[Al Myers]

haha Good response Thom.

I can’t believe it took two days before you noticed my post. You know I was just kidding you about being the “master of weightlifting deception”. I know your shows are legit and have made a very positive influence on lots of people. However I have heard of some evangelist strength shows where “things were fixed”. That is the ultimate in hypocrisy and deception. Spreading the word while lying about your performance is inexcusable!!!

[Al Myers]

Tom, I was mistakenly thinking of the story with Marx from Willoughbys book.

Apollon was indeed a very strong man. However, there are very few pictures of him actually lifting. I have read that even him lifting his Apollons Wheels are questionable??? There are no pictures of him doing it for proof.

One thing we have to remember about Old Time Strongmen and their performances are that they were done as professional shows, and thus the entertainment factor was the main goal. Much like pro wrasslin today. That is why I have a hard time believing many of the reported strength claims. If an oldtime strongman could make a CONVINCING performance that would draw in the large crowds regardless of any “trickery”, that would make the promoters happy and the performer would get his paycheck.

You can’t really blame them for “staging” their performances. I’m not saying I wouldn’t do the same thing if I was in their shoes at the time. I would enlist my good friend Thom as my “consultant”, and between the two of us we could easily fake out the crowd because we all know that Thom is the master of weightlifting deception. (LOL). dinoman

[Al Myers]

The James Lift is NOT an official IAWA lift, thus why there are no World Records for it. It is just an USAWA lift only.

Where did you find the information on the reported 330# James Lift by the Polish lifter? I have never seen that story. Al

[Al Myers]

Tom, Have you seen pictures of Apollon in his latter days? I agree he may have only weighed 260 in his prime, but he surely was pushing 300 pounds in his latter years.

I greatly admire Joe Roarks research in trying to disprove mythical stories of old time strongmen. Several he has gathered enough information to make one wonder if some of the stories are indeed true. The problem now is the abscence of first hand witnesses as anyone who seen the performances are long dead.

I put all reported strength stories of old time strongman in that catagory – as just interesting stories and nothing more. Strength claims only fall into 2 catagories for me – official meet performances that are true and interesting stories that have mystical qualities that may be true or untrue. None the less, I find these stories very interesting in a folk tale type of way, but take them all with a “grain of salt” in being actual truths. Al

PS That one handed snatch of Apollons with the thick bar is another “story” in my mind. Willoughby reported it as a “near snatch” as Apollon only got it to the height of his head.

[Al Myers]

Yep ET – you took Lance AND Chris from the Dino Gym’s roster!! I fully expect KCstrongman to make this year’s top 5, and be in the running for the Club of the Year.

I also expect to see a couple of other new clubs in the running this year in the club standings – Jobes Steel Jungle and the Minneapolis Movement. Both have a good core base of lifters who seem very excited about All Round lifting. Al

[Al Myers]

ET – I take it no one on this forum reads muscle and fitness!! LOL Al

[Al Myers]

I agree – that is a pretty disturbing sight in that picture. Something I don’t want to cross my mind during a squat training session.

I know the risks I take everytime I train or compete. I used not to think of these things at all, and went about training with an invincible attitude. Now (after a couple of bicep ruptures) I think about things differently, and at times back off when things aren’t feeling quite right, and save it for another day.

I once had a training partner who quit training after witnessing back to back injuries. The first weekend I blew out a bicep, and the next weekend someone else blew out his ACL. This guy was a steady workout partner up till this, but after seeing these two serious injuries he has not trained since. Probably felt like he was going to be next!!

Makes ya wonder – is he the smart one here???

[Al Myers]

I noticed that as well! haha

[Al Myers]

My problem with the Heavy Lifts are that they don’t fit very well into a normal training program. If you train them much they take away from recovery, and negatively impact other stuff – like squats and deadlifts! I usually only train them a time or two before a meet they’re in. I know if I worked on them more I would be better – but I’m not willing to sacrifice my other heavy weekly training for them yet.

So now I have a question for Joe:

How do you mix training the heavy lifts along with your heavy deadlift training???

[Al Myers]

But ET if I remember correctly, you pushed him a little in the Hand and Thigh that day. You, without a doubt, have the BEST Hand and Thigh Lift (1475#) for someone’s FIRST TIME ever trying it! Al

[Al Myers]

It was a great weekend! The Deanna was attended well (5 lifters) and ET’s first OTSM meet was a great success with 9 lifters.

[Al Myers]

China does not have a organized all round weightlifting association. Lifters from other countries have competed in IAWA events that also do not have organized associations – Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Spain to name a few. The English and Scots compete under the IAWA(UK), we under the USAWA, and the Australians under the ARWLWA.

One thing that has always puzzled me is why Canada does not have an organized All Round organization. The history of all round weightlifting in Canada goes back a long ways. You would think there would be at least one club that would be interested in getting an organization started??

[Al Myers]

That was Jim Charlton of the MSP Club (Missouri State Penitentiary). He did a French Press of 190# in 1981 at one of the meets Bill held there. He was in the 181 class.

[Al Myers]

Cool story Tom!

Where does she live? If she lives close to you, you ought to go visit her. Wear that Superman cape of yours and maybe that will impress her??? haha

[Al Myers]

I don’t fully agree with you on this point Steve. I know there are alot of differences between the USAWA and the IAWA(UK) in rules and lifts, but our overall philosophies are the same towards all round lifting. These rule/lift differences have been there for years, it’s just now these things have received more publicity due to the website.

In lots of ways I would say the relationship between the USAWA and the IAWA(UK) is better now than EVER BEFORE. Most of this is due to the leadership of Denny Habecker and Steve Gardner. These two have done SO MUCH for IAWA – they both put the organization first, even above themselves.

One thing which makes things seem “them and us” is the poor turnout of foreign lifters at the World Championships each year (this applies to the USAWA, the IAWA(UK),and the Aussies). The World Championships is the place where you meet lifters from other countries and make new life long friends who share the passion for all round weightlifting as yourself. I have been fortunate to have attended several of the recent Worlds, and all of them have been great successes. All organizations seem to come together for the “greater good” of IAWA. Al

[Author]

Posts