https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V72q3SJW_bI The history of weightlifting and bodybuilding was, for far too long, a sport dominated by men. How, when and where women first entered the gym is a topic of considerable interest for academics. While the growth of female weightlifting in the United States has been well covered by Jan Todd, little to no work… Continue reading British Pathé, Girl Weight Lifters (1954)
Tag: Strength
Sumo Wrestling at the World’s Strongest Man
Since its inception in the late 1970s, the World's Strongest Man Competitions have used a variety of tests to determine one's strength. In the past this has included deadlifting blocks of cheese, running with refrigerators and the iconic Atlas Stones. Some events become mainstays while others, like the aforementioned cheese deadlifts slip quickly from our… Continue reading Sumo Wrestling at the World’s Strongest Man
Bob Whelan, ‘Common Sense Periodization’, Hard Gainer, July-August (1999), 21-24.
Periodization means “to divide into periods,” when defined by most dictionaries. That’s also the way that I view this term as it applies to strength training. I’m a big believer that some form of change in a routine every three or four months or so is as good mentally as it is physically. In addition… Continue reading Bob Whelan, ‘Common Sense Periodization’, Hard Gainer, July-August (1999), 21-24.
The History of Kaatsu Training
"Wrap a band around your bicep until it begins to go numb, then pump out 30 reps with a light weight... Trust me, the pump is worth it." These are not the words of an enlightened man but rather my first experience of Kaatsu or Blood Restriction Training. Brought to my attention by a training… Continue reading The History of Kaatsu Training
Forgotten Exercises: Kazmaier Shrugs
So admittedly I am a massive fan of the World's Strongest Man competition having grown up watching clips from the 1980s and 1990s. As a child I marvelled at the strength of Geoff Capes, the 'Viking' Jón Páll Sigmarsson and I even had a soft spot for Rick 'Grizzly' Brown. There was one strongman however, who… Continue reading Forgotten Exercises: Kazmaier Shrugs
Arthur Saxon, ‘The Bent Press’, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL POWER (LONDON, 1906)
Constant practice is the only way in which one may succeed in raising a heavy weight in this position. It will, no doubt, be useful to read below how the lift is performed, but it will be no use to expect an immediate increase in your present lift simply by reading my instructions as to… Continue reading Arthur Saxon, ‘The Bent Press’, THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL POWER (LONDON, 1906)
Fridge Racing at the World’s Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man competition is undoubtedly one of my favourite events each year. We get to see some of the world's strongest athletes push, pull and push a variety of objects. As slick as the modern contests are, there is a certain undeniable magic to the early iterations. From cheese deadlifts to sumo wrestling,… Continue reading Fridge Racing at the World’s Strongest Man
Bill Starr, ‘Sex and the Barbell’, Defying Gravity How To Win At Weightlifting (New York, 1981), p. 24.
I once wrote a piece for the "Behind the Scenes" section in Strength & Health magazine dealing with the subject of sex before competition. I thought that I was quite obviously tongue-in-cheeking the presentation and made the comment that lifters would do well to lay off sex during the final week before a meet. As… Continue reading Bill Starr, ‘Sex and the Barbell’, Defying Gravity How To Win At Weightlifting (New York, 1981), p. 24.
The Birth of the Arnold Strongman Classic
Earlier this year we were treated to perhaps the most exciting Arnold Strongman Classic to date. We saw Hafthor Bjornsson win the event for the second year in a row with a domineering display of power. The 'Wheel of Pain' from Conan the Barbarian made an appearance and it was joined by an exact replica… Continue reading The Birth of the Arnold Strongman Classic
British Pathé 1960s British Strongman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr9yUmYF7T4&list=PLOLn97IoZOb7WhKxje0uP7BYOB8QDbCr4&index=4 My love of old British Pathé footage aside, the above video marks a rather remarkable insight into the still existent world of strongmen training in 1960s Britain. Harold Cope, our Derby lifter shown here, is still doing many of the strongman feats found at the beginning of the century. What impressed me most about this… Continue reading British Pathé 1960s British Strongman