Sunday, November 22, 2009
A classic shot of Wally Zagurski bent-pressing the famous 202-pound Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell. Zagurski also lifted the Rolandow Dumbbell.
Labels: Bent Press, Cyr Dumbbell, Rolandow Dumbbell, Wally Zagurski, York Gang
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, October 02, 2009
A look at one of the original "York Gang" Gord Venables as he demonstrates the overhead squat, a movement you will have to master if you want to become an Olympic Weightlifter. At that contest, Gord finished third with a 710 pound total (behind Ellwood Holbrook and Bill Bush of Cincinnati).
For years, Veenables also had a monthly column in Strength and Health Magazine entitled "Incredible But True!" which highlighted amazing feats of strength throughout history and the world.
Labels: Barbell Exercise, Gord Venables, Overhead Squat, Senior Nationals, York Barbell Company, York Gang
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, January 24, 2009
The great Olympic lifter Stan Stanczyk was the first lifter to win three successive World titles in three different weight classes. Lifting for the York Barbell Club, he won five in all. He also won six Senior National titles, a Gold Medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, a Gold at the 1951 Pan-American Games and a Silver Medal at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
Stanczyk set eight word records during his lifting career. He was also a fairly good bodybuilder, placing very respectably in the few contests he entered. Once his competitive weightlifting career ended Stanczyk moved to Miami and opened a bowling alley. He was as meticulous with his bowling as he was with weightlifting, he kept track of every game he ever bowled (lifetime average of 190!)
Labels: 1948 Olympics, olympic weightlifter, Stan Stanczyk, World Champion, York Barbell, York Gang
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, December 04, 2008
Gord Venables, one of the original members of the York Gang strikes a heroic pose on the cover of the February, 1936 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. A one-hand barbell snatch of 145 pounds was impressive then but even more-so today.
Labels: Barbell, Cover, Gord Venables, one arm snatch, Strength and Health Magazine, York Gang
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, December 02, 2007
York, Pennsylvania: Muscletown USAAs you're heading down Highway I-83 in South Eastern Pennsylvania you can't miss this fellow -- he's 7-1/2 feet tall and revolves (or at least used to) for all to see, marking what was once the center of the strength universe: York Pennsylvania.
York, PA became home to so many champion bodybuilders, weight lifters, strength athletes and other assorted "barbell men" that it became known simply as MUSCLETOWN USA.
Hoffman, Grimek, Stanko, Terpak, Strength & Health Magazine, Protein From the Sea, Functional Isometrics, The York Picnic, The York "Gang," The Big 12 Special, Olympic Barbells, Dumbbells, Kettlebells, Iron Boots, Chest Expanders, Iron Shoes, and so much more... it all happened here.
Labels: Muscletown USA, York Barbell Company, York Gang, York Pennsylvania
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
| When you see that the many of the strongest men who ever lived all trained with the same exercise, you ought to start paying attention. This picture was taken at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on December 22nd, 1941. Grimek and the York Gang toured the country promoting weightlifting. At these exhibitions, Grimek performed military presses with 290 pounds. | John Grimek: Military Press |
Labels: Barbell, Bodybuilding, Exercise, John Grimek, Military Press, Press, York Gang
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!
This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.

Wally Zagurski
Gord Venables
Stan Stanczyk
Gord Venables
John Grimek: Military Press