Doug Hepburn - 1953 Heavyweight World Champion

Doug Hepburn - 1953 Heavyweight World Champion

Doug Hepburn's final lift to win the 1953 Heavyweight World Weightlifting Championship held in Stockholm, Sweden. (defeating John Davis) The lift pictured here was a 363-pound clean and jerk -- the highest of the contest. Doug's other lifts of the day were a 371-pound press and a 297-pound snatch for a total of 1031 pounds.

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One Corner of Ed Yarick's Gym

One Corner of Ed Yarick's Gym

This picture represents approximately 50% of Ed Yarick's Gym out in Oakland, California. As you can see, there wasn't much to it -- a couple rows of dumbbells, a few platforms, barbells and benches -- but that is all it takes.

These spartan surroundings produced some of the greatest strength champions the world has ever known: Olympic Champion John Davis, THE clasic physique, bodybuilding champion Steve Reeves, Mr. Americas Roy Hilligenn, Clancy Ross and Jack Dellinger all trained there. As did Doug Hepburn and Reg Park when he visited the west coast.

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"Train for Strength" says Doug Hepburn

Doug Hepburn

"If a man's temperament is suited to it, I believe he will make better progress in weightlifting by training for strength primarily and style secondarily than if he puts great emphasis on learning form."

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Now That's a Squat: Benoit Cote Shows How It's Done

Benoit Cote
Benoit Cote the great Canadian strongman and the man who beat Doug Hepburn in a head-to-head contest shows what a real squat looks like.

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Doug Hepburn

Doug Hepburn
Doug Hepburn's mighty right arm... the same arm he performed a one-hand holdout and 37 overhead presses with a 120-pound dumbbell. It will be a long time before we see the likes of Doug Hepburn again.

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Doug Hepburn Presses the Jowett Dumbbell

Doug Hepburn Presses the Jowett Dumbbell
During his pro-wrestling career, Doug Hepburn often performed feats of strength in the ring. Here Doug presses the 169-1/2 pound George Jowett dumbbell overhead. This special dumbbell was said to have a handle "four-times" thicker than a normal dumbbell. -- Yet another incredible pressing feat from the great Canadian Strongman.

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Paul Anderson Squats 660 Pounds

Paul Anderson Squats
A young Paul Anderson squats with 660 pounds in an exhibition at the 1952 Mr. World bodybuilding contest (Won by Jim Parks.)

Doug Hepburn bested it shortly afterwards with 665 pounds but Paul Anderson followed that up with a squat of 714-1/2 pounds and from there it was off to the races.

Eventually Paul Anderson squatted with 1200 pounds, a feat that has yet to be broken in the manner which it was originally performed.

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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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Bert Assirati - Hand Balancing

Bert Assirati Does a One-Hand Handstand, circa 1948
While many hand balancers experts are of the smaller, "gymnastic-type" physique, there were actually several larger strength athletes who could perform hand balancing feats with ease.

The great Canadian Champion Doug Hepburn was a great hand balancer, as was the famous British strongman and Professional wrestler Bert Assirati, (shown here.)

At a young age, Bert was taught how to do all manner of hand balancing feats by an ex-circus performer. You can certainly tell by this picture that he has power to spare.

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Doug Hepburn The Pro-Wrestler

Doug Hepburn

Here's something you don't see every day, a Doug Hepburn Wrestling trading card from the mid-1950's. Doug Hepburn had a short professional wrestling career in Canada once his weight lifting career came to an end. Doug would often perform feats of strength before his matches and his finishing move was an inverted bear-hug, squeezing the life out of his opponents until they had no choice but to submit.

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The Barbell Row

The Barbell Row

If you want to be a great overhead presser, you must build the pulling muscles as well. Here weightlifting Champ Doug Hepburn demonstrates one of the very best upper-body builders -- the rowing exercise (so named because it resembles rowing a boat.) You'll find this exercise recommended by all of the great strength training authors.

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Handbalancing With Doug Hepburn

Doug Hepburn

It was once thought that strength training would makes athletes stiff and "muscle bound." -- That line of thinking couldn't be further from the truth and here's a good example: In addition to his tremendous lifting feats, Doug Hepburn was also a great hand balancer He believed handbalancing also contributed to his pressing ability. Doug pressed 440 pounds off a rack so I think there's a pretty strong case for that. This picture was taken at Ed Yarick's Gym in Oakland, California in the early 1950's.

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The Overhead Press

The Overhead Press
The standing barbell press is a great lift -- one of the simplest, and one of the best -- for building upper-body power.

This exercise should be a part of your program.

Here Doug Hepburn presses 361 pounds at the Pacific Coast Championship in the 1950's.

Squatting With Doug Hepburn

Squatting With Doug Hepburn
Like many of the greatest strength athletes of the last hundred years, Doug Hepburn credits heavy squatting as the foundation of his great strength.

That's twelve 45-pound plates on the bar and Doug makes it look easy.

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Doug Hepburn Dumbbell Press

It should be no coincindence why the dumbbell overhead press have been featured on this blog several times -- it is truly one of the very best upper-body strength builders you'll ever find. Here's a look at the great Doug Hepburn as he presses a pair of 160 pound dumbbells -- now THAT is strong! At Ed Yarick's Gym in Oakland, California, Doug pressed a pair of 142 pound dumbbells for four repetitions.

Doug Hepburn Dumbbell Press

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Doug Hepburn Strength Feat

Doug Hepburn Strength Feat
If you've read Doug Hepburn's strength resume, you know he's pretty darn strong. Here's an impromptu feat that is pretty impressive on several levels -- a pinky holdout of a 45 pound barbell plate.

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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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