Hand Balancing Feat Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Jimmie Payne

Posted on Friday, April 20th, 2018 by John Wood

Jimmie Payne was one of Jack LaLanne’s good friends and training partners at the original Muscle Beach scene in Santa Monica, California. Payne’s background in hand balancing served him well, first as a lifting champion, then as a physique title holder (He competed in the Pro Mr. America four times) and finally as a stage athlete. He and his lovely partner Cindy Layne performed across the country as “Payne and Layne.”

He was no slouch in ‘normal’ lifts either, accomplishing a straight-arm pullover with 160 pounds, deadlifting 500 pounds for 8 reps and a standing press with a pair of 115-pound dumbbells.

Hepburn’s Hand Balancing

Posted on Friday, November 10th, 2017 by John Wood

Hand Balancing was part of Doug Hepburn’s regular training program. He figured the the increased blood flow to the upper body while in the inverted position would be good for building his pressing strength. Given his track records, there certainly may be something to that. Here’s Doug as the ‘bottom man’ in a unique feat: that’s a 205 pound barbell and a 170 pound man he’s holding overhead. This picture is more impressive than it may appear when you consider how they got in that position in the first place – a feat in itself. This picture was taken just after Doug established a new world record in the press with a lift of 353 pounds.