"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, 1894 Can you build muscle with just five pound dumbbells? For Professor Attila, the... Continue Reading →
John McCallum ‘Get Big Drink’
The quest for greater size has long plagued both the 'hard gainer' and the muscle bound hunk. At times it can seem that the need to ingest greater calories is almost as taxing as our workouts. A predicament that John McCallum, the focus of today's article, was keen to address. As you'll read below, McCallum devised... Continue Reading →
Forgotten Exercises: Zottman Curls
Looking for a new arm exercise? Of course you are, who isn't? Following our discussion of the see-saw shoulder press last week, we thought it was time to examine another forgotten exercise, the Zottman Curl. Named after 19th century strongman George Zottman, the Zottman curl is a fantastic way of stressing the biceps, brachialis muscles, and forearm... Continue Reading →
The Lost Art of Swingbell Training
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 →
Forgotten Exercises: The See-Saw Press
I was flicking through some old strength magazines during the weekend and came across a lift that I doubt many of us are familiar with. Called the 'Seesaw' press, it is essentially a standing dumbbell shoulder press but instead of pressing both dumbbells at the same time, you alternate between reps. As you lower one dumb-bell, you... Continue Reading →
The History Of Weightlifting
Our latest post comes from the wonderful and talented Samantha Olivier from Ripped.me. We're delighted to have Samantha featured on the site again and know you'll enjoy her latest piece. When lifting weights becomes your everyday routine, as a practitioner you should read and learn about the history of S&C (strength and conditioning). It is crucial... Continue Reading →
Workout for a Working Man
This article, first published in Health and Strength Magazine in 1956 is a great reminder that we don't need to spend hours in the gym to maintain our fitness. In fact, the writers of this programme believed it could be done in half an hour or less. Ideal for those struggling to make time to... Continue Reading →
Revisiting the Anabolic Diet
What if I told you about a diet that not only mimicked the effects of steroids but also allowed you to gorge on meats, eggs and cheese for days at a time before indulging in pizza and pancakes on the weekend? A diet that would help you get leaner, stronger and more muscular. A diet... Continue Reading →
Antony Ditillo Training Routines
Having previously discussed physical culture icon, Peary Rader on this site, it seems only fitting to look at some of Anthony Ditillo's proven workout routines. Ditillo wrote for Rader's Ironman magazine for nearly two decades covering everything from diet advice to competition specialisation. Although now deceased, Ditillo's legacy lives on in the thousands of strength... Continue Reading →
Frank Zane’s Growth Program
The following extract comes from Frank Zane's excellent bodybuilding work: The Workouts -Personal Training Diaries, which is available from his website. Zane, a three time Mr. Olympia, is one of the few bodybuilders to defeat Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime and is possibly the most aesthetic man to win an Olympia. The polar opposite to the ungainly Bodybuilding's current mass... Continue Reading →