Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Harry Shafran's WeightsA unique look at some of the equipment once belonging to Harry Shafran and housed in his great gym. Much of what is shown here was previously owned by Warren Lincoln Travis. The wereabouts of this equipment is currently unknown.
Labels: Classic Gym, Globe Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbells, Gym Equipment, Harry Shafran, Harry Shafrans Gym, Indian Clubs, Kettlebells, Strongman Equipment
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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
Wrist Roller TrainingThe Wrist Roller is a simple but very effective method of building grip strength... and here are two other training ideas which make it even better: stand on an elevated surface to increase the range of motion or use it in a supported manner so that your arm muscles don't give out before your forearms do.
Both of these ideas were written up in The Way to Live by George Hackenschmidt written back in 1908. As a wrestler and strongman "Hack" certainly had use for tremendous grip strength.
Labels: George Hackenschmidt, Grip Equipment, Grip Strength, Grip Tools, Grip Training Equipment, Strongman Equipment, wrist roller, Wrist Roller Training
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Dr. Rouhet's WeightsThe image quality isn't ideal but the subject matter should more than make up for it... I guarantee you have never seen this picture before. Shown is the famous French physical culturalist Dr. Georges Rouhet and some of his fantastic training equipment. Having been at this for a while it certainly appears that the French Strongmen had the best stuff available to train with.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Classic Equipment, Dr. Georges Rouhet, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Ring Weights, Strongman Equipment
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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, July 03, 2009
Sig Klein: Partial DeadliftsAt a strength show held in 1922 at New York City's Bryant Hall, Sig Klein got a chance to test out a piece of equipment designed by George Jowett which was used for performing partial deadlifts. The ACWLA on Sig's singlet stood for the American Continental Weight-Lifter's Association, which Jowett founded.
Labels: ACWLA, George Jowett, Patial Deadlift, Sig Klein, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, June 29, 2009
Classic Polish Globe WeightsGreat equipment practically begs to be used and I would say that would definitely be the case here. These classic Globe Barbells, Dumbbells, Kettlebells and Blockweights from a century ago can be found in a Polish Museum.
Labels: Ancient Kettlebells, Block Weights, Classic Equipment, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Polish Weights, Strongman Equipment, Thick Bars
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
IRON MASTER DumbellsAnother look at one of Osmo Kiiha's great IRON MASTER dumbbells. This one looks well used because of all the deadlifts and shrugs I did with it (and its mate) back in high school. If we decided to bring something like these back, would you be interested?
Labels: Globe Dumbbell, Iron Master Dumbbells, Osmo Kiiha, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Training Equipment
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Vintage Strength EquipmentGreat workouts are more than just sets and reps, it comes down to the equipment that you use too. Basic exercises take on a whole new meaning when you are training with something unique. This set of vintage shot-loaded dumbbells certainly fits the bill nicely. You'll be seeing more of these very soon...
Labels: Dumbbell Training, Strongman Equipment, Unique Equipment, Vintage Strength Equipment
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Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Kim Wood's GymNo, it's not Professor Desbonnet's Paris Gym or Professor Attila's Health Studio but the private gym of Kim Wood. Look closely and you'll see a barbell that once belonged to Warren Lincoln Travis a Jackson Barbell Set an oak climbing ladder from the Narragansett Machine company and more than one Milo Kettlebell. There's no finer gym in the land.
Labels: Classic Gym, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Jackson Barbell Company, Kim Wood, Milo Kettlebell, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Strongman Equipment, Warren Lincoln Travis
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The CrusherHere's one from way back ... although you've probably seen one somewhere along the way. "The Crusher" -- or a simple metal spring with handles -- is a great way to "bomb and blitz" your muscles. Yow! Be careful when using it, wouldn't want to get too strong...
Labels: Antique Equipment, Chest Exerciser, Strongman Equipment, The Crusher
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Thursday, October 09, 2008
The Human Vise's Engine BlockMany Oldtime Strongmen were famous for their Challenge Weights with which they performed feats of strength. Pat "The Human Vise" Povilaitis has several unique pieces of equipment which he uses in his strength act; among them this engine block.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Human Vise, Odd Object, Pat Povilaitis, Strongman Equipment, The Human Vise
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Monday, October 06, 2008
Heavy MetalBarbells are nice... but there's plenty of other fun stuff to lift too. Here's some things you'll find back at my place. Dr. Ken's Iron Suitcases (which you may have seen before in one of Brooks Kubik's videos), an anchor chain, and various other heavy, rusty chunks of metal.
Labels: Anchor Chain, Dr. Ken Leistner, Heavy Metal, Iron Suitcase, Metal, Odd Objects, Strongman Equipment
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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Strongman HammersHammers of various kinds have a long tradition in strongman training -- and they are a lot of fun to train with, in fact, I have a collection of several unusual hammers. These huge wooden hammers were originally used by the military for driving tent pegs and re-aligning tank treads.
Labels: Hammer Training, John Wood, Sledge Hammer Exercise, Sledge Hammer Leverage, sledge Hammers, Strongman Equipment, Training Equipment, Wooden Hammers
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
| A look at Sig Klein using the Roman Column at his famous gym. It was actually Sig's father-in-law Professor Attila who invented the Roman Column. The Roman Column was actually used more as a demonstration of strength than as a means of developing strength. When used for strength feats, the performer would lower his body directly to the ground, pick up a weight and then sit up with it. Eugen Sandow was a master at this strength feat. |  Sig Klein's Roman Column |
Labels: Abdominal Strength, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Professor Attila, Roman Column, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Strongman Equipment, Training Equipment
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Friday, April 25, 2008
 George Jowett And The Bent Press | The great oldtime strongman and strength author George Jowett as he prepares to bent press a heavy globe barbell. Jowett was a master of many different strength feats, most notably, lifting a 168-pound anvil by the horn and other feats of grip strength Jowett's best bent press performance was 304-1/2 pounds. Note the great Milo Kettlebells in the background. |
Labels: Bent Press, George Jowett, Globe Barbell, Kettlebell, Oldtime Strongman Exercise, Oldtime Strongman Exercises, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Strongman Equipment, Supporting Feat
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
Another Look At Sig Klein's Gym What a place to train! -- Here's another look at Sig Klein's Gym located in Times Square, downtown New York.
The thing that makes a gym truly great is the atmosphere -- and Sig's place had it. You can just tell that many great workouts took place here.
Labels: Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Strongman Equipment
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Thursday, February 14, 2008
Alan CalvertA very rare picture of Milo Barbell Company founder and noted strength author Alan Calvert.
Calvert established the Milo Barbell company in 1902, one of the very first training publications "Strength" Magazine in 1914, wrote several training books and courses and helped pave the way for thousands of trainees to develop size and strength.
Gotta love those classic 'bells!
Labels: Alan Calvert, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Milo Barbell Company, Strength Author, Strongman Equipment
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
1938 Mr. America Bert Goodrich With Strongman Stage Weights
One of the great things about the history of strength training is that many of the early strength athletes had their own personal training equipment made up which lent quite a bit of character to their training.
Here is a very rare picture of 1938 Mr. America Bert Goodrich with some very interesting oldtime equipment, a globe barbell and kettlebell.
Labels: AAU, Bert Goodrich, Globe Barbell, Kettlebell, Mr. America, Strongman Equipment, Vintage Strength Equipment
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Friday, February 01, 2008
The Famous Rolandow DumbbellThe Rolandow Dumbbell has a very interesting history. It was originally cast by the McLoughlin Iron Foundry in Brooklyn, New York in 1896 at the request of Warren Lincoln Travis who wanted to use it in his act.
The dumbbell was supposed to be 200 lbs. but came out of the mold just over it at 209lbs.
A few years went by and fellow strongman G.W. Rolandow offered to purchase it from Travis, on the condition that Travis deliver the bell himself.
Travis grabbed the bell, hopped on the nearest street car, transfered twice and carried the bell two blocks and up two flights of steps to Rolandow's office.
Rolandow then stated that unless he could lift the dumbbell, there would be no sale. And with that, we walked over to it, hefted it to his shoulder and commenced to bent-press it no less than seven times!
After several decades, Rolandow closed his gym and his famous dumbbell eventually became acquired by Sig Klein who featured it as a challenge weight in his gym.
If someone could succeed in bent-pressing the Rolandow Dumbbell, Klein put their name on an Honor Roll, here's how it looked:
(1) G.W. Rolandow...................1900
(2) John Grimek.........................1934
(3) Bob Hoffman........................1936
(4) Wally Zagurski..................1936
(5) John Davis............................1936
(6) Jack Kent..........................1937
(7) Frank Bates........................1937
(8) Bob Harley.........................1937
(9) Siegmund Klein...................1939
(10) Aurele Velleux..................1939
(11) George Hobby...................1940
(12) Elwood Holbrook...............1941
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Famous Dumbbell, G.W. Rolandow, Globe Dumbbell, John Davis, Rolandow Dumbbell, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Strongman Equipment, Wally Zagurski, Warren Lincoln Travis
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 John Y. Smith | Gotta love some of the unique and usual weights that many of the strongmen found to lift. Here's a rare shot of the great Oldtime strongman John Y. Smith as he shoulders an unusual barbell, in his later years. Smith was a very good bent-presser (with a lift of 275 lbs. at a bodyweight of just 160 lbs.) so that is probably what he is getting ready to do. |
Labels: Barbell, Bent Press, John Y. Smith, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Strongman Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
| John Grimek had his eye on lifting the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell for a long time. Needless to say the ponderous weight defied his attempts to lift it, just as it had for the better part of nearly a century. Finally, Grimek succeeded in bent-pressing the thick-handled dumbbell overhead and added his name to a very short list. You can currently see the Cyr Challenge dumbbell at the York Barbell Hall of Fame in York Pennslyvania. |  John Grimek Bent-Presses the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell |
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell, Shot Loaded, Strongman Equipment, Thick Handle, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Friday, January 18, 2008
 "Good" Dumbbells | Harry Good (of Good Brothers fame) established the Good Barbell Company in the late 1930's and ran it all the way into the 1970's. With the nature of the business back then, the "Good equipment" was more prominent locally. These 75-pound Good Dumbbells sat in a cental Pennsylvania YMCA for the last 50 years. |
Labels: Globe Dumbbells, Good Brothers, Good Dumbbells, Harry Good, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Louis Cyr Strikes a Classic PoseThis picture was taken in the late 1800's, a time when the subject of a photograph had to stand still for long periods of time -- which means the globe dumbbell that Louis Cyr is holding aloft here is likely just a prop.
Cyr did, however, did possess the ability to move such huge weights.
He once jerked a 132 pound dumbbell for 36 reps and his bent press of 273 pounds beat Eugen Sandow's mark. Also note the rather impressive Ring Weight.
Labels: Dumbbell Press, Globe Dumbbell, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Overhead Press, Ring Weights, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, January 07, 2008
Milo Triplex KettlebellsMany people think kettlebells are uniquely Russian, but while they certainly have a long history in Russia, kettlebells also have a long tradition in America as well.
In 1902, Alan Calvert established the Milo Barbell Company and kettlebells were among his first products.
He went through several different designs, the patent shown above is for the Milo "Triplex" Kettlebell which was patented in 1919.
The Milo Triplex shown did not have a shot-loaded compartment but instead had globed plate "slices" inside the outer shell.
The rotating handle should also be noted.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Kettlebell, Milo Barbell Company, Milo Triplex Kettlebell, Strongman Equipment
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
The Roman ColumnAs mentioned several times on this blog, it was Professor Attila who invented the Roman Column.
Shown here, the Roman Column is an actual column in which the traineee hangs suspended vertially and moves to a horizontal position using the power of his legs and abdominal muscles.
Eugen Sandow used to perform this feat either holding a heavy barbell or a human being.
On the left is the original Roman Column, in one corner of Sig Klein's Time's Square Gym.
Labels: Equipment, Eugen Sandow, Professor Attila, Roman Column, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Strongman Equipment, Vintage Strength Equipment
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 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: |
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Barrel Lifting Exercises, Barrels, Exercise, Keg Lifting, Lifting Barrels, Odd Object Lifting, Press, Strongman Equipment, Wooden Barrel
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Friday, January 04, 2008
The SwingbellA piece that you used to see all the time in the old magazines that has all but disappeared these days is the Swingbell -- essentially a combination of traditional free weights and medicine ball training exercises.
As you can see, a swingbell consists of a dumbbell bar loaded in the middle rather than the ends. It is grasped at either end and used for a variety of rotational and "circular" movements.
Labels: Equipment, Strongman Equipment, swingbell
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
In the U.S. we call it chest expander training but over across the pond it's referred to as "Stand Pulling" and there have been a number of books and courses, contests, and even more than one federation that keeps official records.
Here's a look at the 20 official Strand Pulling "pulls":
Here's a look at the 20 official Strand Pulling "pulls":
| 1. Right Arm Chest Pull 2. Left Arm Chest Pull 3. Two Arms Chest Pull 4. Front Lateral Raise 5. Back Lateral Raise 6. Press Behind Back 7. Press Behind Neck 8. Dislocation (attention) 9. Downward Pull - Knuckles In 10. Downward Pull - Knuckles Out 11. Upward Chest Pull 12. Left Arm Press 13. Right Arm Press 14. Left Arm Push 15. Right Arm Push 16. Left Arm Chest Pull Anyhow 17. Right Arm Chest Pull Anyhow 18. Two Arms Chest Pull Anyhow 19. Dislocation 20. Press Behind Back Anyhow |  Strand Pulling |
All About Strand-Pulling Labels: Chest Expanders, Strand Pulling, Strand Pulling Contests, Strand Pulling Exercises, Strand Pulling Workout, Strongman Equipment
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Sunday, December 16, 2007
Iron Man Hand GrippersThere are advertisements for hand grippers going back as far as 1901, but the tradition of the heavy-duty steel hand grippers began in back in 1964 when Warren Tetting's grippers first appeared in the pages of Iron Man Magazine.
These grippers challenged many strongmen and there were four Strengths: "Light", "Heavy", "Extra Heavy" and "Super Heavy". Only the strongest hands could close the "Extra Heavy" gripper and it is unknown weather anyone actually closed the "Super Heavy" gripper level.
The Iron Man Grippers would be advertised for the next 79 issues and eventually became the inspiration for the Iron Mind Captains of Crush Grippers.
Labels: Forearm Strength, Grip Equipment, Grip Strength, Grip Training, Gripper Training, Hand Grippers, Iron Man Grippers, Strongman Equipment, Tetting Grippers, Warren Tetting
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Saturday, December 15, 2007
Globe Barbells at the 1924 Olympic GamesHere's a look at the Globe Barbells that were lined up and ready to be used at the 1924 Olympic Games held in Paris France.
This was the last year that lifters were given the choice between lifting with shot-loaded globe barbells or barbells loaded with the iron disc plates that we use today.
The only lifters to choose the shot-loaded globes at the 1924 Olympic Games were the French Weightlifting team, of which great strongman Charles Rigoulot won the gold medal in the heavyweight class and his teammate Edmond Decottignies took home the gold in the light-weight Class.
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, Globe Barbell, Gold Medal, Olympic Weightlifting, Olympics, Paris France, Shot Loaded Barbells, Strongman Equipment, weightlifting
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Squatting With Paul AndersonIf there ever were a man who was born to squat, it was Paul Anderson.
"Big Paul" often had a hard time finding bars which could hold enough weight so he had to improvise. He built this "barrel barbell" from a design pioneered by his friend Bob Peoples.
Paul would also train the squat in an unusual way:
He would dig a pit in the back yard and load up the bar to for over his normal full-squat max, then he would do partial movements, filling in the hole with dirt an inch at a time for each successive workout until he was working with a full movement.
Labels: Bob Peoples, Heavy Partial Movements, Paul Anderson, Squat, Strongman Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wood's WoodWood's Wood is one of the Original Wooden Log Bars which was a gift from Dr. Ken Leistner many moons ago. It's called "Wood's Wood" because that's what is carved into the side of it. -- A Pretty Fitting Name
This is the same Log that appears in Brooks Kubik's "Bags, Barrels and Beyond" training video.
As you can see, this Log is a beast and nearly as tall as I am. It's still good for a workout every now and then but I much prefer the updated model for training.
Labels: Brooks Kubik, Dr. Ken Leistner, John Wood, Log Bar, Log Press, Log Training, Overhead Press, Strongman Equipment, Wooden Log, Woods Wood
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Thomas Inch Dumbbell ReplicaIn the late 90s, the Staver Foundry of Minnesota produced replicas of the famous Thomas Inch challenge dumbbell. These solid globe dumbbells weighed 172 pounds but the handle is slightly thicker (2.47" vs. 2-3/8" on the original.)
172 Pounds may not seem like much of a challenge to lift but the thick handle makes it nearly impossible. Thousands of athletes have tried to lift the Inch Dumbbell but only a few have succeeded. You'll need a very strong grip if you want to add your name to the list.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Famous Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Grip Strength, Inch Dumbbell, Strongman Equipment, Thick Bar Lifting, Thick Handle, Thomas Inch
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Wednesday, December 05, 2007
 Al Gerard | Two decades ago, Al Gerard, a Powerlifter from North Carolina invented a piece of training equipment that would change strength training forever. His Gerard Trap Bar allowed trainees to train their legs without overtraining the lower-back. The Trap Bar became the piece of equipment for every gym. Al was able to deadlift over 725 pounds using his invention. |
Labels: Al Gerard, Deadlift, Gerard Trap Bar, Leg Development, Strongman Equipment, Training Equipment, Trap Bar, Trap Bar Deadlift
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Saturday, December 01, 2007
 Harry Shafran | Harry Shafran was an oldtime lifter who ran two gyms (one in Brooklyn and one in greater New York City) in the 1920's. Eventually Harry got tired of big city life and moved to a farm near Scranton, Pennsylvania where he converted a large barn into a gym. His collection of oldtime strength equipment was quite impressive, you can see a bit of it in the picture to the left where Shafran is harness lifting 1500 pounds (at 72 years old!) |
Labels: Classic Strongman Gyms, Harness Lift, Harness Lifting, Harry Shafran, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
| 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 |
Labels: British Champion, Odd Object, Odd Object Lifting, Stan Rothwell, Strongman Equipment, Unusual Strength, Unusual Training Equipment, Wheelbarrow Lift
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
| You have to admit, classic globe kettlebells like this one make great pictures. Here's famous strongman Anton Matysek lifting a rather large Milo Kettlebell. Interestingly enough, the "traditional" kettlebell exercises such as snatches and clean & Jerks, are often nowhere to be found in most oldtime strongman training literature. |  Anton Matysek Lifting a Classic Kettlebell |
Labels: Anton Matysek, Kettlebell, Kettlebell Exercises, Press, Strongman Equipment
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York Rubber Chest ExpandersThe York Barbell Company sold several different versions of Chest Expanders over the years and here's a look at one of them.
Pretty ingenius really - a set of detachable hands with progressively harder rubber straps. They came in four levels: "Medium," "Athlete," "Strong" and "Hercules" strength.
On the right that's Mr. America Winner and Champion Weightlifter Steve Stanko demonstrating the overhead pulldown chest expander exercise.
Labels: Chest Expanders, Rubber Chest Expanders, Steve Stanko, Strongman Equipment, York Barbell Company
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Saturday, November 17, 2007
The Super GripperSometimes it hard to believe that the Super Gripper has been around since 1940. You used to see ads for it in Strength and Health and Iron Man Magazine. Interestingly, the design has remained largely unchanged since it was introduced -- and more importantly, it has helped build thousands of stronger grips and forearms since then.
The above ad is from an Iron Man Magazine from the early 1970's.
Labels: Forearm Strength, Grip Strength, Grip Training, Strongman Equipment, Super Gripper
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Friday, November 16, 2007
Charles Rigoulot's Unique Globe BarbellThe great French Weightlifter Charles Rigoulot used to train with a very unusual globe barbell -- at 8 feet, it was much longer than a "normal" barbell (which gave it quite a bit of "whip"), not to mention that he was using shot-loaded equipment long after shot-loaded globes went out of style.
Given this setup, he was a master of catching the weight "on the bounce" which allowed him to break a number of records -- and I bet that barbell was a heck of a lot of fun to lift with.
Labels: Barbell, Charles Rigoulot, Globe Barbell, Shot Loaded, Strongman Equipment, weightlifter
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Monday, November 12, 2007
Brooks KubikIf you've read Dinosaur Training, now you can put a face to the name Brooks Kubik.
Brooks walks the walk -- literally!
Here's a shot from a couple of years ago from one of Brooks Kubik's Dinosaur training videos where he is going for a "leisurely stroll" around the block with a pair of Dr. Ken's 180-pound iron suitcases.
Before writing Dinosaur Training, Brooks was a state Champion wrestler in high school and went on to win several National Championships in Drug-Free Powerlifting.
Labels: Brooks Kubik, Dinosaur Training, Dr. Ken Leistner, Farmer's Walk, Iron Suitcase, Powerlifting, Strongman Equipment, Wrestler
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
Strongman Sledgehammer #1Here's one of the giant Strongman Hammers from my personal collection.
I found this particular hammer at an antique shop in Flatrock, Michigan and you can see me carrying it in the "Traveling Buddies" sequence in Crazy but Powerful.
This Giant Sledgehammer weighs 28 pounds and has a 38 inch long handle. Yeah, it's a beast.
Labels: Sledge Hammer Leverage, Sledgehammer, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Hammer
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Oldtime Log BarThis unusual piece of equipment, a precursor to Dr. Ken's Log Bar, was fashioned by a Connecticut gym owner in the 1930's.
Just as today, it was made specifically for pressing and tricep work. Many people find that the parallel handles are much more comfortable than a straight barbell for these movements -- I agree.
Labels: Log Bar, Press, Strongman Equipment, Tricep Work
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Friday, November 09, 2007
| The York Barbell Company sold more iron than anyone, so why is John Grimek pictured here throwing a canvas sandbag around? A couple of reasons: |  Sandbag Training With The York Gang |
Secondly, Grimek loved all different kinds of training and a sandbag offered a new challenge, something altogether different than regular barbells and dumbbells would provide. Not to mention that the sandbag provides more of a grip challenge than a barbell ever could.
Front Raises, overhead Press, Row, Deadlifts and Curls -- A pretty nifty program for full-body strength.
Labels: John Grimek, Sandbag Curl, Sandbag Deadlift, Sandbag Front Raise, Sandbag Overhead Press, Sandbag Row, Sandbag Training, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, York Barbell Company
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Monday, November 05, 2007
Paul Anderson's WheelsWhat do you do when a normal barbell doesn't hold enough weight for your squat workouts? Paul Anderson's solution was this set of wheels which helped him build a set of 33" thighs.
Labels: Paul Anderson, Squat Workout, Strongman Equipment
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Saturday, November 03, 2007
The "Original" Original Dr. Ken Log BarHere's a look at one of the original ideas behind Dr. Ken's Log Bar -- an actual log with handles cut into it. This "log" was patterned on an unusual parallel-handled bar used for pressing movements that Dr. Ken trained with down in Lake Helen, Florida when he worked for Arthur Jones.
As is the case with most of Dr. Ken's unusual equipment, this log was a lot of fun to train with and provided many excellent workouts for his trainees.
Labels: Arthur Jones, Dr. Ken Leistner, Equipment, Log Bar, Overhead Press, Strongman Equipment
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Friday, November 02, 2007
The Louis Cyr Challenge DumbbellThis incredible dumbbell belonged to the famous Quebec strongman Louis Cyr who used it in his act as a challenge for anyone to lift it.
Due to the 1-5/8 inch thick handle the bell is difficult to lift but it was specially designed for Cyr who had a very strong grip. It weighed 202 pounds empty and at its heaviest, packed with metal pellets, Cyr's Dumbbell weighed 273 pounds. Cyr handled it easily using the overhead "side press" style.
To this day only a handful of men have been successful in lifting it overhead with one arm.
Among them John Grimek, Sig Klein, and Wally Zagurski as shown above using the bent press style (Yes, that's the exact dumbbell above being lifted by those individuals at different points in time.) The Cyr Dumbbell currently resides in the York Barbell Company Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania.
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbells, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Side Press, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Thick Bar, Wally Zagurski, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Monday, October 29, 2007
Strongman EquipmentYou've got to hand it to the oldtime strongmen, they didn't mess around when it came to quality equipment. How strong do you think you could get if you were training with the globe barbells, globe dumbbells, blockweights etc, in the above picture?
If you want to get strong and I mean STRONG you have to have good training equipment and that's just how it is.
It all begins with a quality barbell, good plates and a solid pair of collars. If you have nothing else, you must have at least that much. From there, add other equipment as needed.
Other equipment that will help you tremendously includes a solid bench, dumbbells, a power rack, a Gerard Trap Bar, chest expanders, Thick Bars, Hand Grippers and anything else that you will find on our Strongman Equipment Page.
Labels: Barbells, Blockweights, Chest Expanders, Dumbbells, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Strongman Equipment
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 Train Wheel Weights | They say that necessity is the mother of invention... and that's why some of the best training equipment has come about. During the post-war years, our troops located overseas wanted to lift weights but barbells and dumbbells were hard to come by. American troops stationed in Okinawa, Japan fashioned these unique barbells and dumbbells out of narrow gauge train wheels. Can't miss a workout... |
Labels: Barbells, Dumbbells, Equipment, Strongman Equipment
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Friday, October 26, 2007
 General Custer's Dumbbell | General George Custer first came to Kansas in 1866 as Lieutenant Colonel of the newly formed 7th U.S. Cavalry. He spent late spring of 1867 at Fort Hays, where the 7th camped until they had accumulated adequate supplies and ammunition for a summer campaign. |
It is made of bronze and weighs around 25 pounds.
Custer's Dumbbell currently resides in the Kansas Museum of History.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Custer's Dumbbell, Dumbbell, Famous Dumbbell, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, October 22, 2007
John Davis Lifts The Apollon WheelsSeptember 13th, 1949 -- American Olympic Weightlifting Champion John Davis succeeds in cleaning & jerking the famous Apollon Wheels. This weight once belonged to the great French Strongman Louis "Apollon" Uni who would lift it each night in his act.
The wheels themselves weigh 366 pounds connected by a 1.93" diameter axle making this feat an incredible test of grip strength. The widest diameter of each disc is 26 inches.
After passing out on a previous attempt, (dropping the weight and slightly bending the axle) John Davis cleaned the ponderous weight with a mixed grip, switched hands in mid-air, and jerked it overhead.
Labels: Apollon, Apollon's Wheels, Grip Strength, John Davis, Olympics, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Thick Bar
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Circus Strongman George Levasseur's Classic Stage WeightsGeorge Levasseur was the "Strongman" at the Ringling Brothers Circus during the early part of the 20th century. He was famous for his Backlifting ability but he performed all manner of classical strongman feats, including lifting several unusual "stage" weights as pictured here: Globe barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells.
Notice the Thick Handles on the globe barbells.
Labels: Backlift, Barbell, Circus, Dumbbell, George Levasseur, Kettlebell, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Thick Bar
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Sig Klein One Arm Dumbbell PressThe One Arm Dumbbell Press is a great power builder for the shoulders and upper body. -- You should include it in your program and work up to well over a hundred pounds. Here's a look at the great Sig Klein pressing an old Milo Globe Dumbbell. At a bodyweight of only 150 pounds, Sig Klein could do a ten reps with each arm in a 'see-saw' press with a pair of 100 lb. dumbbells.
Labels: Globe Dumbbells, Milo Barbell Company, Oldtime Strongman, Overhead Press, Sig Klein, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007
The Ring Weight is a relative of the Kettlebell and was very popular in the training and performance of many of the Oldtime Strongmen.
You'll often see them sitting in the foreground of pictures of Oldtime Gyms.
The Ring Weight shown below belonged to The Young Mighty Apollon aka J.C. Tolson.
You'll often see them sitting in the foreground of pictures of Oldtime Gyms.
The Ring Weight shown below belonged to The Young Mighty Apollon aka J.C. Tolson.
 The Young Mighty Apollon's Challenge Ring Weight | His challenge was to lift it overhead using nothing but your little finger... a tremendous feat of tendon strength. Thousands of well-known athletes tried and failed, save "The Young Mighty Apollon" who could perform the feat with inhuman ease.
|
Labels: Grip Strength, J.C. Tolson, Kettlebell, Ring Weights, Single Finger Lifts, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Tendon Strength, Young Apollon
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Thursday, October 11, 2007
Louis Durlacher aka Professor Attila It was Louis Durlacher aka Professor Attila who trained a young Fredrick Mueller and changed his name to Eugen Sandow.
It was also Professor Attila who invented many of the feats of strength we know today, such as the Roman Column, the Roman Chair, supporting feats in the human bridge position, tearing packs of playing cards; and the the hollow globe-ended barbells and dumbbells we know today.
Attila was also the first man to bent press over 200 pounds and in addition to Sandow, Professor Attila could also list many other famous strongmen among his students:
Including: Warren Lincoln Travis, Anthony Barker, Horace Barre, Arthur Dandurand, Lionel Strongfort, George Rolandow, Louis Cyr, Bobby Pandour and Adolph Nordquest.
In 1894, Professor opened his famous Studio of Physical Culture in downtown New York city. His daughter, Grace, later married Sig Klein.
If Eugen Sandow was the "Father" of Oldtime Strongmen, surely Professor Attila, was the Grandfather.
Labels: Bent Press, Eugen Sandow, Globe Barbell, Louis Durlacher, Oldtime Strongman, Professor Attila, Roman Chair, Roman Column, Sig Klein, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Tuesday, October 09, 2007
 | This isn't a classic lift, it's called goofing around -- and I highly recommend it, at least once in a while. Part of the fun of training is figuring out what you can do in your workout, and what better to make it interesting than with unusual equipment? These are some modern shot-loaded kettlebells done in the "old" style. Notice the "squared" handles with the kettlbells on my right arm. |
Labels: John Wood, Kettlebell Workout, Kettlebells, Strongman Equipment
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Saturday, October 06, 2007
A Look Inside Hermann Goerner's Oldtime GymIf you're a true strength fan, you can't help but love shots of classic gyms filled with classic equipment. Here's a look at one corner of Hermann Goerner's classic gym. Notice the Globe Barbells, thick-handled equipment, row of kettlebells likely used for the "Die Kette" workout.
Also notice the throwing weights attached to the wall and the Arthur Saxon circus poster on the upper left.
That must have been one hell of a fun place to train...
Labels: Arthur Saxon, Classic Strongman Gyms, Globe Barbell, Hermann Goerner, Kettlebells, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Throwing Weights
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George Jowett Lifts 168 Pound AnvilGeorge Jowett was one of the first strength authors to highlight the incredible importance of grip and forearm development in his writings.
Jowett understood that "strength" begins in the hands.... He made it a point to make his fingers, hands, wrists and forearms as strong as he possibly could, usually through regular work with thick-handled equipment.
Due to his immense grip strength, Jowett became a champion at "Wrist Westling" and could perform a number of unusual strength feats including cleaning and pressing a 168 pound anvil with one hand, as pictured above.
(As a side note, anvils have always made very popular pieces of training equiment with many of the oldtime strongmen, a topic we will, however, save for another time.)
Labels: Anvil, George Jowett, Grip Strength, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Thursday, October 04, 2007
Noe's Graduated XercisorsIn the 1930's and 40's Roy H. Noe of Memphis, Tennessee sold these rubber "Xercisors" and instructions by mail. Unlike many of the traditonal Chest Expanders you might see with their strands or springs, Noe's Xercisors were a flat piece of molded rubber with handles that clipped on.
Interestingly enough, in the training guide that comes with the equipment it says:
"The rubber used in the Noe Athletic Xercisor are made from Gum Rubber Stock. They will stretch three times their length and are GUARANTEED not to elongate or lose their resistance. Modern chemists have experimented over a period of years to perfect this special rubber strip. These rubber strips will gradually increase in resistance as they age and cure."The Noe Xercisor in the picture is an original from the 1930's, shows no sign of wear whatsoever and stretches just as well today as it did back then.
Labels: Chest Expander, chest expander workout, Noe's Graduated Xercisors, Strongman Equipment
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Louis Cyr and Horace Barre' - John Robinson's $25,000 Challenge Feature During the 1898 Circus Season, Canadian Strongman Louis Cyr and his assstant/protege' Horace Barre performed their unique feats of strength all around the country in the John Robinson Circus.
As they criss-crossed the map, John Robinson put up $25,000 for any person who could duplicate any one of either of their feats.
Their performance included the back lift, Cyr's Barrel Lifting Feat, supporting feats, and lifting other heavy dumbbells or blockweights of various sizes and shapes.
Adjusting for inflation, that would be nearly $600,000 today, and, ironically enough, their money would still be safe...
Labels: Backlift, Barrel Lifting, Circus, Horace Barre, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Supporting Feat
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Friday, September 28, 2007
Charles Rigoulot: One-Arm SnatchThe great French Strongman Charles Rigoulot snatches 242 pounds with one arm in old, Old, OLD Vienna, circa 1929.
Note the continued use of globed dumbbells long after they went out of style.
Just a few years earlier at the 1924 Olympic Games, the athletes still had a choice of either using a solid, revolving, plate-loaded barbell like you would see these days, or the archaic shot-loaded globe barbells of year's past.
All the members of the French weightlifting team, including Rigoulot, chose to lift with the oldtime globe barbells instead of the modern ones... Rigoulot won the gold medal in the light-heavyweight class while his teammate Edmond Decottignies also took home the gold in the light-weight Class.
Perhaps they knew something that others didn't. I think I know what it is... Click here to find out.
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, Globe Barbell, Oldtime Strongman, Olympics, one arm snatch, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Oldtime Dumbbell Training With John GrimekHere's a nice little dumbbell workout by John Grimek:
1. Two Hands Snatch w/dumbbells
2. Upright Rowing Motion
3. Side Bends
4. Shoulder Shrug
5. Lateral Raise
6. Dumbbell Swing
Grimek was using a pair of adjustable York Dumbbells but feel free to use a solid pair if that's what you have. You can find out more about some of the ways that Grimek trained in The Mark Berry Bar-Bell Courses
Labels: Dumbbell Shrug, Dumbbell Swing, Dumbbell Workout, Dumbbells, Dumbbells Row, Equipment, John Grimek, Lateral Raise, Sidebends, Snatch, Strongman Equipment, Workout
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Norb Schemansky Lifts The Apollon WheelsAt the turn of the century, the French strongman Apollon introduced his famous challenge weight -- a pair of railcar wheels attached by a thick axle.
The whole affair weighed 366 lbs. but the real challenge laid in the 1.93 inch thick axle which meant that only the strongest pairs of hands would ever have a shot at breaking it free of the ground.
Apollon, who likely had the strongest grip in history, was the only man who ever lifted it for decades...
Many a strongman tried but all failed until the great french weight lifter Charles Rigoulot finally achieved the feat in 1930 after having trained for it over the course of several months.
Nearly two decades later the American weightlifting champion John Davis was able to lift the wheels on his second try (after passing out on his first attempt.)
On October 14th, 1954 another American weightlifting champion, Norbert Schemansky, "cleaned" the Apollon wheels and jerked them three times in succession, thus writing his name (again) in the record books.
Labels: Apollon, Apollon's Wheels, Charles Rigoulot, Grip Strength, John Davis, Norb Schemansky, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Thick Bar
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Friday, September 21, 2007
 Bar"Belle"Norma Wieland | Bar"Belle" Norma Wieland lifts some interesting train-wheel weights at Yaco's Gym in downtown Detroit, Circa 1945. Of course, something as nifty as a train-wheel barbell would have to come from Detroit. There is just something about the look and feel of unique training equipment that makes for better workouts. I bet those particular weights were fun to lift... |
Labels: Barbell, Detroit, Norma Wieland, Strongman Equipment, Yaco's Gym
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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
| Just before the turn of the century, Martin "Farmer" Burns was one of the fiercest wrestlers the world had ever seen. He wrestled over 6000 matches, lost only 7 and held the World's Championship on two seperate occasions. Once his competitive career came to an end, the "Old Farmer" as he was known, focused on managing and training other wrestlers and athletes. |  Farmer Burns |
His most famous pupil was Frank Gotch, who, thanks in large part to Farmer Burns' coaching, became arguably the greatest wrestler of all time.
The foundation of Burns' method was physical conditioning. After all, a wrestler can never be too strong or well conditioned -- and at his "School of Wrestling" in Omaha, Nebraska, he employed any method that would help his athletes become the best.
Here's a look at his thoughts on training with the medicine ball:
Of course, if Farmer Burns were still alive and running his school of wrestling today, this is the medicine ball he would be training with:The Medicine Ball
"Perhaps some of my students are not familiar with the Medicine Ball. It is a ball that has been used in training during recent yeats and from my observations in training camps, I have decided that it has an important part to play in the routine work of the athlete...
It is a large leather ball of considerable weight, yet soft enough to avoid hurting or damaging the contestants.
Two persons are required when exercising with the ball. It is merely thrown back and forth from one to another, but is thrown and caught in a great variety of positions.
It should be thrown and caught in a variety of positions. It should be thrown with both hands over the head, from the right side and from the left side. It can also be thrown with the right arm alone and the left arm alone, and from various positions when you are sitting or lying down.
The person catching the ball should catch it first with the right arm and then with the left and make special efforts to exercise as much as possible, while catching and returning the ball to his companion.
If you have never worked out with the medicine ball, you will think from this description that it is child's play, but let me assure you that if you devoted ten minutes to fast work with the medicine ball, you will change your mind and readily appreciate the fact that it is a great exercise for limbering up the muscles and working up a good sweat."
Everlast Classic Leather Medicine Balls
Labels: Farmer Burns, Frank Gotch, Medicine Ball Training, Physical Culture Equipment, Strongman Equipment, Wrestling
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Monday, September 10, 2007
Bob Peoples'"Dungeon" GymBob Peoples was the first man to officially deadlift over 700 pounds and did so back in the 1940's without any suits, wraps or other assorted foolishness.
| When the weather was warm he trained outside but when Winter came, he moved inside into the training area he literally carved out of stone in his basement which he called "The Dungeon." It was here that Bob Peoples pioneered many of the pieces of equipment and training techniques that are commonplace these days including the power rack, negative training, and heavy supports and partials. |  Bob Peoples |
Notice the Milo Kettlebells and the makeshift circular "Trap Bar" leaning against the far wall. This allowed Bob to stand on a platform and increase his range of motion.
You can read more about Bob Peoples and his training techniques in Developing Physical Strength
Labels: Bob Peoples, Classic Strongman Gyms, Deadlift, Kettlebell, Milo Kettlebell, Power Rack, Strongman Equipment, Trap Bar
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Sunday, September 09, 2007
Sig Klein's Classic Old-Time GymHere's another look at one of the classc gyms we have featured before: Sig Klein's place in New York City. This was the original location -- he moved into a facility overlooking Times Square later on.
Notice the mirror on the right revealing a set of globe barbells on the far wall, block and ring weights in the foreground and you can just make out a Roman Column on the extreme left.
There's nothing like Classic Equipment to make your training special. You can tell a lot of great workouts happened down at Sig's Place.
Sig Klein inherited much of the equipment after he married Professor Attila's youngest daughter in 1927. Professor Attila, of course, was the man who taught Eugen Sandow how to train.
Labels: Blockweights, Classic Strongman Gyms, Eugen Sandow, Globe Barbell, Oldtime Strongman, Professor Attila, Sig Klein, Strongman Equipment
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Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Antique Wooden Dumbbells| Dumbbell training takes all shapes and forms -- in the late 19th and early 20th century, most dumbbell training was performed with light wooden dumbbells. |  |
Keep in mind there is more to dumbbell training than just adding weight...
The dumbbells pictured above weigh in at just over 4 pounds apeice -- unusually heavy as far as those antique dumbbells go. Also notice the ergonomic handles.
Before you scoff at how "easy" this type of training is, I suggest you try such a routine for yourself... If you know what you're doing, it is surprisingly challenging.
Labels: Dumbbells, Strongman Equipment, Wooden Dumbbells.
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Sunday, September 02, 2007
 Barrel Lifting | With all this talk of heavy barrel lifting, it can be easy to get carried away with "weight" -- keep in mind though that lifing awkward objects is very different from lifting a barbell or a dumbbell. Training with "light" objects can often lead to tremendous results, since the awakwardness is what leads to the challenge. Even a partially-filled 10 gallon barrel, weighing 50 pounds or less, can give you an awesome workout since the weight is "live." Shouldering, carrying and even basic movements such as curls and presses are a whole new animal. Check out Dinosaur Training by Books Kubik for more on this concept. |
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Strongman Equipment
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thomas Inch and Hints on The Art of Expander PullingJust got a very rare oldtime strength booklet written by Thomas Inch. There's no date on it but I would guess it was printed in the 1920's and as far as rare training courses, this one is simply impossible to find.
I finally tracked one down after four years of searching.
Anyhow, Thomas Inch, who is probably most famous for his incredible grip strength and his "unliftable" dumbbell was actually a very well rounded strongmen who excelled in many different types of feats - and some of his favorites were with chest expanders.
In his strongman act he used to do a standard press out with a 56 lb. kettlebell hanging on each thumb, and the expander generally had 30 strands on it.
Not bad at all...
Heres a few hints from the master:
"The first thing to do is to make sure your expander is of the detachable kind."All good info, and all very useful if you happen to be paying attention.
"The Secret to great strength is gradual progression, and as there is no doubt whatever that a large majority of physical culturists only use expanders so that they may become stronger than their fellows, it behoves them to practice themselves in a position to practice on the right lines and this means using handles which will take several strands."
"When starting out, enter the number of strands you find comfortable and easy to exercise with, going right through your movements without a pause, if possible, thus developing endurance as well as mere muscle."
"Start with, say, only five or six repetitions each hand of each exercise, and gradually work up to ten each hand. Keep at ten for a week or two, then return to five or six repetitions, and add another strand."
"The weight lifter will be advised to use a strong pull in every day work, and each day, or every other day, try himself out on strength tests I have previously quoted with a view to increasing pushing power for different lifts."
Just goes to show you that sound training info never gets old. Chest Expanders, of course, make a great addition to any training program.
If Thomas Inch were alive today, here's the expanders he would be training with: Strongman Chest Expanders
Labels: Chest Expander, Kettlebell, Strand Pulling, Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Thomas Inch
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Sunday, August 26, 2007
| Rope climbing has always been one of the "unsung" exercises of strength development. In terms of building incredible grip and upper-back strength, few exercises can compare to rope climbing. As documented by David Willoughby, William "The Scottish Herculese" Bankier, for example, used a 10 minute rope-climbing workout to develop his incredible bicep strength. |  Rope Climbing |
Here's a look at the only book that I know of written specifically on rope climbing techniques. The Rope Ladder, Knotted Rope, Inclined Rope, Vertical Rope, Double Ropes, Traveling Ropes and Rope Swinging are discussed.
Just as today, a quality 3-strand manila climbing rope was preffered. In competitive rope climbing, the goal was to make it up a 20 foot rope as quickly as possible. The "finish line" was a round, black, wooden disc known as a tambourine. The record for climbing a 20 foot rope is an incredible 2.8 seconds!
Labels: David Willoughby, Rope Climbing, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, William Bankier
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
 Louis Cyr's Barrel Lift | As reported in David Willougthby's Super Athletes book, Louis Cyr could lift a heavy barrel to his shoulder with only one hand by grabbing the chines, tilting it on to his leg and maneuvering it up his body. Needless to say, lifting a barrel like this takes quite a bit of brute strength. Cyr's best barrel lift was a barrel filled with a combination of sand and water and weighed in at just under 450 pounds! |
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Louis Cyr, Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Barrel Lifting for Unusual Strength It has been well written that many so-called "feats of strength" had their roots in manual labor. Back in the beer halls of Bavaria and old, Old, OLD Vienna I'm sure a couple of robust beirmeisters once sat around shooting the breeze when one bet another that he could lift the biggest barrel -- and it's all been down hill from there.
Many of the old timers were well-known for their barrel or keg lifting feats, including Louis Cyr (who was said to have been able to lift a 400 lb. barrel to his shoulders) and George Jowett who included a Barrel Lifting Course in his Molding a Mighty Grip training guide.
I would imagine the "Cincinnati Strongman" Henry Holtgrewe lifted a few barrels and kegs in his time. He owned a tavern down in the neighborhood of Northside in Cincinnati just after the turn of the century.
| Several modern day strongmen have included barrel lifting in their training. Probably the two most well known are Steve Justa and Brooks Kubik who wrote extensively about barrel lifting in Dinosaur Training. Keep in mind that lifting a 200 pound FULL barrel is actually easier than lifting a 150 pound HALF-filled barrel. |  Brooks Kubik |
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Brooks Kubik, Dinosaur Training, Henry Holtgrewe, Steve Justa, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Clevio Massimo with a Classic KettlebellDoing snatches and clean & jerks with a kettlebell is actually a pretty common thing these days although you rarely saw many oldtime strongmen doing them... they mainly used kettlebells for overhead pressing.
Here Clevio Massimo strikes a classic pose with a classic kettlebell.
Labels: Clevio Massimo, Kettlebell, Overhead Press, Strongman Equipment
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Sunday, August 19, 2007
David WebsterBefore he became one of the world's most well known strength historians and authors, David Webster was quite a "Strongman" himself. In fact, David won the Strand Pulling World's Title back in 1954. He wrote two books specifically on strand pulling (Modern Strand Pulling (1962) and Strength Lore and Strands (1978))
Here's a look on something he wrote in The Complete Physique Book (1963):
"Much has been said in favor of the chest expander for the man who trains at home in limited space, for the person who has to travel around the countryside and for the person who just wants to keep fit or develop big muscles and herculean strength.
Most certainly strand pulling is ideal for these people but it can be also
be adapted to suite all other physical culture purposes.
Great progress has been made since the first days of the "Chest Expander" - as it was known. Nowadays, the strands are used for everything from remedial work in hospitals to competitive sport and there is considerable evidence to consider evidence to indicate that strands are sold in greater quantities than weight-lifting equipment.
There are a number of reasons why strands are so popular:
1. They are inexpensive, and are now available in numerous strengths ranging from 5-50 pounds.
2. In use or in storage little space is necessary.
3. They have several resistance properties which are not present in other forms of resistance exercises. Some of these properties are a bit too involved for discussion, kinetic recoils and oscillation having a rather specialized application but one great asset will immediately appeal to the enthusiast who is well-versed in the subject.
4. The tension of the springs or bands increases as they are stretched thus "peak contraction" or heavy inner range muscle work is done in every exercise.
For those who are not particularly interested in championship honours it should be stressed that it is not my intention to claim that you should devote all your time to strand-pulling. I believe by strand-pulling, the average person can cram lots of exercises into a short workout and those who practice weightlifting, hand balancing and so on would profit greatly by adding a few strand pulling exercises for variety and all around work."
Labels: Chest Expander, Davd Webster, Strand Pulling, Strongman Equipment
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Friday, August 17, 2007
Fred Rollon
Many old timers built powerful bodies with Chest Expanders, and of them, Fred Rollon was the greatest.
While many strongmen frowned upon Chest Expanders as a means of testing strength, prefering weights instead, Rollon was never beaten at cable pulling.
For sheer muscular separation in the upper body, no one has yet surpassed Rollon. A look at this photo has started many bodybuilders and young trainees into more vigorous training with Chest Expanders and other strength cables.
Labels: Bodybuilding, Chest Expander, Fred Rollon, Strand Pulling, Strongman Equipment
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Thursday, August 16, 2007
George Barker Windship's Adjustable DumbbellGeorge Barker Windship was one of the very first proponents of "Physical Culture" and unlike many of his contemporaries, promoted hard work and heavy lifting for super strength.
Pictured above is the dumbbell he patented on February 2nd, 1865 which could be loaded from eight to 101 pounds in 1/2 pound incriments.
"The body should be made as strong as possible, with no weak points. It should be balanced and symmetrical with the muscles full and round and strong, like those of the "Farnesian" Hercules. Heavy weights and short workouts are the secret to health and longevity.
Training should be systematic, with the intensity of the exercise gradually increasing over time. Workout sessions should never last more than an hour and that proper rest must be obtained before the next day's training."
- George Barker Windship, February, 1861
(Couldn't have said it better myself. -- JW)
Labels: Dumbbell, George Barker Windship, Strongman Equipment
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Wednesday, August 15, 2007
| Here's a look at one of the unique exercises that can be done with the Block Weights that I mentioned in an earler Blog Post. Two blockweights are placed together handle-to-handle and then lifted, making a challenge for grip strength as well as full body strength to keep the two halves from splitting while in motion. This setup is a challenge to simply deadlift but to be a real "Strong Man" you need to be able to get the weights above your head. This lifter is shown bent-pressing a pair of blockweights. |  |
Labels: Blockweights, Kettlebell, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Speaking of kettlebells, I'm not sure if this is a medal for a kettlebell contest or something having to do with the 1980 Moscow Olympics (As indicated by the familiar Olympic Rings in the upper right) -- either way, this is a pretty cool medal showing a kettlebell lifter.
Kettlebells have always been very popular in Russia and other easter bloc countries.
In competetive contests the lifts are the 'Two Kettlebell Jerk' and 'One Kettlebell Snatch'; performed in that order for ten minutes each. The competitor with the highest overall score wins.
Labels: Kettlebells, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, August 13, 2007
Steve Reeves
The Man:
Steve Reeves is known as THE classic physique of all time. His Herculean good looks led to a number of movie roles and dozens of magazine covers. Steve Reeves won the following bodybuilding titles over his career:
1946 - Mr. Pacific Coast
1947 - Mr. Western America
1947 - Mr. America
1948 - Mr. World
1950 - Mr. Universe
The Exercise:
A full lateral raise with a pair of MILO kettlebells... a highly underrated movement for shoulder development made that much more enjoyable with classic iron. The rotating handles of the MILO kettlebells allow for certain exercises that are difficult to do with cast-iron kettlebells. (As a side note, Steve Reeves was well known for his broad shoulders which were measured by Armand Tanny at an unbelievable 23-1/2 inches.)
Labels: Bodybuilding, Kettlebells, Steve Reeves, Strongman Equipment
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Tuesday, August 07, 2007
 The Magic Circle - FOR MAGIC RESULTS - The most satisfactory device yet found for doing quarter, half and full squats -- for doing Hise Shoulder Shrugs and other heavy poundage exercises where weight is held on shoulders. It has made squatting a pleasure by removing the agonizing and sometimes paralyzing pain and discomfort of a heavy bar across the shoulders cutting into the flesh and putting pressure o the spine. The "Magic Circle" gives a freedom for deep breathing in the popular and result-producing "Breathing Squats" for the exerciser can stand erect and breathe normally with a high lift of the chest at every breath, and is not compelled to hump over forward and breathes it the abdominal area as with a bar. In use, the "Magic Circle" is loaded up on the side pegs (unless you go over 700 lbs., in which case you have front and back pegs to load on), step in the circle (which is supported on side horses or boxes), lift shoulder straps onto shoulders, center straps, stand erect and walk away from stand and begin squats in normal manner. When finished, walk back to stands and lower ring to supporting rack. While squatting it helps to grasp ring in front and pull slightly toward you. If you get stuck at bottom you place hands on legs and push upward to recover. No more getting stuck at bottom, will hold 1200 lbs. or more. |
If you read Iron Man Magazine in the 70's you remember Peary Rader demonstrating the Magic Circle. I actually grew up with one in our basement gym -- that's right a fully functioning Magic Circle, one of the last ones left. I don't like using it for squats -- it changes the center of gravity in the bottom position too much for my taste. Though not necessarily the same concept, (but very much along the same lines), a Gerard Trap Bar will give you a much better leg workout.
Labels: Deep Breathing, Hise Shrugs, Iron Man Magazine, Leg Development, Peary Rader, Shrugs, Strongman Equipment, The Magic Circle
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Monday, August 06, 2007
Charles Phelan - The Brooklyn Strongboy
Charles Phelan was the American Professional Lightweight Champion and also performed a strongman act for many years at Coney Island. Notice the unusually large kettlebell and the thick handle on the Globe Dumbbell. I believe Charles Phelan was a friend of Vic Boff.
Labels: Charles Phelan, Globe Barbell, Kettlebell, Strongman Equipment
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Sunday, August 05, 2007
Joe Nordquest Presses a Milo Dumbbell
Oldtime Strongman Joe Nordquest presses one of Alan Calvert's Milo Dumbbells circa 1915. Joe could also perform 28 handstand pushups in a row and bent-press 277 pounds with his left arm.
Labels: Joe Nordquest, Milo Barbell Company, Strongman, Strongman Equipment
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Sunday, July 29, 2007
| Someday I may get around to putting together the Secret history of Kettlebells -- there's more to it than what most people would have you believe. Here's something that will make a good chapter: blockweights. These were an offshoot of the kettlebell "handled-weight" concept and used for many of the same exercises, at least in Strongman Lore (which is an important distinction.) The real function for blockweights is to provide ballast (i.e. just "weight") to hold down the scenery/props etc backstage in the theater. My theory is that many oldtime strongmen noticed these unusual weights during their performances in various places and thought they would make an interesting implement to train/lift with. The top ad is for a blockweight sold by the Milo Barbell Company circa 1926. The bottom two are vintage blockweights, weighing 50 and 30 pounds respectively. |    |
Labels: Antique Equipment, Blockweights, Classic Equipment, Kettlebells, Milo Barbell Company, Strongman Equipment
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Gotta love those classic shots of globe barbells in action. There's just something about classic and unique equipment that makes training fun.
Labels: Globe Barbell, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, July 23, 2007
Chances are, you were probably introduced to sandbag training in Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik but sandbag training goes back a lot farther than that.
Here's a rare shot from the turn of the century of an Indian wrestler getting ready to train. He is pictured lifting, throwing and carrying the sandbag. As a combat athlete, lifting or carrying heavy, awkward and sometimes off-centered objects can be much more useful than simply "lifting weights."
Would you want to mess with this guy?
Labels: Brooks Kubik, Dinosaur Training., Indian Wrestler, Odd Object, Sandbag Training, Strongman Equipment
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I don't know what you would call this one but I have never seen anything like it. When you're "strong" you can pretty much do whatever you want... something George Jowett called "The Thrill of Strength."
Labels: Dumbbell, George Jowett, Globe Barbell, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Sunday, July 22, 2007
| I was flipping through the November 9, 1928 Issue of Health and Strength (With Thomas Inch on the cover!) and found this pretty cool picture. Over in the UK, chest expanders or "Strand pulling" is much more popular and many of the fitness magazines from over there feature some kind of chest expander workouts, new, updates etc. Obviously this was an attempt to figure out a way to put a "number" on someone's chest expander performance by putting some sort of tensiometer on the cable. I've captioned it exactly as it appears in the magazine: P.S. You should be doing this movement in your chest expander workout. |  A.W. HOWE 9 stone amateur Champion of the World, a Warwick pupil, performing a World's Record Right Hand Military Press using the "Machine Expander" |
Labels: Chest Expander, Strand Pulling, Strongman Equipment
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Monday, July 09, 2007
| Bert Elliot was a bodybuilding champ in the 1950's and 60's who had an interest in real oldtime strength training. He even shaved his head and dressed like a turn of the century strongman to complete the effect. Here he is standing in front of some pieces of his famous collection of oldtime equipment: globe barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and indian clubs. (Notice the very old Hand Grippers on the wall.) Wonder were his stuff is now? |  |
Labels: Bert Elliott, Globe Barbell, Hand Gripper, Kettlebell, Strongman, Strongman Equipment
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Saturday, July 07, 2007
John Grimek Overhead Presses a Heavy Globe BarbellAny training course worth it's salt recommends the overhead press as as exercise. John Grimek, the greatest bodybuilder of all time built his tremendous upper-body strength and power with plenty of overhead pressing (and intense leg work.)
You'll become extra strong if you do your pressing with antique globe barbells.
Labels: Globe Barbell, John Grimek, Overhead Press, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Whitely GIANT Power Grip!| My friend Sarah found this cool old-time hand gripper in an antique shop somewhere in Michigan and snapped it up for a few bucks. – What a steal! There's no date on this gripper but I’ve seen the design before in a lot of old magazines (see right from 1926.) The one above is in mint condition (including the box) and still a pretty good challenge with all six springs. If you need a more modern grip challenge, check these out: Ironmind Hand Grippers |  Oldtime Ad |
Labels: Advertisement, Grip Equipment, Grip Strength, Grip Training, Strongman Equipment
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Friday, June 22, 2007
| Back in 1899, the hottest thing going was Eugen Sandow's Spring-Grip Dumbbells. These weights consisted of two dumbbell "halves" joined together by a series of springs. As one followed the suggested workout movements, they could build their forearm strength by keeping the two halves "crushed" together while they increased the rest of their bodily strength. Sandow's Spring-Grip dumbbells came in a variety of styles and types -- ranging from "Basic Black" to nickel-plated models with leather handles. Some of the later versions had a bell that rung as you squeezed the handles (Left) or were ergonomically fitted to your hand. (Middle) The smaller version, shown in the right of the picture, was nickel-plated and had only three springs as it was the "Youth" version. |  An Early Ad Sandow's Spring-Grip Dumbbells |
Labels: Advertisement, Antique Equipment, Eugen Sandow, Grip Equipment, Grip Strength, Hand Strength Equipment, Sandow's Grip Dumbbells, Spring Dumbbell, Strongman Equipment
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Thursday, June 21, 2007
| While kettlebells do certainly have a history in Russia and many other Eastern European countries, what many people don't realize is that kettlebells also have a long tradition in the United States as well. Back in 1902, Alan Calvert founded the Milo Barbell Company -- the very first commercial strength equipment company in America. Along with barbells and dumbbells, Calvert also manufactured kettlebells, one version of which is shown on the right. The Milo Kettlebell consisted of an outer "shell," with the inner plates sectioned to allow for easy progression. |   |
Labels: Alan Calvert, Kettlebell, Milo Barbell Company, Strongman Equipment
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