Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Signor Lawanda: The Iron jawed ManSignor Lawanda: The Iron jawed Man got his name with good reason. His signature feat was lifting several men seated on a barrel by his teeth. The top picture shows him at 20 years old and the neck and jaw development is quite pronounced.
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Circus Strongman, Iron Jawed Man, Jaw Strength, Neck Strength, Signor Lawanda
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, December 02, 2009
Kong ~ Neck StrengthAnother classic shot of the man named "Kong" and his amazing neck strength. This looks to be a fairly "easy" (at least for him) lift of around 200 pounds.
Labels: Kong, Neck Development, Neck Lift, Neck Strap, Neck Strength
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
Thursday, November 05, 2009
John J. Hajnos - The Navy HerculesJohn J. Hajnos, originally of California, became a professional strongman after serving in the Navy in World War I. He performed a number of traditional feats but his most well-known is pictured here, supporting a fellow office (in this case J.F. Kaska, who weighed 175 pounds) seated in a chair clenched between his jaws - an incredible test of balance as well as neck/jaw strength.
Hajnos was a student of Lionel Strongfort and actually once defeated Warren Lincoln Travis on one occasion at an impromptu contest held at Coney Island.
Labels: Jaw Strength, John J. Hajnos, Lionel Strongfort, Navy Hercules, Neck Strength, Performing Strongman, Strongfortism, Warren Lincoln Travis
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
Monday, October 12, 2009
Neck TrainingPhysical training was frowned upon for many years by the medical community but there were still many athletes who understood its value, even way back when. Here's a fellow who did: Chalmer William "Bill" Cissell, who was playing infield for the Chicago White Sox at the time this photo was taken.
Cissell regularly trained at the gym in the winter months to keep himself fit and trim for the season. This was back in the late 1920's mind you. Among the basic exercises he chose for his workout was this novel way to build neck strength using a Wall Pulley
Labels: Build Neck Strength, Neck Strength, Wall Pulleys
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, September 16, 2009
Pat Povilaitis: The Human ViseWhy do they call Pat Povilaitis "The Human Vise" ? One reason is because he is always doing crazy feats like this one: bending a 7" X 5/16" piece of steel with 150 pounds hanging from his head.
Labels: Human Vise, Neck Strength, Pat Povilaitis, Steel Bending
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
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Professor Leo StevensThanks in large part to Professor Attila, New York City was a hotbed of strongman activity during the early 20th century. One of his pupils was Professor Leo Stevens who is shown here balanced precariously on a few chairs with a heavy barbell strapped around his neck at the same time. Professor Stevens was sickly for most of his life and took up regular physical (at 46 years old!) to cure his ills - it looks like it worked.
Labels: Hand Balancing, Hand Balancing Feat, Neck Strength, New York Strongman, Professor Attila, Professor Leo Stevens
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, August 12, 2009
Got Neck?If you want to look strong (not to mention also be strong) then you had better train your neck. This fellow, a football player at the University of Tennessee Martin, named Hunter Carter had some help from Mother Nature in that department but he also did quite a bit of work with a Neck Helmet which obviously paid off. You'll find him featured in the July, 1976 issue of Muscular Development Magazine in an article on neck training by Carl H. Giles.
Labels: Build Neck Strength, Carl H. Giles, Muscular Development, Neck Development, Neck Helmet, Neck Strength
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
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
| "I wish to impress upon all my students the great value of physical training connected with the bridge exercise. I want you to practice bridging every day, for you can find nothing that will develop the neck and back muscles to such an extent as bridging will do. You already realize the importance of a very strong neck and it is entirely up to you to have a wonderful neck or not, depending entirely on the amount of study, and time of practice that you give the subject. A strong, well-developed neck is not only valuable to health and your personal athletic appearance, but important in wrestling as well." ~ Farmer Burns, 1912 |  Farmer Burns on the Wrestler's Bridge |
Labels: Build Neck Strength, Farmer Burns, Farmer Burns Workout, Neck Bridge, Neck Strength
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
Sunday, June 28, 2009
"Ya Gotta Use Your Head!"Steve Jeck is fond of saying that if you want to be a great stone lifter then ya gotta use your head. Here, he shows what he means -- at least in one sense. I don't know the weight of that particular stone but it sure doesn't look light.
Labels: Neck Strap, Neck Strength, Steve Jeck, Stone Lifting
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
Monday, June 22, 2009
Earle E. Liederman on Neck Development"I have always contended that there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to have a scrawny or ungainly looking neck, when a few minutes devoted every other day to the care and welfare of this part of the body would not only make the pupil feel better, but would change his appearance completely."
~ Earle E. Liederman
Labels: Earle E. Liederman, Neck Development, Neck Strength, Neck Training
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
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Jack Walsh - Ouch!New Jersey strongman Jack Walsh had quite a few unusual talents... Here's Jack lifting 500 pounds with his head, and putting a nice groove in his skull at the same time. Don't try this one at home.
Labels: Feats of Strength, Head Lift, Jack Walsh, Neck Strength
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, April 22, 2009
Mike Dayton Holds Back a Hot Rod "Think of the outcome you want and firmly
believe in your ability to achieve it."
believe in your ability to achieve it."
Strongman/Bodybuilder Mike Dayton holds back a Hot Rod for the "That's Incredible!" TV show. He could also break a regulation pair of handcuffs, broke baseball bats over his leg, bent coins and performed The Hangman's Drop. Dayton was big on the power of the mind and attributed this training to his ability to perform all of these amazing feats. He even put out a course on the subject back in the 1970s entitled "Chi Mind Control" (which is all but impossible to find.)
Labels: Bat Break, Chi Mind Control, Hangman's Drop, Mike Dayton, Mind Strength, Neck Strength, Strength Feat
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
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Joe RagusaStrongman Joe Ragusa does a... actually I don't know what you call this one.. a neck lift? ... either way it looks pretty extreme. The bar is loaded to 655 pounds and it sure doesn't look very comfortable. Joe could also do a two-finger deadlift with 515 pounds and backlift an Elephant. This picture was snapped at Muscle Beach.
Labels: Back Lift, Elephant, Heavy Partial Movements, Heavy Weight, Joe Ragusa, Muscle Beach, Neck Strength
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
Friday, April 03, 2009
Jaw StrengthMany of the oldtime strongmen used teeth lifting in their performances and also as a neck developer. If you do decide to incorporate this lift into your training, please do so safely. Here's a classic shot of Jim Murray, managing editor of Strength and Health Magazine using aYork custom-made mouthpiece to lift a 200-pound dumbbell.
Labels: Dumbbell, Jaw Lifting, Jaw Strength, Neck Exercise, Neck Strength, Strength and Health Magazine, York Barbell Club t-shirt
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
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Hammer Strength Neck MachineEveryone should train their neck, but it is especially important if you play football. The Hammer Strength neck machine is the best one I have ever used -- and I've tried 'em all. Do it strict with no monkey business and you'll go up a few collar sizes in no time.
Labels: Build Neck Strength, Hammer Strength, Hammer Strength Neck Machine, Neck Development, Neck Machine, Neck Strength, Strength machine
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, March 11, 2009
Neck Training With Sonny ListonThe great boxer Sonny Liston used to strengthen his neck by doing a headstand on a table and working his body back and forth then left and right, in order to hit all four "sides" of the neck.
I can say from experience that this a very effective movement.
This picture was taken in 1962 while Liston was in training to face Floyd Patterson for the Heavyweight Championship of the World. In the fight, Liston knocked out Patterson in the first round and then did so again in the rematch the next year. - He was a bad man.
Labels: Bodyweight Exercise, Bodyweight Training, Boxing, Boxing Training, Floyd Patterson, Neck Strength, Neck Training, Sonny Liston
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
Joseph Vitole's Record Teeth LiftA 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: Earle E. Liederman, Feat, Jaw Strength, Joseph Vitole, Neck Strength, Strength Feat, Teeth Lifting
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
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Cannon Lifting!If it's heavy, you can bet some oldtime strongman has tried to lift it in a unique manner. As this Strongman demonstrates, here's one way to lift a cannon: with your teeth!
Labels: Cannon, Cannon Lifting, Feats of Strength, Jaw Lifting, Jaw Strength, Neck Strength, Odd Object Lifting, Teeth Lifting
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
Sunday, February 08, 2009
"Old Joe" Taylor"Old Joe" Taylor of Hamilton, Ontario does a bit of Neck Training. He was the only man in the whole city able to perform the feat shown here: lifting a 250-pound block of stone with his neck in this manner. "Old Joe" was 70 years old at the time, stood 5'6" and weighed only 118 pounds. We'll cover a few of Joe's other amazing strength feats at a later date.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Joe Taylor, Neck Lift, Neck Strength
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
Friday, January 09, 2009
Signor Lawanda - The Iron Jawed ManSig 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: Barrel, Circus Strongman, Feat, Iron Jawed Man, Jaw Strength, Neck Strength, P.T. Barnum, Signor Lawanda, Teeth Lifting
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, December 31, 2008
Neck StrengthBuilding a strong neck is a good idea... but especially if you plan on doing crazy things like this. That's me holding a full nose-to-mat neck bridge with 168-pound pat Povilaitis standing on top of me while bending a red nail. It took me a long time to build up this level of neck strength. DON'T try this at home.
Labels: Bodyweight Feat, John Wood, Neck Bridge, Neck Strength, Pat Povilaitis
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, December 10, 2008
The Neck HelmetA "strongman" should be strong everywhere and that means building a strong neck too. One of the best ways to build a thicker stronger neck is by using a "neck helmet" a football helmet with a retrofitted weight horn. This setup makes it very easy to train the neck from several different directions. This particular neck helmet was using some plans from an old issue of Iron Man Magazine and has been in use for over 10 years (no, it's not for sale.)
Labels: Equipment, Iron Man Magazine, Neck Exercise, Neck Helmet, Neck Strength, Unique Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment
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
Thursday, December 04, 2008
The Wrestler's BridgeThe wrestler's bridge is a great exercise, but it isn't for everyone. Regardless, one of the areas that you should pay particular attention to building is the strength of your neck. Here's the course that taught me how to bridge correctly: Combat Conditioning.
Labels: Bodyweight Exercise, Neck Exercise, Neck Strength, Wrestlers Bridge
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
Monday, June 23, 2008
Teeth Lifting was a favorite feat of many oldtime strongmen, and this particular mouthpiece was sold by the York Barbell Company in the pages of Strength and Health Magazine Several hundred pounds can be lifted in this manner and this type of lifting will build incredible neck and jaw strength, however, we do NOT recommend this style of lifting (If you decide to do it anyway, please have a dentist onhand.)
Teeth Lifting BitLabels: Jaw Lifting, Jaw Strength, Neck Strength, Strength and Health Magazine, Teeth Lifting, Unusual Training Equipment, York Barbell Company
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, May 07, 2008
Joseph VitoleAt 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: Feat, Joseph Vitole, Neck Strength, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Teeth Lifting
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
Friday, March 28, 2008
 The Neck Strap | A strong neck not only looks impressive, it can save your life too - especially if you play football. Not to mention that since you should train every part of your body, neck strength is simply a part of a complete program. Also, since your neck may not be used to intense training, you will likely experience impressive results rather quickly. The neck strap has long been an effective method for building neck strength, it's quick, portable and can be used by just about any athlete -- plus, if your name is Pat Povilaitis, you can hang an engine block from it while you bend a horse shoe... |
Labels: Neck Strap, Neck Strength, Pat Povilaitis, Training Equipment
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
Friday, December 07, 2007
| Farmer Burns built his neck strength to such an advanced level that he could literally "hang" himself with a noose, including the drop, -- and live. That's pretty intense as this rare photograph shows (DO NOT try this at home.) His theory was simple -- one of the most important physical training goals of any combat athlete is to build the neck to the point that no one can choke you out. The "Old Farmer" built up his neck strength with his favorite exercise: The Wrestler's Bridge |  Farmer Burns: The Hangman's Drop |
Labels: Combat Athlete, Farmer Burns, Neck Strength, Wrestlers Bridge
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
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.
Previous Posts
Featured Products
Monthly Archives
Not yet a member? Subscribe now to receive daily doses of Strongman history, training tips, and site updates!
Copyright © 2010 Thunderdome Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved