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Polish Strength Training Techniques...keep reading

[88 pages] The classic silent film star Rudolph Valentino wrote this excellent physical training course in 1923....keep reading

[4 pages]David P. Willoughby was one of the all-time great strength historians and his articles are still intensely fascinating to this day. This rare edition of 'The Health Value of a Muscular Waist-Line' came from Peary Rader's personal collection.

"AMONG the most important muscle groups are those which form the front, sides and back of the waist. Proper development of these muscles has far reaching beneficial effects upon the entire body......keep reading

One day, while chatting with him about my prospective match with William McClellan, I noticed a round football on a shelf. I took it down, and began bouncing it with one hand and then the other. While doing this, all of a sudden the idea came to my mind that it would make a better punching ball than the big heavy sand bag that was used by all pugilists and athletes at that time.

I said to my friend: "Jim, I have got an idea," and told him of my prospective punching ball. He laughed at me, saying: "This is some more of your crazy notions." I said: "All right, you will see."...keep reading

[4 pages] Peary Rader found an old mimeograph machine in the garbage can at the school where he worked as a janitor...he took it home fixed it up and began the publication that would be known as Iron Man magazine... but unknown to just about everyone, he also printed a small "update" for his subscribers for breaking news that occurred between printings... here is an example....keep reading

"In the following pages I have put down in detail the apparatus needed, the training routine, reps and sets, correct curling technique etc.

I used this identical program just prior to curling two hundred and fifty five pounds officially on November 1st, 1959. Follow this course and I guarantee that within sixty days you will exceed all your previous records made in the two hands curl."...keep reading

[142 pages] Part two of The Mighty Atom Joseph Greenstein's personal scrap book...keep reading

[5 pages] During an engagement of Mr. Eugen Sandow, the strong man,- in Washington, January, 1896, an attempt was made to determine the character and amount of the food he consumed. Mr. Sandow claims to be the strongest man in the world, and substantiates this claim by performing many wonderful feats of strength, one of which is the raising of a 300-pound dumbbell above his head with one hand. He is a German by birth, and is now 29 years old; is 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighs 200 pounds. His waist measures 28 inches; his chest, 47 inches, expanded 61 inches; upper arm, contracted 19-1/2 inches; fore-arm, 16-1/2 inches; thigh, 27 inches; calf, 17-1/2 inches; and neck, 18 inches. He states that in his youth he had no phenomenal muscular development, but acquired his present muscular condition by training. This training was begun nine years ago. At the present time he does not take regular muscular exercise other than his professional work. He has the appearance of perfect health....keep reading

[14 pages] This Book Is Dedicated to My Fellow Men

On the following pages you will find a very interesting story of my life. I wrote this book so that other men who are ambitious to become strong and possess a body like mine will be able to profit by my personal experience. I feel it is my duty to help my fellow men and if you get only one helpful suggestion from this booklet to improve your health and strength, I will feel satisfied. You have a distinct advantage. I had no one to help me work out my health and strength problem. I had to work it out through the hard school of experience. You have before you the opportunity to obtain within 90 days knowledge that has taken me many :years to acquire.

Sincerely,
George F. Jowett...keep reading

[11 pages]HAPPY DAYS AT DENNY DASE'S - Arm Wrestling, beer-drinking contests, and lemon-eating matches are practiced as high fun in this Clifton bulwark against non-participatory merry-making....keep reading

[5 pages] How do the great athletic champions of the world train? What do they eat? How do they spend their free time? How long do they practice? A comparative analysis of said topics would be a fascinating body of knowledge and this article is exactly that. In this article, written in 1919, the champion boxers, tennis players, scullers, runners and other athletes all reveal the details of their schedules....keep reading

[30 pages] THE subject of imposing limb development is one which receives considerable attention among physical culturists. It does not receive the attention of all of them, for the simple reason that not all desire limb bulk. For instance, a great many practice physical exercises just to keep fit and healthy, and size to them is a secondary consideration.

Nevertheless, there is a general pride in possessing fine limbs and, in particular, well-developed arms, and even in this, most prefer to show a good upper arm to that of the forearm....keep reading

Here's an article from the December 5th, 1896 edition of the Scientific American Supplement which covers some interesting information on Dr. Gustav Zander's Medico-Mechanical machines....keep reading

[10 page] What follows is a copy of the summer training and conditioning program sent by coach Ted Dunn to his Springfield College football team in the summer of 1965. Later that fall, that team would go on to finish with a perfect 9-0 record (also notably outscoring their opponents 252-87). The team was named New England College Division Champions and Dunn was named New England College Division Coach of the Year. Unsurprisingly, this program would work just as effectively today....keep reading

[6 pages] Due to my reference to Maxick (the discoverer of most of the muscle controls) in the two previous articles in this series, I have received quite a lot of letters asking questions about him. At a latter date I hope to write the full story of this remarkable man, but at the moment, I will content myself with answering those questions which recur most frequently in the correspondence....keep reading

[113 Minutes] "The old-time strongmen built incredible strength and power -- and tons of muscle - with heavy, old-school dumbbell training. And when I say "heavy," I mean it. The old-timers didn't waste their time with light weights and baby exercises. They trained hard and heavy - with SERIOUS iron. And that's what I teach you how to do in DVD No. 1, The Lost Art of Dumbbell Training. In this DVD, you'll see: A clean and push press with a pair of 121 pound dumbbells A one-arm swing with a 151 pound dumbbell A one-arm clean and push press with a 151 pound dumbbell And many other terrific lifts - as well as a comprehensive, step by step training program, and detailed instruction on how to perform the most important dumbbell exercises."...keep reading

[14 pages] One of the few known issues of "The Strand Puller," the official journal of the International Steel Strand Pulling Association.

Strand Pulling was quite popular in the UK at one time....keep reading

[37 minutes, 37 Seconds] Another interesting lesson on Olympic Weightlifting from deep behind the Iron Curtain....keep reading

[64 pages] Physical fitness requires self-discipline and considerable personal effort. As we grow older, we need to pay more attention to physical activity. Once out of college and into the busy schedule of holding a job and raising a family, we often forget or neglect our physical con-dition. Without realizing it, we have stepped into an environment where emphasis on physical activity no longer exists. Almost over-night we awaken to the realization that our stomachs have turned into paunches; we experience breathlessness and pounding hearts with only slight physical exertion; and at day's end we are too tired to enjoy leisure activities. This is the price we pay for neglecting adequate physical exercise....keep reading

[22 pages] This exercise is thoroughly misunderstood. Parts of this exercise have been popularized and labeled "Sissy Squats". This exercise was taught to me by its inventor, the great Monty Wolford, whose leg development is unparalleled. I have personally measured his thighs and found his upper thigh, the area where we all measure, and his middle thigh (halfway between the knee and the normal upper thigh measurement) to be the same. He is the only man I know of who possesses this measurement....keep reading