There is no greater testament to the power of mentorship than the story of Eugene Sandow, whose legacy is immortalised in bodybuilding’s highest accolade, the Sandow Trophy. This prestigious award is a direct result of the tutelage Sandow received from the legendary performer and innovator, Louis Attila. Attila himself was a protégé of the renowned strongman and Italian performer Feliche Napoli, who was born in 1820.
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The Origin of Strongman Performances
Feliche Napoli was a trapeze artist who combined gymnastic feats, singing, and demonstrations of incredible strength in his shows. His acts included firing a cannon off his shoulder and lifting a horse while upside down. These varied skills set a precedent for the diverse and multifaceted nature of strongman performances. Louis Attila, known as Professor Attila, followed in Napoli’s footsteps, becoming even more influential by being the first celebrity trainer to royalty and eventually spreading his influence to New York in 1893.
Louis Attila: Innovator and Mentor
Born in 1844, Attila stood at 5’4″ and weighed 175 lbs. He was reputedly capable of performing a 200 lb bent press, a claim that, though likely exaggerated, highlighted his formidable strength. Attila is credited with inventing several exercises and pieces of equipment, including the bent press, the Roman Chair, and the human bridge, also known as the Tomb of Hercules. His New York gym became a hub for notable figures such as financier JP Morgan, composer John Philip Sousa, and boxer James J. Corbett.
In 1894, Attila confidently declared, “I will give $11,000 to any charity if I cannot conclusively prove that every alleged instructor of physical culture in this country is either a former pupil of mine or using one of the systems I have originated and perfected.”
The Rise of Eugene Sandow
Among Attila’s students was a young Friedrich Müller, who later became known as Eugene Sandow. Born in 1867, Sandow was trained and eventually taken on tour by Attila, performing alongside the magician Bertrand. These tours were a blend of strongman feats and magic tricks, reflecting the vaudeville spirit where pageantry and showmanship reigned supreme.
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The training methods of this era can be understood through the writings and routines they promoted. Works like Sandow’s “Light Dumbbell System” and Attila’s similar 5 lb dumbbell system focused on high-repetition exercises with very light weights, claiming that dynamic tension—squeezing the muscles intensely while performing the movements—was the key to their effectiveness. These routines were not necessarily the most effective for serious strength training but were cleverly marketed to appeal to the masses.
The Reality of Victorian Strength Training
Despite the popularization of light dumbbell systems, the true strength of Victorian-era strongmen came from heavy weightlifting and bodyweight exercises. They practiced with fixed weights, such as barbells, dumbbells, stones, sandbags, and steel bars, which were not easily adjustable. Their training sessions often involved lifting challenge weights that were incredibly heavy, requiring immense effort and dedication.
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The Shift to Aesthetic Physical Culture
In 1893, a significant shift occurred when promoter Florence Ziegfeld showcased Sandow at the World’s Columbian Expo in Chicago. The audience was more impressed by Sandow’s muscular physique than by the weights he lifted, leading to the incorporation of posing routines into his performances. This marked the beginning of a focus on aesthetics in physical culture, culminating in Sandow hosting the first official bodybuilding contest in 1901 in London, judged by notable figures such as sculptor Sir Charles Lawes and writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
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The Bronze Age of Bodybuilding
The Bronze Age of bodybuilding began with Sandow’s physique contests, which emphasised muscular development over mere strength. However, the training of the era still involved a substantial overlap with other sports, including gymnastics and Olympic-style weightlifting. Figures like George Hackenschmidt, an Estonian wrestler and strongman, epitomised this era with his impressive physique and strength, promoting heavy compound lifts and proper nutrition as the keys to success.
Eugene Sandow’s legacy is a testament to the power of mentorship and the evolution of strength training. From the multifaceted performances of Feliche Napoli to the innovative training methods of Louis Attila and the aesthetic focus introduced by Sandow, the journey of physical culture has been marked by continuous adaptation and innovation. Modern strength training continues to benefit from the foundations laid by these early pioneers, blending performance and aesthetics to create well-rounded athletes.
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This content is originated from https://www.boxrox.com your Online Magazine for Competitive Fitness.