Tuesday, March 02, 2010
John Davis at Muscle BeachJohn Davis was among the many famous visitors to Muscle Beach during its heyday. This picture was probably taken during the period of time when Davis spent some time out on the West Coast training at Yarick's Gym. Looks like around 300 pounds on the bar.
Labels: Clean and Jerk, Ed Yarick's Gym, John Davis, Muscle Beach, olympic weightlifter
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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, June 09, 2009
The Bench PressNon-Functional? Please... When performed correctly, the bench press certainly can be an excellent upper body strength builder. John Davis certainly wasn't any worse for the wear for bench pressing in his routine, and he was one of the finest Olympic weightlifters and all-around strength athletes in history.
The bar looks to be loaded to around 400 pounds and Davis seems to be handling it pretty easily. Note the fact that there are no uprights. This shot was taken at Yarick's Gym in Oakland, California.
Labels: Bench Press, Ed Yarick's Gym, John Davis, Oakland California, Upper Body Exercise
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Calf RaisesHow does Mr. America train his calves? Here's how Roy Hilligenn did it on his way to winning the 1951 AAU Mr. America title. Crude... but certainly effective. This picture was taken at Ed Yarick's Gym.
Labels: 1951 Mr. America, Calf Development, Calf Raises, Calf Training, Ed Yarick's Gym, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Roy Hilligenn
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Friday, March 06, 2009
A Man Ahead of His Time: Jimmie PayneJimmie Payne was a popular west coast bodybuilder, hand balancer and arm wrestling champ. He regularly appreared on the television show "You Asked for It" performing unusual feats of balance and dexterity. Payne trained at Yarick's Gym and was also a regular at Muscle Beach.
Here he does a little lifting while balanced precariously on a "bongo board" -- he was able to press 180 pounds for 5 reps and, on another occasion, 30 reps with 135. Fifty years ago this was known as "screwin' around" ... these days it's called 'functional training."
Labels: Balance Feat, Ed Yarick's Gym, Hand Balancing, Jimmie Payne, Muscle Beach
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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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Monday, January 26, 2009
Alyce Yarick's Squatting FeatHere's a strength feat you probably didn't know about: Alyce Yarick, wife of Ed Yarick (of Yarick's Gym fame) once performed 105 consecutive squats with 115 pounds. This feat occured at one of her husband's variety shows.
Labels: Alyce Yarick, Ed Yarick, Ed Yarick's Gym, Killer Legs, Squat, Squat Workout, Squatting Feat
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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
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Monday, November 10, 2008
John Davis - Dumbbell Clean and PressA classic shot of the great John Davis cleaning and pressing a pair of 142-pound dumbbells at Ed Yarick's gym. This lift is likely one of the greatest lifts ever accomplished.
Labels: Dumbbell Press, Dumbbell Clean and Press, Ed Yarick's Gym, John Davis
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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, May 20, 2008
John Davis PinchliftThe Olympic Champion John Davis pinch-gripping 55 pounds with one finger and a thumb while training as Ed Yarick's Gym.
Try it!
Labels: Ed Yarick's Gym, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, John Davis, Pinch Lift
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
John Davis FlagThere's no question that John Davis was one of the greatest strength athletes who ever lived. - He was exemplary at nearly every lift he tried, whether grip feats such as lifting the Apollon wheels or pinch gripping feats or Olympic lifting and other incredible lifts.
Here John Davis performs the incredible bodyweight feat "the flag" while training at Ed Yarick's Gym in Oakland,California.
Although Davis makes it look easy, this feat is harder than it looks - try it.
Labels: Bodyweight Feat, Ed Yarick's Gym, Gymnastic Feat, John Davis
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Sunday, December 16, 2007
 Roy Hilligenn 1951 Mr. America | Roy Hilligen was a great all-around "iron athlete." As a bodybuilder, he won the Mr. South Africa title in 1943, 1944, 1946 and 1976 as well as the AAU Mr. America Title in 1951. As an Olympic lifter, Hilligenn was the first South African to Clean and Jerk double body weight. His lifts in 1946 were Press: 245 pounds, Snatch: 255 Pounds and Clean & Jerk: 321 pounds. In the early 1950's, and weighing just 173 pounds, Hilligen unofficially equaled the world record in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 375 pounds. |
Interestingly, he was also a life-long vegetarian.
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilder, Clean and Jerk, Ed Yarick's Gym, Mr. America, Olympic Weightlifting, Roy Hilligenn, South African
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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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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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Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Olympic Champion John Davis - Squat!If you are truly interested in size and strength, you need to train your legs. -- and one of the best leg exercises is the barbell squat. In fact, heavy squats have built the foundation of some of the greatest strength athletes in history.
Here's a look at the great John Davis squatting at Ed Yarick's Gym in Oakland, California in the 50s -- and that's how you should be squatting: full and deep.
No monkey business there, just pure power development.
I don't recommend squatting with a board under the heels but it seems to work for John Davis, who was Twice Olympic Weightlifting Champion (1948 and 1952) and Six Time Senior World Weightlifting Champion (1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951).
Labels: Ed Yarick's Gym, Gold Medal, John Davis, Leg Development, Olympics, Squat
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