Orlick/Weider: Abdominal Exercises for Strength and Power (1944)

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The following exercises are of a strenuous nature and should be performed only by those who are already quite advanced in their training. Where number of repetitions are not given, repeat exercise until you have to strain and at this point stop and rest. Do this three or four times in succession with each exercise. In this way your body will act as its own barometer telling you pretty well what you can and what you cannot do. As the abdominal muscles grow stronger you will naturally be able to do more repetitions and at no time will you be forcing yourself beyond sensible physiological limits.

George Hackenschmidt: One Hand [Dumbbell] Snatch [1908]

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George Hackenschmidt’s book Way to Live (1908) is one of the best old-time strength manuals out there – and I have to say, “Russian Lion” is one of my favorite old-time strongmen as well: lifter, wrestler, philosopher, true gentleman, man of integrity and honor.

Hack was a huge fan of barbell, kettlebell and dumbbell lifting, and I have use lots of his stuff in my research about the old-time strongman dumbbell training for my Hardstyle Dumbbell Lifting system.

“The Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt [VIDEO]

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In the golden age of professional wrestling, he was the most famous wrestler of them all. But George Hackenschmidt (1877-1968), aka “The Russian Lion,” was much more than that. A body builder, weightlifting champion, nutritionist, philosopher, and writer, he has been described by Terry Todd as “the outlier’s outlier,” and his story makes a worthy entry as Chapter 3 of the Rogue Legends Series.

Arthur “Archie” Allaire: The One Hand Military Press (1928)

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It is worth noting that all… Military Press athletes are exceptionally strong in the legs and back, and although their ability in this lift might draw your attention merely to shoulder and arm strength, once glance at the physique of either will prove they are far from being of top-heavy build.

Barbell & Kettlebell Lifting at the 1913 Olympics [RARE VIDEO]

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Barbell military press, continental barbell clean & jerk, barbell leg press, kettlebell snatch to waiter’s press (switching the side!), one-arm barbell snatch, one-arm barbell clean & jerk, stacked kettlebell bent press – what a great overview of some of the most popular old-time strongmen lifts!

Siegmund Klein’s Super Physique (1943): Kettlebell Calf Raises

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Grasp kettle-bell with right hand and hold it at the side. Place ball of right foot on block of wood. Rise slowly on the toes keeping the left foot clear off the floor. Stay on toes for count of five, lower slowly, rising again just as heel touches the floor

Inch’s Dumbbell Program Minimum for Boxing [2 of 2]: The Dumbbell Jerk

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Using the same dumb-bell (40 to 55 lb. in weight according to your strength and expertness), bring it to the shoulder with the right hand. Give it a slight jerk by first bending (only slightly) the legs, and then suddenly straighten them and push hard. As you do so, lean well over to your left, watching the dumb-bell carefully, the left hand being held out and away.

Inch’s Dumbbell Program Minimum for Boxing [1 of 2]: The Dumbbell Swing

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Place your left hand upon your left knee take hold of the bell with your right hand, and give it a little swing out to the front and slightly upwards. Allow it to return almost to the first position, but through the legs (keep it clear of the ground this time) and then swing the dumb-bell up to the front with a straight arm, right overhead.

“Jonglieren”: Team Kettlebell Juggling in Germany (1925)

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Each man carries a kettle-bell that weighs about 43 American pounds. These teams go through an eliminating process similar to our trial feats. The opposing teams step toward each other, carrying the kettle-bells upon the right shoulders, and go through a series of march formations to the exhilarating strains of martial music. Each team member wears the uniform and colors of the club he represents.

Harold Ansorge, Amazing Feats of Strength: Bent Pressing Heavy Weights

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Great physical power is needed to properly master a heavy weight in the bent press position. I believe this lift to be the most rapid builder of physical power of any lift in the weightlifting field! It surely does a great deal to encourage all-around strength!

Alan Calvert – The One-Arm Military Press (1915)

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Assuming that a dumbbell has been lifted to the shoulder, there are several ways of getting it to full arms’ length above the head with one hand.

The simplest way – and incidentally the way that requires the most strength – is the “MILITARY PRESS.” A dumbbell (short handle) is generally used.

Desbonnet’s School of Physical Culture (1885)

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To paraphrase a legendary RocknRolla quote, “there is no school like the old school, and I’m… a fan”.

Professor Edmund Desbonnet was – together with Russian Dr. Vladislav Von Krajewski and Louis Attila (teacher of Eugene Sandow and many other famous strongmen) – one of the true forefathers of the Iron Game.

How to Get Strong Legs With Dumbbells

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Stand erect. Raise the left leg forward and off the ground.

When executed with resistance, how a barbell with an over-grip in position across the shoulders, the hands par apart as the weights on either end will permit, or hold dumbbell extended at the right side.

One of Hackenschmidt’s Favorite Exercises: Dumbbell Get-Up

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“Russian Lion” George Hackenschmidt, legendary strongman and wrestler, was truly an all-round lifter. He used barbells, dummbells, and kettlebells, and practiced all kinds of grinds and quick lifts.

Charles MacMahon: Kettlebell Juggling (1927)

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The juggling of kettle-bells is a broad subject and I will not attempt to outline all the juggling stunts that are possible, but will merely give you instructions on a few of the most common.

As the title states, you need a kettle-bell or two, or ring-weights with stationary handles.

Monte Saldo’s Secret of the First Ever Bodyweight Dumbbell Swing

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…actually, more than a bodyweight – 150 pounds (68 kg) at 143 (64, 8) pounds bodyweight!
We are of course talking about old-time strongman one-arm dumbbell swing, performed quite differently from today’s well know Hardstyle kettlebell swing or snatch.