Opinions on old strongmen training techniques?

[araiber]

Just wondering what you guys think of the "ancient" strongmen training methods of the late 1800's- early 1900's. I understand that there have been huge improvements of equipment as to not rely on the dumbells for lifting in every exercise...

But about a month or so ago i started doing the one arm dumbell swing and even the side presses, and when i started it was hard to hold the weight over my head, and now ive actually strengthened those balancing muscles which ive never knew I had! I also did improve on strength- and i feel much better- as the intense core training of controlling the weight as well as breathing.

Just curious on what you guys think about these old methods of building up stength. My original intention was to just try to mix up my workout methods. I got tired of doing the same things, so i tried to integrate these workouts, and now people look at me as if im just being stupid and playing around with dumbells in the gym- rather than doing a concentrated lift.. ?

 

[Bonkme2]

If you like that stuff, put some sandbags together and throw those around. Helluva workout.


Pick up Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik. http://www.brookskubik.com (A few other people sell it)
Worth every penny.

 

[Kane Fan]

I tried the Side Press but I was worried the little collars that come with the weightset were not goign to be strong enough soon and I wasn't sure where to get some more serious collars
also Side Presses are...difficult, but not as bad as the Bent Press..damn
DB Swings sound cool tho

 

[b fold the truth]

I do think that some of those guys go "overboard" quite a bit.

If you want to be strong both in the gym and out of the gym in real life...then you have to train for strength in both.

B True

 

[riverrock]

There was a thread here a few months ago about Ronnie Coleman. Some argued that Ronnie would make a great strongman while others argued he w
as only "gym strong". As "the truth" says, you need to train for both.

Sleigh pulling is back. It is where you tie weight to your waist and pull it around a field. Have been using it and my deadlift got way better thanks to it. Even my endurance and recovery ability rocketed. Thats an oldie that has come back thanks to sports science. It was once considered dangerous to your back, but now its been looked at, studied, and acknowledged by the westside boys as a big one.

 

[Kane Fan]

do you pull for time or distance
or can you do either or

 

[araiber]

I do think that some of those guys go "overboard" quite a bit.

If you want to be strong both in the gym and out of the gym in real life...then you have to train for strength in both.

B True

Well put. Ill keep doing both then since it does feel great to target muscles differently. Thanks guys.