Friday, December 11, 2009
Lung and Muscle Culture by Paul Von BoeckmannA look at Paul Von Boeckmann's highly unique Lung and Muscle Culture Course. His big thing was Breathing Gymnastics in relation to muscular development. This certainly makes a lot of sense, the more oxygen you can get to the muscles, the stronger they will be. Also of note is the fact that this is the 12th edition - most strength books rarely make it to a second reprinting.
Labels: Breathing Exercises, Deep Breathing, Mail Order Course, Muscle Culture, Paul Von Boeckmann, Training Course
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
"Breathing is the Vital Force of Life"It was Paul Von Boeckmann's view that while many physical culturists and strongmen might be well developed from a muscular standpoint, the greater likelihood was that they were severely lacking in the cardiovascular department. -- This was back in the teens and twenties mind you -- and, unfortunately, still just as true today. If you want to be a complete strength athlete, don't neglect your conditioning.
Labels: Advertisement, Breathing Exercises, Conditioning, Deep Breathing, Paul Von Boeckmann
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Paul Von BoeckmannPaul Von Boeckmann, of New Braunfels, Texas, was a very interesting figure in oldtime strength training lore. As a young man he excelled in wrestling and feats of strength, achieving a bent-press of 201 pounds at 21 years old and a Hand and Thigh Lift of 1652 pounds by the next year.
He could also chin himself three times using one finger only, and notch a deck of playing cards. Von Boeckmann was active in the early 1900s but his arm development would be exceptional even a hundred years later. He was big on Breathing Gymnastics for chest development, which is certainly something to explore further.
Labels: Bent Press, Breathing Gymnastics, Card Ripping, Deep Breathing, Hand And Thigh Lift, Oldtime Strongman, One Finger Chin, Paul Von Boeckmann
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Monday, April 07, 2008
 Paul Von Boeckmann | An ad for the famous oldtime strongman Paul Von Boeckmann's Breathing Gymnastics Course. Von Boeckmann felt that one of the Secrets to great strength and physical development had much to do with building large, powerful lungs through breathing exercises and taught these techniques by mail order for years. |
Labels: Breathing Exercises, Breathing Gymnastics, Chest Development, Chest Expansion, Deep Breathing, Mail Order Course, Paul Von Boeckmann, Powerful Lungs
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
 The Magic Circle - FOR MAGIC RESULTS - The most satisfactory device yet found for doing quarter, half and full squats -- for doing Hise Shoulder Shrugs and other heavy poundage exercises where weight is held on shoulders. It has made squatting a pleasure by removing the agonizing and sometimes paralyzing pain and discomfort of a heavy bar across the shoulders cutting into the flesh and putting pressure o the spine. The "Magic Circle" gives a freedom for deep breathing in the popular and result-producing "Breathing Squats" for the exerciser can stand erect and breathe normally with a high lift of the chest at every breath, and is not compelled to hump over forward and breathes it the abdominal area as with a bar. In use, the "Magic Circle" is loaded up on the side pegs (unless you go over 700 lbs., in which case you have front and back pegs to load on), step in the circle (which is supported on side horses or boxes), lift shoulder straps onto shoulders, center straps, stand erect and walk away from stand and begin squats in normal manner. When finished, walk back to stands and lower ring to supporting rack. While squatting it helps to grasp ring in front and pull slightly toward you. If you get stuck at bottom you place hands on legs and push upward to recover. No more getting stuck at bottom, will hold 1200 lbs. or more. |
If you read Iron Man Magazine in the 70's you remember Peary Rader demonstrating the Magic Circle. I actually grew up with one in our basement gym -- that's right a fully functioning Magic Circle, one of the last ones left. I don't like using it for squats -- it changes the center of gravity in the bottom position too much for my taste. Though not necessarily the same concept, (but very much along the same lines), a Gerard Trap Bar will give you a much better leg workout.
Labels: Deep Breathing, Hise Shrugs, Iron Man Magazine, Leg Development, Peary Rader, Shrugs, Strongman Equipment, The Magic Circle
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
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