Monday, December 21, 2009

  • Joe Zimmerman


  • Joe Zimmerman and his brother Dick were Bob Hoffman's neighbors in York, Pennsylvania and they hung around the York Barbell Company office doing crazy feats of strength. Here's Joe performing a hand stand on some boxes -- which is tough enough by itself -- but he is also lifting the 202-pound Louis Cyr Dumbbell in his teeth at the same time!

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Monday, December 21, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, November 24, 2009

  • Warren Lincoln Travis Run Over by Car!


  • "Warren Lincoln Travis Run Over by Car!" ~ don't worry folks, it's all part of the show. As part of his act, Warren Lincoln Travis did, in fact, let a car run over his body. This rare picture of WLT in action was taken in 1915 at Coney Island.

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Tuesday, November 24, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, September 02, 2009

  • Do NOT Try This


  • Balancing Feats are always impressive but I do not recommend trying this one (or anything close to it!) Here Samuel Jenkins accomplishes something dangerous, impressive and quite possibly stupid at the same time ~ balancing precariously on two chairs atop a New York apartment building, circa 1923.

    Labels: , ,


    Wednesday, September 02, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, August 28, 2009

  • Frank "Iron-Jaw" Dilks


  • Frank "Iron-Jaw" Dilks, of Bridgeton, New Jersey was an aptly named strongman. Here he goes for a stroll, pulling a brand new fire engine purchased by the city down the block with his teeth. This particular fire engine which was manufactured by the Stutz Fire Engine Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, weighed in at seven and a half tons.

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Friday, August 28, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Sunday, May 24, 2009

  • The Mighty Atom Escapes!


  • Back in the Summer of 1939, The Mighty Atom Joseph Greenstein attempted an amazing (and quite dangerous) feat. He would be chained to a chair with a car traveling at 40 miles per hour spaced out far enough to give him two minutes of lead time. If the Atom couldn't break free of the chains in time the speeding automobile would run right over him. Pic magazine was on hand with a photo crew to document the action, and, as you can see, the Atom made it - barely.

    Labels: , , ,


    Sunday, May 24, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  • The Tomb of Hercules


  • Pakistani strongman Professor A. N. Shaikh shows how it's done in the Tomb of Hercules feat. The combined weight of this motorcycle and two men were estimated to weight around 700 pounds or more. This feat is a lot more difficult than you might think.

    Labels: , , , ,


    Tuesday, May 19, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Monday, April 27, 2009

  • Tearing a Mini-Deck of Cards


  • Plenty of people can tear a regulation deck of cards but it's a whole new ball game with a mini-deck. Dennis Rogers can do this feat with ease, as well he should since his fingers are about as strong as a set of pliers.

    Labels: , , ,


    Monday, April 27, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, March 11, 2009

  • Joseph Vitole's Record Teeth Lift


  • A look at Joseph Vitole's world record teeth lift of 550 pounds which he accomplished in 1922. Vitole was a student of Earle E. Liederman and weighed only 150 pounds at the time.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Wednesday, March 11, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, January 27, 2009

  • Arthur Saxon: The Iron Master


  • 'The Iron Master' Arthur Saxon shows his form on the Bent Press. These pictures are well over a hundred years old but Saxon's incredible upperbody strength, especially in terms of back development, is quite evident.

    Labels: , , ,


    Tuesday, January 27, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Monday, January 19, 2009

  • Naildriving Through a Deck of Cards

  • Dennis Rogers can rip a deck of cards faster than anyone on the planet, he can also easily drive nails through wooden boards with his bare hands.

    One day he had an idea: why not combine these two elements into one amazing feat? The result was to drive a nail through a full deck of cards, a feat never before imagined, let alone completed, by any other strongman.

    Needless to say this feat goes over huge when performed in front of an audience.
    Naildriving Through a Deck of CardsNaildriving Through a Deck of Cards

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Monday, January 19, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Thursday, January 15, 2009

  • Madame Yucca - The Female Hercules


  • A rare poster featuring Madame Yucca as perforoming in the Forepaugh and Sells Brother Circus. The Female Hercules was shown lifting various globe weights overhead, harness liftnig several animals including an elephant and even lifting an anvil with her teeth. Note the use of kettlebells for one and two arm lifts. The poster dates from 1898.

    Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,


    Thursday, January 15, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, January 09, 2009

  • Signor Lawanda - The Iron Jawed Man


  • Sig Lawanda, The Iron Jawed Man, was an early circus performer whose signature feat was to use his teeth to lift a barrel on which two men sat - an incredible feat of neck strength. He famously appeared with P.T. Barnum

    Labels: , , , , , , , ,


    Friday, January 09, 2009

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, October 29, 2008

  • Elephant Lifting


  • Strongman Joe Ragusa shows one way to lift an elephant: via back lift. Ragusa regularly performed this feat in nightclubs and television shows.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Wednesday, October 29, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Monday, September 15, 2008

  • Professor Anthony Barker


  • Professor Anthony Barker was a great Oldtime Strongman in the New York Area in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was also very proud of his fine head of hair - hair pulling or lifting was a favorite method of several oldtime strongmen for demonstrating strength and they could withstand quite a pull with no ill effects.

    Labels: , , , ,


    Monday, September 15, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Sunday, July 27, 2008

  • The Mighty Atom - A Different Kind of Horseshoe Bending


  • Many of the Oldtime Strongmen bent horseshoes but nobody could do it like The Mighty Atom - Yow! The cool thing is, Slim The Hammer Man still has the Mighty Atom's bending post in his Dungeon Gym.

    Labels: , , , ,


    Sunday, July 27, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Thursday, June 26, 2008

  • The Hip Lift


  • Mr. Roy L. Smith demonstrates a Hip Lift of a train axle weighing 2250 pounds. Smith did not begin to lift weights until he was over 30 years of age, but using MILO Barbell methods he put on over 40 pounds of muscular bodyweight and was featured in the MILO Barbell Company advertisements.

    Labels: , , , , , , , ,


    Thursday, June 26, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  • Rolandow Jumping The Barbell

  • Rolandow Jumping BarbellRolandow Jumping The Barbell

    One of the signature feats of the great strongman G.W. Rolandow was jumping back and forth over a loaded barbell. This barbell was loaded to 130 lbs. but his record was over 200 lbs. Note that he is only able to hold the barbell with three fingers while performing this stunt.

    Labels: , , ,


    Tuesday, June 17, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, June 13, 2008

  • Mac Batchelor Plays the Violin

  • Mac BatchlelorMac Batchlelor Plays the ViolinMac Batchelor was a man of many talents...Besides Arm Wrestling and Bending Bottlecaps he could also play the violin...

    Of course, like any strongman, he added his own unique twist, that's a pair of 50-pound Milo Kettlebells hanging from his right arm.

    Labels: , , , ,


    Friday, June 13, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, May 28, 2008

  • Bert Elliott's 276 Pound Bent Press

  • Bert Elliott's 276 Pound Bent Press

    Bert Elliott performs a bent-press with 276 pounds on a russian Olympic set at a strength show at Pasedena, California in the 60's. This lift was approximately 100 pounds over bodyweight for Bert. That's Pat Casey spotting on the right.

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Wednesday, May 28, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, May 09, 2008

  • Louis Cyr's Backlift

  • Louis Cyr's Backlift

    A rare woodcut of the great Louis Cyr's famous backlift. Cyr astonished the world with a lift of 4337 pounds!

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Friday, May 09, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, May 07, 2008

  • Joseph Vitole

  • Josepg VitoleJoseph Vitole

    At a bodyweight of only 150 pounds, Joe Vitole broke the World's Record with a teeth lift of 550 pounds. Needless to say, teeth lifting builds incredible neck strength. While you may not necessarily want to include teeth lifting in you routine, you should unquestionably be training your neck.

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Wednesday, May 07, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Thursday, April 10, 2008

  • Sig Klein's Neck Bridge Feat

  • The era of Strongmanism, several generations ago, used to feature many strongman stunts that baffled and amazed the public.

    Here's a rare shot of one of the feats performed by Sig Klein and his stage partner Jack Bier.

    Here Sig holds a Neck Bridge while holding a globe barbell at arm's length as his partner stands on his chest. -- that's several hundred exta pounds supported by Sig Klein's neck alone.

    Having accomplished a similar feat, I can say this is NOT easy!
    Sig Kleins Neck Bridge FeatSig Klein's Neck Bridge Feat

    Labels: , , , , , , , ,


    Thursday, April 10, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, April 09, 2008

  • Jack Walsh

  • Jack Walsh Dumbbell JerkJack Walsh

    Jack Walsh from Trenton, New Jersey, is the strongest man you've never heard of.

    Over his career he performed all kinds of crazy strength feats, including lifting elephants, towing trains and letting trucks run over his body. At a bodyweight of 190 pounds, he even broke Louis Cyr's backlift record.

    Anyhow, here's Jack Walsh jerking a 230-pound dumbbell overhead -- That's damn strong! Do you know anybody that can jerk more than bodyweight overhead with one arm?

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Wednesday, April 09, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Monday, February 18, 2008

  • How did the oldtimers train with Kettlebells?

  • How did the oldtimers train with Kettlebells?

    The answer might surprise you.

    In his book The Textbook of Weightlifting, Arthur Saxon lists a few of the different exercises he used: the crucifix, one arm press, and several grip and forearm exercises.

    Of course, kettlebells also worked pretty well for Combination feats just like this one. (I think that's Kurt Saxon being pressed overhead.)
    Arthur SaxonArthur Saxon

    Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,


    Monday, February 18, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share
  • George Eiferman's Favorite Strength Feat

  • George Eiferman was the 1948 AAU Mr. America and 1962 IFBB Mr. Universe winner and was particularly well-known for his chest development.

    On of the ways in which he built such a deep and impressive chest was regular trumpet playing.

    Eiferman used to like to show off a bit too and was fond of playing the "Hawaiian War Chant" on his trumpet with one hand while holding a loaded barbell overhead with the other. -- Talk about core strength.

    He regularly performed this feat at Muscle Beach.
    George EifermanGeorge Eiferman

    Labels: , , , , , , , ,


    Monday, February 18, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Saturday, February 16, 2008

  • Louis Cyr Rock Press

  • It was said that the great Louis Cyr could pretty much lift whatever he wanted -- this photograph, however, was obviously staged.

    On May 7, 1896 Louis Cyr is credited with several impresive lifts, and among them was a one-hand Jerk of 254 lbs.

    Of course, lifting rocks is an altogether different animal.

    Louis Cyr Rock PressLouis Cyr

    Labels: , , , ,


    Saturday, February 16, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, February 15, 2008

  • Jack Walsh's Bridging Feat

  • Jack WalshJack Walsh's Bridging FeatThe great strongman Jack Walsh from New Jersey performed some very unique feats of strength over the years.

    Here he holds 300 pounds in the wrestler's bridge position -- he claimed to have once held 520 pounds like this!

    Labels: , , , ,


    Friday, February 15, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, February 08, 2008

  • Armand Tanny's Favorite Exercise: The One Arm Clean

  • Armand Tanny's Favorite Exercise: The One Arm CleanArmand Tanny's Favorite Exercise: The One Arm Clean

    Armand Tanny (brother of Vic Tanny) was a very successful bodybuilder in the late 40's and 50's, and a regular at the original Santa Monica Muscle Beach scene.

    Tanny competed in many major bodybuilding contests and won the Pro-Mr. America in 1950. His favorite exercise was one you don't often see these days: the one arm clean.

    Its hard to tell how heavy the bar is loaded to in this shot -- I'd say at least 225 or so, and you sure won't find any bodybuilders who could do that these days.

    Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


    Friday, February 08, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, February 05, 2008

  • Rolandow's Jumping Feats

  • The great strongman G.W. Rolandow was very well known for his traditional feats of strength and the oldtime equipment that bears his name but he also excelled at feats of jumping.

    Shown here, he could hold a 75 pound globe dumbbell in each hand and jump over a table that was 36 inches high and 25 inches wide. He could also turn a somersault holding dumbbells in each hand.


    G.W. RolandowG.W. Rolandow

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Tuesday, February 05, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, February 01, 2008

  • Archie Vanderpool

  • Archie VanderpoolArchie Vanderpool

    The Mysterious Mr. Vanderpool performs a pretty unusual feat of supporting strength... With his back against a stone wall, Archie braced his legs against a car driven at full throttle for 52 seconds. -- The tires were worn to ribbons!

    Labels: , ,


    Friday, February 01, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, January 30, 2008

  • The Dumbbell Side Press

  • The "side press" is a looser version of the dumbbell press - contrast the picture on the right with the one here.

    Because it's a bit of an "anyhow" lift, much more weight can be used than a strict dumbbell press. You should be able to press well over a hundred pounds in this manner.

    Paul Anderson could side press over 300 pounds with ridiculous ease.
    The Dumbbell Side PressThe Dumbbell Side Press

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Wednesday, January 30, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Thursday, January 24, 2008

  • Bert Assirati - Hand Balancing

  • Bert AssiratiBert 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.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Thursday, January 24, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Monday, January 14, 2008

  • The Mighty Atom - Nail Biting

  • The Mighty Atom - Nail BitingThe Mighty Atom - Nail Biting

    There are several good steel benders in the world right now but here is a feat we are unlikely to see again any time soon: The Might Atom could actually bite through nails. As Bob Hoffman and other members of the York Gang look on, "The Atom" bites a nail in half during one of his appearances at the York fair.

    I don't know for sure but I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up being the bitten nail that can seen in the The York Barbell Hall of Fame.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Monday, January 14, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share
  • Can You Curl Like John Davis?

  • John DavisJohn DavisCan you curl like John Davis? -- In Dinosaur Training, Brooks Kubik looks at John Davis' curling ability in detail.

    John Davis, as reported in an article in The Iron Master by Osmo Kiiha, could curl 215 pounds at a bodyweight of just 193 pounds. -- That's 1.11 times bodyweight, a staggering feat of strength.

    Here's John Davis curling 205 pounds in damn good form.

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Monday, January 14, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Friday, January 04, 2008

  • Milo and The Bull

  • Milo and The BullMilo and The Bull

    Milo of Crotona was one of the greatest athletes of antiquity, winning the wrestling title in the ancient Greek Olympiad six times.

    It was said that he built his great strength by carrying a newborn calf on his back each day. As the calf grew larger, so did Milo's Strength. After many days of this, Milo was able to carry a full grown bull on his shoulders -- and thus progressive resistance exercise was born.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Friday, January 04, 2008

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  • The Iron Cross

  • The Iron CrossMuch of the origins of strength training and physical culture come from gymnastics.

    The Iron Cross as performed on gymnastic rings, is one of the most impressive gymnastic feats.

    It takes a great deal of strength and plenty of skill to perform The Iron Cross properly.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Tuesday, December 18, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Sunday, December 09, 2007

  • Paul Anderson Backlift

  • Paul Anderson BackliftPaul Anderson Backlift

    Paul Anderson's 6270 pound record backlift stands alone as the heaviest weight ever lifted by a human being and certainly one of the greatest strength feats of all time. This is not a picture of Anderson's record lift but one of many backlifts he performed in front of crowds as he traveled the country giving speeches. Including the human weight and weight of the platform, this is probably close to a ton and "Big Paul" makes it look easy.

    Labels: , , , , ,


    Sunday, December 09, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Tuesday, December 04, 2007

  • The Double Bent Wrench

  • The Double Bent WrenchThe Double Bent Wrench

    It's hard enough to bend a wrench one time but Dennis Rogers can bend one twice... It's a very tough feat that takes incredible grip strength to accomplish.

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Tuesday, December 04, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Sunday, November 04, 2007

  • The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt

  • The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship BeltThe Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt

    Warren Lincoln Travis Warren Lincoln Travis, wearing his Championship BeltRichard K. Fox was the publisher of "The Police Gazette" a 19th century magazine which reported on boxing, wrestling and feats of strength that might interest the public.

    It was Richard K. Fox who introduced the idea of the "Championship Belt" to the United States -- bestowing "The Police Gazette" championship belt to Jake Kilrain (and won shortly afterwards by John L. Sullivan in a greuling 75-round bare knuckle match.)

    The idea was simple -- whomever wanted the belt had to win it in a challenge match.

    Richard K. Fox also created a similar belt for the "Heavyweight Strongman Champion" of the world, with the first "title holder" being Louis Cyr whom Fox had managed on several tours of England.
    Cyr retired undefeated and eventually passed his title on to the great Warren Lincoln Travis who held it for his entire life. I will provide Travis' Challenge feats on a diiferent date.

    The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt now resides at the York Barbell Company Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania.

    Labels: , , , , , ,


    Sunday, November 04, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Thursday, November 01, 2007

  • Bill Pettis: 23-1/4 Inch Arms

  • Bill Pettis 23-1/4 Inch ArmsBill Pettis: 23-1/4 Inch Arms

    There were a lot of big guys during the 1970's West Coast Bodybuilding Scene -- but none bigger than Bill Pettis.

    He's not a name you see mentioned much because he had no interest in competing - just building the biggest and strongest arms he possibly could.

    Looks like he succeeded.

    As reported by Iron Man Magazine in 1975, his workouts were legendary -- 100 sets of arm work, standing triceps curls with 315 pounds on the bar, 180 pound curls and endless sets of pushups to "flush gallons of blood through the great muscle mass and get an extreme pump."

    On several occasions his entire workout consisted of 3000 or more pushups (which took him five hours!)

    Among his other lifts you can also add a 475 bench press and a squat with 620 pounds.

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Thursday, November 01, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, October 17, 2007

  • Pat Povilaitis: Baseball Bat Break Over Head

  • Pat Povilaitis Baseball Bat Break Over HeadPat Povilaitis: Baseball Bat Break Over Head

    Do NOT try this at home! Pat Povilaitis is a trained professional, plus he is a little crazy which helps when he does something like this. Yes, that's a genuine Louisville Slugger. You can catch some of Pat's other crazy strength feats in 336 Pounds of Fury

    Labels: , , , ,


    Wednesday, October 17, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Wednesday, August 22, 2007

  • The Strength of Paul Anderson

  • The Many Strength Feats of Paul Anderson

    Back in the mid-1940's, Paul Anderson started lifting weights to get bigger for football and just kept growing. He eventually became one of the strongest men of all time while establishing many strength records and winning the Gold Medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia.

    Paul Anderson was also a Senior World Champion and a 2-time Senior National Champion in Weightlifting. He set nine World Records and Eighteen American records during his career and retired undefeated.

    He was also incredibly strong in what would eventually become the three Power Lifts: the squat, bench press and deadlift.

    Here's a look at some of Paul Anderson's record lifts:

  • Squat: 1185 lbs.

  • Bench Press: 625 lbs.

  • Deadlift Record without Straps: 780 lbs.

  • Deadlift Record with "Hooks": 820 lbs.

  • Clean & Press: 485 lbs.

  • Clean & Jerk: 485 lbs.

  • Snatch: 375 lbs.

  • Push Press: 545 lbs.

  • Back Lift: 6270 lbs.

  • Dumbbell Side Press: 240 lbs. x 40 / 300 lbs. x 11


  • Paul Anderson Deadlifting

    Labels: , , , , , , ,


    Wednesday, August 22, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

    <<< BLOG Home

    All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved

    Bookmark and Share

    Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!

    This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.

    Monthly Archives