Friday, February 26, 2010
Maurice DeriazMaurice Deriaz, of Switzerland was one member of a band of brothers who were all celebrated strength athletes (the others being Emile, Adrian, and Ulysses). Maurice was the finest wrestler of the group and won a number of noted tournaments at the turn of the century.
He was also particular;y adept at dumbbell lifting, having performed a one-arm swing of 202 pounds (just under bodyweight) and a two-dumbbell clean and jerk of 288 pounds. Maurice Deriaz was used as the model for Hercules in works of art by the French painter Gustave Courtois.
Labels: Deriaz Brothers, Dumbbell Clean and Jerk, Dumbbell Jerk, dumbbell lifting, Maurice Deriaz, One Arm Swing, Swiss Strongman, Wrestler
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
George Lurich: Overhead SupportGeorge Lurich was as good of a strongman as he was a wrestler... and he was a terrific wrestler. He had many incredible feats to his credit but this was perhaps his greatest: a one-arm overhead support of over 700 pounds!
Labels: Estonian Strongman, George Lurich, One Arm Lift, Overhead Support, Strongman Feat, Wrestler
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
John LemmAnother look at a very rare picture of John Lemm, who was also known at "The Swiss Hercules". It's not hard to see why he was one of the first men in history to squat with 500 pounds.
Labels: John Lemm, Squat, Strongman, Swiss Hercules, Wrestler
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Youseff HousaneYouseff Housane was a great early wrestler and one of Earle E. Liederman's top students. Housane was well-known for his incredible Bicep Development which was quite impressive, especially considering the time period (he could use some work on his forearms though).
Labels: Bicep Development, Big Arms, Earle E. Liederman, Wrestler, Youseff Housane
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Bruno Course Here's a look at the cover of the incredibly rare "Bruno Course of Bodybuilding" authored by the Living Legend himself, Bruno Sammartino. You can see by Bruno's thick bone structure that he was a man built for some major horsepower but don't forget that he still had to work for his strength.
In the Bruno Course, he covers a dozen or so basic exercises which were his favorites, some "weight" exercises, some bodyweight movements and some conditioning. - simple, but highly effective. You can read more about The Bruno Course in "The Dellinger Files Volume I"
Labels: Basic Exercises, Bruno Sammartino, Cover, Professional Wrestling, The Bruno Course, The Bruno Course of Bodybuilding, Training Course, Wrestler
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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
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The Russian Lion - George HackenschmidtGeorge Hackenschmidt was equal parts champion weightlifter and wrestler. One wonders what he might have accomplished had he chosen to focus on one or the other... or perhaps the secret of his success was due to the fact that he did combine the two ! In any case, Hackenschmidt's performance on some of the standard lifts of the day (early 1900's) are as follows:
One-Hand Snatch: 197-1/2 lbs One-Hand Jerk: 231 lbs Two-Hands Press: 281 lbs Continental Jerk: 345-1/2 lbs
Labels: Continental and Jerk, Estonian Strongman, George Hackenschmidt, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Lifts, one arm snatch, One Hand Jerk, One hand Snatch, Press, The Russian Lion, Wrestler
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Ivan Poddubny Commemorative StampMany countries celebrate their great heroes on their stamps. This Ukranian stamp from 1996 honored the great strongman/wrestler Ivan Poddubny.
Labels: Ivan Poddubny, Stamp, Wrestler
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
George LurichEstonian born George Lurich was a great wrestler and strongman during the early 1900's. He was was a great friend and training partner to George Hackenschmidt (It was actually Lurich who introduced Hackenschmidt to weightlifting.) Lurich's brother-in-law was Alex Aberg, another champion wrestler of the time period.
Lurich was the world Greco-Roman wrestling champion in 1912 and was the last man to face Frank Gotch before Gotch retired in 1913. As far as strength feats, among others, Lurich is credited with a one-hand jerk of 267 lbs., and a two-hands clean & jerk of 344 lbs.
Labels: Alex Aberg, Clean and Jerk, Estonian Strongman, European Strongmen, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, George Lurich, Greco-Roman Wrestling, One Hand Jerk, Strongman, Wrestler
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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
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Paul TrappenThe German strongman and weightlifter Paul Trappen's name isn't mentioned very often but it certainly should be. At the 1913 German weightlifting Championships Trappen defeated both Karl Moerke and Hermann Goerner to win the heavyweight title. Some of his best lifts were a 320 pound Clean and Jerk, 215 pounds in the one hand clean and jerk and 183 pounds in the one arm press.
All impressive marks but the lift which he should be remembered best for is his harness lift of a pair of oxen totaling 5225 pounds - that would make his performance the greatest ever recorded in that particular lift.
Trappen also performed for the Barnum and Bailey Circus as did some wrestling as well in addition to feats of strength.
Labels: Barnum and Bailey Circus, Clean and Jerk, German Strongman, Harness Lifting, Hermann Goerner, Karl Moerke, One Arm Clean and Jerk, One Arm Press, Paul Trappen, Supporting Feat, Wrestler
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Karl AbsKarl Abs, known as "The German Oak" was the first man in Germany to continental and jerk 330 pounds. He accomplished this feat back in 1885. He also won the European Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship in 1894.
Labels: German Oak, German Strongman, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Karl Abs, Wrestler
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Monday, March 23, 2009
Marijan MatijevicMarijan Matijevic was a great Croatian strongman who was popular during the turn of the century. He won his first medals for strength feats and wrestling when he was 21years old and collected more as the years passed. He had a standing offer that anyone who could defeat him in feats of strength could have his entire collection of medals. He was adept at bending steel, barrel lifting, stone breaking and lifting thick-handled globe barbells.
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Croatian Strongman, Feats of Strength, Marijan Matijevic, Steel Bending, Stone Breaking, Thick Bar Lifting, Wrestler
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John GaranJohn Garan began serious physical training after meeting the famous New York strongman Abe Boshes and went on to build one of the most incredible physique of all time.
At a bodyweight of only 155 pounds Garan could regularly squat with over 300 and was also an excellent wrestler. He regularly trained at Sig Klein's Gym and was featured in "Klein's Bell".
Labels: Abe Boshes, Early Bodybuilder, Globe Barbell, John Garan, Klein's Bell, Sig Klein's Gym, Wrestler
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Gustav FristenskyCzechoslovakian-born Gustav Fristensky was known professionally as "The Bavarian Hercules" -- and he was aptly named. He once ran the 100 meter dash in 14 seconds while also carrying an extra 90 kg. He was also very good at repetition lifting, having been able to jerk 176 pounds 26 times and 220 pounds 18 times.
Like many strongmen of the day he was also a very good wrestler and won the World Championship in 1903. Fristensky's wrestling coach was George Hackenschmidt's good friend George Lurich.
Labels: Czechoslovakian Strongman, George Hackenschmidt, George Lurich, Gustav Fristensky, Oldtime Strongman, The Bavarian Hercules, Wrestler
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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, February 06, 2009
Gholamreza TakhtiGholamreza Takhti was the greatest wrestler in Iranian history. He won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. He also won Silver medals at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki and the 1960 Games in Rome. To build his strength and upper body endurance, he trained in the traditional methods, as is pictured here, finishing up a workout with the light Meels.
Labels: 1956 Olympics, Gholamreza Takhti, Iran, Iranian Wrestler, Meels, Melbourne Australia, Wrestler
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Monday, January 26, 2009
Carl BuschCarl Busch was a great strongman and wrestler who was active in the early 20th century. After winning the 1901 German national title, he toured europe performing feats of strength and wrestling all comers. He even wrestled the great Frank Gotch to a draw under Greco-Roman rules. Busch also wrestled the likes of George Hackenschmidt, Professor Roller, and even Farmer Burns.
As far as feats of strength, Busch could bent press 250 pounds at a bodyweight of 175. Here he does a Crucifix with a pair of German Kettlebells.
Labels: Bent Press, Carl Busch, Crucifix, Farmer Burns, Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt, German Strongman, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Kettlebell, Strongman Feat, Wrestler
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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
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
 Otto Arco | Otto Arco doing what he does best: looking impressive without doing much at all. In 1907, Arco became the second man in the world to hoist double bodyweight overhead with a 278-1/2 pound lift at 138 pound of bodyweight. He was also the first to one hand snatch over bodyweight with a 145-pound lift. Arco was a great wrestler, gymnast and hand balancer. He and his brother Pete performed with several different circuses in the US and abroad. |
Labels: Gymnast, One Arm Lift, one arm snatch, Otto Arco, Polish Strongman, Wrestler
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Saturday, January 10, 2009
Emil Bregulla - The Terrible Pole"Emil Bregulla was a famous wrestler who took on all comers from coast to coast as he traveled with sideshows and carnivals. He had another challenge as well: Bregulla also demonstrated his prowess, which was considerable, with the large kettlebell at his feet.
Labels: Carnival Strongman, Challenge Weight, Emil Bregulla, Kettlebell, sideshow, The Terrible Pole, Wrestler
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Thursday, December 04, 2008
John Lemm"The Swiss Hercules" John Lemm, a champion wrestler, was one of the first men to squat with over 500 pounds. Judging by this picture it is not hard to see why as his thick bone structure and naturally rugged musculature is evident.
Lemm won a famous 1908 wrestling tournament in London billed as "The Battle of Giants" where he defeated (among others) then-title holder Russian Ivan Poddubny and the great French wrestler/strongman Apollon.
Labels: Apollon, Ivan Poddubny, John Lemm, Squat, Swiss Hercules, Swiss Strongman, Wrestler
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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
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
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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, September 05, 2008
| Longtime reader Carl Linich has been hitting the iron for a long time, and, as you can see by his choice of equipment, has been doing so in style. Carl is quite the strongman in his own right, check out his best lifts: Standing Press - 270 lbs. Bench Press - 402 lbs. Behind Neck Press - 245 lbs. Jerk from the Rack - 310 lbs. One Hand Clean and Press - 150 lbs. One hand side press - 175 lbs. One Hand Bent Press - 215 lbs. One Hand DB Bent Press - 205 lbs. Carl was also a very good wrestler, winning the New York State Y.M.C.A Heavyweight wrestling championship twice and eventually turned pro in 1956.(Much thanks to Carl for sending in the picture.) |  Carl Linich - Man of Iron! |
Labels: Bent Press, Carl Linich, Jerk, Side Press, Standing Press, Wrestler
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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
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Karl AbsKnown as the father of German Strength Sports, Karl Abs was the first man in Germany to jerk 130 kg. He could also bent press 242 pounds and was a very good professional wrestler, often billed as "The German Oak."
Labels: Bent Press, German Oak, German Strongman, Jerk, Karl Abs, Oldtime Strongman, Wrestler
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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, May 09, 2008
Bert AssiratiOur friends across the pond are sure to recognize the legendary British wrestler Bert Assirati who held the heavyweight championship belt for several years in the 40s and 50s.
Though he was quite stout (5'6", bodyweight of 263) Assirati was one of the strongest and most athletic individuals who ever graced the wrestling ring. He could easily perform a standing backflip, was a master hand balancer and could chin himself three times with either arm, among other feats.
Labels: Bert Assirati, British Wrestler, Hand Balancing, One Arm Chin up, Wrestler, Wrestling
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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, April 18, 2008
| Iowa-born Martin "Farmer" Burns was a champion wrestler and America's premier grappler at the turn of the last century. The "Old Farmer" trained hard, and that made him hard to beat. Plenty of wrestler's bridges gave him a 20" neck at a bodyweight of only 165 pounds and his level of conditioning was legendary, regularly tiring out much larger and stronger opponents until they could easily be pinned. His top student, fellow-Iowin Frank Gotch, became arguably the greatest wrestler who ever lived, with Burns' training methods. |  Martin "Farmer" Burns |
Labels: Farmer Burns, Farmer Burns Workout, Frank Gotch, Iowa, Iowa Wrestling, Wrestler, Wrestling
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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
Thursday, February 07, 2008
The Mighty Atlas You've probably seen the old feat of strength where a strongman puts an anvil or large stone slab on his chest and lets someone hit it with a sledge hammer...
I guarantee you haven't seen this feat before though, -- "The Mighty Atlas," Morris Shapiro, a professional wrestler from Brooklyn, New York, teeth-lifting an anvil while someone else hits the anvil with a sledge hammer.
Now that's impressive!
Labels: Anvil, Anvil Lifting, Mighty Atlas, Oldtime Strongman, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Teeth Lifting, Wrestler
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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
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
| Ivan Poddubny was one of the greatest of the Russian Strongman wrestlers. He was born in a small village and worked hard jobs even from a young age. After some training, he joined the russian circus, performing feats of strength and wrestling all comers. After 40 years, he retired undefeated on both counts. He is still a well-known sports hero in Russia with several big wrestling tournaments bearing his name. |  Ivan Poddubny - "The Russian Hercules" |
Labels: Circus, Circus Strongman, Ivan Poddubny, Russian Strongman, Wrestler, Wrestling
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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, 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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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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