Legendary Strength Blog

Just a few pictures left from the Oldetime Strongmen University.

Have you ever tried to drive a nail through a board using your hand as the hammer? Dennis shows us how. I hadn’t really done this one before hand but if you want to learn how Dennis has got the DVD on it, How to Drive a Nail without a Hammer.

How about a little bending. Pat destroys JUST a Red Nail. Piece of cake.

My friend Tyler with a little scrolling action.

And myself levering a sword down to my nose. Usually I use sledgehammers for this feat but the 27 lb. sword had to be attempted. A little more awkward but since all the weight is not only on the tip its much easier than a 27 lb. sledgehammer would be.

That’s my conclusion of showing you a bit of what happened. What’s important is what comes next though. Applying the lessons and feats learned to the present and future.

In strength,
Logan Christopher

Here’s a few other people from the seminar performing various feats of strength.

First up, we have Aaron McKenzie doing one of the feats he’s best at. Tearing a deck of cards in two. It pretty amazing that he’s now one of the best, probably second only to Dennis, when not all that long ago he got started tearing just 9 cards.

Big John McGrath of Ireland. After a valiant struggle against this monster bar. Unfortunately I don’t remember the exact size at this time but no doubt is was a big and tough bend. If you’re ever in Ireland stop by Waterford Martial Arts.

And then there was Greg Matonick. An old-timer (and of course I mean that in the best possible light) who shared many, many great stories with us youngins. Here he is doing one of his specialties. Using his strong jaw as a vice to bend a horseshoe. He also mangles quarters the same way, believe it or not.

Of all the feats this is one I don’t recommend you try at home. Your dentist would not be happy.

As you can see the field of what’s possible and doable is far and wide. What can you become one of the best at?

In strength,
Logan Christopher

Today we feature two rising stars in the small world of performing strongman. You may never have heard the name Chris Rider before. But you will now and definitely more in the future.

In just over a year of practicing these feats he is already one of the top guys. Here are a few pictures of him destroying a big horseshoe. This thing was a beast.

Pat Poviliatus is known as the best horseshoe bender in the world, but that title may soon fall to Chris. You can see the determination of his face. But you don’t get to see the full effort he put out in order to complete this bend. Or hear his yells.

It was awe-inspiring and gave a glimpse of why these guys are so good. They’re willing to push themselves to levels that would scare most people.

He also has strong hair. Although there’s no picture we all witnessed him snap a chain in half using his hair.

Mike ‘the Machine’ Bruce is the other. He has the World’s Strongest Neck but that’s not all. Here we have Tim Fox jumping off a ladder onto his stomach. Yeah, he’s got strong abs too.

But one of the most amazing feats involved both Chris and Mike. Combining their abilities as only they could. Chris bending a horseshoe across the throat of Mike. Another picture of intensity.

These guys were good, no doubt. But they’re also some of the friendliest people I know (everyone at the event was). It was a pleasure to meet and get to know them.

Check out their blogs at the following to find out more about them and their feats:

Mike the Machine
Chris Rider

In strength,
Logan Christopher

Where do I begin?

How about a brief synopsis. I was in Houston to learn from one of the strongest men in the world, Dennis Rogers. Even among the students there we had some very strong guys. Like ‘The Human Vise’ Pat Povilaitis, Mike ‘The Machine’ Bruce, and Chris ‘As of yet no real nickname’ Rider.

And everyone else was strong too but these men stand out. When you get around this caliber of individuals you’re pretty much expected to tear phonebooks and decks of cards in half. To mangle various sizes of steel with your bare hands.

Today I share a few pictures of the materials in the strongman trade. Here’s a few prize pieces signed and kept by Dennis.

It’s hard to tell the size of some of the objects but the common objects (like the coffee cup) should give you a frame of reference. Here’s a close up of the ‘S’ wrenches.

Here’s a hammer done by Chris Rider in the same manner. Very cool looking.

And now for a before and after shot of tearing through many phonebooks.  And no, we weren’t quite done yet. I believe everyone was destroyed. One great thing about the seminar was we all had the opportunity to not only do a feat but get one-on-one attention and all our questions answered.

That’ll give you an idea of some of the feats the best can perform. Next time I’ll show you a few feats as they’re being performed.

In strength,
Logan Christopher

P.S. This kind of training isn’t for everyone. But if you want to do be able to do any of these feats or similar there is one man to turn to, Dennis Rogers.

Just flew into Texas. Here to learn from one of the strongest men in world. Dennis Rogers is putting on a seminar to teach the art and business of strongman.

He is labeled as pound-for-pound the strongest man in the world at the feats he performs. Having seen videos of many of his feats, this is no joke.

I’ve learned a great deal from Dennis already through his various videos but have yet to meet him in person or see him perform. In just a few hours that will change.

It was his DVD that got me first into ripping phonebooks in half. And since then, roughly two years ago, I added a number of other feats to my repertoire from card tearing to bending horseshoes.

But something tells me that all that won’t compare much to even this single weekend.

Of course I’ll be reporting to you from the front lines. Depending on how much time I have available, if any, to write to you and get setup online.

In any case you’ll get a full account after its over.

Here’s to an exciting weekend. Although you may not be doing anything so grand, you can still put together a few great workouts.

And if you’re feeling it, add in a few old-time strongman feats.

In strength,
Logan Christopher

Was on the phone with John Brookfield yesterday. We had an extremely interesting and enlightening conversation.

If you don’t know who John Brookfield is let me fill you in. He’s strong. Really strong. And not just in his grip (though he’s written not THE but THE TWO books on hand strength) as he’s well known for.

He’s extremely well conditioned and strong all around. In fact he’s set a number of world record’s that are crazy in strength and endurance.

The best part is I recorded it and am going to make it available to you soon.

A few of the things he said, opened my eyes to some new possibilities. Just one thing we talked about concerning kettlebell juggling that I applied today, kicked my butt.

At it was all across the board in what we covered.

Even though I was interviewing him, I can hardly wait to re-listen to it and take down more notes.

So consider this a head’s up and look for my email about it next week.

In strength,
Logan Christopher

Here’s a question about one of the strongest men who ever lived.

Hello,
I was wondering what all you know about the Mighty Atom?  Is there
any videos of him? Please let me know.
Thank You!
Lee

Most of what I know about the Mighty Atom I learned from his biography, The Spiritual Journey of Joseph L. Greenstein. Unfortunately, the book is out of print but you can still find some used on occasion like at Amazon, if you’re willing to pay the price.

I have never seen any film of the Mighty Atom performing, though I imagine somewhere some exists.

If you haven’t heard of this man, here’s the short version of his life. He grew up as a sickly little boy and was not suppose to live for very long. Under the tutelage of the circus strongman, Volanko, he became healthy and strong.

Some years after moving to America he got involved in vaudeville performing his various strongman acts. His most famous stunt probably was holding back an airplane from taking off by his hair.

Even is his old age he could bend iron bars that would humble most men. The secret was that the power really is all in the mind. That’s how a small guy like the Mighty Atom is still known as one of the strongest men that ever lived.

Just recently Dennis Rogers put out a new site devoted to the Mighty Atom. Check it out to read even more fascinating stories.

In strength,
Logan Christopher