A Website Dedicated to the Study of Strength, Health, Fitness and Sport Across Centuries, Countries and Contests.
Sports marketing and advertising have undergone remarkable transformations throughout history, revolutionizing the way we perceive and engage with sports. From its humble beginnings to the digital age, this field has evolved to shape the relationship between sports, fans, and brands. If you want to learn more about these things, here are a few things you... Continue Reading →
My love of the World Strongest Man Competition is obvious. If you don't believe, just check out some of our previous posts on the weird and wonderful of the WSM. In particular I am a huge fan of the early WSM shows. They were a time when the sport had not yet professionalized. In reality,... Continue Reading →
Cycling, a popular form of transportation, exercise, and sport, has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries. From its humble beginnings as a means of transportation to its current status as a beloved recreational activity and competitive sport, cycling has evolved and captivated the hearts of millions worldwide. So, here’s a quick journey through... Continue Reading →
For Nasser El Sonbaty, who has spent 19 years torching, torturing and otherwise harassing every muscle fiber on his 5'11" frame, there are two absolutes. "The first thing is consistency; the second, intensity." Given his behemoth lower quarters -- complete with voluminous muscle bellies, subterranean separation, Gibraltarian density and shape -- we took notes. Nasser... Continue Reading →
Sport has long been an integral part of education, and its presence in public schools has played a significant role in shaping the physical, mental, and social development of students. The history of sports in public schools is a testament to the recognition of its importance in fostering discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, and overall well-being. Here’s... Continue Reading →
We have come a long way in terms of boosting our workout performance by fine-tuning all the habits that surround that single one, and in particular, by refining our menus to suit our goals. Athletes have always done their absolute best to find that perfect ratio when it comes to food intake in order to... Continue Reading →
I loved this movie. That's it. Review done. Watch it here. More seriously, Marc Martinez has created a documentary about bodybuilding's Golden Age that manages to do what so many Iron Game documentaries struggle with - he captures the wonder of bodybuilding. This is a movie centred on California and bodybuilding from the late 1940s... Continue Reading →
I rarely, if ever, delve into self-promotion but every moment is an opportunity for change and all that. Recently, Common Ground Publishers informed me that my book, The History of Physical Culture, has been nominated for an internal publisher's prize. I've already detailed the book, and its contents, in a previous post. As a quick... Continue Reading →
The Special Olympics is an international organization that has been providing sports training and competition opportunities to individuals with intellectual disabilities for over 50 years. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics has grown into a global movement with programs in more than 190 countries. Here is a quick history of the... Continue Reading →
A point previously discussed on this website was the regularity with which early physical culturists promoted light weight training as opposed to heavy lifting. The reasons for this are numerous. In the first instance, light weightlifting is easier to promote to the general public than heavy weightlifting. It requires less equipment, can be done in... Continue Reading →