Otto Arco Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

The Arco Brothers

Posted on Monday, June 21st, 2021 by John Wood

Otto Arco began his vaudevill career with an old family friend Emil Von Mogyorossy as the duo “The Crotton Brothers. They performed feats of strength, muscle control, and hand balancing, dressed as Roman gladiators. Eventually Von Mogyorossy got married and and left the group but Arco’s own brother Peter (right, above) stepped in to replace him without missing a beat. “The Arco Brothers” would go on to perform in the Folies Bergere in Paris, the Hippodrome in London, the Winter Gardens in Berlin, and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Otto Arco

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

Otto Arco on the cover of the November, 1925 issue of Bernarr MacFadden’s Muscle Builder Magazine. In 1907, Arco became the second man in the world to hoist double bodyweight overhead with a 278-1/2 pound lift at 138 pound of bodyweight. He was also the first to one hand snatch over bodyweight with a 145-pound lift. Arco was a great wrestler, gymnast and hand balancer. He and his brother Pete performed with several different circuses in the US and abroad. Arco achieved his tremendous form through a variety of training methods, traditional weight lifting, gymnastics and Muscle Control.

Arco’s Arm

Posted on Monday, September 25th, 2017 by John Wood

Another look at Otto Arco’s rather impressive arm. Arco only weighed 150 pounds or so, and this picture was taken nearly a hundred years ago yet you will rarely — if ever — see an arm as well developed these days. The phrase “carved out of granite” immediately comes to mind. If you are looking for some extra “peak” on your biceps or knotty forearms, you may want to give Muscle Control training a try.

Muscle Control – “The Rope”

Posted on Monday, April 25th, 2016 by John Wood

The art of muscle control is about training voluntary control of involuntary muscles. Here, the great muscle control master Otto Arco demonstrates one of the most difficult and impressive muscle control feats: “The Rope.”

You’ll notice the abdominal muscles are tensed while holding an abdominal vacuum, a very striking effect. This feat is much more difficult (and much more impressive) with the arms overhead like this, indicating that Otto Arco was truly in a class by himself.

Maxick

Posted on Friday, August 19th, 2011 by John Wood

He began his life with the unfortunate name of “Max Sick” and it was certainly fitting as he suffered with a variety of ailments. As a young man he was introduced to physical training as a method for improving his condition. Using isometrics, hand balancing and weightlifting he built himself back to health and later became reborn as “Maxick” champion Strength athlete.

One day, while working as an artists model he noticed that he was able to isolate his abdominals in a certain way while he held a specific pose for periods of time. As time passed, he began to experiment with isolating other muscle groups and the unique art of “Muscle Control” was born.

The audiences of the time had never seen anything like it. It was not only quite a sight but Maxick himself used primarily Muscle Control to build an incredible physique. Though he rarely lifted weights, Maxick was incredibly strong, at a body weight of around 150 pounds, he could perform the following:

Two hands military press with barbell: 230 lbs.
Right hand military press: 112 lbs.
Right hand snatch with barbell: 165 lbs.
Right hand swing with dumbbell: 150 lbs.
Two hands clean and jerk with barbell: 272 lbs.

Due to the unique benefits and training effects of practicing muscle control, many physique stars and physical culturists practiced it including: Otto Arco, Alan P. Mead, John Grimek and Ed Jubinville.