FRED ROLLON! THE MAN THAT NEVER LIFTED A WEIGHT! BRONZE ERA STRONGMAN

[@AlteredState1123]

The conditioning of gymnasts and the resulting physiques, in my mind, impresses me far more than that of weightlifters. They have trained their connective tissues as well as their muscles for performance. I lift some, but I consider myself just a lazy person compared to gymnasts.

[@aaronwylie6928]

Gymnasts are insane

[@MrAlepedroza]

Depending on the technique, lifting weights is also a performance, mate.

[@chickentwisties2298]

Genetics...

[@davidpowers9178]

da fk do you think lifting weights do? of course it trains your connective tissues it also helps bones as well as a whole host of other benefits. of course you need to do your cardio too.

[@AlteredState1123]

Let’s keep it clean. I didn’t say lifting didn’t do these things. The stresses on your connective tissues from some activities (plyometrics, for example) far exceed those of your average lifting session.

[@alanduncan9204]

The difference with expanders - especially steel springs - is that the tension never goes. Lifting a weight can end with a locked position and the weight no longer requires muscles to hold it up but skeletal balance. I started with chest expanders with 20 lb springs that held 5 springs. I could bench press well above my body weight but it took a long time before I could just stand upright and force the 100 pound tension across my chest. I still have the set and I think I will go dig them out and start using them again.

[@JayLoc0042]

Where do you find those chest expanders? I'd like to start implementing them in my martial arts practice. Thanks in advance!

[@christiangonzolaz5797]

@@JayLoc0042 holy shit I was thinking of the same thing.

[@andsch0172]

You are right. Permanent maximum muscle tension without releasing while doing a set is much more efficient. You can do it with expanders (I started as teenager with the expander of my uncle, did some weight and ended up with calisthenics) , calisthenics or with weights, the technique is the determining factor. Doing 10 reps with a movement range of 5cm with maximum tension is burning mor then 100 reps in CrossFit, or whatever this Mr Bean exercise is called The effective buildup of strength is phenomenal and you need a fraction of time for training. Before my accident, wich disabled me, I did 3-4 times per week (always get a free day that the muscles can build up); my protein came only from eggs, tuna, cottage cheese and milk) 30-45min (without warmup and stretching after) and got 10% body fat on 175cm and 84kg. You feel like you can do anything anytime without getting tired

[@luchalujano2729]

I'm down, let's get us some of them springs, bros.

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

Weights with bands attached also work, at least in studies. Not sure how you'd do that at home, though?

[@quintenhuggins2142]

I didn’t put to much faith in resistance bands until I had a bad accident a few years back. On the road to recovery physical therapy made me a believer in the benefits of band training. I, for one, believe his claim. The muscles and the body know time and tension, regardless of what tool is being used

[@rachidtoumi5075]

Time and tension 👌🏼 that exactly what matters

[@agnidas5816]

it was a gimmick to sell chest expanders. 100% Guy was even smaller than other strongmen - but due to his super short bicep attachment it looks like he has more muscle than a runner. early example of using looks to sell fitness products

[@Mr_Originality]

@@agnidas5816 you don’t know what you’re talking about my guy.

[@seraphx26]

@@agnidas5816 Chest expanders work so I'm not sure what your point is.

[@andrewbarker7281]

Pullies an resistance bands are superb

[@bobdobric6787]

Absolutely love the old strongman videos , i find them way more inspiring than any new age video due to the fact that it strongly emphasises that great chiselled bodies can be achieved naturally !

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Thank you, it seems the audience likes them too....especially during these times

[@James-qu6ul]

IT was a different time. People on average today, have way less fit starting points. They have way less of an active background growing up and I believe less testosterone. I think the percentage of people who could actually achieve these bodies in modern times without roids, is significantly less than it was back then. The average man, was a strong, lean machine back then, not a lazy useless fattie.

[@bobdobric6787]

@@James-qu6ul it was definitely a different time way back then but even back 30 - 40 years ago Men were physically better off . My father who was just a tradesman back then only dabbled with weights 6 months here and there over his whole life i remember when i was a kid i would always ask him to do hand stands and he would do them with ease and walk around on hands no problem .

[@sh-hg4eg]

Yeah but worth remembering that Testosterone levels back then were naturally much higher than today. We've saturated our environment in oestrogen mimicking chemicals.

[@MrLanternland]

i have a photo of my father walking on his hands when he was a young man. i am much bigger and more muscular than he was but i could never do what he did.

[@NBDYSPCL]

The bulk of my routine uses what are essentially resistance bands and cables. So its heartening to see what kind of results i can get from this kind of resistance. I'm a homebody and only have 50kg in plates. But my cable multigym can go up to 100kg in resistance.

[@bentnissen]

I have bands too, but I only use my multigym

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Looking forward to your results

[@chrismiksworld]

I am a Homebody too. Don't like going out too much. I used to be in decent shape and in amazing condition, but have let myself go for a decade now and it is tough to start again mainly because my nervous system has weakened so much from being so stagnated through the past years, so as soon as I start anything intense I get that shakey queazy feeling that back when I was in shape only happened when I Pushed myself INSANELY Hard for a long time and still I did not feel quite like I do now. Slowly but surely I will get myself back into good shape and condition. Starting slow and easy focusing on health and aerobic exercises but I will get back to where I can push my body hard again with some Good anaerobic exercise. I really do enjoy the old-timey strongmen and their style of lifting something I will look into more for myself as well.

[@skeletorrobo]

@@chrismiksworld resistance bands really thin. Day by day you'll feel better and up the resistance.

[@kellykizer6718]

It's about progressive resistance the resistance can come in any form body weight, free weights,machines, band's it doesn't matter resistance is resistance the muscles don't know, there's just a demand that is placed on them and as long as you give them the rest and nutrition they need they will respond to the stimulation.

[@obinnaihenacho5424]

As a Trainer I used chest expanders and kettlebells exclusively during 2020's Lockdown. These Old school tools gave me a better looking physique than i had while training at the gym. Bronze Era training principles and techniques were effective. In some ways even more effective than todays training practices.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Awesome 👌

[@fitlifestylebiggainz]

Was you at your strongest with the kettleball training?

[@richardlawson6787]

I'll go further...I only do pullups...dips...pushups... situps...and I get compliments all the time on my muscles...don't take creatine...protein...steroids...nothing...

[@folksurvival]

@@richardlawson6787 Why don't you do anything for the lower body?

[@richardlawson6787]

@@folksurvival good question...for legs I bycycle....my legs look very muscular from riding it....here's the facts...everybody thinks I live at gold's gym but here's my routine....every other day I do either chins or pullups immediately followed by a set of pushups or dips...it's important to always attempt a new record amount of reps to keep it progressive...show me someone who can do twenty chins vs someone who can only do three and I'll show you someone much stronger and muscular...so just do those two exercises plus situps for an entire upper body workout...if you don't have a bike do free weight squats or lunges...if you weight 175 lbs then that's the weight your squatting....I've done barbells and dumbbells for ten sets with little results but calisthenics done every other day has me looking like Mr.universe

[@arthurblackhistoric]

There was an even more impressive physique in the year 1900, and that was Staff-Sergeant Alfred Moss, the British army's physical education and unarmed combat instructor. His upper body was the equal of anyone from the heyday of bodybuilding in the 1960s. In the one of only a couple of photos that have survived he actually looks more impressive than Chuck Sipes! He was an Olympic-level gymnast and also a master in the use of Indian Clubs. I have no doubt that it was his gymnastic training that developed him so massively. He actually entered one of the physique competitions around the turn of the 20th Century but he was heavily marked down because he had tattoos. The written report from that competition said that Staff-Sergeant Moss had twice as much muscle size as anyone else in the room! He was like the Donald Bradman of bodybuilding back then. When I bought my Indian Clubs, they came with a free wall chart, written by Alfred Moss and had a photo of him that was poorly chopped, but you can still see his phenomenal development. Like I previously stated: More impressive than Chuck Sipes!

[@FrogmortonHotchkiss]

Drugs aside, it's mostly just genes and progressive overload. A lot of the debates over other details are of marginal importance, if any, to most people. When I hear of some freak who used Method X, I don't think Method X is better than others; I just see it as more evidence of the genetic bell curve at work regardless of training methods.

[@rickharris275]

@@FrogmortonHotchkiss you are not going to get the respect you deserve. These genetic freaks of nature exist, whether they work out and diet or not, they'll look phenomenal and above everyone regardless

[@mossy642]

And then people go on the internet and say ‘resistance bands can’t build muscle’. Resistance is resistance. That is all.

[@genek64]

Fred Rollen and all these early bodybuilders/strongmen are beyond impressive. One of the others whose strength and muscularity that blows me away is Otto Arco.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Video coming up on Otto Arco

[@loulopez554]

This is possibly my favorite video you have put out,many thanks.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Thanks

[@stind1299]

I remember seeing an interview with Ed Coan and how when he was a child he worked the hell out of his muscles using only spring resistance. It must have set him up well for his powerlifting days. I think the use of spring based resistance works the sinews better than weights do. Rollon is an amazing specimen and as a result of your video I have dug my chest expander out.

[@joeschmo2693]

Little known fact: he was also the inventor of modern deodorant.

[@theraspful]

Clever😂

[@InTimeWithTheBeat]

Well done 😄

[@dr.options]

That's a common misconception. The inventor was actually Fred's Uncle, Max Rollon.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Lol 😆

[@theraspful]

Heard he had a brother whose nickname was “Ultra”😂

[@jswong8200]

I think it's quite likely he accomplished those gains with just rubber bands and cables, especially if he used them in gymnast-like routines with slow reps and holding isometric poses. I remember gaining significant posterior deltoid and tricep strength and mass during my late-teenage years just by doing fully-extended static holds with my chest expander.

[@fast6232]

These old schooler strong men/body builders look like their muscles are stronger and denser than steel

[@hmldjr]

Denser yes and their density makes them harder and stronger.- good observation

[@freelanceservices8704]

Why were they denser?

[@hmldjr]

@@freelanceservices8704 The cooling process would make the molecules compact closer- I was talking about steel. For humans eat alot of protein. a lot of rest and low reps higher weight.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Yep, amazing physiques

[@modela6301]

This Channel is a treasure of information 🙏☺️

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

It is isn't

[@modela6301]

@@GoldenEraBookworm the Indian book of bodybuilding by gosh brothers is something i did for a month and i think i can now understand why science matters 😎🙏🙏thank you guys for the knowledge

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

@@modela6301 your welcome

[@hou942]

People can say whatever they want but my best friend growing up had insane genetics. Naturally cut, muscular and bicep peaks like hardballs, was always jealous at the time of what he was blessed with, cheers.

[@bambambam9572]

I got a hernia about a year ago and had to put down the heavy weights for a few months before my surgery and a couple months after my surgery. I did squats push ups cable squeeze light dumbbell overhead press and pull ups everyday Seems to me that heavy weight is easy to break down your muscles but then not give it enough time to heal and grow so reps and reps and reps and static holds seems to do the trick for me Just have to do it all the time. I look and feel better.

[@earlj.d.6285]

Fact: The weights lifted him Iron truly does sharpen iron

[@sfyrisvasileios7799]

I have stumbled upon some very old chest expanders that strongmen/wrestlers used in Greece back in the 1960s. These guys were something like Rollon giving shows, wrestling and performing feats of strenght (trucks going over them, tearing decks etc.) Needless to say those things are not cables like the ones in modern gyms, they are hard and thick springs that require huge force in order to stretch whilst pushing grip strenght to its max. If someone is to tie them somewhere and do rows, step on them and do curls etc. they can train perfectly without weights. Only disadvantage is that over time they become loose and have to be replaced.

[@myronullman4283]

And to think it's taken people all these years to realize you can build a great physique with just bull workers, chest expanders and resistance bands and bodyweight exercises...

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Realise? They forgot the roots of the sport...I'm here to remind them

[@theraspful]

@@GoldenEraBookworm people want instant gratification and not have to work for it They want their “egos” stroked

[@markcrisp07]

Many still haven't.

[@theraspful]

@@GoldenEraBookworm a lot of peoples e the belief that everything started with Arnold They have no clue about the roots

[@mertcakc4305]

Leg?

[@speedvr829]

No junk food in 1905.

[@LevurfLevurf]

Yes there was 😂 cakes and pastries have been around a long time.

[@IntegraDIY]

Would’ve been cool if there was actual documented exercises he did, and actual workout routine! This is pretty amazing, with elastic bands only!

[@extrasmack]

Excellent post as usual, Carlos! Rollon was indeed a specimen and role model. I'd be curious if any of his training routines/methods survived. Another strand pulling great was Alfred Danks. Danks did compile his methodologies into a system and published several books on the subject in his lifetime. I read through a couple of them on the old Sandow Plus site while it was operational. It would be interesting to compare Danks' and Rollon's methods. Both built impressive physiques purportedly using cables exclusively.

[@othelloferrari6942]

I read that actor Charles Bronson trained with cables.

[@stevenolove]

I quit the gym over lockdown and bought very basic equipment, cables, light dumbells and chin up bar etc… and I’m in better shape now than I was in the gym cos having such little equipment has brought out creativeness in my workouts and it varies all the time. That is the key 🔑

[@ENGRAINING]

constant tension is a hugely underrated property of cables and band, no better way to overload a movement the same all the way throughout! with free weights we're constrained by gravity!

[@chaosdweller]

Yer name is catchy and funny lol!

[@markcrisp07]

Yeah i got my best physique doing static holds....

[@ENGRAINING]

@@markcrisp07 which ones

[@stun1zng267]

A brilliantly made video. I had never heard of this gentleman until now. I had trained with weight for years (+15) and over the last 10 years weaned off weights abd just exclusively train with resistance bands, from very this to very thick (heavy) resistance. And my exercises vary from many angles safely. Now I'm a few years away from turning 50, I don't mind saying, my physique and training is on par (at least) with younger guys training with weights, and though I am aging, it has helped that I have not given up training since the mid 90s. I hope many people find the same joy I take in resistance training for many years

[@VinnieSajan]

This guy's my dream. Strong, light weight, ripped.

[@retrobilly1719]

Resistance is Resistance the Muscle can’t differentiate,the Cables give constant tension too

[@tylerbrass4002]

Good stuff, I started out about a year ago (Not my first time working out, but that was when I got consistent again) with just a barbell, some leg weights, and body weight exercises. I bought some DBs, pull up bar, and a bench, which helped a lot. But recently I bought some more plates/weight, and I also picked up a set of resistance bands, from 10lbs-150lbs of tension depending on the bands used, and I think it has really taken my training to the next level, you get a great contraction, and consistent resistance, even at the top of the rep, which is great. I like to do band work after I do my heavier lifts, and it always burns me out. For example, today I did Biceps and back; So pull-ups, then chest supported barbell rows, then one arm banded rows. Shrugs in the middle. Then DB curls, followed by Barbell curls, followed by banded curls. Great video btw, I subscribed. I'm not sure if I believe he NEVER did any weight training, but I'm sure you could build a good physique with only Cables/bands/chest expanders etc.

[@piotrproszewski3977]

Almost lost my eye when resistance band snap while face pull,spend week in hospital . Expander is way better and work different.

[@mattnobrega6621]

Absolutely amazing. Proves you don't need alot of equipment to gain alot of muscle

[@daveouterspace]

The best part of these bronze era pics is these guys still look normal . No bubble guts , synthol arms or surgery.

[@budgetking2591]

imo its the best look, better then mr olympia contenders

[@TheChenchen]

To be sincerely honest in my humble opinion without being sentimental and of course, without offending anyone who thinks differently from my opinion but rather looking into this serious matter with perspective distinction and without condemning anyone's point of view, I honestly think and believe that I have nothing to say.

[@theboombapkingdom8628]

Building lean and thick muscle is definitely a result of training with some form of resistance whether that be with body weight, resistance bands, or weights. Obviously these guys with their impressive physiques did not have access to the myriad of supplements and PED's that are on the market today. I would be more interested in what these guys were eating on a daily basis. Training AND diet get results. You know the saying; "It's 10% training and 90% diet." In these days they did not have foods loaded with antibiotics, steroids, etc. Is there any documentation on the diet these guys were using in those days? I think that would make a great video. Thanks for the content. Keep up the good work!

[@FerociousMatti]

Ah YES... The G.O.A.T. of Chest Expander Training, by FAR! And also ONE of my ALL-TIME Favourite LEGIT Oldetime Strongman as well! Interestingly & cool enuff though, since I've been focusing & concentrating like crazy on HEAVY Duty Chest Expanders in my OWN Ferocious & Hardcore to the Bone Training as well, my Back Development started to resemble that of Comrade Fred over here, big time! I definitely digg it! 😎💪👊✊️⚔️🔥

[@srimayahooper4638]

CHARLES ATLAS WAS NO SLOUCH EITHER, HIS DYNAMIC TENSION GAVE YOU INSTANT RESULTS!!!

[@YungJuve]

Weighted stretch has been shown to be a very effective tool for hypertrophy. I see someone else mentioning gymnasts, and this is essentially what they do just by doing a lot of their training movements (like the iron cross, which is a whole body movement, but for biceps specifically, it is indeed a weighted stretch). With an implement like those chest expanders, you are training the concentric, the eccentric, and the weighted stretch at the end range of motion. A fantastic tool, really.

[@tomlucasrccrawlers9108]

Sweet. I have a full set of Expanders I got from John Wood many years ago. We use them often....usually with Chest , Delts and triceps and occasionally on biceps.

[@talibe801]

I meet John Wood in Jersey back in 1978..i was a teenager that started training 1 year before,and i was impressed with his muscular development.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

Does it matter if he lifted lumps of cast iron or bags of sand or pulled on rubber strands? Resistance training is resistance training look at the bow flex of body elastic as examples.

[@christopherwinrow3878]

Brilliant video mate respect YNWA brother

[@Mijoha7]

Any theories as to why the bronze era guys were more ripped than the silver era? Sure the silver era guys were bigger and bulkier, but these bronze era bodybuilders were ripped to the bone.

[@bingolevel4846]

more mass, more difficult to be ripped. simple. bronze era guys were smaller, but more ripped.

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Silver era guys ate more

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

Less food. Earlier concept of fitness, probably emphasizing endurance over size. Evolving photo technology too, with the first use of flash powder late in the 19th century. That primitive lighting probably highlighted musculature like crazy.

[@allwillberevealed777]

Less sugar? Also, didn't their foods have more vitamins and minerals compared to our food today?

[@BottleDeposit]

Perhaps, the sheer amount of volume involved in a lot of their exercise routines could be a factor. You get stronger by increasing the body's ability to overcome physical resistance, whether by weights, springs, etc. It's also the reason why seasoned grip athletes have almost unrealistic looking forearms despite being natural

[@jimjacob5482]

I believe that he could, in fact, develop this type of physique with just cable or pulley resistance. For the last two years, as I trudge through middle age, I have stopped using maximum poundage and using full range of motion, for workouts that stress "mind- muscle connection" and "time under tension" principles. I started training my arms mainly with cables when I realized the cables kept each repetition under tension throughout the entire movement. I do believe he achieved this in that manner, and although his physique was fantastic, it looked like it was very "realistic, perhaps a "48 inch" chest and "15 or 16" inch arms.

[@eventu08]

Yes , he build without using barbells and dumbells .. He used Smith Machines, rowed, ran, swim ,pulled train carts ect. ( still is resistance exercises) ..At one time used ketels .. I red all that in library years when i was researching on training methods for self applications.

[@ted1045]

Having used a chest expander the past few weeks I'm already seeing improvements in my shoulders, upper back, biceps, triceps, and strength in my core to a fair degree. I was able to get an all steel one and a rubber one with the former having 154 pounds of resistance and the latter around 264 pounds of resistance. Training with the things has been exhausting and very, very challenging. I only wish I had had them during the 2020 pandemic. I could have made some serious gains. I believe his claims 100 percent.

[@These-nutz]

Studies show that men's testosterone levels have been declining for decades. The most prominent, a 2007 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, revealed a “substantial” drop in U.S. men's testosterone levels since the 1980s, with average levels declining by about 1% per year.

[@perrycollier931]

Reminds me of a book by Dr. John Jaquish: “Weight Lifting is a Waste of Time”.

[@richardgithens1960]

Love this channel!!!

[@riccardozorn1822]

Bronze and silver era is the real shit. I fuggin love it!

[@cincocentcc7280]

Dope history on body building good work!

[@saragabriel4224]

Thought: The food, back then, was more nutrient dense. Also, environmental toxins/contamination and estrogen exposure, was much (much) less. In general, natural testosterone levels were much higher.

[@prinzeugen4734]

Facts, and we are not talking trace amounts. He had 300% more testosterone than a modern man. Probably also had 200 or 250 grams of protein a day. Huge amounts of bulk minerals and vitamin B from raw milk and raw eggs. Our environment is toxic. However we must do our best regardless.

[@lecobra418]

What builds muscles? Time under tension. What give the better time under tension? Springs. What portion of "traditional" weight lifting is overlooked? The negatives. A chest expander demands force to be opened, force to be held open, and force to retract it. The force demanded is linear, it becomes harder throughout the movement up until full ROM then it becomes easier throughout the negative portion, the tension is never released throughout the entirety of the rep. The only problem with chest expanders are that few companies (actually only Baraban's company) are selling really strong chest expander. But, if you're one crafty individual you can basically build a stronger set of chest expander on your own. I think the captain of crush hand devices are great to build some insane grip along with those rollers thingy with weight, I built one myself with a really thick piece of wood (better for grip) and the concept is similar, a continuous and linear time under tension with a weight hanging from a rope that has to go up and down. Also, I'm sure power twister are great for chest, but you have to get some heavy one to get a good training, or, even better (but these are really expensive) a "chest Krusher", with seems to be the endboss of all springs focused exercise, it's basically a power twister (or a humongous nuts crusher) with up to seven short, and really heavy, springs. I'm rethinking my workout, KB swings are the best of both world regarding low impact cardio and resistance training, springs centered devices seem to be the way to go as they represent a perfect mix of continuous time under tension (both concentric and eccentric), but also isometric contraction if wanted. Once again, the modern age bring solutions to problems we didn't had and created more problems than we had in the first place that have to be addressed by looking back in the mirror to see how things were done before the snake oil salesmen came into that town called "western world". Cheers.

[@XPLOSIVization]

The guy was a legend and figured out isometrics win every time imo

[@steeping]

Would love to see a video on Manohar Aich, aka India's Pocket Hercules. Extremely impressive physique, and one of the oldest serious bodybuilders that has ever lived.

[@Kside22]

Great video sir. Drew Baye have done some amazing training with only machines..... I know his newschool

[@gardnert1]

Been watching your channel for a while and love it. Unfortunately for me, I recently learned I have some wacly diseases which are probably going to be unable to lift weights again. So I'm glad to learn about these alternatives like muscle control. I'd love to learn more about it and the programming involved.

[@Smilejustsmilebby]

Just discovered this type of stuff and it is very interesting and inspiring(the natural bronze era athletes)

[@c.galindo9639]

Neato. That’s some good knowledge to see. It’s interesting how many eras have so much to learn from but it isn’t as widely emphasized due to the commercial norm of how people just want to bulk up instead of actually exercise their bodies

[@MrGerrards23]

I should think that alot of these guys worked at manual labour jobs of some kind which would have helped build their physical body to a point I have done manula labour myself and it has helped.

[@madalinarusanu442]

Its so interesting all the information you give , from sooo long agoo like newspaper articles, photographs, i like the source you are using but is it reliable?

[@martinchristian7270]

Yes. As long as you have some kind of resistance your body will respond with growth.

[@Khattab99]

History is always interesting.

[@marcosdiaz2717]

I agree.. push yourself hard.. just go all out with dumbells, barbells, cables and go for a enjoyable jog, in the morning

[@stevepick9527]

That is truly impressive! He had to have been 5% or less body fat to have striations like that. It looks like he might’ve done pull ups along with the cables due to that development in his back. Really amazing!

[@markcrisp07]

Possibly upto about 8%...BUT regardless he was ultra lean. AND that is much harder to achieve then lifting weights.

[@kamikamen_official]

He was not 5%. 5% is not a livable bodyfat level.

[@mightynathaniel5355]

I have used his training methods and had fun doing them and performing them in parts of my oldtime strong man entertainment live shows. Tension and resistance training while doing work is what gets strong results, it isn't just about what we call weight.

[@REPSDirect]

Any kind of resistance training delivers results so long as the resistance is progressively increased, even something as elementary as adding stones to a pail used to lift over the head, curl, row, et al.

[@salxonico]

Calisthenics as resistance training and cables.

[@budekins542]

The million dollar question is. .did he use chest expanders and resistance cables ONLY during that 1905 period or was he using dumbbells as well by that time. .

[@The_Wandering_Nerd]

I trained a lot with chest expanders when I was younger, but I kept getting my chest hair caught in the springs :(

[@panoslianos7312]

It hurts

[@MonstroLab]

I always wear a sweater for this reason. Theres a guy wrote a strand pulling book he's wearing a sweater in all his pics

[@Ve-suvius]

Interesting person for sure. Just like Bobby Pandour.

[@jaz_ok]

Yes to everything said , yet we must remember he was a Genetic freak and would build large muscle by merely looking at weights, like all the 5% genetic freaks of the world .

[@austinclarke2514]

Lot of the gymnast are in great shape without lifting weights. Using the rings and pommel horse would do that.

[@nasuh_won]

would be amazing to hear him explain the technique of his mastery

[@danstafford5977]

Charles Atlas claimed he never used weights but that was a lie... however his Dynamic tension courses had Merit... so the lawsuit against him was dismissed!

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

This is truth

[@ELRenigeyoGarciaMonteCarlo]

Nice

[@Gh0stdawg70]

Fred is shredded

[@chrisvig123]

The body responds to resistance…doesn’t matter what the method is. And of course every individual responds differently…there is no magic here 😯

[@derekfrost8991]

I changed from weights to bands, although I still use weights to warm up.. :)

[@budgetking2591]

wow thats crazy look at those shoulders aswell

[@dltguitar6532]

Some heavyweight boxers also had tremendous physiques while claiming to have never lifted weights. Examples Ken Norton, Mike Weaver and Mike Tyson. However , there is the possibility they are lying or used steroids in conjunction with boxing training which would build some muscle. Hitting heavy bags, pull ups, push ups, ab work etc. Also the possibility that these men were genetically gifted. Nevertheless a fascinating subject

[@wilw3498]

Um mike went to the gym for the hooyfield fight lmao

[@gharm9129]

@@wilw3498 and he lost. What's your point? There's training logs of Tyson you can see that showed that OP is correct.

[@titansfitness3393]

Dude Mike Tyson was 190lbs jacked when he was 13 years old...

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

at 2:30 that Tarzan guy in the lower right looks perfect body builder.

[@artursrikmanis]

Spectacular men!

[@lawdog369]

It seems possible because of all the time under tension he had training similar to gymnasts.

[@brendanthebdog]

These guys had tendons and muscle fascia strength that some of us are just starting to comprehend. Not a single one ever talks about bicep or pec tears due to their training. All of them have absolutely insane core muscles. I absolutely believe that isometric training built these kind of physiques.

[@Dabshanks]

My grandfather was a farm boy and he was jacked and had no weights either it's amazing how these old school guys looked

[@folksurvival]

Men used to have much higher levels of natural testosterone.

[@DREDD.7356]

@@folksurvival natural food , no chemicals nor canned food.

[@danieledanny9625]

ahhhh incredible!!

[@Tbtc131]

Shredded back like that? Goals🙌🏾

[@GoldenEraBookworm]

Yep

[@fredazcarate4818]

My answer to your question is a resounding YES!

[@Battlefresh]

I am the strongest I have ever been in my life and I do not use weights. I used to go to the gym daily and use a combination of free weights and resistance machines. For the last 10 years I only do isometric workouts, push-ups and pull-ups. I have not benched in years, but my previous best was 5 reps of 285 lbs. I'm certain I could beat that today. My arms are 16" non-pumped and very little fat. I am still growing too and I only work out for 30 minutes a day. There is no reason not to believe Fred Rollon did this with chest expanders alone. I also believe some people are more genetically inclined for gains so I'm sure he was blessed from the start.

[@yeraycatalangaspar195]

I really like the "Bronze Age", as we can actually see what a healthy man can gain.

[@stray88]

I love strands. Used a chest expander/speargun tubing for years. They will give you sort of a lanky muscularity compared to weights. I gained 10 lbs in a month when I switched to a home barbell set Depends on what you are going for.

[@originsdecoded3508]

super impressive. the man put his hrs of hard work and became something not very common for his time or not seen at all. but you can never underestimate the fact that rubber bands or cables, or piles of dirt, or bags of water, or rock lifting, if you have enough volume for resistance, then it is weight training. so yeah, the dude worked out just like anyone else with a different method, but high load and volume just like other methods for muscle building.

[@inuyasha]

I believe it, I've used cables for arms an chest, and I have seen faster improvement than using free weight, though I still use free weight with cables

[@scottfredricey345]

Guess that's quite phenomenal. Using expanders and calisthenics does your body really well. One of the two days bodybuilders is Ron Williams also accuses no steroids that he does use weights. But he loves is expanded

[@elAfreet]

legend

[@MiggsMultiple]

There is always an emphasis on how important diet is and that it's responsible for most of our success/gains...Yet it never seems to get a mention

[@mrpikachu3154]

Taking notes

[@blueringoffire]

Awesomeness 💪

[@SilencedButNotForgotten]

I love the Bronze Era because it showcases what the human body can look like without PEDs or modern training, diet and knowledge. Just pure dedication, genetics and willpower.

[@mannyblackstar]

That's why I train hard and trying to eat well. 🙏🏻