Bob and his beloved york barbell company developed among the first lines of. The york barbell company and its legendary olympic weightlifting team wrote a substantial chapter in the biography of. I was raised by a father that was a product of bob hoffman s weight training programs and the york barbell club. His business started in the 1920s, at first selling oil burners, before developing into the massive york barbell company. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell about an instance when hoffman was nine years old. The following ten execises are from the bob hoffman simplified system of barbell training.
Thank you iron history and thank you york barbell welcome. Bob hoffman was a true pioneer in weightlifting and bodybuilding starting with the creation of the york barbell club back in the 1930s. While at york, john grimek, watched reeves train, and later wrote an article about what he saw in the november, 1964 issue of muscular development magazine. Bob hoffmans isometric book transformetrics forums. Bob hoffman, never a great coach or great weightlifter, was a man who influenced and guided weightlifting and bodybuilding for half a century. Thank you everyone here at iron history for a great forum. The best book on isometric training ever written functional isometric contraction by bob hoffman from the york barbell company. Click download or read online button to get bob hoffman s simplified system of barbell training book now. Hoffman promoted bodybuilders like john grimek and sigmund klein, coached the american olympic weightlifting team. Pro hex dumbbell 3 to 100 lb sold separately york barbell. Curl up and get cozy with his oldschool armbuilding approach. I enjoy reading about bob hoffman and the old york barbell. Bob hoffman, the founder of york barbell and the self proclaimed father of world weightlifting, was a pioneer in the marketing of barbells and health foods. Yorks pro hex dumbbell is an economy dumbbell with plenty of special features.
In fact, the training methods found here are often referred to time and time again by all the best authors of serious strength training publications. York barbell equipment history mike bondurant on target. Buy bob hoffmans simplified system of barbell training. Known as the father of world weightlifting, hoffman gained national recognition in 1927 when he took home the sports heavyweight championship. All files are in pdf format, and they have been scanned from original documents at a resolution of atleast 300 dpi mostly. In 1951, hoffman penned advanced methods of weight training, a comprehensive lifting book that included a detailed set of swing bell exercises, which are given below verbatim. Have been lifting york barbell weights every day for 32 years now. The knurled handles are ergonomically contoured to fit comfortably in the palm of the user. Universe contest which he eventually won, by the way.
His love for weight training would see him train other athletes on the side from his oil burner business to where he employed mostly lifters and training partners where they would train on their lunch breaks. Heres a classic shot of bob hoffman at the old broad street gym demonstrating one of his favorite exercises, squatting on the toes. A history of the york barbell company, focusing on its founder, bob hoffman, and the physical culture movement he launched. He trained lifters and bodybuilders, and made himself synonymous with competitions in both. York barbell also ran into one other potentially very damaging problem when they changed the name of their supplement line from hoffman to york barbell. York barbell revolutionized the design of exercise equipment and products. Quality weightlifting and exercise equipment, made in the united states. By suppelmenting the york patterns with the surplus milo patterns he could cut costs. Jan 19, 2018 bob hoffman was a true pioneer in weightlifting and bodybuilding starting with the creation of the york barbell club back in the 1930s. I loved my dad and i loved being raised in the york barbell club culture. A 10 mile race was held, in which young hoffman wanted to compete. The softened edges of the heads improve paint durability by lessening the likelihood of chipping often experienced with the sharper edge hex heads. As a prolific writer of books and articles, hoffman promoted the benefits of exercise and nutrition. Robert collins hoffman november 9, 1898 july 18, 1985 was an american entrepreneur who rose to prominence as the owner of york barbell.
Bob hoffman isometric means exerting muscle strength and tension without producing an actual movement or a change in muscle length. When america won its first world team championship in 1946, four of its six lifters worked for york barbell. Hoffman ignored all of the old milo marked patterns until the late 1950s when he decided to use them since they were in great condition and it would be less costly to construct an entire range of new york marked patterns. Robert collins hoffman was an american entrepreneur who rose to prominence as the owner of york barbell.
The lost art of swingbell training physical culture study. Find more books from bob hoffman and many other strength authors at. Bob and his beloved york barbell company developed among the first lines of exercise equipment in the industry. In 1935, bob hoffman bought the milo barbell company from calvert, renamed it the york barbell company, and set about publicizing the benefits of weightlifting. Additionally, hoffman was an author of several books, including how to be strong, healthy. Here is the third of the four york barbell courses designed by bob hoffman. Both are in the same ramshackle building near the tracks, which also house, during working hours, some twentyfive of the strongest men in the world, all title. According to grimek, here are some of steve reeves. Olympic weightlifting and the founding of the york barbell co. Dec 14, 2015 the following ten execises are from the bob hoffman simplified system of barbell training. Bob hoffman was probably the man more responsible for bringing weightlifting to the masses then anyone else, with his york barbell company. While very few sports coaches or athletic directors in high schools and colleges approved of lifting weights, they embraced the isometric system wholeheartedly.
Bob hoffman was probably the man most responsible for bringing weightlifting to the masses with his york barbell company. Bob hoffman had an ordinary beginning physically, he proved his interest in and knowledge of athletics in winning well over 500 athletic trophies, he has proved his knowledge of body building by reaching the top of the physical training world, hes the worlds leading physical director, the author of a dozen popular books, editor of strength and health magazine, the worlds leading physical. It was an effective method to develop strength at a particular angle and affordable to most because of the limited amount of equipment needed. Original bob hoffman york barbell company equipment booklet 1988. York barbell is an americanbased international manufacturer of fitness products. Hoffman liked big men and ernie was certainly that, standing 65 and weighing just over three hundred pounds. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell 9780271018553. This book, simplified system of dumbbell training, gives you two complete courses or workout plans with 12 dumbbell exercises to follow.
Founded in 1932 by bob hoffman in york pennsylvania york barbell has been synonymous with the essence of weightlifting since its inception. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell by john d. Bob hoffman 1943 how to build super strength, health. Two hands pull up side to side bend two hands regular curl weight increase of 50% stiff leg dead lift two hands military press shoulder shrug weight increase of 50% rowing motion raise on toes straddle. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get. Hoffman was a pioneer in marketing barbells and health foods. Bob hoffman s simplified system of barbell training. Often called the father of world weightlifting, hoffman was a pioneer in marketing barbells and health foods. Hawaii, alaska, guam, puerto rico, virgin islands, etc. I also trained at the gym which was then located at 51 north broad street in york, pennsylvania. Mar 01, 1999 i was raised by a father that was a product of bob hoffman s weight training programs and the york barbell club.
Apr 30, 2016 greatest olympic lifter found strength in york. Bob hoffman, the father of world weightlifting, founder to the york barbell company, legendary us olympic weightlifting coach and publisher of strength and health magazine mentioned many times that his father was a swoboda student. While the basic information contained in the book is very useful, it also pushes the bob hoffman york barbell line, which tends to overly magnify the possible. He was a founder of york barbell company and he practically led bodybuilding and weightlifting for about fifty years. York barbell 35 degree leg press white inbox fitness. From the 1930s to the 1980s, the capital of weightlifting in america was york, pennsylvania, the home of the york barbell company. Dugan, i decided to read this book for fathers day.
He was right at the top of the heavyweight division, battling it out with barski and joe dube. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell 9780271018553 by fair, john d. York is a sort of mecca, for no more reason than that it is the home of the york barbell co. Since 1932, york barbell has revolutionized the design of gym equipment and fitness products. Bob hoffmans simplified system of barbell training.
Along with don king, i owned golds gym in york, penna, and promoted the golds classic colonial open in 1984. Note before starting any new exercise program, it is important that you consult your physician. Part of the bob hoffman story exhibit at the york barbell museum and usa weightlifting hall of fame. Plus youll find three additional exercises for the neck, chest and abs. I purchased a copy off of amazon about 2 years ago and still marvel at the variety of great info. This book is a wonderful historical collection of the history of york barbell and hoffman. Hoffman had a tendency to exaggerate the truth, a habit he developed as a young boy and carried over into adulthood.
I grew up reading strength and health in the late seventies. Never afraid to promote his own products in line with good workout advice, bob hoffman and york barbell were once the go to suppliers of knowledge within the iron game. Given that york barbell were the main manufacturers of the swingbell, it seems only right to look at what bob hoffman, york s owner, had to say about the bells. The bitterness of bob hoffman transformetrics forums. Hoffman began a company called the york oil burner association. Follow the course for 12 weeks and then move on to course no. Bob hoffman 1943 how to build super strength, health and. Revised edition compiled and edited by bill hinbern the york barbell and dumbbell system is, beyond a doubt, one of the classics among strength training publications. York barbell history york history barbell equipment history.
Bob hoffman, the founder of york barbell, propagated an ideology of success for. While the basic information contained in the book is very useful, it also pushes the bob hoffman york barbell line, which tends to overly magnify the possible results, in a nottoosubtle effort to sell the reader york bbc equipment. From the decades of the 1930s through the 1970s, york barbell sponsored. John fair touches briefly on it in his book on york barbell, muscletown usa. From the decades of the 1930s through the 1970s, york barbell sponsored over 40 national championships and numerous olympic gold medalists, a few of whom are featured in one of the murals of york. Hoffman s barbell 14 n main st, wheatfield, indiana 46392 rated 4. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell by fair, john d abebooks. As a prolific writer of books and articles, hoffman tirelessly promoted the benefits of exercise successfully encouraging its practice to the military and the general public.
Fair and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. York barbell founder bob hoffman had built a cage for the beasts. As a prolific writer of books and articles, hoffman promoted the benefits of. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, fairs book will appeal to a. For years now, the builder has been a symbol of bob hoffmans empire that started threequarters of a century ago. More than anyone else, hoffman was responsible for popularizing weight training in athletics. Mueller found that a small workout daily for 10 weeks would increase strength about 5% per. We collect images, books, articles, advertisements and courses. Just to set the record straight, the bodybuilding promotion had nothing whatsoever to do with joe weider or his publications and in no way slighted bob hoffman or york barbell just as golds gym international had nothing to do with.
The mega mainstream corporate entity hershey foods, maker of york peppermint patties, threatened to sue them over usage of the name york. Bob hoffman wrote this in his book entitled, weightlifting. Known as the father of world weightlifting, hoffman gained national recognition in 1927. This lecture covers the development of york barbell exercise equipment from the beginning days of simple barbells made in the york oil burner shop, to the complete line of exercise tools that evolved over the next 30 years. As the strongest name in fitness, york barbell has consistently set the standard in product design, styling, performance, and value our history. Bob hoffman 1943 how to build super strength, health and development with the york leg developing course. May 21, 2017 bob hoffman 1943 how to build super strength, health and development with the york leg developing course never afraid to promote his own products in line with good workout advice, bob hoffman and york barbell were once the go to suppliers of knowledge within the iron game. This is the original basic primer on isometric contraction, published back in the early sixties. The famous bob hoffman of york barbell fame manufactured an isometric power rack in the 1960s. Bob hoffman was the man who bought the milo barbell company and renamed it york barbell company after his york oil burners he sold at his oil burner business over at york pa.
Bob hoffman, named father of world weightlifting by the international weightlifting federation, founded york barbell in 1932. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell, paperback. See more ideas about books, good books and books to read. Feb 22, 2015 education for business, life, relationships, time management, high performance and dealing with people. In my opinion, fairs book is the grated version of the history of york barbell. York barbell system of training courses 3 and 4 rippeder. Secrets of strength and development may be the most well rounded and complete book from hoffman on building all around strength and size. Every morning, arise at 4am with a hot cup of coffee in hand, and head on out to my free. The york barbell name is synonymous with the essence of weightlifting since its inception.
A position hoffman often used to great financial and sporting advantage. Company founder bob hoffman hoffman had a tendency to exaggerate the truth, a habit he developed as a young boy and carried over into adulthood. York barbell company and its legendary olympic weightlifting team, the york barbell club, wrote a substantial chapter in the biography of weightlifting, equipment development, and nutritional supplement industry. Bob hoffman creator of york barbell wrote the book on biceps training. The york barbell and dumbbell system of training by bob. American weightlifting became his fiefdom, and he controlled it completely. Original bob hoffman york barbell company equipment.
Thats a pretty nifty globe barbell that ol boho is using, and, of course, hes wearing his trusty york barbell club tshirt. Bob hoffman and the manly culture of york barbell at. Bob hoffman s simplified system of barbell training by bob hoffman. The bob hoffman story click on the images in this column to view larger, popup versions. Today, the corporate office of york barbell company houses the official weightlifting hall of fame and museum in york, pennsylvania and continues to host a variety of powerlifting and. The big chest book is probably the most complete work ever on what it takes to develop phenomenal pectoral muscles, an expansive rib cage, and the strength to back it. Fair fairs tale is peppered with stories about ethnic assimilation through weightlifting success, olympic glory, and the protracted struggle between the empires of york and weider. He sponsored thousands of bodybuilding competitions, published dozens of books and magazines, and made sure york barbells could be found in nearly every gym in the world. The york courses were the standard for the majority of up and coming weight trainers back in the day. Two hands pull up side to side bend two hands regular curl weight increase of 50% stiff leg dead lift two hands military press shoulder shrug weight increase of 50% rowing motion raise on toes.
It also reveals other innovations in which hoffman played a major role, such as weight training for athletes, health foods, bottled water and isometrics. Bob hoffman doesnt get much credit, but it was bob hoffman who popularized barbell training for both sport and fitness and founded the aau amateur athletic union. A pioneer in the health food business, hoffman introduced a line of nutritional supplements in the early 1950s and developed the first energy bar in 1966. Hoffman promoted bodybuilders like john grimek and sigmund klein, coached the american olympic weightlifting team between 1936 and 1968, and. This is a must if you have any serious medical conditions or if you are taking medication. The 1963 national championships were staged by the york barbell club at the zembo mosque in harrisburg. Bob hoffman was the founder of york barbell and lived quiet the interesting life to say the least. Original bob hoffman york barbell company equipment booklet 1990soft cover booklet,30 pages. Sure the steroids helped, but back then no one knew how much, especially when compared to the competitive rush youd. In 1950, he trained at the york barbell club in york, pa for the nabba mr.
Though, for some of us who spent saturdays lifting and drinking protein shakes among the greats, it is a shadow of the detailed memories and the positive impact hoffman had on us. John ziegler, a physician from olney, maryland and promoted by bob hoffman, owner of the york barbell company in york, pennsylvania. He popularized weight training and inaugurated a golden age of american weightlifting. Mar 25, 20 hoffman published dozens of books, on everything from hand balancing and isometrics to weight lifting, barbell training, swingbar training and many other forms of training. They are written here just as he wrote them in his course. Mar 28, 2012 after ernie pickett became a member of the york barbell team, hoffman invited him to take part in exhibitions. In other words, holding a weight still at certain joint angles. Bob hoffman, the founder of york barbell, propagated an ideology of success for americans seeking physical improvement. Old school bodybuilding training part 1 intense apex.
The york barbell and dumbbell system of training by bob hoffman just released. That helped hoffman because it allowed york barbell to sell a ton of power racks. Bob hoffman, named father of world weightlifting by the international weightlifting federation, bought the milo barbell company and founded york barbell in 1932. On any given day, world record holders and olympians could be seen in the same.