Whilst man’s physical make-up conforms everywhere to the same constructional pattern, historically successful efforts imposingly to improve that structure have not always followed a pattern as similar. One thing, however, it would seem, has almost invariably been associated with the training methods of the men who have most notably done this, that being the systematic use of weights in some form or another.
The practice of employing weights to improve the contours of the body .and its powers dates back to the times of Ancient Greece. In their gymnasiums, the Greeks used stone dumb ells for arm and trunk exercises of that type, and heavy stone slabs for more herculean movements. They also used stone weights carried across the shoulders, against which resistance the legs could be powerfully exercised.
When Eugen Sandow launched modern physical culture on a world-wide scale, weights of light degree were brought into the two systems of exercise that he taught. In one, these took the shape of dumbells which formed part of the handles of his famous rubber strands “Developer,” a piece of apparatus which could be converted very quickly from a pulley-style, wall-fixed “exerciser” into a “chest expander.” In the other, dumbells figured again, this time, though, as the sole feature. These were special weights of this type, their construction then a novelty. They were halved along their length, the two sections being held apart by a series of powerful steel springs which had to be compressed while exercising.
Both systems of exercise and their respective apparatus items could be obtained by post from the Sandow manufacturing company in Basinghall Street or purchased from sports outfitters or any of the big stores, and they figured prominently, of course, in the curricula of the various Sandow Schools operating then in London and other big cities. At these schools heavy weightlifting was taught as well, but not specially encouraged by the instructors. Except at the Walbrook establishment for in charge there was the late Jim Pedley, one of the strongest Englishmen who ever lived. Pedley was fanatically enthusiastic about weightlifting, holding it to be not only the supreme arbiter in matters of great strength display, but the surest method of developing strength to that degree. Jim was Sandow’s chief and favourite instructor, being retained in the latter’s service at his St. James Street institute (headquarters) after all the other schools were eventually closed down.
Other Methods, Too…
Sandow claimed to have brought his physique to the pitch of perfection exhibited by pursuance of the methods he commercially advocated, and up to a point, doubtless that was true. But on that physique was clearly stamped the imprint effects of heavy lifting in various styles, and the time he put in as a wrestler had contributed in no small measure to the build-up, too. Dumbell and rubber strands exercise might rightfully claim credit for bringing him to stalwart youth from a sickly and puny childhood. The finished article that came so sensationally to dethrone “Cyclops” and Sampson, however, was obviously the product of much more strenuous manufacture.
The Russian Lion
That other glamorous figure from the Continent who made a similar impact on the public by virtue of his superb physical proportions and all-conquering wrestling skill – George Hackenschmidt, “The Russian Lion” – was also an individual deeply indebted to the practice of weight-lifting for the superhuman strength he possessed, a deal of his magnificent physique too. He was, miles and away, the fastest wrestler among the big men that we have ever seen, moving into action with the speed of a panther, the latter probably never being demonstrated more forcibly than when he met and defeated Ahmed Madrali, “The Terrible Turk,” for the world’s championship at Olympia in 1904. The contest was all over in 44 seconds, with Madrali a hospital case afterwards, out of action for weeks!
When Thomas Inch entered the field as a teacher of physical culture – to operate through the postal medium in every bit as big a way eventually as Sandow had done at his crest – he not only fervently espoused the use of weights for strength and body-building purposes (curative aims as well), but he made their employment much more simple and advantageous than had ever been the case before by introducing disc-loading barbell and dumbells in place of the old solid or hollow shot-loading types.
The Truth!
To explain how he had built up his own exceptional strength and development, Inch told the truth! Whilst he admitted that the progressive use of weights had been the main contributory factor in this process, he paid tribute also to the part which rubber strands had played (in form of a chest “expander”), the practice of “free exercises” as well. From that story he has never departed all his life.
When, later, Edward Aston successfully pitted his powers against those of his former tutor and backer, he had just as truthfully a similar story to tell relative to how those powers had been developed. Principally, he attributed them to the systematic use of weights in scientific fashion, the other contributing factors in his case being acrobatics and tumbling, plus practice of exercises specially designed to promote suppleness. He had also for a time been a member of a professional wrestling troupe captained by “The Terrible Turk,” Ahmed Madrali.
Aston’s training methods were a judicious mixture of the best of what had been shown by others before him with many ideas of which he was the originator himself. He was a man of singularly imaginative concept relative to matters of bodily culture and eminently practical when it came to the question of translating his theories into actual working effect. Like Sandow, his physique made appeal to those of aesthetic taste and artistic temperament because it so closely approximated the symmetrical classics of Greek sculpture. For that reason, a statuette was made of him by the celebrated sculptor, Frank Ransome, and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1912. Posed similarly (which tended to invite comparison), it was voted a more classical figure than the Sandow “cast” made at the beginning of the century.
The Maxick and Saldo alliance – with the new and novel system that it produced – put the use of weights into somewhat different perspective. It employed them simply to demonstrate what sheer power could be built up as the necessitous factor for lifting them by the practice of exercises in which weights themselves played no part. It was a revolutionary theory at the time but the two principals proved it to be more than just a theory by what they did. Maxick lifted poundages far above anything that had been done by any man of his bodyweight before. Saldo, although a veteran who had given up the practice of heavy lifting for years, after a short preparation via the “Maxalding” method, swung a dumbell exceeding the poundage of his own bodyweight with one hand. It was an official world record at the time and the very first instance of this particular feat ever being done. It was performed at a big professional tournament run at Camberwell in the year 1912.
Only the Highest Standard
Maxick and Saldo were frequent visitors to my establishment, both being vice-presidents of the club. I had many opportunities, therefore, of witnessing what they could do in the weightlifting line when they were successfully prevailed upon to manifest this. Which, I may add, was not always for so high a standard did they set themselves that neither would consent to perform unless feeling up to that degree of achievement.
I remember one occasion well and the investing circumstances which will serve to illustrate how really little Maxick touched weights, yet how impressively he could perform notwithstanding. It was a summer afternoon and Max and Monte were paying an unexpected call. They went upstairs first to see Aston (who was then renting the upper floors of 5 Church Street for his offices), then all three came down to see me. In a short while we repaired to the club room where Aston and myself proposed to do a spot of training.
Asking Monte how Max was shaping, the prolong latter replied that he should be in good form as he hadn’t touched a weight for at least 6 weeks. I put it to Max, therefore, that he should come on to the platform, too, and give us a show. He was reluctant to do this at first but eventually agreed.
Without removing any part of his clothing, he took 300 lb to the chest, with two hands and jerked it overhead without moving his feet in the slightest. He then took a 200 lb barbell from the floor to the shoulder with his right hand and jerked it overhead 6 times in succession – again without moving his feet. Disdaining customary standard technique, he ”muscle-controlled” the weights up!
This article originally appeared in The Bodybuilder magazine
To learn more about the training methods of William A. Pullum click on the following link:
William A. Pullum – “The Wizard of the Weight-Lifting World!”
