Old School Is Still A Great School
Below is a video clip that includes still images of several well known strength athletes from past eras.
For those interested, the video creator has listed photo references within the Youtube description. Among the list includes one of my favorite sites (Sandowplus).
The Old School
I often reference material from the Sandow Plus site. As I’ve said before, many of the greatest strength discoveries came long before our time. Contrary to what today’s market would like you to believe, strength isn’t new. In fact, many of the feats performed by past strength athletes are seldom replicated today.
This assertion will come as a surprise to certain readers. We live in a fast paced world where technological breakthroughs occur each day. It isn’t uncommon for us (people) to assume that everything we are doing now is better than how it used to be done. The industry then plays into this belief. Everyone wants fast results, so the market attempts to satisfy this demand. It is more profitable to fulfill a need, rather than telling the truth. A quick Google search is all that is necessary to confirm my beliefs. It took but a matter of seconds for me to find programs promising rapid strength gains, rapid weight loss, and 30 day miracles.
It isn’t marketable to suggest that you’ll need years to develop truly impressive results. Who wants to wait years when a supplement or book says that we can do it in a few weeks?
The Truth
Unfortunately, so-called breakthroughs are often everything but breakthroughs. More often than not, we simply play into the old belief that what’s new is old, and what’s old is new, again and again. Take a look through Sandowplus.co.uk and you’ll find almost every “new” exercise from today’s era has been performed for longer than you’ve been alive.
This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t strive to improve on the past, but rather a reminder that the wheel has already been invented. I’m also not suggesting that you can’t make gains in a short period of time. I am however suggesting that truly impressive gains take time. It is important to approach your training with this understanding. I encourage ambition, but I also encourage realism.
Real strength requires strong ligaments, tendons, etc. This process doesn’t take place in a week or a month. Real time must be invested for real strength. The old time strength athletes were patient. Legends weren’t built in weeks or months. They were developed over years of consistent and focused work.
Furthermore, let’s not forget that the amazing strength feats from the past occurred long before the multimillion dollar supplement industry existed. I’m not suggesting that supplementation cannot be useful, but don’t be confused into believeing that you “need” certain products to improve. Need is a grossly overused word in today’s industry. All that you really need is an intelligent, consistent, dedicated, and patient effort.
The Modern Industry
Today’s industry would like you to think otherwise. Quick results are often promised. If a particular program doesn’t offer quick results, the user abandons it as fast as he found it. This cycle often continues over and over again. Program jumpers hop from program to program, ignorant to the fact that their inability to see something through is the only real problem. It isn’t actually their fault however. The industry has brainwashed many to believe that serious results can come overnight.
I receive hundreds of emails each week, so I have a general idea of what many are thinking. Last night, I had 17 year old athlete email me in frustration. He’s been lifting with his team and is upset with his lack of progress. After inquiring about his program, I soon realized that he’s only been lifting for one month. That’s right… just one month!!!
He wanted to know what supplements he could take to speed his gains. I wish I could say that his email was unusual, but I’ve actually grown accustomed to it. He’s one of many victims to the marketing powers that exist among us. He isn’t the first to fall into the trap. In his mind, if he isn’t ripping through new shirts in 30 days, something must be wrong.
The World Has Changed
I’m only in my 30’s and the world has already changed significantly since my time as a child. I didn’t know what the Internet was until I was in college. When we had papers to write, we went to the library to do the research. We flipped through old encyclopedias looking for answers. Book reports meant that you actually had to read the book, rather than typing a few search queries on Google.
I still remember when we had rotary phones.
Now I see young kids with cell phones.
Many of the younger readers will be shocked to know that television stations used to go off the air at night. And when the television was on, there weren’t any remotes. You’d get a few channels, and you’d need to manually change the channel by walking to the TV and adjusting the dial. Now, you can sit back and impatiently flip from channel to channel.
I remember when the Atari 2600 first came out. It’s no wonder why we went outside instead of playing video games.
Yes, the world has changed. We’ve grown used to finding answers while sitting behind the keyboard. We communicate online. We shop online. We perform research online. Almost everything is available through a click of the mouse. We are all used to it. I’m no different. I get irritated when my Internet connection is slow. To think that it’s only been a few years since I was connecting through a slow dial up modem.
Separate The Body From Technology
I welcome the advances in technology, but I also realize that the human body must be kept separate from our fast way of thinking. The body isn’t new. We’ve been around for a long time. Real change requires real time. Shortcuts usually turn into dead ends. We can’t gain strength behind the keyboard. You still need to get up and put in the work. The old timers didn’t need any of the fancy gadgets that you’ll find today. Looking back in time is all the proof that you need to determine what you actually do need.
Stay consistent, stay determined, and the results will come. Ironically, slow and steady is often the fastest and most productive route.
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So true Ross!
The best old school overlooked exercises: push ups and jumping jacks
All it takes is the ground and your body!
Amen and amen.
Excellent roundup of old-school ideas! I regularly peruse the Sandowplus site – wonderful information is found there.
Another fantastic article, you really hit the nail on the head there. Another good read, thanks Ross.
Anytime I’m feeling discouraged about my training (or life in general) I know I can find the remedy on this blog.
This industry is DYING for somebody to come along and dispel the innumerable myths surrounding it.
It’s nice to know that I can come to a place and know with certainty that it will 100% BULLSHIT FREE.
Kudos, Ross!
Good one!
“We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us”; and this is what we must fight, in our time. The question is, indeed, Which is to be master? Will we survive our technologies?
Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us by Bill Joy – founder of Sun Microsystems.
Up until my senior year of high school, we had an antenna. When we would want to watch TV, my dad would climb on the roof and move the antenna, our family would have a chain lined up as we yelled to tell him that the direction he moved the antenna was where we needed it for a good picture. Then if wind screwed up the antenna, we would do it all over again. Looking back, it is a great story and in just 6 years we have a satelite dish. May end up getting rid of that, now.
Always good to be reminded why patience is a virtue. Too many people (including myself sometimes) gauge themselves by only large gains and not the small ones. Great post, thanks.
I enjoyed reading this. This should be published on the NY Times or another major newspaper so that the average joe can truly understand how brainwashed many have become into buying the newest most expensive supplements on the market. I laugh when I flip the tv channels and see a fitness “guru,” more like a charlatan if you ask me, advertising the latest ab machine.
I love that post Ross!
I really appreciate it that you take your time and write about this kind of stuff old time strongman etc.
And of course with some motivational thoughts.
Great
looking at the vid, its amazing how the bodybuilders during the early 1900’s looked like they were made of hard rock. They’re bodies looked like theyve been through hell, when u compare that to the bodybuilders we have now they look nothing like them.. Our bodybuilders now kinda look puffy.. and actually a bit more softer than the old school guys
As you do so often, you hit the nail on the head Ross.
Thanks for all your good work.
This post brings back some memories. I remember our old black rotary dial phone and sitting up late at night when the t.v. stations went off the air. Also, I was in college the very first time I got on the internet. Now, my 9 year old is more proficient with the internet than I was when I was 19.
The rotary phone……ah. Everyone above the age of 30 should remember it. Check out this link that goes right along the lines of what Ross is talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus
“everything is amazing, nobody’s happy”
Good post – your phone comment reminded me of this interview on Jay Leno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jETv3NURwLc
Oops – It’s Conan O’Brian, not Leno.
What is the best way to bulk up training wise. i.e. how many reps should i do and how many sets should i do, and what kind of weight etc ?
Great post.
I have to agree about old school. Most of the old school methods in weight training are the best for today. We don’t need all these supplements and machines out there.
Ross,
Thank you very much for all of your articles…they are GREAT!
mind blowing post and the vid is amazing..the truth is stanger than fiction
You are right that exercises go in phases. Isometrics and pilates were very popular exercises in the early part of the 20th century. They are great and it’s nice to see that they are making a comeback.