Iron History
Iron History
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02/27/2004 Entry: "February 27, 2004 Some IronHistory Q&A"
Question:
Hi! I'm an amateur drug-free powerlifter and I was recently looking at some info at an old time strongman named Paul Anderson. I was shocked at what I saw: over 50 years ago a man, drug free, rose to strength levels that have not been equalled even today! He squatted well over 1100 pounds and benched over 600 without the support equipment they have today. I understand that for many years his routine consisted almost entirely of squatting. He would do something to the effect of several sets of intense squats seperated by long periods of time over varying rep ranges and virtually nothing else. His strength increased at an unheard of rate! I haven't been able to track down the specifics of how he trained though when he was building up his strength to astronomical levels. Do you know the specifics of his training, and of his diet (I know he drank a gallon of milk a day or something). Did he sleep a ton too? It seems as though giving his routine a try in the off-season might be interesting as a powerlifter, since it worked so well for him. Thanks!
Steve
Answer:
Steve,
The 1,100 pound squat was probably the silver dollar squat
Paul performed for singles during a two week stay in Reno,
Nevada in 1957. Paul acknowledged that the low-slung apparatus
was easier to squat with than a traditional barbell.
The 600 pound bench press continues to make appearances in
literature, but always, to my knowledge at least, unaccompanied
by any substantiation.
I would not call Paul an 'oldtimer'. Though the term is relative, it
traditionally applies to athletes in the iron game much earlier than
he.
Paul's milk drinking was variously reported from 3 quarts a day
to 4 gallons a day.
Contact the Paul Anderson Youth Home for literature on how he
trained- books, tapes, a video. P.O. Box 525, Vidalia, GA 30475 or
email info@payh.org a catalog is available.
As for his progress being unheard of, all of Paul's records were set
from Sep 5, 1953 to Jun 2, 1956, when he was age 20 to 23. In general terms,
he increased his press 57 lbs in 23 months, his clean and jerk
went from 425 to 440 in 14 months (a pound a month).
If you refer to his leg strength increases, then yes, phenomenal gains at
a pace that literally lapped his opponents.
All of his amateur records have long been surpassed even by men of much
lighter bodyweight- including by most of the participants at the inaugural
Paul Anderson memorial meet some years ago.
He may well remain the greatest ungeared squatter we have seen- a
man with draft horse hip power, but by continuing to downplay that his
official lifts have been bettered, we do injustice to those who have accom-
plished those feats.
The folks at the Youth Home will be able to offer his training methods,
in his own words, but yes, some of his workouts consisted of very heavy
sets of squats with an oasis of rest between.
Question:
Hi Joe, for the benefit of regular Cyberpump visitors who don't look at the grippage could you tell us who, in your opinion, was the best 'gripman' rom yesteryear and who doyou think is up there from more modern times and why?
Answer:
Steve,
I can offer my opinion. The greatest all round grip master
was Apollon (Louis Uni, of France). My special interest in thick
bar, and pinch lifting history slants me toward him. His strength
in neutral was greater than his peers in overdrive. Can you
tell I have a bias (not a prejudice)?
There are those who think Hermann Goerner had the edge on
Apollon, and while it was certainly close between these two,
Apollon with his nonchalant approach to lifting, which nonetheless
showcased massive strength, was simply in a league of his own.
The lifting of his Apollon rail car wheels of 365-366 lbs with an
approximate 2" diameter, non-revolving bar, as a frequent, non-
limit endeavor contrasts with the strength levels of modern lifters
who need the added aid of squat cleaning the bar. There is no
evidence that Apollon performed the lift in any manner other than
what is now termed a power clean.
His response to John Grun Marx when Marx commented that he
himself was the only man able to one hand deadlift a 226 lb thick handled
bell to knee height, was to snatch the bell one-handed with such
upward force that the momentum carried the bell up and over his
head to land a few feet behind him.The bell did not roll a few feet,
it LANDED a few feet. While some may say that he lost his grip, and that
is certainly true, would we dare say to a modern lifter capable of
tossing the Inch bell in such a way that he lost his grip? We would be
staggered that such a 'shot-put' feat could be done.
Certainly these days you, Steve, and David Horne, and John
Brookfield, and a few others are carrying on the tradition of hand and
forearm strength, though when David composed his list of history's top
30 grip athletes, he modestly, and erringly, did not include himself.
We may well have a crop of men who currently, by specializing in a
certain feat of grip strength may abolish previous records. But, allow
me my thought that Apollon's match has not yet visited us, when
grip and overhead lifting are combined.
Question:
Joe,
I am a iron game history fan and have learned much from your writings over the years.
My question is about Jack Delinger, who of course was a bodybuilding champion in the late 40's, mid 50's. He displayed a very powerful build and I am wondering if you have any date on what kind of lifts he was capable of--not just OL and PL single max records, but various workout exercises, sets of 10, etc. Any data you have and any good gym stories on Jack would be appreciated.
Thanks again
Keith
Answer:
Hello Keith,
I spoke to Jack's widow, Loretta (correct spelling though it
appears differently in one of the mags) in preparation for
the Hall of Fame piece in Flex.
She told me that Jack had rheumatic fever when he was
about ten and received a blood transfusion from his brother
Albert.
She also said that Jack trained on 'roast beef, mashed
potatoes, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate milkshakes,
and lots of vegetables'.
Another mis-spelling 'Yarrick' instead of the correct Yarick in an
early magazine report has caused some confusion. Anyway Jack and
Ed trained together at Yarick's Gym in Oakland early mornings before the gym was open to the general public.
Jack was able to press his bodyweight, 150 lbs, the first time he tried it.
After 3 months with Ed, Jack was into a routine of 3 workouts per week,
each session 3 hours, using sometimes 6 sets per exercise. At that time
he rarely practiced the olympic lifts but was able to, without a warmup,
press 225 lbs for 4 reps. Could also get 15 reps in the dumbell bench
press with a pair of 120s. Squatted 300 for 36 reps, and a single with
480.
It was also said Jack performed a crucifix on the rings the first time
he tried it.
Jack's dad died before Jack was born, and Jack's son John, died two
months before Jack passed away, which happened three days after
Christmas 1992.
Question:
Hallo Roark !
I have seen a Photo in the Grip-Gallery where you can see John Dawe Congratulating Hermann Goerner and giving him the Book :Goerner the mighty . Can you tell me please where and when this Photo was made ??
How old is Goerner at this Photo ,i am asking because he looks very old on it . Also please tell me when Goerner died (which year)?
Thank you!
ROBERT
Answer:
Robert,
Goerner The Mighty came out in 1951, so the photo cannot
be earlier than that. Goerner died June 29, 1956, so the photo
had to be before then. I suspect the photo was 1951 as a token
of the publishing of the book.
Dawe was living as of about 1992 or so because I was in
contact with him. I still have a phone number for him so I'll
check soon. If he is still with us he may remember the location
and date of the photo.
The July/August 1949 issue of The Chicago Bodybuilder reported
Dawe and Goerner had got together around that time, but that was
before the book came out.
Question:
Hi Joe,
Based on your research, do you consider a ratio of one's upper arm size to wrist size an valid measure of one's upper body muscular development (given a bodyfat% of 10%)?
If so, could you provide some yardsticks or goals to strive for?
Regards,
Chris Heer
Answer:
Chris,
It does appear that wrist circumference can be used
as a ratio of limits.
To measure the forearm the way the oldtimers did, keep the
entire arm straight: no bending the elbow, no bending at the
wrist. A clenched fist is allowed. Measured in this way, if a
forearm is twice the wrist circumference there is a world class
forearm being measured! Measure around the most muscular
part of the forearm but keep the tape perpendicular to the
forearm itself- no 'slanting' of the tape.
In regard to upper arm size, the only arm I have ever heard
of being triple the wrist was Manfred Hoeberl's when I measured
it twice backstage and measured it again on stage at the 1995
Arnold Classic. It was 25.5" backstage, and on stage after a
few one arm curls, it measured 26", which was triple his wrist
measurment.
Marla Duncan, the fitness model was also on stage and I
measured her waistline- it was also 26". So her waist could have
hung off Manfred's shoulder. Her waist width measured with
calipers (Hey somebody's gotta do this hard research) was 10",
which was also the height of Manfred's flexed upper arm!
Lastly, I placed one Pepsi can atop aother Pepsi can and put these
up against his flexed upper arm, which was slightly taller than the
height of the two cans!
But even Manfred's forearm was NOT twice the size of his wrist.
Actually when I am refused after asking to measure an upper arm,
I request to measure the wrist. Then I know the probable limits.
Various formulas have been tabled over the years, and we may post
one at Iron History as an extra in the next few weeks.