Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Brothers Baillargeon The Brothers Baillargeon are another entry in the long line of great Quebec Strongmen. From left to right: Charles, Paul, Adrien, Lionel, Jean and Antonio. They traveled the Continent performing tremendous strength feats and all eventually became famous professional wrestlers. Note the family crest on their uniforms. It featured the number "6" (representing all six brothers) a beaver, their name and a maple leaf logo.
Labels: Adrien Baillargeon, Antonio Baillargeon, Baillargeon Brothers, Canadian Strongman, Feats of Strength, Jean Baillargeon, Paul Baillargeon, Pro Wrestler, Quebec Charles Baillargeon, Wrestling
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, April 21, 2009
Art WalgeArt Walge was a great strength athlete out of Philadelphia in the 1950's and George Eiferman's sometimes training partner. He appeared in the 1951 feature film 'Quo Vadis' in the part of Croton and also did a bit of pro wrestling as "The Cardiff Giant." Big Art had a pretty strong pair of mitts as evident by this 400 pound one-arm deadlift.
Labels: Art Walge, George Eiferman, One Arm Deadlift, Pro Wrestler
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, April 06, 2009
Yussif MahmoutYussif Mahmout was a great turn-of-the-century catch wrestler who faced Frank Gotch on April 14th, 1909. Mahmout caused an uproar when he entered the ring barefoot as was the custom in his native Bulgaria. The Gotch camp protested, believing it was a ploy to avoid Gotch's vicious toe hold.
The referee ruled in Mahmout's favor and the match commenced as originally intended... it turned out to be a moot point with the American champion throwing the Bulgarian twice inside of seventeen minutes.
Labels: Bulgarian Wrestler, Catch Wrestler, Pro Wrestler, Step Over Toe Hold, Yussif Mahmout
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 15, 2009
Harold SakataYou might recognize him by his most famous movie role as the villain 'Odd Job' in the James Bond movie 'Gold Finger" , but Harold Sakata was also a great Olympic weightlifter, sometimes-bodybuilder and professional wrestler.
Sakata got his start reading Strength and Health Magazine and, as a teenager, won many local lifting contests on his native Hawaii. After a stint in the Army, Sakata had a chance to focus on his training and he set a Hawaiian record in the clean and jerk as well as won the Mr. Hawaii bodybuilding title.
His weightlifting totals were such that he was able to compete in the Senior Nationals, where he finished second to Stan Stanczyk at the 1948 Senior Nationals. His finish at the Nationals qualified him for a spot at the 1948 Summer Olympics where he finished second, winning the Silver Medal, again, to the eventual champion Stanczyk. The two would go on to become lifelong friends.
After his weightlifting career, Sakata traveled the country as the pro-wrestler Tosh Togo.
Labels: 1948 Olympics, Harold Sakata, Mr. Hawaii, olympic weightlifter, Pro Wrestler, Stan Stanczyk, Tosh Togo
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
Inoki vs. GotchYou know you've made it once you get your own action figure. This set came out in 2002 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Antonio Inoki and Karl Gotch's famous match. This match, which took place through the New Japan promotion on March 6, 1972 at Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan is thought of as the birth of the "Strong" Style of Japanese Pro-Wrestling. Inoki fought valiantly but Gotch won with his signature move, the German Suplex.
Labels: Antonio Inoki, Gotch vs. Inoki, Japanese Wrestling, Karl Gotch, Pro Wrestler, Wrestling Match
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
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Antonino "Argentina" RoccaAntonino "Argentina" Rocca was one of the greatest pure athletes to ever enter the squared circle. His incredible jumping feats and aerial maneuvers left an indelible mark on the world of pro-wrestling. His signature move was the "Argentine Backbreaker" although it was flying dropkick after flying dropkick which often put his foes down for good. Rocca was trained by Stanislaus Zbyszko
Labels: Antonino Rocca, Argentina Rocca, Pro Wrestler, Stanislaus Zbyszko, Wrestling
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, October 05, 2008
Bruno SammartinoWhether "The People's Champion" or "The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino is one impressive dude. There has probably never been someone more "built for strength" as evident by his thick bone structure. Here Bruno squats 405 about as "raw" as you can get. Some of his best lifts were 565-pound bench press, 715-pound squat and a 690-pound deadlift - no "gear" of course.
Labels: Bruno Sammartino, Living Legend, Peoples Champion, Pro Wrestler, Squat, Wrestler
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
The Pro Wrestler "The Mighty Atlas" often performed feats of strength before his matches, many of them unusual, and not performed by any other strongmen before or since.
Here's one you don't see every day: breaking a 3/4" manila rope with a harness lift. That's a "gut buster" for sure!
A Strength Feat by the Might AtlasHere's one you don't see every day: breaking a 3/4" manila rope with a harness lift. That's a "gut buster" for sure!
Labels: Harness Lift, Manila Rope, Mighty Atlas, Pro Wrestler, 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
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