Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Lille Athletic ClubIn 1885, Professor Desbonnet established a school of physical culture in his home town of Lille, in northern France. Here's a look at its members and some of their classic equipment, circa 1901. Desbonnet himself is pictured on the far right.
Labels: Block Weights, Chest Expander, Detroit Athletic Club, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Professor Desbonnet, The Lille Athletic Club
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Desbonnet's GymA look at another one of Professor Desbonnet's classic gyms, circa, 1909. Of particular interest are the unique Pushup bars in the foreground - a simple, but very effective, training idea.
Labels: Classic Equipment, Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Professor Desbonnet, Pushups
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
Luigi Monticelli ObizziLuigi Monticelli Obizzi, an Italian Marquis, led a very active childhood involved in gymnastics, swimming, fencing and rowing, but did not take up weightlifting until 20 years old.
He found that he was quite adept at it, so much so that in 1890, Obizzi founded the Milan Athletic Club and was instrumental in spreading weightlifting and physical training throughout Europe. At the Italian Weightlifting Championship, he finished 3rd, in 1897 and 2nd in 1901 and 1902.
Working closely with Professor Desbonnet, Obizzi, helped establish the first Weightlifting Championiship of France in 1901 (which he also helped judge.) It was under Obizzi's suggestion that weightlifting contests adopted weight classes, a feature that continues to this day.
Obizzi weighed only 160 pounds but was quite strong, one of his best lifts was a military press of 200 pounds -- and he also had an excellent mustache.
Labels: Italian Strongman, Luigi Monticelli Obizzi, Professor Desbonnet
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
Professor DesbonnetProfessor Edmond Desbonnet is often called "The Father of Modern Weightlifting" - and for good reason, there are a lot of "firsts" associated with his name. A few good examples: he was the first to compile a records table of great performances, the first to introduce referees into a weightlifting competition and the first to codify the press, snatch and jerk into competitive lifts.
Desbonnet opened several schools of physical training (including in 1900, the Halterophile Club de France) and wrote a number of incredible books and courses dealing with strength training and early physical culture. All of his books are detailed and extremely rare. His two most famous titles are Les Rois de la Lutte(The Kings of Wrestling) and Les Rois de la Force (The Kings of Strength).
Labels: French Strongman, Physical Culture Pioneer, Professor Desbonnet
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, September 17, 2009
"Classic Equipment"How you you like to train with this classis equipment? I know I sure would. This group of folks is the "Club Athletique de l'Union Sportive Briviste" - friends and students of Professor Desbonnet. Note the ring weight and chest expander among the other globe barbells and dumbbells.
Labels: Chest Expander, Classic Equipment, French Strongman, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Lifting Club, Professor Desbonnet, Ring 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
Thursday, August 27, 2009
VulcanaKate "Vulcana" Williams, was a Welsh Strongwoman who toured music halls in Britain, Europe and Australia in the early 1900's. Among her many other feats were a bent press of 125 pounds and an overhead lift (i.e. press) with a 56 pound weight in each hand. She was quite popular in France where Professor Desbonnet verified her feats and was very impressed with her level of strength.
Labels: Bent Press, Feats of Strength, Kate Williams, Professor Desbonnet, Strongwoman, Vulcana
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, August 18, 2009
Gustave EmpainGustave Empain the Belgian weightlifter, finished third at the 1903 World Weightlifting Championships, behind Francois Lancoud and Heinrich Schneidereit. His greatest feat, however, was a Muscle Out of 76 pounds, which he did in front of Professor Desbonnet at the Weightlifting Club of France. After retiring from competition, Empain opened a bar in his hometown of Charleroi, Belgium.
Labels: 1903 World Championships, Belgian Strongman, Francois Lancoud, Gustave Empain, Heinrich Schneidereit, Muscle Out, Professor Desbonnet
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
Arvid AndersonArvid Anderson was a Champion Swedish strongman who put up some very impressive numbers at the turn of the century. He briefly held the Professional World record mark in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 328 lbs on November 7th, 1906. Professor Desbonnet, was the judge, and was highly impressed with the lift. His nickname became "Starke Arvid" or Strong Arvid.
Like many strongmen of the time he was also a wrestler, and held the Swedish Heavyweight Championship for many years. After he retired from wrestling and lifting contests, "Starke Arvid" moved back to Stockholm and opened a café.
Labels: Arvid Anderson, Clean and Jerk Record, Professor Desbonnet, Swedish Strongman, 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, August 10, 2009
Desbonnet's GymA look at Professor Desbonnet's Gym (or at least one of them) circa 1901. Do you think you could get strong training in a place like this?
Labels: Antique Equipment, Classic Gym, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Professor Desbonnet
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, November 21, 2007
Apollon: King of StrengthLouis Uni, the French Strongman known professionally as "Apollon," was certainly one of the greatest, if not the greatest strongman who even lived.
It was Apollon, along with Louis Cyr who were dubbed "Les Rois de la Force" (Kings of Strength) by Professor Desbonnet because their strength was so far above and beyond the ordinary.
Apollon, who was at his peak during the 1890s, stood 6"2' and in solid muscular condition, around 260 pounds.
While he was certainly thickly-muscled and strong all over, he excelled in grip an forearm feats, especially lifting thick handled weights, such as the Challenge Weight that bears his name.
Labels: Apollon, Apollon's Wheels, Forearm Strength, Grip Strength, Les Rois de la Force, Louis Uni, Oldtime Strongman, Professor Desbonnet, Strongman 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
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