Youtube comments often make me laugh. In this case, it came on the Amazing Feats of Strength Video, which you can watch here. The comment was referring to the weighted wrestler’s bridge concrete break that begins the video, with strongman Bud Jeffries swinging the sledgehammer. To that, Dan V said… …
Dying Art of Phonebook Ripping
As phonebooks slowly become extinct, you have to be a bit more creative in how you tear them in half. After tearing them for a crowd, I often make a joke, “It’s harder to find a phonebook these days than to rip it in half.” Sadly, this is a dying …
How to Boost Performance 300%
I have mentioned the flow state and how the science has investigated this further. Specifically, studies have found that people in the “flow state” release a number of different neurotransmitters and hormones. These include: Norepinephrine & Dopamine: Tightens focus and keeps us in the NOW. Speeds up muscle reaction time, …
Intuition Bends Wrenches
The other day I had some time to kill. I had already gone through all my email so I did something I don’t often do…I looked at Instagram. And I’m happy that I did as I saw the following picture and post from Chris Rider. If you don’t know Chris …
Don’t be a Robot!
Bodybuilders get a lot of crap, especially from us in the “functional training” world. But that’s not to say there aren’t some smart and strong guys out there in that world. Recently came across this quote from Tom Platz, a professional bodybuilder voted to have the ‘Best Quads and Hamstrings …
How does someone even dream this up?
That was a question I received on my 1003 lb. wrestler’s bridge support. I’m not sure if that was meant in a good way, or bad, but it made me pause to think. If you haven’t seen this video, one of the feats I’ve done that I’m most proud of, check …
Getting Started in Modern and Oldtime Strongman
Christopher (no relation) asks: What are some good resources for a person who’s never done strongman training to get started? There’s alot of info out there and it can get a little overwhelming. Any help would be MUCH appreciated. Thanks for your time! First of all it’s important to distinguish …
The Giant of Luxemburg by George F. Jowett
The following article comes from famous strongman George F. Jowett. Herr Stauffer, we will call him, was a circus proprietor of portly proportions fed by the genius that knew how to serve attractive performances to a people whose prosaic lives and deductive minds found gladness in the masterly performance of …
Card Tearing Technique
Often times when I introduce myself in new settings I’ll do a feat of strength. Lately, I bring a couple decks of cards with me and tear them in half. I use to use phonebooks because they were readily available, but that’s not the case anymore. It shows and tells …
The Man With The Iron Grip by George F. Jowett
This article comes from George Jowett. Few people who saw Charlie Vansittart on the street ever believed he was the man capable of the stupendous arm and gripping strength with which he was accredited. No less a person than the great Cyclops was badly fooled – and on one occasion …
The Three Jolly Germans by George F. Jowett
The following is an article from George F. Jowett about the Saxon trio. The Saxon Trio – what a name to conjure with – a name, to me, reminiscent of happy hours dramatized with amazing deeds of strength. Arthur, Herman and Kurt Saxon. Three brothers who represented altogether a mountain …
Paul Anderson, The Mighty Young Apollo
He nearly died several times while performing, broke 30 world records in feats of strength, held 50 weightlifting records, got injured dozens of time and you’ll barely find anything about him online. The Man You Cannot Hang, the God of Steel, the Mighty Young Apollo, The Greatest Strongman of the …
Khalil Oghab
Iranian born strongman Khalil Oghab, also known as The “Iron Man from Iran” was the first man to organize strongman shows in Iran. Born in 1924 in Shiraz, young Khalil was active in varzesh-e pahlavani, an ancient traditional Iranian system of athletics that has been used for warrior training. Khalil …
How to Combine Bodyweight and Oldtime Strongman Training
The other day I received a question about how to combine bodyweight and oldtime strongman training. Since I hadn’t specifically covered that topic before I thought it was worth doing an in-depth article on it. I guess that makes this the third article in a series. The first one was …
Pyotr Kryloff
Pyotr Kryloff was a strongman, wrestler and athlete who lived from 1871 to 1933. He was best known as The King of Kettlebells, performing incredible feats of strength using kettlebells on a circus stage. Pyotr (also known as Pierre) was born in Moscow and his father was an avid fan …