Iron Samson – the strongest man of the Earth
Russia has always been famous strongman. Ivan Poddubnyi, Alexander Zaikin, Yakuba Chekhovskyi – these and other names of Russian warriors enthralled the audience at the beginning of last century, its complex power numbers. Later, in Soviet times, their fame continued weightlifters Vlasov, Zhabotinsky, Andrei Chemerkin and many others. All of them have truly heroic physique. But then, e-title «strong man of the Earth» in the last century has been awarded the very modest in size, Alexander Zass, known in the West as the Iron Samson. His height does not exceed 168 centimeters and weighs 80 kilograms.
Russian, not Soviet
Despite the phenomenal power tricks Sasse and popularity in the West in the Soviet Union before the 1980′s about him trying not to mention – to our athlete is not considered. His name you will not find in Soviet encyclopedias. Alexander Zass was born in 1888 in an ordinary Russian family. As a child he dreamed of becoming a circus artist and trained hard. And the dream came true – they took him to the circus. Until the First World War Zass performed with power numbers.
In 1914, Sasse called to serve in the cavalry regiment. In one battle athlete was injured and taken prisoner. Twice he tried unsuccessfully to escape. And only the third attempt Zass regained freedom. In Hungary, the famous circus impresario Pasolini proposed Sasse-illegals to change his name and enter into long-term contract. There was no choice – either shot, or a circus. After the war Zass toured the world with the power numbers and dressuroy. Life strongman ended in 1962 in the small town of Hockley for London.
Tricks of Zass
Many tricks Sasse so far and can not be anyone to repeat. He wore on stage piano with pianist and dancer, was situated on the lid, up from the floor and held in the teeth of a metal beam with sitting at the ends of her assistants; Ask shin of one leg in the noose of the rope, recorded under the dome, held in the teeth of a platform with a piano and pianist; lying naked on her back on board, spiked with nails, kept on his chest stone weighing 500 kilograms, in which volunteers from the audience was beaten with sledge hammers; assistant caught her hands, flew from the crater of a circus cannon and describing the scene on the 12-meter path. In addition to purely power tricks Zass excellently fought, literally breaking the professional wrestlers. Although the measure swords with him on the carpet by the power of wishing there was virtually no.
Phenomenal force Zass repeatedly demonstrated in life. Once during the war he was riding back from the intelligence and has a neutral territory came under enemy fire. The bullet wounded the horse, which fell and crushed the rider. Sasse, waiting for the darkness, had quit fighting each other, and, putting the horse on his shoulders, carried her a mile up the location of Russian troops.
Western publications in one voice recognized Sasse strongest man in the world:
The Daily Telegraph: «Lord, who calls himself Samson is the strongest man on earth. In this you can believe it, seeing as it binds iron rods in knots.
Manchester Guardian: «According to the ads, he is the strongest man on earth, and after, as we have seen it … this statement can be regarded as conclusive.»
Heritage of Zass
Unfortunately, the legacy of the Iron Samson in Russia is still very little studied. And it’s worth it, because he has achieved phenomenal results with no innate ability, and invented his methods of training, which decades later turned out to demand some weightlifting, intelligence personnel, athletes of different types of martial arts. Zass alone went so far as to what has long walked in the East, mastering the inner force of breath, and struck the West manifestation of an external force. Iron Samson without education is actually carried out the work of entire sport institutions.
Among the developments Sasse are three main things:
1. Breathing. Zass like yogis and soldiers of the eastern school paid great attention to the formulation of breath and even developed its own set of breathing exercises. Not by chance the British, is very sensitive and measures all millimeter noted that chest excursion (the difference of the circle in a state of inhalation and exhalation) is equal to 23 centimeters. Owning your own breathing allowed him to perform tricks that are masters of oriental martial arts do not even dreamed of. For example, during performances in England, he offered 25 pounds sterling (big money) to any interested person who punch in the stomach will be able to move it from place. Later Zass even perfected the trick – offered to beat wishing to have his foot.
2. Isometric exercises. Zass one of the first introduced in strength training, so-called isometric exercises, in which the force is applied either to a stationary or nearly immovable object. In the construction of power, he thought he was a primary development of tendons in which the muscles attach to bones: «I do not believe in big muscles, if there was not with them this great strength of tendons. You can see physical culture enthusiasts, has a very big muscles. But what is the use of them unless there is a strong base – developed tendons. For example, the biceps at the very Sasse by the standards of current bodybuilders and weightlifters was very modest – only 41 cm.
Zass developed several sets of isometric exercises with the chains on samosoprotivlenie, with bars and so on. Their uniqueness is not limited to, the fact that the training requires relatively little time – only 25-30 minutes including warm-ups. However, the performance of isometric exercises require uchitvat certain moments – the staging of breathing and concentration limit. While there are exercises at first glance quite simple. For example, you can try to bend fixtures straining its forces in 10-15 seconds or push the door jamb, or break the chain, etc.
3. An integrated approach. Developing strength, Zass however, much more than his contemporaries and current athletes worked head. During the years of training, he studied the great structure of the human body, biomechanics and physiology, allowing him to take a holistic approach that ensures maximum results. The combination of breathing, isometric and dynamic exercise, diet, sleep and rest allow the body to recover in a short time. This Zass trained with full vigor, downloading all the muscle groups, at least twice a day, which still affects athletes, because it is believed that a person for a full recovery should be from 24 to 48 hours.
During his lifetime Alexander Zass published several works on the development of the human body and each of them is worthy of detailed study. Perhaps future researchers will be opened in their other secrets of the Iron Samson and remains unsurpassed.
Октябрь 30 2009 12:44 пп | Без рубрики