Bob Hoffman Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Bob Hoffman Products Dugout Jacket

Posted on Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 by John Wood

Bob Hoffman is well-known as the father of American Weightlifting. What is not as well known is that Hoffman also had a tremendous hand in popularizing the sport of softball. At one point in time, Bob wanted to make York, Pennsylvania “The Softball Capital of The World, and for a short time, it was. The National Softball Hall of Fame was once housed at the York Barbell facility. Bob didn’t just sponsor “a” softball team, he sponsored ELEVEN: including the Bob Hoffman Products Red team, the Bob Hoffman Products Blue team, the York Barbellettes (women’s) team, and the York City police team. They all brought home many championships. Today you can find many softball fields and facilities named in Bob’s honor around the York area. Above, a rare Bob Hoffman Products dugout jacket.

Online Courses

Posted on Monday, April 6th, 2020 by John Wood

ONLINE COURSES

>>>Be sure to read our Online Course FAQ Page

ONLINE COURSE #1: Oldschool Strength On-Ramp:

The first entry in our online courses catalog is intended to serve as an introduction to our mobile app so that you can become more familiar with how the app operates. Once you join on, you will get access to an eclectic mix of oldschool training materials, including:

Decreasing Bodyweight While Maintaining Size and Strength by Anthony Ditillo (From Peary Rader’s IronMan Magazine

A bodyweight program from Bob Hoffman in 1938

How Steve Reeves Trained by John Grimek

full issue of Brooks Kubik’s Dinosaur Files newsletter from the year 2000

Mike’s Gym Workouts 1 & 2 (commentary plus workout sheet downloads)

5×5 Modification by Brooks Kubik

WWII Home Calisthenic Program

George F. Jowett Heavy Dumbbell Training

Plus more!

Much of this material is bodyweight-training oriented which makes it particularly useful in light of current “lockdown” circumstances — and all for the ridiculously low price of $9.99!

____________ $9.99
(Delivered via mobile app)

ONLINE COURSE #2: Rare 1893 Indian Club Course:

10 Chapters

Addendum

Tables and Index

____________ $9.99
(Delivered via mobile app)

ONLINE COURSE #3: Iron Will Course by Brooks Kubik and John Wood

Introduction by Brooks Kubik and John Wood

The full text of “An Iron Will” by O.S. Marden (1901)

“An Iron Will” audio book, read by Brooks Kubik (1 hour, 55 minutes)

Iron Will Audio Seminar #1 – History and Background — (1 hour, 27 minutes)

Iron Will Audio Seminar #2 – Action Items and training (1 hour, 55 minutes)

Bonus items, time management techniques, podcast notes

TEN Will Power Workouts

____________ $29.99
(Delivered via mobile app)

ONLINE COURSE #3: Iron Will Course by Brooks Kubik and John Wood

Introduction by Brooks Kubik and John Wood

The full text of “An Iron Will” by O.S. Marden (1901)

“An Iron Will” audio book, read by Brooks Kubik (1 hour, 55 minutes)

Iron Will Audio Seminar #1 – History and Background — (1 hour, 27 minutes)

Iron Will Audio Seminar #2 – Action Items and training (1 hour, 55 minutes)

Bonus items, time management techniques, podcast notes

TEN Will Power Workouts

____________ $29.99
(Delivered via mobile app)

Notes:

1. These courses can ONLY be viewed via our mobile app and requires an up-to-date cell phone number and valid email address.

2. We have both iPhone and Android versions of the app available, you will choose your version prior to the setup process.

3. You will be required to download the app to your phone or tablet and follow a few other basic directions in order to access your course material. This process will only be necessary once and takes less than a minute to complete. If you already have the app downloaded to your phone from a prior purchase, we will grant instant access on our end once your order is completed with no further action necessary on your end.

4. All sales are final for online courses. We offer NO REFUNDS on Online Course products. DO NOT purchase ANY of these products if you are unwilling to follow the basic directions to install and/or utilize our mobile app.

5. Our mobile app can be viewed on a smart phone or tablet.

Giving Bob Hoffman a Lift

Posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2018 by John Wood

Sometimes Bob Hoffman had to call up the York Gang when he needed a lift… That’s Steve Stanko on the right and Stan Stanczyk on the left lifting an “MG” with Bob Hoffman sitting in the driver’s seat to give it a little more weight.

Bob Hoffman’s Bent Press

Posted on Wednesday, August 29th, 2018 by John Wood

Bob Hoffman’s favorite lift was the bent press. Here’s Bob pressing about 240 pounds .This lift took place during a visit to Cuba in early 1939. Note the sweat-shirt, this helped create more friction for the upper body and prevent slippage during the lift — a tactic used by many bent-pressers.

Bob Hoffman’s Favorite Squat

Posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2018 by John Wood

Here’s a classic shot of Bob Hoffman at the old Broad Street Gym demonstrating one of his favorite exercises, squatting on the toes. That’s a pretty nifty globe barbell that ol’ BoHo is using, and, of course, he’s wearing his trusty York Barbell Club t-shirt. The fellow on the left is Frank Findley, the great physical culture coach and gym owner from Australia.

The Mighty Atom: Nail Biting

Posted on Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 by John Wood

The Mighty Atom draws a crowd while biting a nail in half. Among the onlookers are Bob Hoffman, Dick Bachtell on the bottom left and John Grimek on the lower right. Bob Hoffman listed this feat among the greatest strength feats he had ever witnessed.

Strength and Health Magazine, March, 1934

Posted on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 by John Wood

The great weightlifter Art Levan on the cover of the March, 1934 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. This is one heck of an issue: Check out the lineup of strength authors: George Jowett, Earle E. Liederman, Harry Good, Bob Hoffman and Professor Paulinetti (among others.)

The Continental Press

Posted on Monday, October 9th, 2017 by John Wood

Lift No. 47. — The bar Bell Shall be taken clean to the shoulders after which the starting position shall be assumed. This position must be taken with the feet on the line, about sixteen inches apart. The trunk may be inclined forward as much as desired. A pause of two seconds is made at the starting position. The bell is then pressed to arm’s length overhead. As soon as the press begins, the legs and trunk may be bent to any extent but lowering the body vertically is not permitted. As the conclusion of the lift, the trunk shall be erect, the arms and legs straight and the feet in line.

Method of Performance

Pull the bell to the shoulders in one clean motion — same stye as in preparing to military press or jerk the weight. To fix the bell at the shoulders while leaning forward it is necessary that the elbows be inclined well forward. When the bell is in at the shoulders, place the feet in line, sixteen inches apart, the elbows well up, incline the body. well forward, and hold this position for two seconds. When the referee has given the signal, raise the trunk, bending it backward as far as possible, pushing the bell upward as strongly as you can; the back is bent as far back as possible until the bell is held overhead at arm’s length. When the arms are straight, raise the trunk, stand erect with the feet still on a line for the count.

From Weightlifting, by Bob Hoffman,
Published in 1939

Above: John Grimek continental pressing a 245 lb. globe barbell

Goerner The Mighty by Edgar Mueller

Posted on Thursday, September 28th, 2017 by John Wood

Now you too can learn about the life and training secrets of one of the strongest men who ever walked the Earth!

Hermann Goerner

Every once in a while, a man comes along who possesses a level of strength that is simply head and shoulders above everyone else out there ~ and Hermann Goerner was just such a man!

Goerner’s strength and power was the stuff of legend, and even nearly a century after his time, no one has ever been close to many of his records.

His most famous lift is likely his ONE-HAND deadlift of 727 pounds(!), but some of his other marks were equally impressive.

These include a strict curl of 242 pounds, a deadlift of 505 pounds with just two fingers of each hand and a plank “leg press” with 24 people which totaled over two tons. Goerner even had a “Challenge weight” a 2-3/8ths inch thick-handled globe barbell which he could clean and jerk almost effortlessly which no one else could so much as budge.

Goerner’s deadlifting ability was the stuff of legend … here he is in 1933, lifting nearly 600 lbs. with only two fingers of each hand!

Goerner’s excellent “challenge” weight… Few strongmen could lift it in any capacity but Goerner did so with ease.

Goerner used to wrestle with a 700 lb. baby elephant as part of his daily act in Pagel’s Circus, South Africa.

How Did a Genuine Oldtime Strength Legend REALLY Train?
Now you Can Find out for sure!

How would you like to know how Hermann Goerner trained? I’m not talking about guesses either, but the actual sets, reps and weights that he used in his workouts. It’s not often that we can have a look into the exact training ideas and programs of a true super man, but, that is exactly what you will have an opportunity to do as noted strength historian Edgar Mueller saw fit to chronicle Goerner’s amazing life, strength records and unique training techniques…

The result was Goerner The Mighty, which was originally published in 1951 but now once again available in high-quality modern reprint edition ~ and even better than the original! Here’s a quick look at the many interesting things you will learn from its pages:

Goerner the Mighty
Table of Contents:

FOREWORD by Irving R. Clark

INTRODUCTION by John E. Dawe

Chapter I: Introducing Hermann Goerner
— What stood out in meeting Goerner for the first time… His other interests… Goerner’s sleep habits and diet

Chapter II: His Early Life
— The age that Goerner first started lifting… His earliest feats of strength as a boy… How he compared to George Hackenschmidt at the same age… His introduction and training to building “animal” strength”… Lifting titles won… Early strength performances as a member of “The Atlas Trio”… Challenge weight feats… Results of the 1913 German Weight Lifting Championship… His ‘battles’ with Karl Moerke

Chapter III: His Later Life and Travels
— Pagel’s Circus and adventures in South Africa… Details of his circus “act”… Discovery by Tromp Van Diggelen and introduction to W.A. Pullum… The inspiration for the famous ‘Plank’ feat

Chapter IV: His Measurements
— Goerner’s exact measurements taken by the author on December, 16th, 1934… Additional measurements… Notes on body weight at various periods throughout his life

Chapter V: His Lifting Performances and Feats of Strength
— The single-handed press… Single-handed snatches… Single-handed jerks… Double- handed jerks and ‘anyhow’ lifts… How some of his lifts compare to several other famous strongmen and lifters, Saxon, Walker, Stanko, Rigoulot, etc… Double-handed snatches… Single and double-handed swings… Feats of Arm and Shoulder Strength… Two-hands slow curl… Two-hands kettlebell press… Two hands holdout… The rectangular fix… The Good Morning… Lifts to Shoulders, Single and Double-Handed… Deadlift records and performances… Supporting Feats… The ‘Plank’ and Human Bridge stunts… Lifting a Car… Carrying a Piano… Walking with a half a ton supported on his shoulders… Feats of Agility and Strength

Chapter VI: His Training Methods
— How many days per week he trained, and the specific ‘type’ of workouts taken… How long each training session lasted… Goerner’s post-workout recovery… A typical training program… Details of the “Die Kette” kettlebell workout… Specific weights used and order of exercises… Lifting tempo… Training for special feats and records… Six different one-hand deadlift “grips”… Training for two-hands deadlifting… Three of Goerner’s favorite types of shrugging movements… Training for supporting or carrying feats… The Brick Lift… Pinch Lifting… Training for a match… Additional training information, diet, massage, roadwork etc

Chapter VII: His Attitude to Lifting Feats and Feats of Strength
— Training philosophy and position on ‘Health’… The role of variety in training… Thoughts on mixing fast and slow movements in the same workout… Deadlifts… Lifting ‘Cold’… Carrying heavy weights… Unusual methods of lifting a barbell… Success in Wrist Wrestling… How Goerner could tear a deck of playing cards… Breaking one of Louis Cyr’s records… Feats of Abdominal strength… Weight Throwing accomplishments

Conclusion: Appreciation by World-Famous Authorities
— Notes and observations on Hermann Goerner from: Prof. Theodore Siebert… David P. Willoughby… George F. Jowett… Tromp Van Diggelen… Bob Hoffman… Henry Graf… Hugo Rosch… Gord Venables… Jack Reid… W.A.Pullum… Ray Van Cleef… Mac Batchelor… Leo Gaudreau

Index

The modern reprint edition of “Goerner The Mighty” by Edgar Mueller is a 5″ x 7″ trade paperback, with full glossy cover, 136 pages in length consisting of eight chapters, the contents of which are listed above.

There are also 32 rare photos and diagrams of Goerner and his exploits and training techniques as well as a full index. This modern reprint edition is nearly identical in every way to the original 1951 printing.

Goerner The Mighty by Edgar Mueller
___________$19.99 plus s/h

Gray Hair and Black Iron by Brooks Kubik

Posted on Saturday, September 23rd, 2017 by John Wood

SOLD OUT!

Check out our other products for hard-training info:

https://www.oldtimestrongman.com/products/