http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/
Came across this very informative link that has loads of information about the true golden age of iron men (late 19th century - early 20th century) featuring the likes of Eugene Sandow, Herman Goerner, Charles Atlas and many others.
The site also contains news, magazine articles and books published about these men and their amazing feats of strength and muscularly developed bodies.
Eugene Sandow who can be considered the first true bodybuilder had published a few books and what surprised me was how far ahead of his time he was in his knowledge. This is the link to his books (go to the bottom of the page):
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/sandowindex.htm
Even back then, these men emphasized the importance of free weights over machines (they understood the concept of range of motion for stimulating hyperthrothy and strength) and also realized the mind-body connection and how physical culture aided not only in a healthier, stronger body but also a healthier, stronger mind.
In skimming some of their articles and books, they also emphasized the importance of symmetrical development (discouraging the notion of the top-heavy look that some favored even during those times) for overall health and strength.
They encouraged women to engage in the sport as well, even though (just as it is today) the prevailing fear back then was that a woman engaged in exercise may lose her sexuality and feminine grace.
These are the true pioneers of this craft and those of you with an interest in the history of bodybuilding might find this interesting. I was really surprised to find that most of the advice given by them is still applicable today.
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Thread: The Golden Age of Iron Men
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07-06-2006, 12:08 PM #1
The Golden Age of Iron Men
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07-06-2006, 12:29 PM #2
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07-06-2006, 06:12 PM #3
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08-04-2006, 06:08 AM #4
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08-04-2006, 10:01 AM #5
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05-06-2007, 01:41 PM #6
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05-06-2007, 01:44 PM #7
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05-06-2007, 05:14 PM #8
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05-07-2007, 07:06 AM #9
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05-09-2007, 12:27 AM #10
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05-09-2007, 12:48 AM #11
for all those who want to know the reality
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/drobson141.htm
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05-09-2007, 02:08 AM #12
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05-09-2007, 05:11 AM #13
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05-09-2007, 05:16 AM #14
and i'm sure that if it were him promoting arnold he'd have STFU!
that's why he's not a reliable source. man the bodybuilding culture is full of used car salesmen.
there has got to be a way to do this thing right. roids and all.
there is too much chicken shiit all the way around, we need some balls and brains. i think through bodybuilding there may be ways to effect big and much needed change not only in bodybuilding but in society at large.believe none of what you read and half of what you see.
"I do not know" is the birth of wisdom.
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05-09-2007, 02:22 PM #15
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05-09-2007, 07:03 PM #16
Heres what Jack LaLanne, the Godfather of fitness, had to say about Atlas:
Other names became associated with the commercialization of exercise during the thirties and forties, but Jack was revered by them all. A Brooklyn boy named Angelo Sicileano changed his name to Charles Atlas and actually licensed the myth of his transformation from a "98-pound weakling" to a mail-order outfit some years before Jack burst onto the health scene. An early member of Jack's Oakland gym, Vic Tanney, covered dumbbells with chrome and copied some of Jack's gym machines for an early chain of clubs that bore his name. "Vic didn't keep the damned gyms clean," Jack told me. "I used to tell him to clean 'em up and give personal attention to his patrons. 'Aw, Jack,' he'd say. 'People don't really want to exercise. Just take their money.' The dumbass didn't listen to me, and he went bankrupt in the end. Charlie Atlas and I were friends till the day he died. I loved Charlie--but God, did he get fat. 'Jack,' he'd say when I told him to stop, 'I can't. I love to eat. I'm Italian.'
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