A piece of equipment so commonplace on the gym floor that we often take its very existence for granted. That, at least, is my impression of the E-Z Bar. Having previously discussed the history of barbells, the ancient origins of the dumbbell and even the Swiss Ball for God's sake, it's somewhat shameful that the… Continue reading Who Invented the EZ bar?
Owing to the inquisitive nature of a PCS reader, I've finally gotten my act together, or at least come close enough to some semblance of normality, to go down the rabbit hole once again. The topic of todays post, is the rather more niche but nevertheless effective Glute Ham Raise (GHR) machine. Having spent years… Continue reading The History of the Glute Ham Raise
A mainstay in gyms across the globe, the leg extension is perhaps one of the most controversial machines amongst the lifting community, at least from the 1990s onward. For some it is a one way ticket to an ACL tear, while for others, it's one of the most effective means of building up the iconic… Continue reading History of the Leg Extension Machine
A piece of equipment so commonplace on the gym floor that we often take its very existence for granted. That, at least, is my impression of the E-Z Bar. Having previously discussed the history of barbells, the ancient origins of the dumbbell and even the Swiss Ball for God's sake, it's somewhat shameful that the… Continue reading Who Invented the EZ bar?
When we think about going to the gym it’s usually accompanied by thoughts of money. For example, how much money does a gym subscription cost, how many months do you plan to go for, is it sustainable, or would it be better to get your own gym equipment? Unless you’re loaded with money and you… Continue reading Expensive Equipment Isn’t Needed for a Good Workout
Published by Joe Weider in 1974, the following interview with Iron Guru, Vince Gironda, details the influential trainer's thoughts on the then growing popularity of Nautilus Machines. Unsurprisingly given that Weider was in direct competition with the Nautilus machine's founder, Arthur Jones, the interview proved to be negative at best. In any case, it highlights… Continue reading Vince Gironda on the Nautilus Machines (Muscle and Fitness, 1974)
Lifters today often take machine training for granted. From leg presses to leg extensions, its easy to think that such inventions have existed since the dawn of the gym age. This of course, is entirely wrong. While machines have crept into nearly every gym these days, lifters in the past century had to be inventive… Continue reading Sigmund Klein and the invention of Leg Curl?
Joe Weider is undoubtedly a divisive figure in the history of bodybuilding. Influential to the nth degree regarding the modern climate of the sport, Weider has been continually criticised for selling snake oil supplements to a naive public. Today's post briefly examines Joe's 'Hell-Bent for Leather N'Lead' product, a set of bracelets brought out by… Continue reading Joe Weider’s Power Bracelet
Having previously detailed forgotten physical culture devices like the Iron Boots and the Swingbell, the time has come to discuss another treasure from bodybuilding's past, namely the 'half moon bench'. Promoted heavily by the Dan Lurie Barbell Company during the sixties and seventies, the "Half-Moon" or "Round Bench" promised to stretch the ligaments and cartilage around the… Continue reading Dan Lurie’s Half Moon Bench
Looking for something to break the monotony of dumbbell and barbell training? Admit it, every once and a while you like to try something new. Exercises or machines that truly test you. Well today, we're going to look at the Swingbell, an old school piece of bodybuilding equipment promoted by York during the heyday of… Continue reading The Lost Art of Swingbell Training
