While many exercises, such as the squat, appear to be timeless in the lore of exercise history, there are many movements and machines that fall away with the sands of time. Today’s post looks at the Roman Column, an inverted strongman exercise created in the mid-eighteenth century and used by famous performers such as Eugen… Continue reading Forgotten Exercises: The Roman Column
Though the fitness industry of the early 1900s pales in comparison to the present, there is little denying that the twin evils of advertising and marketing were as important back then as they are today. This was especially the case for Eugen Sandow, whom many credited with having the world's most perfectly developed body. This claim, as… Continue reading Scots v. Sandows
Though more synomous with bodybuilding than wrestling, the late 1890s saw Eugen Sandow, the man many credited with possessing the perfect physique, wrestle a caged lion in front of a US audience. The bout was undertaken during Sandow's extensive tour of the United States under the tutelage of promoter Florenz Ziegfeld. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many viewed… Continue reading Sandow the Lion Tamer
Oftentimes this blog has focused exclusively on the star names of the physical culture industry. This, as perhaps can be guessed, is due to the extensive documents such men and women have left behind. The true physical culturists, that is those people who exercised for the joy of it, are much harder to track down.… Continue reading A Life in Strength: William Joseph Murray
The fitness industry, was and is, a notoriously dubious business place. For every honest athlete seeking to help his fellow trainer, there are dozens of genetically blessed individuals who seek to make a living with half-truths. This chicanery, is however, a time honoured tradition as evidenced by today's article. Surveying the great names of the physical… Continue reading Lies, Snake Oils and Downright Deception: Selling and the Fitness Industry
This short article, published in the Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser in 1908, reveals that the obsessive nature of physical culturists has long been a problem for those outside the hobby. Hepworth-Dixon's sharp tongue and keen eye reveal that obsessively counting calories and taking supplements is most certainly not a new problem. The article leaves… Continue reading Farewell to the Food Faddist (1908 Article)
While many credit Eugen Sandow as the father of modern day bodybuilding, very little is said about William, 'Billy', Murray, the world's first recognisable bodybuilding champion. Today's post will look at the interaction between Sandow, the unofficial father of bodybuilding and Murray, its first official king. So who was William Murray? How did he win? And why… Continue reading Bodybuilding’s First Champion: William Murray
"One thousand dollars to any charity if I cannot conclusively prove that every alleged instructor of physical culture in this country is either a former pupil of mine or using one of the systems I have originated and perfected." Professor Attila, Â 1894 Can you build muscle with just five pound dumbbells? For Professor Attila, the… Continue reading Professor Attila’s Five Pound Dumbbell Exercises (1913)
If you enjoy a fitness lifestyle, there is no doubt that you will already know about the benefits of whey protein. But, are you aware of how long it has been around? It might be a lot longer than you think. Today, I’m going to give you a potted history of whey protein, and reveal… Continue reading A Potted History Of Whey Protein
After three years of pumping up, slimming down and posing, Britain, and the world was treated to the first ever bodybuilding competition in 1901. Hosted by the legendary Eugen Sandow, the 'Great Competition' as it was known claimed to have found the most perfect specimens alive. Unsurprisingly it wasn't long before other nations, notably America, began to hold their own… Continue reading 1903 and the birth of American Bodybuilding
