Marvin Eder 1950's Bodybuilder

[SEEDY]

For decades recognized as one of the most powerful bodybuilders of all time MARVIN EDER a star of the 1950's and pre steroid era, used poundages in basic exercises and trained with an intensity that few even of today's over supplemented or drug assisted bodybuilders, complete with well padded lifting suits can approach, let alone excel. Examples will follow, but consider for now the power of being able to side press single-handed more than your own bodyweight (220lbs at 200lbs b/w) or complete 8 wide grip chins with an extra 200lbs attached ?.a real 'lat' stretcher.




One of the first to bench press 500lbs at under 200lbs bodyweight. A terrifically strong Olympic presser, i.e. the two hands MILITARY press, his supposedly 'professional' status denied him the opportunity to compete in the USA OLYMPIC team or the AAU Mr. America, both being the losers, as Eder would undoubtedly have won many other top titles in bodybuilding and the Olympic games for America if given the chance.

His workouts covered a wide range of activities, from weight lifting to powerlifting, bodybuilding, and agility, balancing and wrestling. Even after a workout he still had energy and the enthusiasm to do 50 sets of chins and dips. He could chin 7 or 8 times with added weight of 200lbs attached to his feet and regularly did 8 dips with an extra 400lbs fixed to his legs and was capable of completing 8 one hand chins when around 200lbs bodyweight.


He was a genuine 'natural'. Genetically gifted, he had enormous recuperative powers and limitless drive, yet never ever used steroids or drugs of any kind. He enjoyed food, but did not take supplements, just having a good appetite for natural foods. Marvin believed and still believes, one should train for health and fitness as well as size and power. He readily admits being an 'easy gainer'. His workouts covered a wide range of activities, from weight lifting to powerlifting, bodybuilding, and agility, balancing and wrestling. Even after a workout he still had energy and the enthusiasm to do 50 sets of chins and dips. He could chin 7 or 8 times with added weight of 200lbs attached to his feet and regularly did 8 dips with an extra 400lbs fixed to his legs and was capable of completing 8 one hand chins when around 200lbs bodyweight.

Measurements

His best measurements were height 5ft 7ins. Weight 203lbs, neck 19ins, chest 49ins, waist 34ins, forearm 15ins, biceps 19 plus, thighs 26 and calves 17ins. David Willoughby lists Marvin?s lifts in his fine to me Super Athletes. As does Osmo Kiiha in a superb coverage interview of Eder in Iron Master Dec 1993 issue and for whom we acknowledge help in preparing this article. (Regrettably Iron Master has now ended on issue 29). These include his parallel bar dip using extra 434lbs, this plus his own weight of 198lbs making a total of 632lbs and 7 reps with 400lbs. 100 wide arm chins without weights, Single chin with added 250lbs, strict barbell curl 210 lbs, cheat curls with 255lbs, clean and press two dumbbell at same time using 120 lb dumbbells for 10 reps. He could press behind neck 305lbs and side press with his left hand 220]lbs. Plus a lot more. Herb Glossbrenner, statistician, weight training historian said, "Marvin Eder was for real. It is indeed a shame that we will never know just what he could have done had he been given a fair shake


At His peak:
Bodyweight 203 - Height 5 ft 7 ins - Waist 34
*

Chest close to 50 expanded - Neck 19 ins, Biceps over
*

20 ins. , Forearms 15 ins, Thighs 26, Calves 17 ins.



Best Lifts
Include Strict curled 210 lbs at a York picnic.
*

Clean and pressed 355 lbs.
*

Side pressed live weight 220 lbs with left arm
*

Crucifix with 2 X 100 lbs dumbbells
*

Laternal raises 120 lbs dumbbells for reps
*

Deadlift, without practice 665 lbs
*

Parallel bar dip with 434 lbs, plus of course his own bodyweight of 198 lbs.

[265HP]

these stats are full of bs

reason

you state arms are 20's, article states arms are 18 1/2

[Mighty Matt]

ffuuuu

[SEEDY]

these stats bare full of bs

reason

you state arms are 20's, article states arms are 18 1/2

Your a complete moron that picture he was not at his peak lul

[TheSheepdog]

anyone else notice the 2 guys in the 1st pic?

anyway, moved to IFBB

[jakobi]

back then bodybuilders were natural and strong...could had competed as powerlifters...not to mentioned powerlifters awere lean n strong where else powerlifters today relies on fat to be strong

[SEEDY]

back then bodybuilders were natural and strong...could had competed as powerlifters...not to mentioned powerlifters awere lean n strong where else powerlifters today relies on fat to be strong

What do you mean by "relying on fat to be strong" Being fat dosnt make you strong...just means you eat like ****.

Bodybuidlers back then trained like powerlifters with heavy ass weights. Not like 90% of ****gets these days who just want to get big as fast as they can by lifting high repitions of a moderate weight.

[jakobi]

fat/mass - better leverage.....most are today's powerlifters are fat ....few of them are lean like matt kroc, sam byrd, konstantinovs, etc

What do you mean by "relying on fat to be strong" Being fat dosnt make you strong...just means you eat like ****.

Bodybuidlers back then trained like powerlifters with heavy ass weights. Not like 90% of ****gets these days who just want to get big as fast as they can by lifting high repitions of a moderate weight.

[ANARKY]

fat/mass - better leverage.....most are today's powerlifters are fat ....few of them are lean like matt kroc, sam byrd, konstantinovs, etc

Exactly how does being fat help during a deadlift or squat or bench?

[jakobi]

leverage.......

Exactly how does being fat help during a deadlift or squat or bench?

[ANARKY]

leverage.......

um if your fat your pushing more weight up on a squat and pulling more up on a deadlift...theres no leverage there. exactly how does more body fat give you leverage in those 3 lifts you still havent told us.

[Billg221]

Most people can get stronger when carring extra body fat. I read an article once about how sumo wrestlers had MUCH more LBM than pro BB'rs. cant remember where that article was though.

PS, this guy sounds like a total bad ass.

[steezemcgreazee]

Exactly how does being fat help during a deadlift or squat or bench?

range of motion retard

if i have a gut that sticks out 3 feet when im benching its going to be a lot less ROM to push the weight

[siersy]

anyone else notice the 2 guys in the 1st pic?

anyway, moved to IFBB

lol good spotting, no homo

[spirit3530]

um if your fat your pushing more weight up on a squat and pulling more up on a deadlift...theres no leverage there. exactly how does more body fat give you leverage in those 3 lifts you still havent told us.

yes

Most people can get stronger when carring extra body fat. I read an article once about how sumo wrestlers had MUCH more LBM than pro BB'rs. cant remember where that article was though.

PS, this guy sounds like a total bad ass.

Yes being around 12-14% but beyond that its not really any better. Odds are the "fat" guy probably had a bit more carbs and water in his body from eating all the time, hence making him feel stronger.

Most people are too lazy to fix their nutrition issues.

range of motion retard

if i have a gut that sticks out 3 feet when im benching its going to be a lot less ROM to push the weight

ONLY in the most f@gg0t of all lifts, the bench press, does being a round ball with arms and legs become beneficial.

[Billg221]

yes
only in the most f@gg0t of all lifts, the bench press, does being a round ball with arms and legs become beneficial.

lol

[iForce Dave]

ONLY in the most f@gg0t of all lifts, the bench press, does being a round ball with arms and legs become beneficial.

wat?

[steezemcgreazee]

so i was benching today (no homo)

[spirit3530]

wat?

Overhead press=better for shoulders
incline and decline press= more natural position for pressing


Why need flat bb press?

so i was benching today (no homo)

none taken

[spirit3530]

wat?

[otrebmu]

Overhead press=better for shoulders
incline and decline press= more natural position for pressing


Why need flat bb press?

so rather than just flat bench, you're saying sticking to dips, incline bench, and overhead press is better? i don't think you'll find anyone who'll disagree with you.

[spirit3530]

so rather than just flat bench, you're saying sticking to dips, incline bench, and overhead press is better? i don't think you'll find anyone who'll disagree with you.

yes

Decline is ok too, but dips I like better.

[iForce Dave]

guess i just disagree. The flat bench press has become a staple in my routine and IMO there is nothing better for developing thick, dense pecs, tris, and front delts than doing heavy flat barbell bench presses.

Inclines hurt my shoulders, and declines just feel awkward IMO. I dont do either

[otrebmu]

yes

Decline is ok too, but dips I like better.

i'm not a decline fan. dips, slight incline, and overhead would be perfect, but my ego gets the best of me and i stick to mostly flat.

[spirit3530]

guess i just disagree. The flat bench press has become a staple in my routine and IMO there is nothing better for developing thick, dense pecs, tris, and front delts than doing heavy flat barbell bench presses.

Inclines hurt my shoulders, and declines just feel awkward IMO. I dont do either

What do you base your conclusions "there is nothing better for developing thick, dense pecs, tris, and front delts than doing heavy flat barbell bench presses." You can't be using others that also do the other lifts I mentioned or perhaps you are using thyself as an example?



?

[anonymous]

regularly did 8 dips with an extra 400lbs fixed to his legs

Of course he did.

[notinheritable]

ONLY in the most f@gg0t of all lifts, the bench press, does being a round ball with arms and legs become beneficial.

LOL... Do you think if Andy Bolton lost some weight he would deadlift a little more?

maybe pull a 460kg..

[spirit3530]

LOL. You can't be serious. Thats like saying hmm you think if Kobe bryant got a little stronger he would be more unstoppable?

AB is the exception not the rule. He is that big primarily for bench press. I can't believe people fight SOOOOO HARD to be a fat@ss.

More impressive...
220 deadlifting 700 or 280 deadlifting 700


You don't have to be a fatass to be strong as hell. Damn.

[exy]

so i was benching today (no homo)

oh teh lulz

ily man

homo

jk nohomo

[TheSheepdog]

1.doubt if Eder did dips with 400lbs for 8 reps
2.I don't flat bench press but I do incline press at about 30 degrees,
3.IMO the incline bench press is the worst movement for chest.
4.Incline dumbbells is a absolutely great movement
5.different strokes for different folks, different body mechanics, different leverage issues for people, some can't do behind the neck presses, some can.

Marvin Eder had a damn good physique