Wednesday, January 27, 2010

  • Dr. Ken Leistner: The 12th Man to lift "The Water Barrel" at Zuver's Hall of Fame Gym


  • It was on July 1st, 1968 that Dr. Ken became the 12th man to lift the Zuver's Gym "challenge" water barrel overhead. Nobody knows exactly how much the barrel weighed but it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 200-250 lbs. And, if you have done any barrel lifting, you know that it's a whole different deal than a barbell. If you ever get to talk to Dr. Ken, get him to tell you the story on how this came about.

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    Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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    Tuesday, November 10, 2009

  • Keg Training With Kevin Tolbert


  • Here's Kevin Tolbert having a little "fun" with a loaded keg, outside Dr. Ken's place, sometime in the 1980's. Kevin was an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan for the last few years that I was there -- and yes, he is still training hard. Kevin is currently an assistant strength coach at Stanford University in California.

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    Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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  • Cannon Lifting


  • If it wasn't nailed down, you can bet that many of the Oldtime Strongmen tried to lift it - and succeeded more often than not. Here George 'Rasso' Stanglemeier lifts a cannon and two more fellows along for the ride. Stanglemeier was particularly adept at heavy supporting feats and I bet this one went over very well during his performances.

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    Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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    Tuesday, August 04, 2009

  • Horse Lifting


  • One of the more unusual (and quite impressive) oldtime strongman feats was to lift a horse through the use of a climbing ladder. The German strongman William Pagel (left) pioneered this feat in the circus in the early 1900's. Many other strongmen followed in his footsteps including the Australian strongman Don Athaldo (right), Paul Baillargeon and Alexander Zass.

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    Tuesday, August 04, 2009

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    Thursday, June 25, 2009

  • Archie Vanderpool


  • If you want to practice heavy partial deadlifts or hand-and-thigh lifts, you'll want a setup like Archie Vanderpool here. The strongman (and proud member of the York Barbell Club) from Woodbine, Iowa, specialized on a number of unusual -- and very heavy -- lifts. For example, his record in the lift shown was 1840 pounds. He also liked to do things like shouldering a 1100 pound railroad rail and then going for a walk.

    He also reported carrying a barbell loaded to 400 pounds for a distance of 80 feet. If this looks and sounds familiar, it's because Archie was good friends with Steve Justa's father.

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    Thursday, June 25, 2009

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    Monday, June 15, 2009

  • Shaolin Log Lifting


  • They may not lift barbells but they still lift "weights". This particular Shaolin Monk is shown building shoulder and upper-body strength with a wooden log. ~ Any kind of object can build strength, so long as it is trained with in a progressive manner.

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    Monday, June 15, 2009

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    Saturday, June 06, 2009

  • Basque Stone Lifting


  • You can find Stone Lifting in many different cultures but none are more famous -- or stronger - than the Basque people of Northern Spain where stone lifting is their ethnic sport known as Harrijasotzaileak.

    The Basques compete in stone lifting in several ways, either the heaviest possible stone for a single repetition or a lighter stone lifted for maximum repetitions in a short amount of time. In either case, a completed 'lift' is from the ground to the shoulder or upper chest. They also lift several different standardized shapes of stones, each with their own unique challenge. I will cover those at a later date.

    By the way, the current record for shouldering the heaviest possible stone is 329 kg by Mikeltxo Saralegui. - That's 724 pounds!

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    Saturday, June 06, 2009

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    Monday, June 01, 2009

  • Stone Carrying


  • Looking for a good test of mental strength? Try picking up a heavy stone and going for a walk. Carry as long as you can, the exercise only ends when you decide it does. Needless to say Steve Jeck is a big fan of this one.

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    Monday, June 01, 2009

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    Monday, May 11, 2009

  • What is Dinosaur Training? - Video Clip



  • A short video clip featuring Brooks Kubik and Dinosaur Training in action. Log lifting... Barrel Lifting... Anvil Lifting... John Davis... Doug Hepburn... John Grimek... Arthur Saxon... Heavy Dumbbells... Basement lifting... Power Rack Work... Grip Training... If you don't want your own copy after watching this then you had better check your pulse.

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    Monday, May 11, 2009

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    Wednesday, April 29, 2009

  • George Jowett: Anvil Lifting


  • "...Talking about feats with an anvil reminds me of a particular feat that I performed impromptu which takes a great amount of confidence as well as strength. It happened at one of the times that I picked up an anvil by the horn in a smithy shop, and after that stunt I pressed the anvil to arm's length by lying it on its broadside upon the flat of my hand, which is not as easy as it sounds. After I had done this I put the anvil on the floor on its base.

    We began to talk about various anvil feats being so difficult because of its awkward unbalanced construction. One man remarked that it would be some stunt to balance the anvil on the hand upside down. That meant the face would rest on the hand and the heavy wide base on top. Somehow I conceived the notion I could do it, and accordingly I took hold of the face with my right hand, and with the help of the left arm got the weight to the shoulder.

    Despite the wide base and the bad balance caused by same and the horn, I not only succeeded in balancing the anvil by its face, but pressed it to arm's length, to the amazement of all. I have done it many times since, and for this volume I performed the same feat, thinking it might interest my readers. The anvil weighed one hundred sixty-eight pounds..."
    George Jowett
    The Key to Might and Muscle, Chapter 9
    Written in 1926

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    Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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    Tuesday, April 14, 2009

  • Giving Bob Hoffman a Lift


  • Sometimes Bob Hoffman had to call up the York Gang when he needed a lift... That's Steve Stanko on the right and Stan Stanczyk on the left.

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    Tuesday, April 14, 2009

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    Monday, April 06, 2009

  • Mac Batchelor


  • Mac Bachelor was well-known for his feats of grip strength but he was a fine all around strength athlete. Here's 'Big mac' getting in an impromptu "odd object" workout while working at his tavern in California. Mac's thick bone structure is evident, it should come as no surprise why Mac was never defeated at armwrestling.

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    Monday, April 06, 2009

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    Friday, March 27, 2009

  • Sandbag Training


  • During the second World War, the military needed a way for large groups of people to build physical condition. Excess iron and steel was needed for the war effort so normal "weights" were out...

    Instead, they instituted a system of physical training which utilized sandbags. Above shows a session of sandbag training at the U.S. Navy pre-flight School in Athlens, Georgia, circa 1942.

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    Friday, March 27, 2009

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    Sunday, March 15, 2009

  • Pushing, Pulling, Carrying and Dragging


  • "Pushing, Pulling, Carrying and Dragging" pretty much sums up the foundation of a successful training program... and that is exactly what you'll be doing if you stop by Dr. Ken's place for a workout. Here's a look at a few of the unusual pieces of training equipment you'd be using: custom barbells to lift, anchor chain for dragging and other various rusty chunks of iron.

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    Sunday, March 15, 2009

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    Thursday, March 05, 2009

  • William Pagel


  • The German Strongman William Pagel used to perform an amazing feat of strength: carrying a 1050-pound horse to the top of two 18-foot ladders by the use of a harness. Even more amazing was that he did this for 10 shows a day. Pagel was also a great wild animal trainer.

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    Thursday, March 05, 2009

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    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!

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    Tuesday, February 17, 2009

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    Saturday, January 10, 2009

  • Odd Object Lifting in Ancient Japan



  • Barrel lifting goes back a little farther than Dnosaur Training...

    The Japanese painter Hokusai is best-known as author of the woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji and his most recognized print The Great Wave of Kanagawa.

    Among his many drawings was this one, "Sakadaru o sashiageru otoko" showing a man lifting a sake barrel overead with one arm.
    This drawing was completed sometime around the year 1810 but the one-arm press is still a great exercise.

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    Saturday, January 10, 2009

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    Friday, December 12, 2008

  • De Arte Gymnastica by Hieronimus Mercurialis


  • It doesn't get any more "Old School" than De Arte Gymnastica by Hieronimus Mercurialis. Published in 1569, this is the oldest book ever written on physical training. It describes exercises as practiced by the classical Greeks and Romans: the value of walking, throwing the discus, climbing ropes, training with heavy balls (i.e. Medicine Balls) and, as seen in the wood cut above, dumbbells and heavy stone tablets called "plummets" -- history's first odd object lifting!

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    Friday, December 12, 2008

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    Tuesday, December 02, 2008

  • Barrel Lifting at "The Pit"


  • No matter how you slice it, barrel lifting is a great workout, as shown on this classic cover of Hardgainer Magazine (#30, May-June 1994). In this shot, Bob Farris from Dick Conner's place "The Pit" Barbell Club in Evansville, Indiana presses a 150-pound water-filled barrel for 13 reps. If you've ever trained with barrels, you know this is STRONG!

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    Tuesday, December 02, 2008

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    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.

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    Wednesday, October 29, 2008

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    Tuesday, September 30, 2008

  • Log Lifting - Marines Style


  • Log Drills like this one have been used by the military for well over a century to build strength, endurance and teamwork. And they are still used today. Although if you have memories of training with a log just like this one, I'm sure they aren't fond ones... because they don't make it very enjoyable! (Which is an understatement.)

    This picture was taken at the Corporals Course at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina on Febuary 1st, 2006. Photo courtesy of Cpl. Serena DeFilippis

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    Tuesday, September 30, 2008

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    Tuesday, July 08, 2008

  • Chuck Sipes Lifting His Truck


  • Chuck Sipes was one of the strongest bodybuilders of all time. Chuck, who won the 1959 IFBB Mr. America, 1960 IFBB Mr. Universe and 1968 Mr. World Bodybuilding titles, could also could perform several incredible feats of strength.

    As he was training to accomplish a 600 pound(!) bench press, Chuck used to train using a variety of techniques involving heavy supports and negatives -- he even had a special handle welded to the underside of his pickup truck which he used to lift and support the whole affair.

    Sipes would first lift the pickup truck as high as he could with his arms then wedge his legs underneath. In the top position, he estimated that he was supporting 1600 pounds.

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    Tuesday, July 08, 2008

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    Thursday, June 26, 2008

  • Barrel Lifting


  • Barbells and dumbbells can be nice, but sometimes it pays to lift something big, awkward and heavy to build unusual strength. For many strongmen of the past, a barrel often fit the bill perfectly, and even more-so when partially filled with water.

    Read Dinosaur Training or ROCK IRON STEEL by Steve Justa for more information on Barrel Lifting.

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    Thursday, June 26, 2008

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    Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  • Bob Peoples' Barrel Barbell


  • A look at Bob Peoples'first barbell, which he made out of a couple barrels in which he would load weight: chunks of metal, concrete -- anything he could find. Peoples trained alone in his garage gym and deadlifted over 700 pounds back in the 1940's. That sure doesn't leave much room for excuses...

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    Tuesday, June 17, 2008

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    Tuesday, April 08, 2008

  • Stone Lifting in India

  • While every culture has its own unique definition of STRENGTH, the interesting thing is that in every culture you will find some form of Stone Lifting.

    Here's a shot from a recent stone lifting contest in India, a country which is certainly no stranger to traditional physical training. Lifting stone balls like this one is also very popular among the Basque people of Spain.
    Stone Lifting in IndiaStone Lifting in India

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    Tuesday, April 08, 2008

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  • H.E. MANN

  • H.E. MANNH.E. MANN

    H.E. MANN was an old 1930's Tennessee farmer who followed in the footsteps of Milo of Crotona by lifting a calf each day until it became a full-grown bull.

    It worked! ... and thus, progressive resistance training was born. This principle is particularly useful for heavy squatting although I prefer lifting iron to livestock.

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    Tuesday, April 08, 2008

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    Saturday, March 29, 2008

  • Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting

  • Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting Bert Elliott - Stone LiftingWhen the great weightlifter Bert Elliott was stationed overseas during the Korean War -- did he miss any workouts?

    No... he just lifted rocks instead of weights.

    That's a pretty hefty sized boulder that Bert is Bent-Pressing.

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    Saturday, March 29, 2008

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    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

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    Saturday, February 16, 2008

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    Thursday, January 31, 2008

  • Just Another Workout at Dr. Ken's Place

  • Just Another Workout at Dr. Kens PlaceJust Another Workout at Dr. Ken's Place

    Despite what you may have read, heard or believe, REAL training is about effort -- but the best part is, if you do it right, you'll get out of it exactly what you put into it, maybe even more.

    As you can see, when Dr. Ken trains, he gives it his all... and so should you.

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    Thursday, January 31, 2008

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    Tuesday, January 29, 2008

  • Kevin Tolbert

  • Kevin TolbertKevin Tolbert

    Kevin Tolbert is Dr. Ken Leistner's adopted son - and easily one of the strongest men who ever lived. If you've read any of Dr. Ken's writings, especially The Steel Tip Newsletter, you know Kevin's name pretty well.

    Kevin went on to play running back at the U.S. Naval Academy. At 5'9" and 220 pounds, Kevin could run a legit 4.5 forty yard dash. As for his marks in the weightroom, here's a few:

  • 23 reps with 375 lbs. and 15 x 405 lbs. in the bench press at a bodyweight of 230 lbs.

  • 510 lbs. max-Bench Press in a legal, competitive style

  • Squat: 30 x 600 lbs. at a bodyweight of 248 lbs.


  • Those aren't misprints...

    Here's Kevin doing a couple anvil curls while finishing up a workout in Dr. Ken's basement in the mid-1980's. I was fortunate to have Kevin as a strength coach at the University of Michigan for a few years.

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    Tuesday, January 29, 2008

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    Saturday, January 05, 2008

  • 1951 Mr. America Squats With an Anvil

  • Anvil Lifting - Roy Hilligenn 1951 Mr. AmericaAnvil Lifting - Roy Hilligenn 1951 Mr. America

    How's this for odd object lifting? 1951 Mr. America Roy Hilligenn does some squats with a pretty big anvil on his back.

    Roy Hilligenn weighed around 175 pounds and I bet that anvil isn't too far off...

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    Saturday, January 05, 2008

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  • Barrel Lifting

  • Barrel LiftingBarrel LiftingLifting Barrels and Kegs has long been a Oldtime strongman Tradition since it builds a unique kind of strength -- especially is the barrel is only partially filled...

    If water (or beer) is sloshing around inside the barrel, it becomes a "live" weight, and a tremendous test of strength -- and it takes a lot less weight than you think.

    A partially-filled barrel weighing as little as fifty pounds can give you a tremendous workout.

    Suggested barrel lifting exercises include:

  • Curls
  • Overhead Pressing (shown)
  • Shouldering
  • Bear Hugs
  • Carrying
  • Throwing (steel keg only!)
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    Saturday, January 05, 2008

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    Saturday, December 01, 2007

  • An "Ice Cold" Strength Feat

  • An Ice Cold Strength FeatAn "Ice Cold"
    Strength Feat
    Joe Mongelli, a former pupil of Sig Klein, was an iceman by trade.

    He could carry a 325 pound block of ice on his back, then, using ice tongs, could pick up a 120 pound block of ice with his right hand and a 60 pound block with his left.

    Joe could walk the length of a city block carrying the entire 505 pound load!

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    Saturday, December 01, 2007

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    Wednesday, November 28, 2007

  • Wheelbarrow Lifting

  • How's this for an "odd" object lift?

    Stan Rothwell, the British All-Arounder trains with a wheelbarrow in the late 1940's.

    I think Steve Justa would be proud.
    Wheelbarrow LiftingWheelbarrow Lifting

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    Wednesday, November 28, 2007

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    Monday, November 19, 2007

  • Anvil One-Arm Press

  • Training with an Anvil is always a lot of fun. Presses and cheat curls for high reps and, for the very strong handed, lifting it by the horn always present a nice challenge.

    -- Plus, its a lot of fun to lift with something unusual.

    If you can press a 100 pound anvil like this you are one strong hombre.
    Anvil One-Arm PressAnvil One-Arm Press

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    Monday, November 19, 2007

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    Monday, November 12, 2007

  • Progressive Log Training

  • Progressive Log TrainingProgressive Log Training

    Some of our military friends will have some "fond" memories over this one...

    How do you exercise large groups of men in a short amount of time with limited equipment and only a few trained instructors?

    Logs like this one are the military solution -- and a great way to build strength, stamina, coordination as well as teamwork. "Log Drill" exercises include situps, squats and overhead presses -- and they only work when everyone works together.

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    Monday, November 12, 2007

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    Wednesday, November 07, 2007

  • Sandow Lifts a Horse

  • Among posing, and several other amazing feats of strength, Eugen Sandow used to finish his act by carrying a horse from one end of the stage to the other.

    I'm sure that one brought the house down and must have been quite a sight to see.

    You may not have a horse around to lift but heavy overhead supports are still a great way to build upper-body strength and power.

    I read that John Grimek worked up to being able to support over 1000 pounds overhead with the use of a power rack.
    Sandow Lifts a HorseSandow Lifts a Horse

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    Wednesday, November 07, 2007

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  • Anvil Lifting

  • anvil liftingAnvil Lifting

    "It would be very beneficial for any competitive athlete to obtain an anvil... Lifting it in various positions will greatly add to one's upper and lower body strength."

    -- Dr. Ken Leistner, THE STEEL TIP, Vol 1, No 12, December 1985

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    Wednesday, November 07, 2007

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    Monday, November 05, 2007

  • Steve Justa: The High Plains Heavy Metal Master

  • Steve JustaSteve Justa: The High Plains Heavy Metal Master

    Out in the Nebraska cornfields you'll find a man who lifts anything he can get his hands on -- barrels,rocks, scrap iron, even trucks. He will push, pull, carry and drag the heaviest weights he can, and regularly moves half a ton, if only a few inches, its still impressive.

    Steve Justa is his name and his training philosophy is anything but conventional...

    "Don't Have a Weight Set? - Get a Tractor!"

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    Monday, November 05, 2007

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    Monday, October 29, 2007

  • Anchor Lifting

  • Anchor LiftingAnchor LiftingThere are times when lifting heavy, awkward objects are preferable over traditional barbells and dumbbells due to their unbalanced nature -- and there are other times when you lift heavy, awkward objects because its what you have available.

    Horace Green from Lewes, Delaware shows how to get in a quick workout at the pier by lifting an anchor.

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    Monday, October 29, 2007

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    Saturday, July 07, 2007

  • Henri Toch - "The Cannon Man"

  • 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- Henri Toch -
    "The Cannon Man"

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    Saturday, July 07, 2007

    www.oldtimestrongman.com

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