Hall of Fame in 2000. He was also a good friend who will be missed.

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Bruce White: The Man From Gnowangerup

At the tender age of four years old, Bruce White began lifting weights under the guidance of his father, a former weight lifting star. (Although he readily admits that lifting was a bit of a chore and he didn't reach 'maximum enthusiasm' until he was 21 years of age.)

For those of you who don't know about Australian grip master Bruce White, he is probably THE guy when it comes to hand strength feats in the Iron Game publications of the 60s and 70s.

Well anyhow, early on, Bruce decided that the Deadlift was the one true test of strength and that it was more important than any other lift (interestingly enough, a notion he shared with fellow Australian and distance running coach and legend Percy Cerutty.)

Bruce has a number of amazing lifts to his credit including a Deadlift of 630 pounds and the ability to chin himself on rafters WITH an additional 70 pounds tied around his waist.

He once deadlifted 402 pounds for 24 straight reps, lifted a 147 pound anvil by the horn, pinch-gripped 117 pounds with one hand and lifted his own Inch Dumbbell replica which he has specially made. (shown above)

Did I mention that Bruce was only 5' 7' and 150 pounds at the time of these lifts?

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Bob Peoples' Dungeon Gym

Bob Peoples'"Dungeon" Gym
Bob 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

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The Strength of Paul Anderson

The Many Strength Feats of Paul Anderson
Back in the mid-1940's, Paul Anderson started lifting weights to get bigger for football and just kept growing. He eventually became one of the strongest men of all time while establishing many strength records and winning the Gold Medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Paul Anderson was also a Senior World Champion and a 2-time Senior National Champion in Weightlifting. He set nine World Records and Eighteen American records during his career and retired undefeated.

He was also incredibly strong in what would eventually become the three Power Lifts: the squat, bench press and deadlift.

Here's a look at some of Paul Anderson's record lifts:

Squat: 1185 lbs. Bench Press: 625 lbs. Deadlift Record without Straps: 780 lbs. Deadlift Record with "Hooks": 820 lbs. Clean & Press: 485 lbs. Clean & Jerk: 485 lbs. Snatch: 375 lbs. Push Press: 545 lbs. Back Lift: 6270 lbs. Dumbbell Side Press: 240 lbs. x 40 / 300 lbs. x 11

Paul Anderson Deadlifting

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