Handbalancing Feat Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Eugene Waddell

Posted on Saturday, October 24th, 2015 by John Wood

Eugen Waddell was a member of the famed “Jackson Trio” and the only man we know of who could replicate Bob Jones’ signature feat of standing atop a series of Indian Clubs and flicking them away one-by-one until left balancing only on his thumbs.

The Jackson Trio

Posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014 by John Wood

… Easily one of the most amazing photographs ever taken. Jimmy “Muscles” Jackson (Frank Kirigin), Gene “Jewell” Waddell, and Charley “Jarley” Jackson were known professionally as the “Jackson Trio” as they traveled the country performing on the Vaudeville circuit. (At times, they were also known as “The Three Jacksons,” “The Jackson Brothers” or “The Three Zeckos”.)

On August 21st, 1934, with the news reel cameras rolling, the Jackson Trio balanced precariously on a ledge of the 86th floor of the Empire State Building while this famous picture was taken. The Jackson Trio got their start opening for Houdini on the vaudeville circuit and when in New York, the trio always trained at Sig Klein’s Gym!

Handbalancing Feat #1

Posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2014 by John Wood

Months of handbalancing practice will make you pretty confident, in fact, after enough time passes, you’ll eventually reach a point where you only underbalance (falling back toward your feet) coming out of your handstand and rarely, if-at-all overbalance (fall forward overhead,) Practicing your handbalancing on a stationary object or set of handles is also a useful tactic since it will train your skills in a much different manner than holding a “free” handstand.

In either case, this feat, accomplished by amateur handbalancer Miles Hayes, of Mansfield, Ohio, is still quite impressive (but definitely don’t try this one at home folks.)

Bob Jones at the York Picnic

Posted on Thursday, February 20th, 2014 by John Wood

Bob Jones Does His Thing at the York Picnic

Bob Jones (who else?) does a one-arm handstand on a (tipped) rocker at the York Barbell picnic some time in the late 1930’s (probably 1937). The early York picnics were held right behind Bob Hoffman’s house on Lightner’s Hill in North York, Pennsylvania. Hoffman can be seen bent-pressing the large globe barbell in the background in another picture taken the same day HERE.

They say that the York picnics were so popular that cars were parked three quarters of a mile in every direction. Hoffman’s house is still there and you can see it if you know where to look.

Sig Klein’s Greatest Handbalancing Feat

Posted on Friday, January 3rd, 2014 by John Wood

Sig Klein's Greatest Handbalancing Feat

We’ve covered Sig Klein’s handbalancing feats before. Above you’ll find what ol’ Sig thought of as the ultimate handbalancing feat, or at least the one that he was most proud of. Not only could Sig hold a handstand on a freestanding globe barbell, he could roll the whole affair across the floor while doing so ~ That’s pretty awesome!

Handbalancing Feat

Posted on Wednesday, November 27th, 2013 by John Wood

How about this handbalancing feat from the Russian circus, circa 1967? I’d say the neck strength of the two “bottom” men may be even more impressive.

Bob Jones: Handbalancer Extraordinaire

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011 by John Wood

Equaled in talent only by his mentor Professor Paulinetti, Bob Jones performed feats of handbalancing mastery that will likely never be duplicated.

Pictured above is one of his most famous feats: Jones began in a full handstand position with an Indian club underneath each fingertip.
One by one, he flicked away each Indian club until he was balancing on his thumbs alone, an absolutely mind blowing feat of strength and dexterity.