Monday, January 18, 2010
Rare Louis Cyr PictureHere's a rare picture of Louis Cyr that I guarantee you have never seen. Also, some pictures of Cyr lifting weights look a bit "off" or awkward (this one included) -- it's because in Cyr's day, one had to remain still when having pictures taken. This was simply not possible when heavy weights were involves, so props were often used. Regardless, Cyr proved his strength many times over.
Labels: Barrel, Canadian Strongman, Dumbbell Lift, Globe Dumbbell, Louis Cyr
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Monday, December 21, 2009
Travis ~ The Get Up LiftThe great strongman Warren Lincoln Travis is shown here in mid "get up" lift. That is one of Professor Anthony Barker's weights that he is holding aloft. We'll have more on these interesting pieces of equipment very shortly.
Labels: Dumbbell Lift, Oldtime Lift, One Arm Getup, Professor Anthony Barker, Warren Lincoln Travis
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Monday, September 14, 2009
Pyotr KrylovAnother look at the great Russian champion Pyotyr Krylov. He was particularly well known for his shoulder strength and his ability to perform a Crucifix lift with a 90-pound dumbbell in each hand. By the looks of things, you really wouldn't want to step in the ring with him...
Labels: Crucifix, Dumbbell Crucifix, Dumbbell Lift, Pyotyr Krylov, Russian Strongman, Shoulder Strength
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Bob HoffmanWhen you are serious about training it's hard to pass by a row of dumbbells without at least giving some a try... Here Bob Hoffman got in a few impromptu repetition bent presses with a 100-pound dumbbell on a visit to the Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington sometime during the fall of 1953. Bob's best bent-press was 282 pounds although he credits much of his progress in this department by practicing with the 248-pound Cyr Dumbbell.
Labels: Bent Press, Bob Hoffman, Cyr Dumbbell, Dumbbell Bent Press, Dumbbell Lift, One Arm Lift
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Monday, July 13, 2009
Steve Reeves: Dumbbell Incline PressHow does Hercules build his upper body strength? Here's one answer: Dumbbell Incline Press. It's a good variation for building pressing power, and - needless to say - it worked pretty well for Steve Reeves. He also was a fan of doing dumbbell curls on an incline bench, an exercise he used to build his arms before his 1947 AAU Mr. America Contest win.
Labels: 1947 Mr. America, Dumbbell Exercise, Dumbbell Incline Press, Dumbbell Lift, Dumbbell Training, Hercules, Incline Bench Press, Incline Press, Steve Reeves
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Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Arthur Snell - The Northwest HerculesArthur Snell, The Northwest Hercules, does one-finger clean and press with an 85-pound dumbbell. You will have to try this lift to fully appreciate it.
In 1948 Snell opened the very first weightlifting gym in his home town of Tacoma Washington: The Cascade Health Studio. He could also squat 300 pounds for 50 reps, an impressive feat in any decade.
Labels: Arnold Snell, Cascade Health Studio, Dumbbell Lift, One Finger Lift, Squat, Squatting Feat, Tacoma, The Northwest Hercules
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
John Wood: 140-pound Dumbell 1-Arm SnatchYeah, I'm showing off a little on my blog... the one arm snatch has always been a favorite lift of mine, one that I mess around with from time to time just to see where I'm at. It's actually more of a 'power snatch' as I do not dip underneath the weight. If I had half a mind to focus on my technique I have little doubt that I could really push the poundage up there. Anyhow, this shot was taken a few years back on a visit to Dr. Ken's place. Dr. Ken is one of the only guys I know who regularly has 140+ dumbbells on-hand at all times... and they aren't just gathering dust either.
Labels: Dr. Ken, Dr. Ken Leistner, Dumbbell Lift, Dumbbell Snatch, John Wood, one arm snatch
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The Mighty Norseman - Karl NorbergThink you're too old? The Mighty Norseman Karl Norberg could perform a crucifix with an eighty pound dumbbell in each hand. -- He was 70 years old at the time. It was said by those who witnessed them that Norberg performed such feats with ridiculous ease. This feat was performed at the San Francisco Central YMCA where he did much of his training.
Labels: Crucifix, Dumbbell Crucifix, Dumbbell Lift, Karl Norberg, Mighty Norseman, Shoulder Exercise, YMCA
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Sunday, December 28, 2008
Arthur Saxon - The Two Dumbbell Lift"... For position I place both bells parallel to each other between the feet. Now stoop down and raise same up so that the discs or globes rest on the thighs, the bells being held together. By leaning backwards you will be able to pull the bells on to the body, from whence by a jerk you get them partly on the chest, and so to the shoulders, after which you stand in a firm position ready to sink below the weights and to move your feet to enable you to dip beneath your dumb-bells as they go aloft.
This is done by a vicious jerk, after which you sink and so get the bells overhead, the eyes to be on them as they go aloft for fear you lose the balance. If you would lift them in the clean English style, then they may be taken from between the feet, or from the sides of the feet, you to lean backwards as you pull them up and split the feet in two opposite directions, one to the back, and one to the front.
Still another way is to stand with them at the sides, and whilst in this position give them a swing to the front and then to the back and so up to the shoulders.
Take advantage of this swing, and by a movement similar to the one last described regarding the feet, you will find the bells at the shoulder. The latter position is more suitable to tall men than to short men..."
~ Arthur Saxon, The Textbook of Weightlifting (1910)
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Dumbbell Exercise, Dumbbell Lift, The Textbook of Weightlifting
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Friday, December 26, 2008
 Roy Hilligenn | Roy Hilligenn Mr. America 1951 and 1952 Jr. Light-heavy weightlifting champ is a strongman athlete of rare ability. Here he is in mid-clean with Ed Yarick's 142-pound dumbbells while weighing less than 180 pounds himself. The average man would be lucky to clean a pair of 100's. These are the same dumbbells that John Davis is cleaning and pressing here. |
Labels: Clean, Dumbbell Lift, Ed Yarick's Gym, John Davis, Roy Hilligenn
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
Friday, October 10, 2008
Pyotr Krylov The great Russian Strongman Pyotr Krylov was well known for his shoulder development and the large tattoo of the Double-Headed eagle gracing his chest. In the early 20th century Krylov performed a Crucifix Lift with a 90-pound dumbbell in each hand - a record that has never been equaled or beaten. One of his favorite feats as a strongman was to break chains across his chest or with his arms.
Labels: Chain Breaking, Crucifix, Dumbbell Lift, Krylov, Oldtime Strongman, Pyotyr Krylov, Russian Strongman
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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