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[14 pages]"The Apollon Iron Bar Bending System of Exercise must be performed with iron bars that are too strong to bend or open. The iron bars supplied with the system are calculated to be too strong for the pupil to bend or open. It is by pulling at the resistance of the iron that great strength is developed by this method. As the pupil gets tronger, it is possible that he might open the U-Shaped bars and bend the straight bar. Should he only bend the straight bar about once inch and open the U-bar say one inch it will be alright to carry on excercising with these bars, but if he should bend or open them still further, then a stronger set of irons should be used. "...keep reading

"Let us discuss flexibility first as a result of strength training. The stereotype still exists in the minds of most people... bulging muscles are equated with a stiff, slow, and probably clumsy individual. In fact, the size of a man's muscles has very little or nothing to do with his actual flexibility.

It is certainly true that some individuals with large muscles do lack a normal degree of flexibility... it is also true that large muscles can be developed while doing absolutely nothing in the way of improving flexibility... and, in some rather rare cases, it is even true that the activities which built the large muscles also produced a loss of flexibility. But in the vast majority of cases, the size of the muscles has very little relationship to the existing degree of flexibility."...keep reading

[17 minutes 27 Seconds] The Soviet Union dominated the Olympic weightlifting world for many years. One of the biggest reasons for this success was an intense focus on systematically teaching the most efficient techniques of lifting the greatest weights. This documentary, shot in the 1980's, give a fascinating look behind the Iron Curtain. While the commentary is in the Russian language, there is still a great deal to be learned....keep reading

"DURING the past decade, numerous writings have been penned on body-building, weight-training and barbells exercises, etc., but there is one branch or phase of the "Iron Game" that has been neglected.

This is the stage when an enthusiast, having attained his objective as far as body-building or "conditioning" is concerned, contemplates entering the competitive sphere. Knowing the pitfalls and dangers -- to say nothing of the disappointments -- which beset anyone wishing to do this, I felt that some advice and instruction might appropriately come from me. It was this end in view that this book was attempted."...keep reading

"This treatise is primarily intended for men and women who do not aim to be professional athletes, but wish to possess well-developed, vigorous, and healthy bodies, and learn how· to utilize their physical powers. At the same time, the method advocated is the one that has led to whatever success I have attained in my profession, so that I can recommend its adoption by those also who purpose following the arduous occupation of 'strong-man.'"...keep reading

The York Adjustable Crusher Body Developer is a new York feature and one that will provide novelty and diversion in your training. Being adjustable, its resistance can be increased or decreased to match the strength of any enthusiast.

Muscles respond readily to this form of training because it is concentrated action. Employ as many springs as your strength will permit to complete the specified number of repetitions. In movements where one arm is exercised, be sure to repeat an equal number of repetitions with the opposite arm....keep reading

[59:58] Have a seat with the Legend -- Slim The Hammer Man -- as he talks about The Mighty Atom, bending steel, training with sledge hammers, developing mind power, and many other aspects of his amazing life....keep reading

[40 pages] "Here's to your health!" How many times have you heard that expression? And why do you suppose that when anyone wishes you the best, they wish you HEALTH? Because good health is the most highly prized possession we can have.

Without good health, money and material possessions are of little value to anyone. Health is one thing that cannot be purchased for money. If you possess vibrant, glowing health and some ailing millionaire wishes to buy your health for himself, he can't do it. So if you enjoy perfect health you are really worth a fortune, as you actually possess more than the millionaire can buy....keep reading

[32 Pages] The Barnholth Brothers and the American College of Modern Weight Lifting is one of the most fascinating stories in the history of the iron Game.

Not much has ever appeared about them in print, save this excellent feature from the May, 1996 issue of THE IRON MASTER (No. 20) which we have graciously been allowed to post here for Iron League members.

[7 minutes] Our good friend and Grandmaster Strongman Dennis Rogers put together this excellent tutorial on one of the all-time classic feats of strength: how to tear a phone book in two. If you have always wanted to accomplish this feat, this video will show you some basic techniques to work on....keep reading

Now here's something you don't see every day... from deep, deep, deep in the strength vault: an issue of the incredibly rare Russian strongman/weightlifting magazine "Hercules" - the March, 1914 issue, featuring strongman Sergey Dmitriev Morro. on the cover.)

Also covered are gymnastics, handbalancing, boxing, wrestling and savate. Even if your cyrillic is a little rusty, a quick flip through will reveal a vast array of rare images not found elsewhere or, for that matter, seen any time this century....keep reading

[2 pages]THERE are a number of interesting lifts which are rarely, if ever, mentioned in our modern muscle and strength magazines. I don't know if this represents a lack of interest caused by concentration on the three lifts and use of more modern methods for purposes of development but whatever the reason, I believe that interest in all of the recognized lifts should be kept alive. They have their use in strength and muscle building and have played their part in the traditions of weight-lifting... The most interesting and popular lifting with two dumbbells is the Two Hands Clean and Jerk. No matter how good your ability may be on the barbell ft, you will experience some difficulty in handling a pair of dumbbells for the first time."...keep reading

[5 pages] A look at the Cincinnati Bengals Strength Training Program, circa, 1984....keep reading

WAS there ever any bodybuilder like Steve Reeves? Not only did the man have a positively handsome physique, which virtually everyone liked and admired on sight, but he had a face of such perfect features that some of his photos seemed almost statuesque because of his combined physical and facial perfection. If anyone was ahead of his time in the muscle-building world it was Steve Reeves. In the mid-1940's the bodybuilding fraternity was awakening to the fact that weight training plus a highly nutritious diet would build huge muscles on almost anyone. This caused the first 'bulk craze' which lasted for some ten years and still hasn't been entirely forgotten. However, in the midst of it all Reeves trained...keep reading

[52 pages]

* Energy Expenditure in Training

* The Aftereffects of Training Loads

* Weight-Height Indexes of Olympic Lifters

* Chronic Physical Overstrain and Prevention of Cardio-Vascular Disturbances in Weightlifters

* The Training of a Qualified (Class)Weightlifter in Individual Exercises

* The Content of Jerk Training

* The Components of The Jerk From The Chest

* The Jerk Technique of World Record Holder Mukharbi Kirzhinov

* The Organization of and Methodology of Selecting Teenagers for Weightlifting

* The Training of Young Weightlifters 13-16 Years Old

* A Model of The Content of The Training Cycles

* The Training of 17-18 Year Old Beginning Weightlifters...keep reading

[5 pages] Alan Calvert's excellent article from 1920...keep reading

a short video clip of the great John Davis in action. This event was a fundraiser for the 1952 Olympic team and took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City....keep reading

A few minutes of rare footage from the 1970 Senior National Weightlifting Championships....keep reading

[33 minutes 8 seconds] Fujiwara visits "The God of Wrestling" Karl Gotch in Florida about twenty years ago. You'll see a behind-the-scenes look at Gotch's special training techniques and personal gym in this rare video from Japan....keep reading

[10 pages]

"I keep reading on the Internet that I should do several hundred crunches every day if I want to get six-pack abs. Is this true?"

Give that program a try if you like, but I can guarantee that it's not going to accomplish much for you.

Here's a few things to do instead....keep reading