Chuck Sipes Lifting His Truck

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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Barrel Lifting

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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Bob Peoples' Barrel Barbell

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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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.

Stone Lifting in India

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H.E. MANN

H.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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Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting

Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting

When 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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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

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Just Another Workout at Dr. Ken's Place

Just 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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Kevin Tolbert

Kevin 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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1951 Mr. America Squats With an Anvil

Anvil 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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Barrel Lifting

Barrel Lifting

Lifting 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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An "Ice Cold" Strength Feat

An "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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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 Lifting

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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 Press

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Progressive Log Training

Progressive 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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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 Horse

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Anvil Lifting

Anvil 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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Steve Justa: The High Plains Heavy Metal Master

Steve 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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Anchor Lifting

Anchor Lifting

There 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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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"

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