BLOG ARTICLES

Sandow vs. Samson and the Get-Up: The Ultimate Strongman Test

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In 1889, the strongest men in the world met in London for one of history’s most famous strongman challenges. Eugen Sandow faced the legendary Samson in a contest of heavy lifts, support feats, bent bars, broken chains, and brute strength. But the challenge may...

Side Press & Bent Press: The Old-Time Art of Heavy Overhead Lifting [VIDEO]

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The side press and the bent press belong to the same old-time strongman family. Both are one-arm overhead lifts, both use the whole body, and both demand much more than brute shoulder strength. But they are not the same lift. Side Press vs. Bent Press The simplest...

Pyotr Krylov, “The King of Kettlebells” – Training of the Kettlebell Athlete [1914]

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In recent years, among the enthusiasts I meet, there is a prevailing desire to train exclusively for records. This is the wrong system and, moreover, a harmful one. Such records are forced. They not only fail to prove real strength but wear a man out. First, develop...

Gord Venables, The One Hand Swing [1943]

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The One Hand Swing is, in my opinion, one of the best exercises for the back. It gives a far greater range of movement than does either the Two Hand Snatch or One Hand Snatch by permitting the weight to pass between the legs, thus extending the back to a far greater degree.

The “Half Your Max” Method for Pushups and Squats: Low Stress, Real Progress

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One of my daily habits is what Pavel Tsatsouline calls “morning recharge”: a set of simple calisthenic exercises such as Sun Salutations, Hindu squats, and Hindu pushups—not for strength, but as “health restoring calisthenics” and daily maintenance. According to Dr....

Less Than 5 Minutes a Day, Big Payoff: The Power of VILPA

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Most people think “exercise” has to look like exercise: a scheduled session, a change of clothes, equipment, a plan.

Current research adds a powerful (and very real-life-friendly) option: brief bursts of hard effort tucked into your normal day—minutes, not hours.

George F. Jowett, The One-Hand Swing [1925]

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The key to all speed lifts…. Fascinating lift, which, with the snatch, is the prettiest and cleverest lift as far science is concerned in lifting weights.

Dumbbell Lifting Done Right: The Fast Track to an Athletic Body, Performance, and Real-World Strength

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Strong, athletic body and real-world strength—from dumbbell curls, flies, and triceps extensions? No. From classical dumbbell lifting, from the floor to overhead. And don’t take my word for it—listen to what the legends of the Iron Game say about the benefits of dumbbell lifting done right.

Alan Calvert: Kettlebell Hand-to-Hand Swing – “General Exercise for the Back and Legs” [1911]

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This is a splendid exercise, as it develops speed and great flexibility of muscles and teaches you the importance of “timing” a weight, besides developing a wonderful grip.

Thomas Inch, Heavy Weight Lifting: The Bent Press Tutorial [1947]

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Having raised 304 1/2 Ibs. with my right hand in this style I may perhaps claim the right to speak as an authority. The movement needs constant practice with a light weight at first, always adding a little as time goes on. There are three starting points:

Iron in Ice, Results on Fire: Why Train in a Cold Environment

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Why train in a cold environment instead of lifting and exposing yourself to cold separately? Short answer: concurrent beats separate. I take a cold shower every morning and go straight into my morning recharge. This was common among old-time strongmen—many followed...

[VIDEO] The Two Main Bent Press Variations You Should Know

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Bent Press, “The King of All Lifts” – by far the favorite lift of many old-time strongmen—Eugene Sandow, Arthur Saxon, Edward Aston, Siegmund Klein, Bob Hoffman, and many others. It can be performed with a kettlebell, a dumbbell, or a barbell—but it is by far the easiest to learn with the kettlebell.

Bruno Sammartino: Hindu Pushups & Hindu Squats Quick Tutorial + Simple Program [1963]

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Bruno Sammartino is a professional wrestler who has traveled throughout the United States and Canada, thrilling capacity crowds at wrestling shows with his superhuman strength and tremendous physique. Only in his middle 20's, this young superman has already won the...

Modified Side Press [1946]

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A modified version of the side press is one of the very best exercises. While this movement is one which in time will result in skill in bent pressing, while it is one of the best to build the triceps of the arm and the latissimus dorsi, it does not need to take a second place to any of them. Many people believe that a modified form of the side press is the very best shoulder developing exercise.

Kettlebell Exercises and Their Place in Modern Weightlifting Sports [1928]

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Historically, kettlebells once held a very prominent place in weightlifting sports. When the “First Athletes’ Club,” under the guidance of Dr. Kraevsky, appeared in Russia in 1885—thus giving birth to weightlifting as a sport—there were fewer than ten training barbells in the entire country. There were quite a few globe barbells, but these were mostly used by circus professionals. Most of the first amateur strongmen in the provinces trained with kettlebells.

Girl Once a Physical Wreck, Now Does Astonishing Feats, Easily Toys with Weighty Barbells [1899]

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One of these is the lifting of a big barbell from the floor with one hand, turning it and holding it high above the head without a tremor. This same barbell she then places upon the floor and lies down flat on her back with the bell at her head, and raises it with both hands until it is straight above her head, then holding it with one hand only, rises to a sitting and then a standing position with the bell high above her head still.

Lying Down and Getting Up with a Barbell [1916]

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This movement develops an athlete’s agility and flexibility and, at the same time, teaches them to maintain balance. It is performed as follows:

While holding a barbell with an extended arm above the head, lower yourself onto the opposite knee, using the palm of your free hand for support on the floor. Then, move from the palm to the elbow, simultaneously straightening the leg on the same side along the floor, while the other leg remains bent at the knee. Next, lower yourself from the elbow to the floor with both shoulder blades touching and stretch out both legs, keeping the barbell held with the extended arm.

Siegmund Klein’s „The One Best Exercise“ – and Challenge! [1939]

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The Legendary Siegmund Klein’s Challenge: Perform a Clean & Press with two dumbbells for ten reps using a pair of 75-pound (34 kg) dumbbells. Many Iron Game enthusiasts discuss this feat (with some claiming it's twelve reps), but few train for it, and even fewer...

Arthur Saxon’s Dumbbell Overhead Swing Tutorials [1905 and 1908]

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In swinging the dumbbell, the weight must be placed between the feet. The body then bends over from the waist, and a grip is taken of the bell close to the front sphere or disc. The bell may be rested on its end prior to swinging, and the disengaged hand should be pressed on the corresponding knee.

Paul Anderson – One-Arm Pressing Power

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I have done a kind of half Military, half Side Press, during my public appearances. As a rule, this has been the most popular feat of strength that I do. I first started including it because it was a convenient thing to include since I could write ahead for the weights that I needed and take along a bar that was suitable for loading the plates on. I have a bar that is collapsible and can be put in a small briefcase. It is also convenient because it does not take up much room in a church sanctuary, where I often do several feats of strength along with my messages.