Shoulder Strength Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

George W. Lee

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

George W. Lee, of Astoria, Long Island, reports that his secret to keeping young is regular physical training. He says that he never engages in “normal” calisthenics but rowing and a series of exercises he devised with a pair of oars. He claims to be the only man of his age able to perform this feat. The oars are nine feet, six inches in length. George is sixty six years young and this picture was taken in 1940.

Doug Hepburn’s Mighty Pinky

Posted on Monday, December 4th, 2017 by John Wood

“I’ve got more strength in one finger than you have in your whole body!” For most people, such a statement would be mere hyperbole, but in the case of Doug Hepburn it was obviously true. One of Doug Hepburn’s favorite feats was to muscle out a 45-pound plate hanging from his pinky finger — an amazing display of shoulder and grip strength. As evident here, Hepburn could do this with either hand.

The Iron Cross

Posted on Sunday, November 27th, 2016 by John Wood

Much of the origins of strength training and physical culture come from gymnastics. The Iron Cross as performed on gymnastic rings, is one of the most impressive gymnastic feats. It takes a great deal of strength and plenty of skill to perform The Iron Cross properly.

The fellow above, Albert Azaryan was a Armenian gymnast who competed internationally for the Soviet Union. Azaryan is the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Champion on the still rings and the first ever gymnast to become an Olympic Champion in Rings twice. Azaryan actually originated a variation of the Iron Cross which was eventually named for him, which incorporates a very difficult quarter turn to the side, a simply mind boggling display of shoulder strength.

Primo Carnera

Posted on Friday, February 21st, 2014 by John Wood

Heavyweight champ Primo Carnera was a “strong man” as well as a strongman. Here’s “The Preem” doing a ‘Muscle Out’ of a pretty good size kid. I’d say that’s a hundred pounds at least. Strong shoulders obviously come in pretty handy in the ring.

Karl Norberg ~ The Mighty Norseman

Posted on Thursday, September 13th, 2012 by John Wood

Karl Norberg ~ The Mighty Norseman

Here’s one you can try at home: do a front hold out with an Olympic barbell, then, by wrist power alone twist it from horizontal to vertical and back again. At 70 years of age, “The Mighty Norseman,” Karl Norberg could do this with ease.