A Website Dedicated to the Study of Strength, Health, Fitness and Sport Across Centuries, Countries and Contests.
Having previously discussed the history of the squat exercise, today's post examines the creation of the Rader Chest Pull, an exercise that Peary Rader, one of the Irongame's biggest names in the twentieth-century, often used in conjunction with the squat. Typically Rader would inform trainees to perform this exercise directly after a set of twenty... Continue Reading →
As Joan Tumblety noted in her work on early twentieth-century physical culture, the French have long displayed an interest and an affinity for exercise. Indeed, on all sides of the political spectrum, French athletes, politicians and schoolteachers have often sought to improve the physical lot of French men and women through purposeful exercise. For some this took... Continue Reading →
Well known as one of the greatest trainers of his age, Vince Gironda's name has become synomous with bodybuilding champions from Larry Scott to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Though Gironda made his name producing some of the greatest bodybuilding champions the sport has ever seen, he sent countless hours with beginners and intermediates seeking to sculpt their... Continue Reading →
Though more synomous with bodybuilding than wrestling, the late 1890s saw Eugen Sandow, the man many credited with possessing the perfect physique, wrestle a caged lion in front of a US audience. The bout was undertaken during Sandow's extensive tour of the United States under the tutelage of promoter Florenz Ziegfeld. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many viewed... Continue Reading →
Regular exercising is very important for maintaining the overall health and staying fit. Thanks to the exercises, the joints strengthen, the body becomes more flexible and heart health improves. You get both mental and energy boost and relieve stress thanks to the release of toxins. Of course, the physical appearance changes to the better as... Continue Reading →
Credit: Home is where the heart is. So if you have a passion for living a healthy and happy lifestyle, your home is the perfect venue to lay those foundations. Making the switch from gym-goer to home muscle grower can bring many rewards to your training and general life. Here’s why: SaveTime For most people,... Continue Reading →
The following post comes from the immensely talented Erny Peibst of jackednatural.com. If you're looking for advice on the best natural supplements to take or simply a review of the latest training trends, I highly recommend it. Guys who’ve just hopped on the bodybuilding bandwagon might have heard of legendary names such as Ronnie Colemanand Dorian Yates whispered from the... Continue Reading →
Though born in Vienna in 1873, Alois P. Swoboda became one of America's most popular and famous physical culturists of the early twentieth-century. Preaching a system of bodyweight only exercises, Swoboda ran a successful mail-order business for several years, which allowed the Austrian to preach his message of muscle across the United States. Given the... Continue Reading →
The fitness industry, was and is, a notoriously dubious business place. For every honest athlete seeking to help his fellow trainer, there are dozens of genetically blessed individuals who seek to make a living with half-truths. This chicanery, is however, a time honoured tradition as evidenced by today's article. Surveying the great names of the physical... Continue Reading →
The Physical Culture Creed We Believe... That our bodies are our most glorious possession; that health-wealth is our greatest asset; that every influence which interferes with the attainment of superb, buoyant health should be recognised as a menace. We maintain that weakness is truly a crime; that sickness is the penalty of violated health laws;... Continue Reading →