Saturday, February 20, 2010
Hermann Goerner: The Human LinkHermann Goerner was one of the many strongmen who performed The Human Link. Even eight men on each side was child's play for the Mighty German strongman.
Labels: Classic Strongman Feats, Hermann Goerner, Human Link
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Goerner's DeadliftHermann Goerner was a fan of the deadlift... every kind of deadlift you can imagine. He lifted two fingers of each hand, he lifted with only his middle fingers, and he did them with one hand. Shown here is Goerner one arm lifting a stone block of 660 German pfunds - the standard measurement at the time.
Goerner's feat was featured on an advertising poster for the Greco-Roman wrestling championships held in Dresden, Germany from September 8th to the 12th back in 1920.
Labels: Dresden, German Strongman, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Hermann Goerner, One Arm Deadlift
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Hermann GoernerHermann Goerner was never too far from the weights, even when he was on vacation. Here he snatches 190 pounds with one arm, in street clothes and standing ankle deep in loose sand. - Now that's strong.
Labels: Feats of Strength, German Strongman, Globe Barbell, Hermann Goerner, One hand Snatch
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Wednesday, August 05, 2009
W.A. Pullum's Plank FeatAnother popular Oldtime Strongman feat was to support a heavy weight with a "leg press" of a wooden plank and a lockout with a barbell with the upper body.
The great strongman W.A. Pullum was exceptional at this feat and often used it in his performances. Pullum weighed only 120 lbs. yet was able to work up to eventually supporting nine men on the plank and three more on the barbell - a weight of over 2000 lbs.
You can also see this feat performed by Kurt Saxon, Arthur Saxon and Hermann Goerner.
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Hermann Goerner, Kurt Saxon, Leg Press, Supporting Feat, W.A. Pullum
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hermann GoernerHere the great German strongman Hermann Goerner does an improvised curl with a stocky kid (who happens to be Tromp Van Digglen's son, "Lil' Hercules").
Labels: Curl, Hermann Goerner, Human Lift, Tromp Van Diggelen
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Monday, June 01, 2009
The Middle Finger DeadliftIt's not often that one of Hermann Goerner's records is broken, let alone broken by over 100 pounds (!) but that is exactly what you are witnessing here. John McLoughlin, a 198 pound lifter from the German American A.C. in New York City is shown here deadlifting 411 pounds with the middle fingers of each hand.
This lift broke Goerner's old record of 308 pounds which he set back in the 1920's. I can say from experience that this type of lifting ain't exactly a walk in the park.
Labels: finger lifting, Finger Strength, Hermann Goerner, John McLoughlin, Single Finger Lifts, The Middle Finger Deadlift
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
Paul TrappenThe German strongman and weightlifter Paul Trappen's name isn't mentioned very often but it certainly should be. At the 1913 German weightlifting Championships Trappen defeated both Karl Moerke and Hermann Goerner to win the heavyweight title. Some of his best lifts were a 320 pound Clean and Jerk, 215 pounds in the one hand clean and jerk and 183 pounds in the one arm press.
All impressive marks but the lift which he should be remembered best for is his harness lift of a pair of oxen totaling 5225 pounds - that would make his performance the greatest ever recorded in that particular lift.
Trappen also performed for the Barnum and Bailey Circus as did some wrestling as well in addition to feats of strength.
Labels: Barnum and Bailey Circus, Clean and Jerk, German Strongman, Harness Lifting, Hermann Goerner, Karl Moerke, One Arm Clean and Jerk, One Arm Press, Paul Trappen, Supporting Feat, Wrestler
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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
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Goerner The MightyOne of Hermann Goerner's favorite feats was a "leg press" support of a group of folks seated on a wooden plank. His best performance of this feat was twenty four men totaling over 4100 pounds.
Labels: Feats of Strength, Goerner The Mighty, Hermann Goerner, Leg Press, Supporting 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
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Edgar Muller's GymEdgar Muller's Gym in Leipzig, Germany where Hermann Goerner did most of his training. Note the posters of the Saxon Trio performing their human bridge feat, Goerner in the middle, Pagel's Circus and the incredible selection of kettlebells.
Labels: Circus Poster, Circus Strongman, Classic Strongman Gyms, Edgard Muller, Hermann Goerner, Human Bridge, Kettlebells, Saxon Trio
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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, January 15, 2009
Hermann Goerner's Challenge BarbellA look at Hermann Goerner's challenge barbell: 330-3/4 pounds with a 2-3/8-inch thick handle. Goerner could easily clean and jerk this unique barbell without moving his feet, a feat no one else was ever able to duplicate.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Hermann Goerner, Thick Bar, Thick Handle
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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Hermann Goerner's Human Bridge FeatA look at Hermann Goerner's incredible "Human Bridge" stunt where he supports a platform on his shoulders while an automobile loaded with passengers drives over it.
It was said that at the heaviest point in this feat, Goerner supported over 3000 pounds on his shoulders.
This may not be quite as heavy or as dangerous as Lionel Strongfort's Human Bridge Feat but it's still very impressive.
Labels: German Strongman, Hermann Goerner, Human Bridge, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Supporting 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
Sunday, December 16, 2007
 Hermann Goerner | The German Strongman Hermann Goerner specialized on unusual feats of grip strength. Here's a great lift you can try -- the 4-finger deadlift (that's using the index and middle fingers of each hand.) This picture shows Goerner lifting 595-1/2 pounds in that manner on November 30th, 1933, in Leipzig, Germany. |
Labels: Deadlift, German Strongman, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Hermann Goerner
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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, November 13, 2007
Tromp Van Diggelen - The South African HerculesTromp Van Diggelen survived a sickly childhood to become a traveling performing strongman and one of the true unsung heroes of strength history.
His performing feats were certainly impressive (such as the 210 pound "barrel lift" barbell press above) but it was his work behind the scenes which he should be remembered best.
It was Tromp Van Diggelen who discovered "Max Sick" and had him change his name to Maxick.
Van Digglen also managed Joseph Steinbach and Hermann Goerner and also founded The British Amateur Weightlifting Association (BAWLA).
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Hermann Goerner, Joseph Steinbach, Maxick, Oldtime Strongman, Press, Tromp Van Diggelen
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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, November 04, 2007
| It was on this date in 1932 in Leipzig, Germany that Hermann Goerner performed a tremendous feat of curling strength. With the barbell in the "hang clean" position, Goerner curled 242-1/2 pounds (110 Kilos)using sheer arm power and without any body swing. |  Hermann Goerner |
Labels: Arm Development, Bicep Strength, Curl, Hermann Goerner, 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
Saturday, October 06, 2007
A Look Inside Hermann Goerner's Oldtime GymIf you're a true strength fan, you can't help but love shots of classic gyms filled with classic equipment. Here's a look at one corner of Hermann Goerner's classic gym. Notice the Globe Barbells, thick-handled equipment, row of kettlebells likely used for the "Die Kette" workout.
Also notice the throwing weights attached to the wall and the Arthur Saxon circus poster on the upper left.
That must have been one hell of a fun place to train...
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Hermann Goerner, Kettlebells, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Throwing Weights
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
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
 German StrongmanHermann Goerner Here's a peek into the training area of one of the greatest of the oldtime strongmen: Hermann Goerner. Notice the rack of kettlebells which were likely used for the famous "Die Kette" workout. |  Goerner's Gym |
Labels: Chest Expander, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Hermann Goerner, Kettlebells
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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