Wladyslaw Kurcharczyk, or 'Bobby Pandour' is one of the most fascinating physical culturists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. A gymnast by trade who published little in the way of training material, Pandour is widely regarded as having possessed one of the finest physiques of his time. That he claimed to have built… Continue reading Bobby Pandour: The Mysterious Muscle Man
Is it suddenly cool to care about the history of strength? One of the joys of the internet has been, for me at least, the immense interest weight lifters from around the world have shown in learning more about the strong men and women who went before them. In the past, people were forced to… Continue reading Film Club: The Rogue Legends Series Louis “Apollon” Uni
It has been said of T.W. Clarke that he was a born strong man : and this, to some extent, is true. Fortune of birth, however, never made this pupil the modern Hercules he subsequently became. Harder and persistent training alone was responsible for this. When Clarke joined the Camberwell Club as a youth of… Continue reading W.A. Pullum, ‘How Clarke Trained,’ W. A. Pullum, ‘Great Strenth’, How to Use A Barbell (London, 1932),
How do you squat without a squat rack? Don't worry this isn't another post about the trials and tribulations of a home gym (I've already done that here). No this is about the early 1900s and the difficulties facing the average barbell man or woman. The birth of our modern fitness cultures can be traced… Continue reading How to Squat Without a Squat Rack?
Parents! I might add wives, sisters, brothers and friends. Now, I am going to put it right squarely up to you; if you happen to be a young bar-bell enthusiast. When you bought your bar-bell, did your father and mother applaud your decision? Or did they beg you not to take the risks attendant on… Continue reading Alan Calvert, Why Are Parents So Bitterly Opposed to Heavy-Weight Exercise?, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON LIFTING AND LIFTERS (1926)
In 1894 Eugen Sandow, alongside G. Mercer Adam published Sandow on Physical Training. This was the first training manual/biography which Sandow published but it was not his last. Over the next twenty years, Sandow published a multitude of books covering everything from working out to alternative medicine. Sandow on Physical Training was published during Eugen… Continue reading Sandow as a Strongman in Holland (1894)
I have spoken so much of Louis' great strength that now I must tell you of his great weakness - eating. His excuse for eating so much was that his great expenditure of strength required it. That was just his joke, though, for he was a slave to the table all his life. He could… Continue reading How Much Could Louis Cyr Eat?
Train Regularly - 3 days a week - every other day. The POSITRAIN program has been laid out for you on a Monday - Wednesday- Friday basis. This has been found to be the ideal with most bodybuilders. However, if it is more convenient for you - you can train on Tuesday - Thursday -… Continue reading Dan Lurie and John Lima, ‘Before You Begin … Read These Important Training Tips,’ Dan Lurie’s Instant Action Bodybuilding System (New York, 1979)
One of the most popular physical culturists of the entire twentieth-century, there is no denying the impact Charles Atlas had on the muscle making industry. Full of vigour, advice and the occasional insult, Atlas challenged his 'students' to improve their physique as much as possible. The yardstick for their success? None other than Atlas's own… Continue reading Do you Measure Up?
You may have heard would-be body culturists say, "Aw gee, how can I train? There is no gymnasium around here, and any way if there was, I couldn't afford it." Actually, hundreds of young men have presented this problem to me, hoping that I would be able to solve the little difficulty for them. It… Continue reading George F. Jowett, Why Home Exercise is the Best (c. 1925)
