A Website Dedicated to the Study of Strength, Health, Fitness and Sport Across Centuries, Countries and Contests.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photo-of-a-shirtless-man-surfing-on-sea-waves-6623875/ Australia is the largest surf country in the Southern Hemisphere with surfing roots dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. If you’ve wondered how the surfing sport came to Australia and at what pace it developed in history, we’re here to offer a comprehensive timeline of surfing in Australia. Several key dates... Continue Reading →
A central theme of the film Pumping Iron II, released in 1985, is the debate in the sport of female bodybuilding over women and muscles. That same year, the recently-crowned Ms. Olympia Cory Everson (the first of her six consecutive title victories) addressed the issue of muscularity versus femininity in Flex.[1] The tensions of the... Continue Reading →
Cards on the table, I was a huge Flex Wheeler fan growing up. Coming to bodybuilding at the tail end of the Dorian Yates era, I was convinced that Wheeler would be the next multi-time Olympia. In my defence, this is what we were being told repeatedly in Weider magazines from the time. Dorian was... Continue Reading →
Once in a generation, it has been said, a super-athlete arises whose prowess astonishes the world. Several generations have come and gone, however, since Louis Cyr arose and showed what he could do. Since that time nothing approaching his extraordinary performances has ever been seen. Louis Cry, French-Canadian, was born in the little hamlet of... Continue Reading →
https://www.rawpixel.com/image/3566710/illustration-image-art-business-people It would be a grave understatement to claim that the COVID pandemic inconvenienced our day-to-day lives. Rather, at times, it felt as if this global health crisis was a roller coaster with no ending in sight. With that said, it appears most of us have taken one important lesson out of the pandemic –... Continue Reading →
I am a big fan of novelty barbells. From Bob Peoples’ homemade wooden barbell to the modern elephant bar made by Rogue Fitness, the ingenuity of trainees when it comes to lifting astounds me. If you’ve been training long enough you’ll appreciate variety. Don’t get me wrong, your standard dumbbell and barbell is the bread... Continue Reading →
For many Steve Reeves was the epitome of bodybuilding. Alongside John Grimek, he helped to define a mid-century Iron Game obsessed with beauty, strength and uncompromising health. Though undoubtedly blessed with fantastic genetics, Reeves was known for his work ethic and attention to detail when it came to his diet. Coming from the Steve Reeves... Continue Reading →
Undoubtedly we've all been faced with the question, who is stronger? As a teenager it emerged when those weighing 150 lbs. or less sought to square up to their heavier brethren. Was it more impressive bench pressing 200 lbs. at 150 or 280 lbs. at 200 lbs. bodyweight? While our adolescent selves often solved this... Continue Reading →
This website's love for Jack LaLanne is perhaps firmly established through our previous posts. Well with that in mind, today's post discusses the LaLanne push up, a fingertip push up now synonymous with one of twentieth-century's most vibrant fitness personalities. So in today's short post we're going to examine the exercise, its history, and most... Continue Reading →
Ed Coan entered his first powerlifting competition at 16 years old, he went on become one of the best (if not THE best) powerlifters in the world. Here is my candid conversation with The Legend, Ed Coan. POWER: How did you get into powerlifting? ED: I saw Kaz [Bill Kazmier] on TV. That was the... Continue Reading →