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Arthur, Oscar, and Arno Drink Beer and Lift Kettlebells: Fun with the Saxon Trio

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This is not a tutorial, so please don’t drink and lift, but the story is hilarious. These gentlemen were a) super STRONG b) fun!
W. A. Pullum shares in the foreword to Alexander Zass’ The Amazing Samson (1926) following story.

Siegmund Klein Teaches the Dumbbell Bent Press (1938)

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10 photos with detailed commentary by one of the last masters of bent press, legendary Siegmund Klein,from his excellent booklet How to Bent Press (1938)!

Thomas Inch Learns the Dumbbell Swing

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The dumbbell seems to have played a part in Inch’s career from a very early age, and not necessarily the challenge dumbbell. At the age of 15 he accepted an invitation to visit Professor Josef Szalay in London.

Saxon’s Bent Press Tips

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Here are few interesting tips on the bent press.
It is necessary to practice this lift (bent press) all the time; the main thing to start right is to get the barbell right in the center so that the barbell balances itself in the open hand.

4 StrongFirst SFL Barbell Tips: Deadlift, Bench Press, Back Squat, Military Press

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Does your sport demands high levels of absolute strength?

Do you want to gain more muscle?

Do you love the adrenaline rush of heavy lifting?

Then you must train with barbell, says Pavel Tsatsouline, StrongFirst chairman.

Bob Hoffman: 12 + 1 Bent Press Thoughts (1938)

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1. The bent press is the making of a lifter. It promotes efficiency in all lifts, and its practice will promote a great deal of strength and development.

2. Don’t push the bell immediately after it is brought to the shoulder. Lean as far down as you can before you start to press.

Thomas Inch, Scientific Weight Lifting (1905): Kettlebell Snatch

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In this lift what is known as a “kettle bell” should be used, with fixed, not swinging or loose, handle. The instructions below may be used for either, however.
The bell should be placed between the feet, with handle parallel with feet, not longways on as shown in the sketch.

Eugene Sandow [Video Documentary]

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Eugen Sandow was a German strongman, circus performer and strength athlete considered by historians to be the “father of modern bodybuilding.”

Sandow’s physique was known around the world as he pioneered the concept of training the body to achieve a specific look. More importantly, Sandow made popular the notion of exercising for good health.

Chest-Expanding and Shoulder Developing Exercise With a Pair of Kettle-Bells [1924]

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Curl the weights to the shoulders, then turn the wrists so that the weights rest on the back of forearms, as shown in Figure 1. Push right hand aloft, and then, as you lower the right hand, push the left hand aloft. KEEP BOTH ARMS WORKING at the SAME time, but in opposite directions.

Görner the Mighty and his Incredible Kettlebell Two Hands Anyhow Record

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At Dresden on 25th July, 1920, Görner lifted the enormous weight of 430 lb. (a little more than 195 kilos) overhead in the Two Hands ‘Anyhow’ style, performing the feats with four kettleweights in the following manner. He first of all swung with the right hand two kettleweights, one weighing 110¼ lb. and the other 99¼ lb.

John Grimek Meets Sig Klein: “A Good Strongman Never Makes Excuses”

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Many years ago when I first walked into Sig’s gym (around 1930) he stumped me with a pair of dumbbells… his100s. He asked whether I could clean and press a pair of 100s. I had not used heavy dumbbells until then so was not sure and told him so. He asked me to try and brought forth and awkward pair of dumbbells, each differently shaped.

Legendary Old-Time Strongmen: Ernest Cadine Swings 198,42 Lbs. Dumbbell

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In 1925, as a professional swung 90 kilos or 198.41 pounds, which was 3.4 pounds more than his own bodyweight at the time. Cadine’s best muscular bodyweight, however, was probably not over 180 pounds… Cadine was a fine, polished, all-around lifter, and would have shown to even greater advantage had not his famous rival, Charles Rigoulot, come along at the same time.

Eugene Sandow Teaches the Kettlebell Swing/Snatch (1894)

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This is an effective as well as graceful exercise, calling into play the chief muscles of the trunk and limbs, and imparting litheness and elasticity to the movements.

The bell is placed on the floor a little in front of the feet, ring to the right, heels in line, and about ten inches apart.

Side Push Press? From Alan Calvert’s Book The Truth About Weight Lifting [1911]

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In this lift the athlete is privileged to stand in any position he chooses, but generally he takes a position with the feet about 15 inches apart. He is not allowed to bend the legs at the knees while making the lift.

Siegmund Klein, The Kettlebell (1932)

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The “kettle-bell” has been for years a very important factor in developing strength, yet the modern weight-lifter rarely, if ever, uses it. This is partly the fault of the governing body of the International Weight-Lifting Association, for kettle-bells are not used in any contests under their auspices, hence contestants feel that it is useless to train with this “obsolete” article.

Edward Aston: How to Gain Strength

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The only foundation of lasting strength is perfect health, and that condition is to be gained by careful attention to the needs of the body.

Live an orderly life. Do not abuse your constitution by overindulgence in anything – food, drink, sleep, rest, exercise, pleasure-seeking, may all be overdone. There is a time for all the things; and recreation in just proportion is as necessary to the body and end as are sleep and exercise, also in proportion.

Sandow’s Straight Leg Situp: Oldschool Low Rep Abdominal Exercise

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Lie flat on the back on the floor, couch or bench, covered by a rug, at full length, the arms close by the sides, the feet pushed under the bureau, weighted or strapped to the floor, to give purchase to the body; then alternately raise the body on the hip joints, from the supine to the sitting position, and slowly lower it again to the horizontal position, repeating the movements until the abdominal muscles feel the tiring effect of the exercise.

Joe Bonomo: Detailed Training Instructions for “One Hand Get Up” (1970)

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Training routines such as this bring every muscle into play, each group picking up the work smoothly from other groups as the body position changes. Routines such as this train the body muscles to work as a team, each passing the task to the next in graceful coordination.

STARTING POSITION

Stand erect, hold weight overhead with one hand. Position A

Siegmund Klein’s Exercise for Developing a Powerful Neck

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Neck strength – important or not?

Renowned exercise scientist Bret Conreras writes: “It is my opinion that targeted neck training for collision sport athletes is a wise idea and should be implemented for maximum neck strength, which could decrease the likelihood of injury and increase performance.”

Russian Lion’s SIMPLEXSTRONG Lessons: How to Choose Starting Weight, Reps, and How to Increase the Weight

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FAQs and SIMPLEXSTRONG answers from one of the strongest athletes who ever lived, legendary wrestler and strongman George Hackenschmidt (1877 – 1968), also called “Russian Lion”.

Here are some excellent tips from his book The Way to Live (1908).

Yes, more that 100 years ago.

When to Begin to Practice with Heavier Weights?