Reg Park Archives - Page 2 of 2 - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Reg Park and The Swing Bell

Posted on Sunday, January 10th, 2016 by John Wood

Here’s a very determined looking Reg Park training with a swingbell. You don’t see swingbell training much these days but it is a shame because it is both simple and effective… in other words, swingbell training offers a different way to hit the same muscle groups which is always useful. We’ve covered swingbell training in several prior blog posts.

The Reg Park Muscle Builder Ad

Posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2016 by John Wood

You used to be able to find ads for ‘The Reg Park Muscle Builder Set’ on the back of Reg’s magazine “The Reg Park Journal.” If you saved up your allowance for one of these sets, you got quite a haul: a 10-strand cable exerciser, a wall pulley attachment, a head strap, foot stirrups, two hand grips (for a mighty, he-man grip) a cable exercise and rowing machine and, of course, several free courses to show you how to use it all.

Steve Reeves’ Hack Squat Machine

Posted on Friday, November 13th, 2015 by John Wood

Steve Reeves trained in York, Pennsylvania for the 1950 Mr. Universe contest. While there, they devised this unique “hack squat” machine for Reeves to train on (this was actually an old hip lift /platform lifting apparatus used in decades before at the Milo Barbell Company.) Reeves used this exercise exclusively to work his legs that time (and went on to win the 1950 Mr. Universe contest and beat Reg Park!) (Also note the Strength and Health covers on the wall.)

Reg Park’s Stone Lifting

Posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2014 by John Wood

I don’t know if Reg Park ever lifted stones to build his muscles, but he sure did in the movies! Here’s Reg as the titular Samson in this still from his 1964 flick “Samson in King Solomon’s Mines” (also called “Maciste in King Solomon’s Mines.”) Reg, of course, does not disappoint in this mythical role. Reg played a similar role as Hercules in four other films.

Muscle Training Illustrated, Issue #1 – November, 1965

Posted on Monday, July 28th, 2014 by John Wood

Muscle Training Illustrated, Issue #1 - November, 1965

Space-Age techniques do indeed build bigger muscles faster…Not many people remember it today but Dan Lurie’s “Muscle Training Illustrated” magazine was a top sources of training information and bodybuilding news. Here’s a look at the very first issue: November, 1965 which features the great Reg Park on the cover. MTI ended up running for nearly 200 issues from 1965 through 1993, which is no small feat in itself.

Strength & Bulk Training for Weight Lifters & Body Builders by Reg Park

Posted on Thursday, April 17th, 2014 by John Wood

A look at an original circa 1960 copy of Strength & Bulk Training for Weight Lifters & Body Builders by Reg Park. You’d have better luck winning the lottery AND getting struck by lightning on the same day than getting your hands on an original copy like this one. Thanks to Bill Hinbern, you CAN get a modern reprint copy though and Reg’s training advice is worth every penny.

Reg Park Kettlebell Handles

Posted on Friday, April 11th, 2014 by John Wood

You can count Reg Park among the many strength athletes who trained with kettlebells, in fact, Reg sold his own set of plate-loaded kettlebell handles through his equipment company. The above advertisement is from 1956.

It should be noted though that Reg et al, performed bodybuilding movements with kettlebells, (usually shoulder and arm work) and did not train with them in the kettlebell methods that are widely promoted today.

Muscle Builder, July, 1964, featuring Dave Draper

Posted on Friday, February 28th, 2014 by John Wood

Muscle Builder, July, 1964, featuring Dave Draper

A look at the July, 1964 issue of Joe Weider’s Muscle Builder magazine featuring a young but very massive Dave Draper. Other articles include: “How I Use The Top Muscle-Building Technique to Build My 19″ Arms,” by Freddy Ortiz, “Here’s The Top Muscle-Building Technique That Made Me a Champion” by Reg Park, “The Muscle-Building Wisdom of Bill Pearl,” and “Harold Poole’s Mr. Universe Powerhouse Diet Secrets Revealed.”

Reg Park: Standing Dumbbell Press

Posted on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 by John Wood

It’s a pretty awesome feat to be able to press bodyweight with a barbell but doing so with dumbbells is a whole different level of strength. Here’s Reg Park locking out a standing press with a pair of dumbbells, 235-pounds total, in outstanding form. I certainly can’t think of anyone more fitting to play “Hercules” in the movies…

The Dumbbell Bench Press

Posted on Sunday, October 9th, 2011 by John Wood

Reg Park Dumbbell Bench Pres

An exercise that rarely gets its due is the dumbbell bench press. It can be performed in much safer manner than the barbell version and builds just as much (if not more) upper-body strength and power.

The Dumbbell Bench Press was one of Reg Park’s favorite exercises. Here’s Reg using 140 pounds in each hand — an impressive poundage if you can do it once… Reg lifted it for 5 sets of 10 reps in a typical workout.