Nowadays kettlebell training is the staple of modern fitness due to its flexibility and effectiveness. Yet this form of unique strength training has a history much older than we originally thought, going far back in time and around the globe. The kettlebell, originally a tool of functional strength, is now a ubiquitous force in athletic… Continue reading Guest Post: The History of Kettlebell Training: From Ancient Strength to Modern Fitness
Earlier this month I had the privilege of speaking on the Iron Culture podcast about what strength means within the context of fitness. This comes off the back of an article myself, Eric, Adrian and Walter wrote (which is available here). Hopefully you enjoy 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXoForHmHOQ
How did I not know of this earlier? I had been planning to write about the history of bodybuilding forums this week (watch this space) but events overtook me. Listening to a wrestling podcast this morning (WrestleMe, and it is wonderful), I learned that video footage of a George Hackenschmidt match had been digitized and… Continue reading Pinch Me! Video Footage of George Hackenschmidt!!!
The Competitive Bodybuilder Few people in bodybuilding ever have to ask: Should I compete? When you reach that advanced stage, you will know it. In fact, if you are as motivated as I was, nothing could prevent you from stepping into the ranks of the professional bodybuilder. Competitive bodybuilders are the elite in the field… Continue reading Lou Ferrigno’s Secrets for Competitive Bodybuilding
My name is Conor and I suffer from TBD. That is training boredom disorder. It is a serious condition that seems to impact 1 in 5 gym goers each month and at least 3 in 5 home gym owners each month. Other descriptions include 'f**k around-itis' or 'spinning your wheels.' More seriously, I get bored… Continue reading Forgotten Exercises: The Siebert Press
The concept of athletes as influencers has deep historical roots, stretching back to the origins of organized sports. In ancient Greece, Olympians were considered heroes not just for their prowess in athletic competitions but also for their embodiment of discipline, skill, and honor. They were celebrated figures, with their likeness etched on pottery and sculptures,… Continue reading Guest Post: From Sports Heroes to Social Icons: The Evolution of Athletes as Influencers
Who is the strongest man or woman in the world? A more important question to ask is how do we test them? Do we rely on the Olympic lifts (snatch and clean), or the powerlifting lifts (Squat, bench and deadlift)? What about strongman/strongwoman events like timber carries, max deadlifts using straps, Atlas stones or yoke… Continue reading What is Strength? A Question of Philosophy
Lee Moran was the first man to squat 1,000 lbs. in competition and an absolute goliath within the sport. The following source, from a powerlifting magazine in the 1980s - annoyingly I've lost the source which so rarely happens it is worth mentioning - details his thoughts on a 3 month training split to bring… Continue reading Lee Moran’s Squat Workout
ONCE again cringing under your eye, non-human engine alongside of the human worker, my assertion that the working, cleaning up, cooling-down and fuelling of an engine correspond to exercising, the Bath, the Repose and the Feeding of the human body, recalls my statement that ‘Whilst the engine is at best itself in efficiency after its… Continue reading K.V. Iyer on Diet (c. 1930)
This short post brings together two twin loves of mine, Odd Lifting and the Indian Encyclopedia of Physical Culture. Published in English in 1950, the Encyclopedia details a variety of traditional and modern exercises used in India. Part of a broader effort to promote traditional Indian movements, like heavy club swinging, bethanks, dands… Continue reading 1950s Advice on Stone Lifting
