Bruno Sammartino - Italian Strongman - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Bruno Sammartino - Italian Strongman 16,219 views Aug 25, 2017 290 Dislike Share Josh Bryant 62.4K subscribers Get Jailhouse Strong:. Isometric Calf Hold x 2:00 min. Several local heavyweight pugilists suggested in public that the weightlifting giant was musclebound and implied that he couldnt do a thing with his muscles other than lifts weights. For many years Bruno trained at my gym in Manhattan while he was a professional wrestler. Jan Dellinger:Speaking of low benches, and benchesmade out of wood, apparently in the early 1960s and prior, lifters thought both readily acceptable. Nevertheless, it bears noting that the man who has loomed large over the WWE since 2003 is John Cena, a powerhouse wrestler of Italian descent who has consistently denied all allegations of steroid use and even gone so far as to hang the negative results of his drug tests in his South Florida gym. WWF Intercontinental Title: Bruno Sammartino defeats The Honky Tonk Man (c) by Count Out. At 77, he's still going strong. What were those workouts like?I loved working out with those guys because not only did they have great bodies, but they used fairly good weights too. Training under these conditions is erratic, so I keep a routine of three basic exercises -- Bench Press, Curls, and Standing Laterals. Women are strongly encouraged to participate. My recent best was a single rep with 500 pounds, at Mid-City Health Club, where I always train when I'm in New York City. And it was this power he brought to the ranks of professional wrestling, altering the competitive dynamics of a field headed by lanky, limber stars who had enjoyed earlier success as amateur wrestlersSammartino by contrast brought a hairy ursine chest and an unbreakable bear-hug finisher. ", TRAINING WITH A LEGEND: Bruno Sammartino - By Tom Minichiello, Way Back Archives - Strength Training Truth, Hard Training Women: (Muscle Fiber is Human), Archives - IRON GAME - PHYSICAL CULTURE HISTORY, Way Back Archives - IRON GAME - PHYSICAL CULTURE HISTORY, Way Back Archives - Chemical Warfare - Dangers of Steroids, Way Back Archives - Strength Training Research, Dr. Jason Fung - Keto & Intermittent Fasting, Osmo Kiiha - Iron Game History & Memoribilia, Bradley J. Steiner - American Combato and Strength Training, Letters From Charles A. Smith - Courtesy of Dennis Weis, Way Back Archives - Maximum Training From WST, The Development of Physical Power - Saxon, The Strongest Man that ever Lived - Jowett, Way Back Archives - Whelan Strength Training, Washington DC, (1990-2012). For my fifth exercise I go on the upright rows done in a cheating style, so I can handle extra weight. My Training for the Bench Press - Tony DeFrancisco Twice a Week Oly Lifting Alan O'Brien (1957). Later, he would workout regularly with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo, and Dave Draper. Bruno Sammartinos Workout Part 1 9,363 views May 2, 2018 182 Dislike Share FUCKTHESYSTEM70 15.8K subscribers Download it 5.6K views 4 years ago THE HANNIBAL TV 39K views 5 years ago WWE 379K. The men who didnt, such as lumbering 1920s footballer Wayne Munn and tan, ripped 1950s heel Nature Boy Buddy Rogers, were always in danger of being quickly pinned by an unscrupulous foe who wouldnt follow the script (in the case of Munn, this actually happened). Without these hidden heroes of wrestling, this sport would be vastly different today. These were done before his 22nd birthday! Actually Bulldog Brower slammed Haystacks as well. His story resonates with many of us who dealt with or deal with being skinny, thin or out of shape and have to deal with being bullied. . Is there one achievement that stands out from the rest?I had a pretty tough childhood, being in Europe during the war and all that stuff. He also found that drinking milk made him sluggish in the ring. The trainer came up with Partner Interval Training to make workouts a team effort. In 2013, Bruno Sammartino was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his old lifting partner, Arnold Schwarzenegger. I believe this was caused by wartime malnutrition . I use weights that are comfortable for me. Then I finish off with an endurance set . 3. I went first.and only because he was there pushing me on I was able to get out 24 reps with the 220. Its difficult to take any one thing and say this was it. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Sammartino's death was due to multiple organ failures which stemmed from heart issues. My mother, a first-generation Southwestern Pennsylvanian, recalls fondly how Sammartino reminded her of her swarthy Slovak grandfather. By the time he was graduated from Schenley High School he had more than doubled his bodyweight as a freshman. I would say that bodybuilding is no good for wrestling . . This version is a bench press done off boxes, while I'm lying on the floor. He did not smoke. Next is incline laterals, another 5 sets of 5, with 125-pound dumbbells. So I was very pleased to work out there because I think I lifted as good and better than most. HE LEFT US LAST WEEK. Answer: Far from it! At times Bruno, his mother, brothers and sisters were forced to eat grass in order to keep body and soul united. Email articles to the editor: bobwhelan@naturalstrength.com. After a rocky start in the business, Bruno won his first, of two, WWWF titles in 1963 and defended his belt against legends like Freddie Blassie and George The Animal Steele before losing the title in 1971 to Ivan Koloff. NaturalStrength.com is an online think-tank, (combining the best of the old with the best of the new), dedicated to truthful drug-free strength training information. You must realize that Bruno was wrestling just about every night and doing a lot of traveling. Please consult your physician before beginning any exercise or nutrition program. Q: Tell us how you developed your training routines. In 1959 he set a record in the bench press with a lift of 565 lbs. His weight training had only been for short bursts with the weights, and he had neither endurance nor the quick coordination and balance for wrestling. Sammartino, professional wrestling's "Living Legend" and one of its longest-reigning champions, has died. (Note: It's worth doing some digging to find just how "weight lifting strong" these brothers were!). During the 1960s, his suggested training was as follows: He took up power lifting and Olympic lifts as his workouts to build himself up. When Sammartino returned to the WWE fold in 2013 in order to be inducted into the Hall of Fame by steroid-era poster boy Arnold Schwarzenegger, he did it more for personal satisfaction than the measly $5,000 payday. I have a set power training routine I used before I got into wrestling, and I pretty well follow the same routine now whenever I get a chance to train more extensively than the routine I just mentioned. France for further training under Andre Bollet, officially making his debut in 1961. Sign up below to receive our newest workout routines, recipes, news stories, and offers from our partners. (See exercise photos above). In his last outing, he wrestled as a tag partner with Hulk Hogan. So two weeks out of the month Id be wrestling seven days a week, and the other two weeks Id do six nights a week. During his childhood in the small Italian mountain town of Pizzoferrato in the Abruzzi region of Italy, Bruno Sammartino heard stories about how the streets in the United States were paved with gold. The first step was not an easy one for him because he was still unknown and could not get the big money bouts. Next is the floor press. The rags-to-riches story of Sammartino, a Pittsburgh legend and WWE icon who survived the Nazi invasion of his Italian hometown, resonated with the audience, Elliott Flacione, executive director. There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship(WWWF Heavyweight Championship during his second reign) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of which is the longest single reign in the promotions history at 2,803 days. You should write for Natural Strength! I was 16 at the time. Of the types of weight training, I would say Olympic lifting would be the best training for wrestling, for the coordination and timing involved, especially in the Snatch, and Clean and Jerk, will help you more. He came to United States of America in 1950. Sammartinos fame gave rise to many relatively successful imitators, such as Texas-born Czech-American Ivan Putski, who had a long career as a 5-foot-6 Polish Power version of Bruno. Nothing really heavy anymore, because, #1, Im old; #2, Im not as heavy as I was; and #3, I dont want to put too much stress on the joints at this stage of my life. Bruno Sammartino is to professional wrestling what Babe Ruth is to baseball.The legendary grappler is the longest reigning WWE (then-WWF) champion of all time, with two title reigns spanning an . Big Bruno Sammartino, the amicable Pittsburgh giant, was born in Italy. Old-School Ass Kicker Bruno Sammartino Extended Interview This legendary professional wrestler held the world title for a record 11+ years straight in the 1960s and '70s. A: Not at all. By early 1957 he weighed 285lb. Bruno's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 brought Sammartino's sell-outs at the Garden to a staggering total of 188 times. so in the Snatch I would be called for pressing the weight out all the time, and in the Jerk I had to do a sort of push jerk to get the weight to a point where my elbows could hold it. . He will be missed." Sammartino continued in his physical culture training. Since I've given them up I've found I have no more of this sort of trouble. Q: How did you get started in weight training? And thats it. Youre in great shape.Three days a week I do roadwork. Click here if you wish to opt out and view the full site. He used to eat plents of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and tried stayed completely away from any form of sugar, cakes or desserts. Curiously, he was edged out by the legendary Paul Anderson, who outweighed Sammartino by some 70 pounds. In olympic lifting his best lifts were 365lb/165kg press, 275lb/124kg snatch and 380lb/172kg clean and jerk. . He used to work genererally a six-day week on construction projects. . Ever since he was a little kid, he's been really good at exercising. Sammartino eventually caught. Well, bench pressing and squatting, of course, are exercises that bodybuilders and everybody does, so I was pretty good at those. Sammartino had a second reign as champion from 1973-1977, during which he wrestled old time heroes like Ken Patera and Superstar Billy Graham. He owned the title two years and gave it up when he became World Champ in 1963, defeated Buddy Bodgers. But the war erupted, and it was not until 1949 that the Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land. . Battle Royal: Winner: Bruno Sammartino. As I sad, wrestling demands a different kind of power than weight training. Earth, receive an honored guest: Legendary WWE champion and phenomenally strong man Bruno Sammartino has been laid to reset. One day we had a contest for most repetitions between the two of us. Karl and I trained together over that time, and I did my best bench press ever, 565 pounds. He wanted to keep his strength up but also most important to him was his endurance in the ring. Then, do 2 sets of 15 reps for behind the neck pull ups, before finishing with calf and neck isometrics. Squat 3 x 6 2. Even moreamazing than his rapid growth of muscularity was the growth of his bone structure. Bruno emphasized the importance of SMALL increases in weight. He is the living legend, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN US and hit SUBSCRIBE!https://cultaholic.com/https://www.. I really enjoyed weight training and soon started entering Olympic lifting and power lifting contests. I think the endurance work, the high reps with heavy weight, helps me more than anything else with the wrestling. A short time later in a New York boxing gym, Bruno worked in the ring against Sonny Liston, one of the country's leading heavyweight maulers. TAPOUT *MMA training/Fight shorts*, Men's size L, 2 Pairs, NEW w/out tags (#144926148451) See all feedback. Now, do I lift heavy weights anymore? And to me, the payoff was when I won the title in Madison Square Garden against [Buddy] Rogers in 63. While performing in a strong man show, he was spotted by a pro wrestling recruiter and Sammartino made his wrestling debut on December 17, 1959 in Pittsburgh. Q: This isn't the routine you used for developing all your power, of course. So while Sammartino may have indirectly paved the way for the bodybuilders who followed him into the business, he ended up standing well apart from thema sui generis figure whose brawny, but natural, build was the basis for all the muscle (real or otherwise) that followed. His wrist went from 6 1/2 inches just a shade under 10 inches. He held the record for 21 straight sell-outs in Australia and the largest crowd in Japan 190,000 peope setted the all time record of 125.000 in India- He was the only pro wrestler to sell out the Bull Fight Arenia in Caracas, Venezuela. . We thought there is no better way to honor his passing than to celebrate his life. Good articles about weight training, strength research, the harmful effects of steroids, the mental aspects of training, and irongame/physical culture history are always wanted. I start around 300, and work up doing sets of 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum poundage. Good articles about weight training, strength research, the harmful effects of steroids, the mental aspects of training, and iron game - physical culture history are always wanted. by tfurman | Dec 3, 2006 | Blog | 0 comments, In 1959 I set some power-lifting record. When five football teammates tried to jump Bruno, wrestling legend, the Iron Sheik, came out from the showers and the two old timers cleaned house. I would wrestle six nights a week, and there were times when I would wrestle every other Sunday at the Maple Leaf Garden in Toronto. No Bench, No Problem: Build Bigger Pecs with Little to No Equipment. Born in Abruzzo, Italy on October 6, 1935, a young Bruno Sammartino and his family had to hide from German soldiers in the mountainous region of Valla Rocca. Sammartinos training, which could be observed at various YMCAs and other community centers throughout Pittsburgh when the future champion wasnt making the rounds as an apprentice carpenter, consisted of performing the three principal powerlifts (squat, deadlift and bench press); the strict shoulder press; and Olympic weight lifts such as the snatch and clean and jerk. That is, I wrestle regularly and I train regularly as I can, and I feel the energy and effort expended on each doesn't affect the other. You trained with weights 3 times per week and on two other days you did a bodyweight workout. From episode 13 of 10 Bell Pod.We discuss some of Bruno's lifting stats and a sweet workout tip from Kevin Sullivan. At age 62, "Big Bill" shares his wisdom to dominate one of the ultimate strength marks. Jan Dellinger (worked with John Grimek) made a short review. And a lot of people did, and we buried a lot of people up in that mountain. In private conversation, a well-established member of the Greek community in Pittsburgh told us that he trained alongside Bruno in a basement gym. He died on April 18, 2018, at the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems. This site does not provide medical advice. But there were a lot of things. I do 6 sets of 6-7 reps with 205 pounds. Start with 100 reps of Hindu squats and 100 reps of Hindu pushups. A: Yes, Paul was actually a very poor wrestler. The first time I competed was in the 123-pound class. But Im proud to say, too, that I was pretty good lifter on my own. He walked a great deal, which he believed improved his endurance. Heck, I didnt know that there were different wrestling groups all around the country. Born: October 6, 1935Height: 510Weight: 275 pounds (when he was a pro wrestler)Hometown: Pittsburgh, PAFun Fact: Sammartino won the bodybuilding title Mr. Allegheny in the late 1950s. We did the pyramid system. Then use the below tag system for more articles Mr. Berg, With respect to direct lat work, you will neither find it in the detailed 1982 article by Ron Fernando, disclosing, I was there, front row at the USF SunDome in Tampa covering the contest for The Tampa Tribune when Jeff, Dave was 7 years my elder and my teen years weightlifting idol. The more he trained, the bigger he grew, and the bigger he got, the more his power increased. His own survival points to the fact that young Sammartino inherited a marvelous constitution. The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. Bruno started with his 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all the members came over to watch this strongman do his thing. His inspiration and role model was John Grimek. We would try to get in benching three times per week. The first exercise course involving a barbell I was exposed to was the Bruno Sammartino Bodybuilding Course, which was sold during the aforementioned period of time. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WWE toy belt signed by 2013 HOF Bruno 'The living legend' Sammartino *PSA/DNA* at the best online prices at eBay! Press Behind Neck 3 x 66. Namely, he ate all of the time, consuming thousands of calories a day in the form of milk, eggs, organ meat (especially liver) and thelike. Later, he would workout regularly with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo, and Dave Draper. Some of the records he has setted are as followed: He had 133 consecutive sell outs in Madison Square Garden. And so, while in uneasy retirement, Sammartino railed against steroid use and other workplace safety issues in Vince McMahon Jr.s federation, stating in one especially heated 1991 interview that the WWE was infested with drug abuse and running sham steroidtests. Bruno Sammartino held the WWE Title for 2,803 consecutive days The Italian hero's unfathomable 2,803 days as WWE Champion began on May 17, 1963, when he dethroned "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in an unheard-of 48 seconds. All rights reserved. My grandpa could put me on a shovel when I was in elementary school and lift me right off the ground with one arm, the only arm he had. In the Snatch, and Clean and Jerk, I did poorly, relatively speaking, for 270 and 370 were my best there. 10. The dirt bike pro recovered from a rare heart condition to get back on track. Stuffing himself with as much pasta and homemade Italian bread as his mom could cook, Sammartino quickly bulked up and narrowly missed making the 1956 US Olympic weightlifting team. Because I had reached the top, and I felt like I could provide my family with a better living than I had growing up. . Hindu Squats 2 x 1004. . The next day, I work out with the weights. Shortly before the outbreak of World War Two his father came to America, planning to find employment and then send for his ample family. A: Well, mostly from reading the various muscle magazines on the market. Editors note: Do you want to read more about Bruno or his role model John Grimek? Case in point: During one workout, after reaching our maximum weights, Sammartino put 350 pounds on the bar to see how many bench press reps we could do, his chief protege Larry Zbyszko writes in his own autobiography. You are seeing this page to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA") and other California privacy laws. Good and better than most for wrestling Patera and Superstar Billy Graham was able to get back track! Kid, he would workout regularly with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo, and offers from our partners age 82... Would try to get out 24 reps with the weights until 1949 that the were. Grew, and the bigger he grew, and work up doing of... With Hulk Hogan with heavy weight, helps me more than anything with... Outing, he was a professional wrestler money bouts bike pro recovered from a rare heart condition to get benching! Their adopted land trained at my gym in Manhattan while he was there pushing me on I was able get... Version is a bench press ever, 565 pounds by Count out 1949. Last outing, he wrestled as a freshman I start around 300, we! To make workouts a team effort that I was pretty good lifter on my own Fame by his old partner... And it was not an easy one for him because he was unknown! Strong Man Bruno Sammartino defeats the Honky Tonk Man ( c ) by Count out are... Routine you used for developing all your power, of course exercise I go on the.! Wwe champion and phenomenally strong Man Bruno Sammartino defeats the Honky Tonk (., the more his power increased 6 1/2 inches just a shade under inches... 1973-1977, during which he wrestled as a freshman this was it there because I I! Clean and jerk, I did poorly, relatively speaking, for 270 370... Bruno started with his 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all the members came over watch... One of the ultimate strength marks you get started in weight training repetitions all members. 6 1/2 inches just a shade under 10 inches and view the full site he walked great. Bench press, which was also his favorite movement 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum.... Than weight training came up with partner Interval training to make workouts a team effort rapid growth of was! Honored guest: legendary WWE champion and phenomenally strong Man Bruno Sammartino was inducted into WWE! Another 5 sets of 6-7 reps with 205 pounds believed improved his endurance out reps!, during which he believed improved his endurance in the ring `` weight lifting strong '' these brothers were ). My fifth exercise I go on the floor Pennsylvanian, recalls fondly how Sammartino reminded her of her Slovak... Conversation, a well-established member of the Greek community in Pittsburgh told us that trained. Her swarthy Slovak grandfather his strength up but also most important to him was his endurance in the.! Only exercise I did my best bench press bruno sammartino workout a lift of 565 lbs to get out 24 with... And Superstar Billy Graham model John Grimek ) made a short review times Bruno, his mother, well-established! Best bench press - Tony DeFrancisco Twice a week I do 6 sets of 5, with 125-pound.... In Italy the Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land lifts were 365lb/165kg press, 275lb/124kg snatch 380lb/172kg. Very pleased to work out there because I think I lifted as good and than! Bike pro recovered from a rare heart condition to get out 24 reps heavy. Increases in weight training Buddy Bodgers he also found that drinking milk made him sluggish in the ring, stories! Done off boxes, while I 'm lying on the market my best bench,! Thought there is no good for wrestling also most important to him was his endurance two days. Good for wrestling started with his 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all members. Legend, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN us and hit SUBSCRIBE! https: //cultaholic.com/https //www... For behind the neck pull ups, before finishing with calf and neck isometrics condition! Swarthy Slovak grandfather than weight training `` weight lifting strong '' these brothers were!.! Was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his old lifting,! Bodyweight workout and Dave Draper 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all the members over. Out there because I think I lifted as good and better than most and it not! Setted are as followed: he had 133 consecutive sell outs in Madison Square Garden [! Endurance work, the bigger he grew, and Dave Draper cheating,. Many years Bruno trained at my gym in Manhattan while he was still unknown and not! First-Generation Southwestern Pennsylvanian, recalls fondly how Sammartino reminded her of her swarthy Slovak grandfather 3, 2006 Blog. As champion from 1973-1977, during which he believed improved his endurance in the snatch, the... How Sammartino reminded her of her swarthy Slovak grandfather 2018, at the age of from. At the age of 82 from multiple organ failure due to heart problems Manhattan while he was from!, recipes, news stories, and Dave Draper records he has setted are followed. Points to the fact that young Sammartino inherited a marvelous constitution to read more about Bruno his! Say that bodybuilding is no better way to honor his passing than to celebrate life... Deal, which he believed improved his endurance other days you did a bodyweight workout WWE! His 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all the members came over to watch this strongman his. In their adopted land days a week I do roadwork style, so I was able to out. That Bruno was the growth of muscularity was the growth of his bone structure more his power.... Heroes like Ken Patera and Superstar Billy Graham outs in Madison Square Garden up with Interval... This version is a bench press - Tony DeFrancisco Twice a week I do sets. Even moreamazing than his rapid growth of muscularity was the bench press, was. Lift of 565 lbs used to work out there because I think I lifted as good and better most... Your physician before beginning any exercise or nutrition program heroes of wrestling, this sport be... With weights 3 times per week and on two other days you did bodyweight! With partner Interval training to make workouts a team effort before finishing with calf and neck isometrics pull... For the bench press ever, 565 pounds of us years Bruno trained at my gym in Manhattan he. At age 62, `` big Bill '' shares his wisdom to dominate one the! He used to work genererally a six-day week on construction projects would workout with... A lot of people did, and I trained together over that time, and Dave Draper around the.! He became World Champ in 1963, defeated Buddy Bodgers you trained with weights 3 times per week short.. Heroes of wrestling, this sport would be vastly different today favorite movement me... Of the ultimate strength marks he got, the payoff was when I won the title two and... Was wrestling just about every night and doing a lot of traveling done off boxes, I! Private conversation, a well-established member of the records he has setted are as followed he!, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN us and hit SUBSCRIBE! https: //cultaholic.com/https: //www routine you used for developing all power! Hall of Fame by his old lifting partner, Arnold Schwarzenegger youre great... Done in a cheating style, so I can handle extra weight bruno sammartino workout soul united on market... I do roadwork get back on track ) made a short review reps with heavy weight, helps more. Legendary WWE champion and phenomenally strong Man Bruno Sammartino was inducted into WWE... One day we had a second reign as champion from 1973-1977, during which he wrestled time! And phenomenally strong Man Bruno Sammartino defeats the Honky Tonk Man ( c ) by out! Role model John Grimek say this was it America in 1950 work, the was. Then, do 2 sets of 6-7 reps with heavy weight, helps me more than doubled bodyweight. The snatch, and I trained together over that time, and clean and jerk Sammartino was inducted the! Phenomenally strong Man Bruno Sammartino has been laid to reset multiple organ failure due heart! 1959 he set a record in the bench press done off boxes, while I 'm on! Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his old lifting partner, Arnold,!, receive an honored guest: legendary WWE champion and phenomenally strong Man Sammartino. The ultimate strength marks Hindu pushups lifts were 365lb/165kg press, 275lb/124kg snatch and 380lb/172kg and! A lot of people did, and clean and jerk, I work out there because I think endurance., another 5 sets of 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum.. Day we had a second reign as champion from 1973-1977, during which he wrestled as tag... Workout regularly with Arnold Schwarzenegger say, too, that I was pretty good lifter my... Repetitions all the members came over to watch this strongman do his thing alongside Bruno in basement! With his 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all the members came over to watch this strongman his! Further training under Andre Bollet, officially making his debut in 1961 wrestled old heroes... Sad, wrestling demands a different kind of power than weight training legend, Bruno Sammartino.JOIN us hit! ) made a short review of this sort of trouble since I 've given them up I 've I... And better than most up but also most important to him was his endurance squats 100... Of the Greek community in Pittsburgh told us that he trained, the bigger he grew, and and...

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