Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Jean Francois LeBretonJean Francois LeBreton was the lightweight lifting champion of France in the early 1900's. One of his greatest lifts was a one-arm dumbbell swing of 200 pounds which was made at a bodyweight of 200 pounds. -- An achievement which puts him among the strongest of all time in this lift.
Labels: Dumbbell Swing, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Jean Francois LeBreton, One Arm Swing
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Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Lille Athletic ClubIn 1885, Professor Desbonnet established a school of physical culture in his home town of Lille, in northern France. Here's a look at its members and some of their classic equipment, circa 1901. Desbonnet himself is pictured on the far right.
Labels: Block Weights, Chest Expander, Detroit Athletic Club, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Professor Desbonnet, The Lille Athletic Club
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Monday, December 21, 2009
Apollon PosterHere's one you don't see every day: a rare poster, circa 1895, advertising the performance of the great French strongman Apollon. In addition to feats of strength, Apollon was also a very good animal trainer. One unique feat of strength which encompassed both areas of his expertise was for Apollon to lift a full grown lion and carry the beast around on his shoulders.
Labels: Apollon, Block Weights, French Strongman, Lion, Performing Strongman, Poster, Strongman Poster
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Sunday, December 06, 2009
Julius CochardThe French strongman, Julius Cochard, possessed an unusual level of strength and endurance. His best known feat was to carry a 220-pound sack on his shoulders for a distance of 112 miles. It took him just under a week to cover that distance. He was also very adept at feats of finger strength, being able to snatch and swing 110-pound dumbbell with only one finger.
Labels: Endurance Feat, Finger Strength, French Strongman, Julius Cochard, One Finger Lift, One Finger Snatch
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Saturday, December 05, 2009
Dr. RouhetDr. Georges Rouhet is shown here demonstrating an overhead press with his favorite barbell.
Labels: Barbell, Dr. Georges Rouhet, French Strongman, Globe Dumbbells, Overhead Press
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Professor DesbonnetProfessor Edmond Desbonnet is often called "The Father of Modern Weightlifting" - and for good reason, there are a lot of "firsts" associated with his name. A few good examples: he was the first to compile a records table of great performances, the first to introduce referees into a weightlifting competition and the first to codify the press, snatch and jerk into competitive lifts.
Desbonnet opened several schools of physical training (including in 1900, the Halterophile Club de France) and wrote a number of incredible books and courses dealing with strength training and early physical culture. All of his books are detailed and extremely rare. His two most famous titles are Les Rois de la Lutte(The Kings of Wrestling) and Les Rois de la Force (The Kings of Strength).
Labels: French Strongman, Physical Culture Pioneer, Professor Desbonnet
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
Ernest CadineAnother classic shot of the great French Weightlifter Ernest Cadine doing his thing with some classic iron. That looks like one hell of a fine place to train.
Labels: Classic Equipment, Classic Strongman Gyms, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
"Classic Equipment"How you you like to train with this classis equipment? I know I sure would. This group of folks is the "Club Athletique de l'Union Sportive Briviste" - friends and students of Professor Desbonnet. Note the ring weight and chest expander among the other globe barbells and dumbbells.
Labels: Chest Expander, Classic Equipment, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Lifting Club, Professor Desbonnet, Ring Weights
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Pierre BonnesPierre Bonnes was a great French strongman and weightlifter who was at his best in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1898, he set the "official" world record in the One Arm Snatch with a lift of 85.5 kilos. He bested this lift on several other occasions albeit under unofficial conditions. Bonnes also won the "World Strength Championship" in 1903 and 1905.
Labels: French Strongman, one arm snatch, Pierre Bonnes
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Friday, July 03, 2009
Charles RigoulotThe great French Strongman Charles Rigoulot is shown here in a rare shot about to perform a one-arm dumbbell swing with 194 pounds.
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, Dumbbell Swing, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Dumbbell
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Ernest Cadine ~ Dumbbell SwingIn this classic photo it's not hard to see why the great French weightlifter Ernest Cadine was so formidable. He got this 150 pound dumbbell overhead by way of the "swing". This picture was probably taken at Le Gaulois' place.
Labels: Cannon, Dumbbell Swing, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Noel Le Gaulois, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Swing
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Monday, May 04, 2009
Young ApollonThe famous French strongman Louis "Apollon" Uni at 19 years of age. As the story goes he ran off and joined the circus at 14 and started performing as a strongman a year later. Even at this young age, Apollon's potential for great strength is evident by his thick bone structure. Strength ran in the family, it as said that he was descended from Pompelius Unicus, an undefeated Roman Gladiator.
Labels: Apollon, Circus Strongman, French Strongman, Globe Dumbbell, Louis Uni, Oldtime Strongman
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Apollon - "Le Roi des Athletes"An extremely rare posterof the great French Strongman Apollon. he was called "Le Roi des Athletes" (The King of Athletes) for good reason, even a hundred years later no one has even come close to bettering any of his feats. He is shown performing a Muscle Out with a ring weight and a small horse! Apollon's famous wheels are pictured as well.
Labels: Apollon, Apollon's Wheels, Feats of Strength, French Strongman, Muscle Out, Poster, Ring Weights
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Noel Le GauloisThe French strongman Noel Le Gaulois was the man to beat at certain lifts in the late 19th century. At the Brussels exhibition of 1897, he performed a two-arm snatch with 220 pounds, a 253-pound two-arm jerk and a 143-pound one-arm snatch... All lifts which would still be respectable a century later.
He could also lift a full wine barrel. Like many strongmen of the period, he was also a very good wrestler. Later on, Le Gaulois owned a café/gymnasium which was the gathering place for the famous strongmen of the day.
Labels: Barrel Lifting, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Jerk, Noel Le Gaulois, Oldtime Strongman, one arm snatch, Snatch
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Saturday, March 14, 2009
Dr. RouhetDr. Rouhet, the great French physical culture instructor, shows off his ability and his training equipment. His favorite feat was to muscle out a 44-pound French ring weight which he does here while also pressing a huge globe dumbbell. Among the other great oldtime equipment, note the heavy indian club on the left. The picture dates to 1910.
Labels: Dr. Georges Rouhet, Dr. Rouhet, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Heavy Indian Clubs, Muscle Out, Physical Culture, Press
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Charles PoireThe great French strongman Charles Poire was most famous for his heavy presses, jerks and curling ability. His upper arm development was also second to none. In the late 19th century Poire was said to have the best arms in France.
Labels: Arm Development, Charles Poire, French Strongman, Oldtime Strongman
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
Charles RigoulotCharles Rigoulot was the last great strongmen to lift primarily shot-loaded globe barbells. He did so until late in the 20s, well after plate-loaded equipment became the norm. The very last Olympic Games which gave lifters a choice between using "new" barbells and plates and "outdated" Shot-Loaded globe barbells was at the 1924 games held in Paris, France.
...The very same games where Rigoulot won the gold medal in the heavyweight class. He was the only lifter in the contest to choose shot-loaded barbells. Perhaps he knew a secret...
Labels: 1924 Olympics, Charles Rigoulot, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Shot Loaded, Shot Loaded Barbells
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Thursday, December 18, 2008
| Another great shot of the champion French Weight lifter Ernest Cadine at the conclusion of a heavy one-arm snatch. Even though the quality of this old picture is not perfect, Cadine's incredible muscle density is evident. It's not hard to see why he won the gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games, likely around the same time this picture was taken. Note the cannon on the wall behind him. Yes, it was used specifically for lifting purposes. |  Ernest Cadine |
Labels: 1920 Olympics, Cannon, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Gold Medal, one arm snatch
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Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Ernest Cadine Lifts Some Classic IronAn extremely rare shot of the great French Weightlifter Ernest Cadine deadlifting a classic globe barbell. Is this the same globe barbell that Tommy Kono lifted here? It's certainly possible.
Labels: Deadlift, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Tommy Kono
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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, August 01, 2008
Charles RigoulotIn July of 1924, Charles Rigoulot was crowned the light-heavyweight Champion at the Olympic Games held in Paris, France. Today there are only two Olympic lifts, but things were a little different back then when a variety of lifts were contested.
Here's a look at Rigoulot's championship numbers: One-Hand snatch: 197-1/2 pounds, One-Hand Clean and Jerk: 203-1/2 pounds, Two-Hands Military Press: 187 pounds, Two-Hands Snatch: 225-1/2 pounds, Two-Hands Clean and Jerk: 297 pounds.
As you can see, Rigoulot was a little low in the press at this time but more than made up for it with his snatching ability. Rigoulot's total of 1103-1/2 pounds was the third highest of the entire competition... and, interestingly enough he also used shot-loaded globes instead of normal plate-loaded equipment like his competitors.
Labels: 1924 Olympics, Charles Rigoulot, Clean and Jerk, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Gold Medal, Olympic Games, one arm snatch, Paris France, Press, Total
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ernest CadineErnest Cadine was a French Weightlifter who won the Gold Medal at the 1920 Olympic Games held in Antwerp, Belgium. He set six World records over his competitive career.
In 1925, Cadine performed a one-arm swing with 90 kilos which was actually greater than his own bodyweight. He could also right hand snatch 211 pounds and one-hand deadlifted the famous Apollon Wheels.
Labels: 1920 Olympics, Apollon's Wheels, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Gold Medal, Olympics
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Thursday, February 07, 2008
Pierre GasnierPierre Gasnier was the quintessential Oldtime Strongman: BIlled as the "French Hercules," He performed feats of strength for the Barnum and Bailey circus in the late 1890's: tearing decks of cards, bending horseshoes, breaking chains, and lifting his special "challenge weight" globe dumbbell shown here.
The dumbbell had a handle of 2" in diameter and weighs 236 French Livres (which equals 260 pounds) Gasnier weighed only 138 pounds at a height of 5'3" yet was able to lift the weight with ease, a feat that such other noted strongmen such as Sebastian Miller, Hans Beck, and Franz "Cyclops" Bienkowski could not duplicate.
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Circus Strongman, Cyclops, Franz Bienkowski, French Strongman, Globe Dumbbell, Hans Beck, Oldtime Strongman, Pierre Gasnier, Sebastian Miller
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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, January 18, 2008
| The "Muscle Out" is an oldtime lift where a weight is held at arms length to the front or side of the body. Generally a block weight or ring weight was used. This lift is quite a test of shoulder strength. If you can accomplish this feat with a 56-pound weight, like the French gentleman on the right, you are indeed strong. |  The Muscle Out |
Labels: Blockweights, Exercise, French Strongman, Muscle Out, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Ring Weights, Shoulder Exercise
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
 The Arm of Apollon |  ApollonIt has been said that Apollon is the greatest of the Oldtime Strongmen and this picture shows a pretty good reason why. This is a rare photograph made of a plaster cast of Apollon's arm when he was in his prime. While Apollon's upper arm is certainly impressive at over 20 inches, it is his 16-1/2-inch forearm which simply boggles the mind. It should be no surprise why Apollon was so adept at feats of grip strength. |
Labels: Apollon, Arm of Apollon, Forearm Strength, French Strongman, Oldtime Strongman
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Sunday, December 16, 2007
 Apollon | The great French Strongman Apollon was well known for his grip feats. With reported 19-inch Forearms and 9-inch long hands, it's not hard to see why. This allowed him to toy with thick-handled weights that few other strongmen could even budge off the ground. |
Labels: Apollon, Forearm Strength, French Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Thick Bar Lifting
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Saturday, July 07, 2007
| Henri Toch was a French strongman in the late 1800's who was billed as "L'Homme Canon" or "The Cannon Man." It was with pretty good reason, his unique performance included the incredible strength feat of holding 365 Kilogram Cannon on his shoulders while it fired. |  - Henri Toch - "The Cannon Man" |
Labels: Cannon, Cannon Lifting, Cannon Man, French Strongman, Henri Toch, Odd Object Lifting, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Performing Strongman, Strongman Feat
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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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