Since the early 1990s, the Western World has been infatuated with a wonder supplement that increases athletic performance, helps build muscle and has relatively few side affects. Creatine is perhaps one of the best known supplements available on the market. It has been praised and castigated for its effectiveness and oftentimes has been mistakenly deemed as… Continue reading Creatine: A Short History
I like to consider myself to be a semi-decent researcher. Coming up to nearly a decade of historical work, I've spent quite a lot of time studying the origins of certain exercises, foods and workouts. Don't get me wrong, I love it ... Most of the time. Research for this exercise was not one of… Continue reading Why The Nordic Curl is Older Than You Think
In 1990, Paul Solotaroff interviewed Steve Michalik in one of the most fascinating interviews in all of bodybuilding. Struggling to come to terms with his post-bodybuilding career, Michalik spoke candidly about his use, and abuse, of anabolic steroids. At the end of the interview, the reader is left with three thoughts Steve Michalik was incredibly… Continue reading The Death Wish in Bodybuilding
One of the things which always fascinated me is the diets of those early physical culturists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. At a time when gym culture was in its infancy, these men and women experimented with their training, their diet, and their mindsets to achieve maximum results. For some, like the… Continue reading C.F. Langworthy, ‘Dietary Study of Sandow, The Strong Man.’
Today's post comes primarily from the Ma Strength Olympic weightlifting book written by Manuel Buitrago, an expert on Chinese weightlifting techniques. In part 1, we finished off with the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912. From here, China entered a tumultuous period to establish itself as a Republic and gain international recognition. Therefore, reformers kept… Continue reading Guest Post: History of Chinese Weightlifting Part 2: Republican Period – Great Leap Forward
Periodization means “to divide into periods,” when defined by most dictionaries. That’s also the way that I view this term as it applies to strength training. I’m a big believer that some form of change in a routine every three or four months or so is as good mentally as it is physically. In addition… Continue reading Bob Whelan, ‘Common Sense Periodization’, Hard Gainer, July-August (1999), 21-24.
John McCallum has been covered at several points on this site already. What's been missing in our discussions has been an insight into just how wonderful his writing style was. McCallum wrote in parables that were simultaneously funny and inspiring. This was best seen in McCallum's iconic 'Get Big' drink article. The 'Get Big' drink… Continue reading Physical Culture Library: John McCallum’s Iconic ‘Get Big Drink’ Article
Even though it sounds as if they are part of the latest, high-tech smart gadgets, there were various versions of ancestors of fitness activity trackers that we use now, in the 21st century. From the first industrial revolution, and rapid progress in technology, we have managed to create devices that would be unthinkable for mankind… Continue reading Guest Post: Fitness Activity Trackers – A Brief History
I sat poised watching the clock with my finger in the ready position. I knew to get the desired seat I would have to have my ticket ordered the second that it went on sale. I called with speedy precision and connected with the agent who took all the needed information and we both waited… Continue reading Jeff Preston, ‘The 1991 Mr. Olympia: The End of an Era’, Iron Age (c.2003)
The year is 2008. Mariusz Pudzianowski has just won his fifth World Strongest Man title and I am in a heated discussion with my cousin about who the strongest man ever is. My cousin said Pudzianowski and I, being the strength nerd that I am, argued for Vasily Alekseyev. While we all know that I… Continue reading Why Strongman Trading Cards Are an Awesome Idea
