Exhibition Clubs

Posted on Monday, April 25th, 2022 by John Wood
A shot of some unknown gymnast or circus performer along with a set of his (likely custom) exhibition clubs.

Not sure where this gent got his clubs but Spalding had a commercially available set of exhibition clubs, circa the early 1900’s (bottom). These clubs had strips of German silver (a shiny but very light alloy) along the sides. When swung under stage lights, the reflections made for a very dramatic show!

All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

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.

All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

Indian Club Resource Page

Posted on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 by John Wood
Indian Club Resource Page

Here’s a page where you’ll find all our Indian Club resources in one spot. Click on thumbnails and links to find more information:

Classic Wooden Indian Clubs

It doesn’t get more “Oldschool” than these clubs — each are turned by hand


Fashioned from oak hardwood, the new clubs have a classic look and a perfectly balanced feel.


The approximate weight of each club is branded on the barrel, along with our very cool logo

Get your clubs right here! Oldtimestrongman.com classic clubs are made of American Oak hardwood and available in 1lb., 2lb., and 3lb. sizes. We also have combo sets available in case you would like to save on shipping and order several sizes at once. More info >>>

Indian Club Training Materials

The Text Book of Club Swinging by Tom Burrows
Simple Indian Club Exercises Poster by Staff Sergeant Alfred Moss
Indian Club Exercises Video by Dr. Ed Thomas (Streaming Access)
Indian Club Training Bulletin No. 1 (PDF)

Indian Club Training Guides Available on Amazon Kindle:

Club Swinging For Physical Exercise And Recreation
Light Apparatus Work With Indian Clubs

Indian Club Training Guides Posted in The Iron League

This is only a small sampling, to date we have over 25 Indian club resources — courses and videos — posted in The Iron League.

https://www.ironleague.com/

Indian Club Blog Posts and Articles

An Epic Pair of Indian Clubs
Studded Indian Clubs
George W. Patterson and His Electric Indian Clubs
Vintage Indian Clubs
Unusual Wooden Indian Clubs
Indian Clubs in China
Indian Clubs for Baseball
James J. Corbett’s Indian Clubs
Site Search >>>

Indian Club Videos on Youtube

All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

Indian Club Training Bulletin

Posted on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 by John Wood
Indian Club
Training Bulletin
NEW! Indian Club Training Bulletin No. 2
– Downloadable PDF –
(19 pages)

1. Introduction by John Wood
2. Suggestions To American College Students (1883)
3. Club Swinging Gave Me 25 Pounds of Muscle (1922)
4. Will’s Physical Culture Tobacco Cards (Part 1)
5. Indian Club Q & A
6. Indian Club Resources

$9.99

Indian Club Training Bulletin No. 1
– Downloadable PDF –
(20 pages)

1. Indian Club Q & A #1 by John Wood
2. 1914 Indian Club Course
3. 1905 Indian Club Course
4. The Wrap Up

$12.99

All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

Tommy Price

Posted on Thursday, March 28th, 2019 by John Wood
Tommy Price
We know that Indian Club swinging is beneficial for a variety of sporting events, but here’s one that we haven’t touched on before: motorcycle racing. September 23, 1950 was the date that this photo was snapped and this fellow is Tommy Price, British Speedway rider and winner of the 1949 speedway World Championship. Tommy looks to have built himself a sturdy set of arms which certainly came in handy on the track. Tommy did most of his riding with the Wembley Lions racing club.

All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

An Epic Pair of Indian Clubs

Posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2019 by John Wood
An Epic Pair of Indian Clubs
Cabinet cards were taken of many little known strongmen and circus performers, which on one level was a good thing since we can see a little bit more of some folks whose image we might not otherwise see. The flipside though is that in many cases, an image or maybe two is all we have for some folks, and we will never learn their name or their story. Case in point, it sure would be nice to know more about this gal and her epic pair of Indian Clubs. In all the physical culture ephemera that I’ve come across, I’ve never seen another set of clubs like them. Also of note is the smaller barbell or “wand” by her side.
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.

George Brosius’ Gym

Posted on Wednesday, August 29th, 2018 by John Wood
What a great gym! – This fantastic facility was established by George Brosius, a pioneer gymnastics coach and famous “Turner” in the Milwaukee area. You can read more on Brosius and his amazing story here and here. Gotta love the Indian clubs, climbing ropes, and medicine balls. This pictures dates from about 1900.

The Textbook of Club Swinging by Tom Burrows

Posted on Friday, August 17th, 2018 by John Wood
Whereas Arthur Saxon wrote The Textbook of Weight-Lifting, Tom Burrows wrote The Textbook of Club Swinging. Both men were certainly qualified to do so. There were several other “Textbooks” — on Swimming, Wrestling, Boxing, and various other athletic pursuits.

Homer W. Crawford

Posted on Friday, July 27th, 2018 by John Wood
On April 3, 1890, at the G.A.R. Hall in New Lisbon, Ohio, Homer W. Crawford broke the world’s record for endurance Indian club swinging by swinging a pair of 8 pound ten ouce clubs for six hours and thirty one minutes. This record was broken on January 1, 1891 by Edward W. Brown of Bath, Maine who swung a pair of 9 pound 8 ounce clubs for six hours, forty one minutes, and ten seconds (averaging sixty five full swings per minute).

Crawford regained his record on March 12, 1891 by swinging a pair of ten pound clubs for a full seven hours while averaging seventy full swinger per minute. Crawford was also an accomplished dumbbell lifter and bicycle racer. He stood 5ft 8in and weighed 149 pounds.

George W. Patterson and His Electric Indian Clubs

Posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2018 by John Wood
Mr. George W. Patterson, of Chicago, Illinois, was an avid Indian Club swinger who was also an engineer. One day he had an interesting idea: to devise a means of attaching electric lights to his clubs whilst swinging them in a darkened theatre, thus producing a number of interesting patterns. The clubs were of special construction with the current supplied by flexible wires enclosed in a rubber tube. Three series of eight, three, and one candle power colored lamps are set in sockets in the club at right angles to the center of the clubs, which are split lengthwise. At the tip of each club is a 32-candle-power lamp. When current is not otherwise available (which was often the case in these days — the early 1900’s) a large portable storage battery furnished the necessary power.

All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Author: John Wood. All contents, including images and text, copyright © 2005-2021 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc. Not to be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. We will most likely grant permission but please contact us if you would like to repost. IMPORTANT: Equipment and books, courses etc. pictured in blog posts are generally not available for sale unless specifically noted.