Thursday, November 12, 2009
Doug HepburnThe great Canadian lifter, Doug Hepburn is shown here in what probably could be called his signature pose. If the issues of Strength and Health on the wall are current, this picture dates to early 1947. -- Although I suspect this was taken later than that.
Don't know if you realized this but growing up, Doug was of very average height and build. At 17 years old, Doug was 5'8" and weighed only 145 pounds. It was around that age that he discovered weight lifting... and the rest is history. To give you an idea of Doug's immense power, his best eventual repetition 2-arm overhead barbell press was 335 pounds for 10 reps!
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Press, Strength and Health Magazine
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Doug Hepburn and George JowettOnce in a while, the stars align just right and the great ones end up at the same place at the same time. Just such an occasion was at a lifting contest in Montreal, Canada in the early sixties when Doug Hepburn and Geoge Jowett had a chance to meet up. I would imagine they had a very interesting conversation. Ol' George obviously still has a Mighty Grip.
Labels: Doug Hepburn, George Jowett, Lifting Contest
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Friday, August 28, 2009
Doug Hepburn's Squat WorkoutIf you want to know why some strength athletes are in a class by themselves, just look at how their train their legs. Case in point: here's a typical squat workout for Doug Hepburn: a warm up with 435 for 8 reps then 5 sets of 3 reps with over 700 pounds. This particular workout took place at Yarick's Gym.
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Ed Yarick's Gym, Leg Work, Squat, Squat Workout, York Deep Dish 45 Pound Plate
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Doug Hepurn - Press!I wonder how different things would be if the standing press were as popular as the bench press? I suspect there would be many more strong folks walking around. Here's the great Doug Hepburn pressing 425 pounds from a rack - that's more than most people can squat! One thing's for sure, increase your press and you'll get a whole lot stronger everywhere else too.
Labels: Barbell, Doug Hepburn, Overhead Press, Upper Body Exercise
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Monday, May 11, 2009
| |
A short video clip featuring Brooks Kubik and Dinosaur Training in action. Log lifting... Barrel Lifting... Anvil Lifting... John Davis... Doug Hepburn... John Grimek... Arthur Saxon... Heavy Dumbbells... Basement lifting... Power Rack Work... Grip Training... If you don't want your own copy after watching this then you had better check your pulse.
Labels: 1 Leg Squat, Anvil Lifting, Arthur Saxon, Barrel Lifting, Brooks Kubik, Dinosaur Training, Doug Hepburn, George Jowett, John Grimek, Odd Object Lifting, Press, Video
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
| Hand Balancing was part of Doug Hepburn's regular training program. He figured the the increased blood flow to the upper body while in the inverted position would be good for building his pressing strength. Given his track records, there certainly may be something to that. Here's Doug as the 'bottom man' in a unique feat: that's a 205 pound barbell and a 170 pound man he's holding overhead. This picture is more impressive than it may appear when you consider how they got in that position in the first place - a feat in itself. This picture was taken just after Doug established a new world record in the press with a lift of 353 pounds. |  Doug Hepburn ~ Hand Balancing |
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Feat, Press
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Saturday, March 07, 2009
Doug Hepburn's Favorite FeatOne of Doug Hepburn's favorite feats was to muscle out a 45-pound plate hanging from his pinky finger -- an amazing display of shoulder and grip strength. As evident here, Hepburn could do this with either hand.
Labels: 45 Pound Plate, Doug Hepburn, Finger Strength, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Muscle Out, Shoulder Strength
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Thursday, March 05, 2009
Ed YarickWe have featured his gym, his equipment, even his wife... the only thing missing is the man himself, so here he is: Ed Yarick.
In addition to running one of the most popular gyms in the land, the 6'4" Yarick won the tall class in the "Mr. Pacific Coast" bodybuilding contest and was also the coach of the 1952 National Jr. Weightlifting Team.
Yarick's Gym was located at 3355 Foothill Blvd. in Oakland, California and was one of the centers of the strength world on the West coast. It was also where Steve reeves got his start and the training headquarters at various times of Roy Hilligenn, John Davis, Clancy Ross, Jack Delinger, Tommy Kono and Doug Hepburn (among others)
Labels: Clancy Ross, Doug Hepburn, Ed Yarick, Ed Yarick's Gym, Jack Dellinger, John Davis, Roy Hilligenn, Steve Reeves, Tommy Kono
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Friday, February 27, 2009
Doug Hepburn: The First Official 500-Pound Bench PressThe first Official 500-Pound Bench Press was performed in Vancouver, British Columbia on December 10th, 1953 by the great Canadian strength athlete Doug Hepburn. Note the primitive "bench" (what appears to be little more than a number of 2x4s nailed together), the lack of uprights, and the Jackson barbell plates.
Labels: 500-Pound Bench Press, Barbell Bench Press, Bench Press, Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Jackson Barbell Company
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Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Doug Hepburn Handbalancing FeatThe great lifter and strongman Doug Hepburn was quite a handbalancer - something which has been presented here on prior occasions. (He said it helped his overhead press.)
Here's a feat you've probably never seen before though: Doug handbalancing on the top of a basketball backboard. Doug would have had to have been pretty confident in his hand balancing ability to even attempt this one, let alone accomplish it. That's a long way down. WOW!
Labels: Balance Feat, Basketball, Bodyweight Feat, Doug Hepburn, Hand Balancing
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Doug HepburnDoug Hepburn doing his thing. At the time this picture was taken Doug had cleaned and pressed 381 pounds -- the heaviest weight that had ever been lifted in this manner. This picture was taken as Doug was preparing for the 1954 British Empire games in his hometown of Vancouver (At which he won a gold medal.)
Labels: British Empire Games, Canadian Strongman, Clean and Press, Doug Hepburn, Press, Vancouver
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Saturday, September 06, 2008
Doug Hepburn - Steel BendingDoug Hepburn was a man of many strength talents: Champion Weight Lifter, hand balancer, professional wrestler... now you can add Steel Bending to the list as well.
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Hand Balancing, Steel Bending
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Friday, August 01, 2008
Doug Hepburn - 1953 Heavyweight World ChampionDoug 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.
Labels: 1953 World Championships, Barbell, Canadian Strongman, Clean and Jerk, Doug Hepburn, John Davis, Olympic Lifting, Olympic Weightlifing Exercise, Olympic Weightlifting, Press, Snatch, Sweden, Total
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008
One Corner of Ed Yarick's GymThis 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.
Labels: Clancy Ross, Classic Gym, Doug Hepburn, Ed Yarick's Gym, Oakland California, Reg Park, Roy Hilligenn, Steve Reeves
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
"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."
Doug HepburnLabels: Doug Hepburn, weightlifting
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Benoit CoteBenoit 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.
Labels: Benoit Cote, Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Quebec Strongman, Squat
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Doug HepburnDoug 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.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Dumbbell Press, one arm holdout
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Doug Hepburn Presses the Jowett DumbbellDuring 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.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Doug Hepburn, Dumbbell, Dumbbell Press, George Jowett, George Jowett Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Overhead Dumbbell Press, Overhead Press, Shoulder Exercise, Thick Handle
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Paul Anderson SquatsA young Paul Anderson squats with 660 pounds in an exhibition at the 1952 Mr. World bodybuilding contest (Won by Jim Park)
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.
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Jim Park, Mr. World, Paul Anderson, Squat
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Thursday, January 31, 2008
Benoit CoteBenoit 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.
Labels: Bench Press, Benoit Cote, Canadian Strongman, Deadlift, Doug Hepburn, Quebec Strongman, Squat
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Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bert Assirati Does a One-Hand Handstand, circa 1948While 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.
Labels: Bert Assirati, British Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Feat, Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Feat, One Hand Balance
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
 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. |
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Strongman Collectible, Trading Card, Wrestling
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Wednesday, December 05, 2007
 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. |
Labels: Back Exercise, Barbell, Barbell Exercise, Barbell Training, Bent Over Rowing, Doug Hepburn, Upper Body Movement
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Sunday, December 02, 2007
 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 hand balancing 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. |
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Ed Yarick's Gym, hand balancer, Hand Balancing, Press, Strongman Feat
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Overhead PressThe 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.
Labels: Barbell Exercise, Doug Hepburn, Exercise, Overhead Press
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Sunday, November 18, 2007
Squatting With Doug HepburnLike 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.
Labels: Barbell, Doug Hepburn, Squat, Squat Workout
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Thursday, November 15, 2007
| 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 |
Labels: Doug Hepburn, Dumbbell Press, Dumbbells, Ed Yarick's Gym, Press, Strongman Feat
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
Doug Hepburn Strength FeatIf 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.
Labels: Barbell Plate, Doug Hepburn, Holdout, Strongman Feat
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Friday, November 09, 2007
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.
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 |
Labels: Bench Press, Canadian Strongman, Clean and Jerk, Curl, Deadlift, Doug Hepburn, Jerk, Military Press, Oldtime Strongman, Olympic Weightlifting, Overhead Press, Snatch, Squat, Strongman Feat
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