John Davis - Dumbbell Clean and Press

John Davis - Dumbbell Clean and Press

A 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.

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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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John Davis Pinchlift

John Davis Pinchlift
The Olympic Champion John Davis pinch-gripping 55 pounds with one finger and a thumb while training as Ed Yarick's Gym.

Try it!

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John Davis' Flag

John Davis Flag
There'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.

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Roy Hilligenn - 1951 Mr. America

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.

He eventually Clean & Jerked 405 at a slightly heavier body weight, which was an unofficial world record at the time. It was voted as one of the greatest "lifts" of all time. Hilligenn also "cleaned" a pair of 142-pound dumbbells (but did not press them) at Ed Yarick's Gym in Oakland, California in the 50's.

Interestingly, he was also a life-long vegetarian.

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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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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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Squat!

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).

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