Physical Culture & Iron Game History

Some Sad News...

feeds@kickapps.com (dhartnet) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:28:38 PST

Long time 'Natural Strength Inner Circle' member, Stan Jaffin, passed away a couple of weeks ago.
RIP Stan! (Sorry if this is a re-post, I did a quick search before posting).

-----------------------------------------------

JAFFIN STANLEY R. JAFFIN On Tuesday, July 13, 2010 of Silver Spring, MD. Beloved husband of Ann Marie Jaffin; stepfather of Bobbi (Tony) Rossi; also survived by Jennifer and Jonathan Rossi; nephew of Dr. Lillian White-Stevens of Texas. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard, West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., where funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 11 a.m. Interment Miranda Cemetery, Huntingtown, MD at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to A.R.E., 215 67th Street,...

Legendary Centennial

feeds@kickapps.com (J Duggan) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:20:09 PST

I was reading an old article, when I realized that this month ( June 17th, to be exact) is the 100 Year Anniversary of the birth of John Grimek. Arguable the greatest figure in the history of the Iron Game. Undefeated in bodybuilding, member of the 1936 Olympic Weightlifting Team, he would have excelled in powerlifting had the sport been around in his prime. How many thousands of people did he inspire through the years? Even today, more than decade after his death, people still speak in terms of the influence he had over the iron game for sixty years. I remember an article written by Maximum Bob a while back where he wrote of the time when he had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Grimek ( what a great opportunity that must have been!) I was fortunate enough to meet him at the 1998 AOBS reunion dinner, and even got his autograph ( and I am not an autograph guy.) What's more, anyone who I've spoken to who met the man always remark on what a great...

super strength

feeds@kickapps.com (grffn) — Sun, 16 May 2010 21:34:26 PST

anyone read Super Strength by Alan Calvert? See it on the site,never read it myself. Anyone got a quick review?

Sad News

feeds@kickapps.com (J Duggan) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:09:27 PST

I just read online that famed strongman Joe Rollino died this morning after he was hit by as minivan while crossing a busy Brooklyn street. He was just a couple months shy of his 105th birthday. I never had the honor of meeting him, but the Iron Game has lost another of it's charter members. He had been in excellent health before the tragic accident. What a shame.

Jack LaLanne Enigma

feeds@kickapps.com (workforcewarrior) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:32:10 PST

For many years, I have wondered how Jack Lalanne does it. As a natural trainer with probably below average genetics, he has managed to train 7 days a week for decades now. I remember him saying he hadn't had even the sniffles in over 40 years. His training recommendation is 20 sets per bodypart, all done to failure, with only 15 to 30 seconds rest in between. On top of that, he eats a low fat diet (though he was on the heavy meat bandwagon in some of his earlier years, as well as the vegetarian bandwagon for six years). I can't imagine training that hard on a low fat diet.

My thoughts on what helps him do this, plus live a happy, energetic life is that he absolutely believes in what he does, and maybe some heavy duty nutritional supplementation. Though I'm not a big supplementer, he said that that was a big part of what helped him do such stunts as 1,000 pullups.

Do you think the average Joe, if he firmly believed in what he was doing, was...

Louis Abele

feeds@kickapps.com (manning) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:33:52 PST

hi,because of the type of training i am going to be doing in my next cycle {rest pause}i thought i would research the subject a little and came across the name of Louis Abele.he had an incredible physic,as Bob would say he would look as powerful in a trench coat as a tank top! i wondered if anyone on the board had any info on his training methods?i have found a little,but would like more.many thanks

The Steel Tip

feeds@kickapps.com (grffn) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:50:49 PST

Dr. Ken's old newsletter is gonna get reprinted and offered by John Wood at functional hand strength. Great newsletter Hardgainer-ish type of writing. Anything by the good Dr. is GOOD.

Deadlift - The number 1 exercise

feeds@kickapps.com (DL495) — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:40:56 PST

Hello everyone, My name is Mark Winchester and I am total beleiver in physical culture as I see weight training as part of the physical culture puzzle (particularly Deadlifting). I am former squatter until I critically analyzed the squat; why I was doing it and what I was getting out of it. I could no longer see how sciatica down my thighs, herniated lumbar discs, sore patella tendons & finally cervical vertebrae numbness could be beneficial in my quest for physical culture. I no longer squat, and am dedicated to the Deadlift & helping those interested individuals learn of how the Deadlift can transform they're overall physical health. I honestly beleive if all the exercise a person did regularly consisted of the Deadlift he reap a huge improvement in health, strength, flexibility, digestion, etc.. One small tip is don't use a belt. This may sound totally rediculous but I think the use of a belt prevents the lifter from deriving all the benfits the deadlift...

Thomas Inch

feeds@kickapps.com (traininvain) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:20:34 PST

I found a film from 1940 of Thomas Inch in his early 60s lifting his unliftable dumbell on you tube;

Here's the link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pY9TgDB_E0

Ben +#%@$#

feeds@kickapps.com (traininvain) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:46:35 PST

I just found out that Ben !%*@@% passed away on October 17, 2008.
I'm not a big fan of the weidy bros. , but I will include him in my prayers anyway.

Hoffman/Weeder Wars - Not at all PC

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:09:12 PST

An interesting read: That last post I had here I found out came from Muscle Memory. Click on Link in post below.

old mags

feeds@kickapps.com (grffn) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:01:16 PST

I just received a package from Bob Adams. great stuff in great condition. I know we posted stuff on the old site about him and his mags but its worth another mention. If anyone is lookin for old (real) weight lifting mags vintagemusclemags are the place to go. He has a huge selection.

Muscle, Smoke, and Mirrors, Randy Roach

feeds@kickapps.com (Silverback1946) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:27:30 PST

Got my copy today. Turned right around and ordered another!

An Online Museum - Awesome Site!

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Sun, 25 May 2008 07:42:41 PST

I've had this site in my recommended resources section in NaturalStrength.COM for about 8 years now. I love this site. Dave mentioned it in another post linking to Hoffman's books. Here is a link to their hompage. You can get almost anything here for free. A truly awesome site - one of my favorites.Online museum - Awesome Site

Doug Hepburn quote

feeds@kickapps.com (bigcracker) — Sat, 24 May 2008 01:06:39 PST

"It is harder to be a lifter than a bodybuilder...lifting is purely masculine whereas bodybuilding entails feminine traits. Bodybuilding reminds me of a woman getting ready to go somewhere. Can you tell me that greasing your body up and posing in front of a mirror is masculine? A bodybuilder puts strength secondary to his physique, whereas the lifter puts strength foremost because it is more masculine to do so."

Taken from Ironman, September 1954.

Email from Tommy Kono

feeds@kickapps.com (bigcracker) — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:59:49 PST

I just emailed Mr. Kono regarding drug use in the iron game in the 1950s. I keep telling guys that steroid uses was unheard of in the US in the 1950s and guys like Marvin Eder, Reg Park, Steve Reeves, John Grimek and Tommy Kono built their strength and physiques with non-drug supplements, hard work and good nutrition. What follows is my email to him and his response.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Kono,

I hope this finds you in good health and spirits. I wanted to ask you a question but also tell you about a good deal I found on bumper plates. 4x45s and 2x25s ( not in kilos unfortunately) for $230 here in the islands. Not too shabby huh? It will do me for now I reckon.

Anyway. I have been reading about some of the oldtime bodybuilders such as Reg Park, Marvin Eder and even some of the old York...

Your top 10 in Physical Culture

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:14:46 PST

Who is your top 10 of all time in Physical Culture. (Pre-Drug Era before 1960)