New Years Eve Tearing

For the last workout of 2008, New Year's Eve, I thought I would tear 9 phonebooks to celebrate the coming of '09! Get ready everyone, BIG things are coming for the new year!

3/8" x 12" "S"pike

Last week I posted a 6" spike that I had bent into an "S" design. Early this morning I decided to attempt this style of bend with a 3/8" thick by 12" long steel spike as well. Shown in the photo is the 6" spike and a U.S. quarter for scale along with the 12"er.

The year is almost complete. There is not much left of 2008. Did you make this past year a productive one? Are you ready for the challenge of improving yourself in 2009? As great a year as it has been for me, I'm looking forward to conquering new challenges and advancing all the more in the coming 12 months. Now is the time to make that commitment to yourself!

Visiting Santa

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I thought I had better go see the jolly guy and let him know what's on my "wish list". What else, big shiny horseshoes - LOL!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

"S"pike Bending

My good friend and fellow strongman John McGrath sent me a few spikes recently and said "Can't wait to see what you do to them". I had thought about that for a little while and wanted to do something special for my friend. I decided that since I'm known for bending assorted items into an "S" shape like hammers and adjustable wrenches, why not a six inch spike? Here is the result, what do you think John?

Tragic...

The Joker had seen me coming, then he met a "tragic" end.

#4 Horseshoe Double Twisted

Here is a video post at the request of a private collector. What I have is a 1/4" x 3/4" # 4 polished steel horseshoe that I am bending into a double twisted "S".

This is just a "teaser" sample of what I have been filming for my upcoming first DVD release. Be sure to watch for it as filming is almost complete, I have some BIG feats on this project! You won't want to miss it!

Six Vertical Strips

I've been tearing a lot more phone books lately and tonight turned into a great workout. After my leg training routine I decided to do some tearing. The first book I grabbed ended up in four vertical strips. This went extremely well and I decided to see what I could get done in another book. After a few minutes the second book was in six vertical pieces.

Double Twist "Paperclip"

I was feeling good today and decided to have some fun with a horseshoe. I bent this solid steel horseshoe around two complete times before finishing it off with my signature "paperclip" move.

Bending A Big Bolt

As a traditional strongman, steel bending is one of the main things I do. In this clip I am transforming a 1/2" thick by 18" long, solid steel hex bolt into a "U" shape during a recent performance.

45 # Hub Lifting

About two years ago when I first started researching feats of strength, I read about these guys who could lift a 45 pound Olympic weight plate by the center hub. I thought that sounded like something I would like to attempt at some point. However training with all the other feats that I perform, this was put on the back burner so to speak. Recently I acquired some old school 45's that are similar to the ones the old timers would lift by the hub. After only having these plates in my possession for a few weeks, I am hub lifting these with each hand individually.

I believe that my training from the other feats I perform has carried over quite well into this specific exercise. Training is not one dimensional. When you dedicate yourself to improvement, all areas of your life should reap the rewards. Did you make an effort to better yourself today?

Being Unique In My Feats

This is something that I had thought about doing since I first started performing strength feats. I would ponder to myself, how cool would it be to bend/break a C-clamp?! A tool that is designed to hold other objects down under serious pressure. I don't know, I just think like that. I figured that since I can bend those big nasty draft shoes, why not. Plus I have never heard of anyone else ever attempting this.

This is one of those feats however, that I would strongly caution everyone against due to an extremely high danger of serious injury. When this clamp let loose, the sharp, jagged, broken edge actually sliced through the top of my pants and cut my leg. Not exactly a pleasant experience.

Are you stuck in a rut doing the same old thing? What things could you accomplish by thinking outside the box?

Tear 'Em All

While out doing some shopping I happened upon a pack of cards I had not previously seen. They had been labeled as "PRO", and as I really enjoy tearing a deck of every brand and style I come across, I had to get them. These were much stronger than the regular decks of the same brand, which are probably the most widely recognized deck of cards around. However they didn't have a chance...

Certified

IronMind has announced my certification, check it out!

http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/morenewsv6.php?id=2765#2765

Made It Official

Yesterday I travelled to Baltimore, Maryland, the location of Dan Cenidoza's Be-More Training facility. Dan was selected by Iron Mind Enterprises to be my witness / judge for my Red Nail certification attempt.

The Red Nail is one of the challenge based certifications offered by Iron Mind. Completion of this, under official conditions while adhering to a strict set of rules, will enable one to be added to a list of world class short steel benders. The Red Nail is a 5/16" thick by 7" long piece of cold rolled steel bar. The hands are protected with minimal padding, only a pair of Iron Minds pads which do NOT add additional leverage to the bar. Then, while using only the hands to contact the bar, it must be bent, un-braced, into a "U" shape in under 1 minute.

Becoming certified on the Red has been a goal of mine since I started a little over a year and a half ago. With hard work, determination, and perseverance - goals can be achieved. What training goals do you have? Are you willing to do what it takes to make them happen?

Hair Lifting

In the last post I mentioned some "intense lifting". Here it is. In the video above I have a loading pin and weights totaling 300 pounds. The apparatus is then connected to my hair via industrial steel cable and pad locked in place. Then I stand up with all the weight being focused on my scalp.

In case your wondering, yeah - it hurts!

Hair Feats

Inspired by "The Mighty Atom", I have been performing feats of strength involving my hair. I have lifted various objects, broken heavy steel chain, bent forged steel adjustable wrenches, bent steel bars, bent horseshoes, etc., while the item was attached to my hair. Feats of this nature require not only strong healthy hair and scalp, but also a very strong neck to handle the extreme stresses.

While we're on the subject of a strong neck, check out my friend Mike "The Machine" Bruce's instructional DVD on how to transform a "pencil neck" into a "pillar of power". http://dennisrogers.net/productview.php?uid=39

In the picture above there are a couple of full size horseshoes I bent with my hair this week at the end of a training session. These were the "cool down" as it were after some intense lifting. More on that coming soon...

Perspective

One of the things I really enjoy about doing scroll work is the diversity of every sculpture. Take this one for example. It began as three 20' lengths of straight, flat steel bar. Over the course of several hours I twisted, coiled, and bent the steel together into the form now seen.

Now lets take a look from a different angle. Looks completely different doesn't it? By slightly changing the way we look at things, a whole new vision is created. From a mass of twisted steel, to an abstract, yet more recognizable figure.



Now, how do you look at things? Are you seeing only the surface or forming your view from only one angle and ignoring the potential that is truly there? What could you accomplish with a slight shift in your outlook? What goals would move within reach from a small change in perspective? It can mean the difference between being stuck in the same old rut and achieving true happiness and success.

Grip It And Rip It

One of the first things I am usually asked after someone learns I am a professional strongman is "can you tear a phonebook?". Yes, I can. Inevitably, the second question is "what's the trick?". My response? I am a strongman NOT a magician. If you are interested in viewing tricks and illusions, you are talking to the wrong Chris.

Now, if your interested in REAL feats of strength performed by a proven professional strongman, your in the right place. As you can see in the video, I just grab the book, squeeze tight, and pull. No fancy technique, no dried out books. It's just like my Mentor says, you just "grip it and rip it".

Pay Pal Now Available

For those interested in making purchases, Pay Pal has now been added for your convenience. Thank you for your business!

New T-Shirts Are Available NOW!

They are here, in stock and ready to ship! Pre-shrunk, 100% cotton screen printed T's with full size front and back designs!

This two color design features a white "tribal" pattern overlayed in metallic silver with some of the implements I have become known for destroying - framing hammer, 12" spike, 12" adjustable wrench, and of course the # 5 draft horseshoe.

The front of the shirt features these items in the before stage, and on the back - AFTER...including my signature "S" hammer!

Show your love for the oldetime feats in this unique printed shirt. Sizes from Large through XXX-Large. $20.00 U.S. plus $5.00 U.S. shipping to the Continental United States via first class insured mail. Combined shipping on multiple orders available as well as international shipping quotes per request. At this time I am accepting postal money orders and Pay pal.



X-LARGE

XX-LARGE

XXX-LARGE

He Broke A What?

This morning I performed for a local community center. The crowd was great and we had a lot of fun. My presentation was a combination of the feats of olde such as horseshoe bending and even breaking a shoe, as well as some modern classics - which included wrench bending and pan rolling. I would like to say thank you to Deb for scheduling my appearance.

Are you looking for entertainment that your guests will never forget? If so, you can contact me at chris@strongmanchrisrider.com to schedule an appearance and witness first hand the art of the oldetime strongmen.

The Mark Of...

For some reason today, I was remembering watching the television show "Zorro" as a kid. Zorro would go around leaving his "mark" on nearly everything he came across. He would take his sword and carve a letter "Z" to show that he had been there.

This got me thinking, I wonder what a horseshoe would look like the shape of a "Z"? I decided enough thinking about this, it's time for action! I proceeded to grab a horseshoe and leave a "mark" of my own.

Notched

One of the more difficult card tears to complete is to rip a thumb sized chunk out of the side of a deck. This is referred to as notching. Not only does this require a strong squeeze from the entire hand to initiate the tears, but it also takes a very tight pinch to be able to remove the notch. Pictured is a top level name brand full deck of plastic coated playing cards that I notched.

What "Drives" You?

Ever heard the expression "You've only got one chance in life"? That is a great way to describe the feat of driving a nail by hand. Most people hesitate when given an opportunity...they "need to think about it". Alot of the time, that hesitation can cost the situation that was being presented.

At an auction for instance, if one were to stop and think about the item they had intended to purchase AFTER it was placed on the block, it may most likely be lost to another bidder. How about a drag racer? Would they sit at the line pondering the green light? Of course not - that is, if they wanted to win the race. The same applies to the way I perform this feat. There is NO holding back, NO hesitation, NO thinking about it. Set up, squeeze tight, swing hard, and SUCCESS!

Hesitation and holding back will do just that - hold one back.

Now what about you? What are you pondering? Is it starting that new diet, asking for that raise, beginning a fitness routine, searching for a new job, etc.? What is it that you want to accomplish? What "Drives" you?

Plate Confetti

After the blog entry made by Grandmaster Strongman Dennis Rogers, I was approached about doing another multiple tear license plate for a private collection. This is the end result. It is a Pa plate that I tore into 52 pieces. The smallest tears were completed by pinching with only the index fingers and thumbs, then by using a motion similar to the way I tear cards.

Driven

One of the feats of strength that has fascinated me since my youth is bare hand nail driving. Bare handed with the exception of a small piece of a rag that is placed in the palm. Stories and photographs of these great oldetime strongmen slamming a large nail though wood, sheet metal, license plates, plywood, and even frying pans with one mighty blow of their fist just completely defies logic.

Pictured is a thick board and a license plate that I drove a 4" long, 20 d nail completely through with one swing. How was I able to accomplish this? I guess one could say that I'm "driven" to succeed.

The Cork-screw Bolt

Today I decided to do something a little bit different with a large bolt. I put a cork-screw style twist in it. I accomplished this by bending the 1/2" x 18" hex head bolt in half over my thigh, then by pulling the halves in opposite directions similar to how I bend horseshoes. I finished it off by once again pushing the bolt down over my thigh.

Twisted Twice

I've been asked if I ever attempted to twist a horseshoe twice. Yes, I have done this several times. The end result is quite unique looking. I have named this bend of mine "The Horseshoe Shoe". What do you think - resemble a shoe?

Artistic Touch

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

A Few Tears

I have been getting a lot of questions recently about my card tearing so I thought I would post a quick video demonstration. All of the cards featured are plastic coated and are either new top retail brands or from popular casinos.

In my performances I have torn cards in a variety of ways: in front of me, into various designs (notch or corner), handcuffed, and even behind my back. For these tears you will see I use what is known as the overhand grip. As I discussed in a previous post this is basically the same way one would grasp a jar and take the lid off.

Sharing The Stage

I have been honoured to share the stage with many great strongmen over the past few months. One of these incredible strength performers in the man known as Mike "The Machine" Bruce. Mike is widely accepted as possessing the worlds strongest neck. He routinely performs a seated neck lift in which a head harness is loaded to 300#'s and then lifted for numerous repetitions.

Recently Mike and I performed together in Texas at a few venues. The first of which is where this photo was taken. In the image you will see that I am pulling open a steel horseshoe measuring 1/4" thick by 3/4" wide size #3 across Mike's THROAT.

Training With The Grand Master

I just returned from training with Grand Master Strongman Dennis Rogers in Houston Texas. It was a very productive visit to say the least. Dennis set up a small training seminar for some of his students which I was fortunate to be a part of. Many great things were covered and accomplished by all those who were in attendance. Speaking of accomplishments, notice the 1/4" x 3/4" #3 steel horseshoe on the table in the picture? I bent that particular shoe across the throat of my friend Mike "The Machine" Bruce, that's right - across his THROAT.

You will also notice the very large horseshoe I am holding while sitting beside my mentor Dennis Rogers. It is a Diamond Special #5 steel horseshoe that I bent into an "S" shape the previous evening. This is an extremely difficult feat to perform and have been told that only one other man in the world is credited with accomplishing this bend in the style I performed it.

Open End Wrenches

In addition to bending adjustable wrenches, I also perform with open end wrenches. These wrenches are unpredictable, sometimes they bend and sometimes they break very violently. When they do break, everyone nearby knows it as a loud SNAP is produced. Pictured is a complete set of top brand open end wrenches that I have bent, along with one I broke of the same brand in the 11/16" x 5/8" size.

A Visit to New Jersey

I recently visited with my friend Greg Matonick in New Jersey. Greg has been performing feats of strength for several decades and has been named "New Jersey's Superman" by ABC News. While there, one of the many feats performed was the tearing of a license plate. Check out the video above to see me in action.

Thoughts From The Grand Master

This is a link to a blog entry by Grand Master Strongman
Dennis Rogers in reference to some of my feats.

http://dennisrogers.net/blog.php?id=158

For those of you who don't know, Dennis is the #1 professional strongman in the world, multiple world record holder, has been named "pound for pound the worlds strongest man for the feats he performs", and he is my mentor.

Rolling A Frying Pan

In the mid 1990's, Grand Master Strongman Dennis Rogers introduced the feat of rolling up a frying pan. Now I mean REAL frying pans, not bargain store junk - and I mean ROLLING.

To accomplish this, it not only requires very strong wrists to initiate the roll, it also takes a powerful grip to hold on to the slick non-stick surface.

Notice how tightly the 10" name brand pan pictured is rolled. This is one of the many feats I have learned from the Grand Master himself.

Plastic Coated Playing Cards

Tearing decks of playing cards has been associated with the strongman for quite some time. In the old days the decks were made of paper and several performers were credited with tearing multiple decks at the same time.

Most of today's decks are made of a tough paper also, however, the cards are covered with a PLASTIC coating. The plastic makes the cards of today more durable, slippery, pliable, and just down right tough.

I use what is known as the overhand tear. This is basically the same motion as taking the lid off of a jar. It takes a strong grip to squeeze the cards tight enough to prevent them from slipping. The wrists are then called upon to generate a tremendous shearing motion to successfully tear the cards. In addition, the hands must be tough enough to resist being cut by the sharp plastic edge as it is torqued into the skin.

Pictured is a popular name brand deck that I tore in half in just a few seconds.

Adjustable Wrenches

The bending of an adjustable wrench requires powerful hands and wrists, tough palms, and extremely strong thumbs. You may be asking yourself why strong thumbs? Because after getting an initial bend by pushing down over my leg, the next step is to wrap the handle around my thumbs by twisting my wrists. Shown here are several sizes of adjustable wrenches I have bent in this manner. They are 8", 10", and 12" - all are drop forged steel.

Spike Bending...Un-braced

Among the most widely recognised feats of the Oldetime Strongman is the bending of a steel spike. There are many different sizes of spikes, the ones I am going to mention here are from left to right the 60d, 70d, and 8 inch log spike.

The standard strongman bend - the 60d. This spike has the dimensions of 1/4" thick by 6" long. It is the spike normally performed with both by the strongmen of old and the modern strongmen as well. The head and the point are wrapped in a piece of cloth, handkerchief, bandanna, small piece of supple suede, something to protect the hand without adding any additional leverage. The spike is then grasped tightly in the grip and bent with the strength of the hands and wrists. The hands do not make contact with the legs, abdomen, ground, floor, wall, or anything else that would aid in the bend. This is a demonstration of hand and wrist strength.

The 70d is a considerably larger spike that measures 5/16" thick by 7" long. The increase in length makes this spike more awkward than the 60d while the increased thickness makes it substantially harder to bend as well. Again, this is performed with a small but adequate amount of hand padding and UN-braced.

The 8" log spike shown is 5/16" thick twisted square stock measuring of course 8" long. Not only is this spike extremely strong it is quite a challenge to have enough flexibility coupled with enough strength to bend it in an UN-braced manner.

There are several other large spikes that are used in the strongman demonstrations as well, they typically measure 3/8" thick by 10" or 12" in length and are bent by pushing down over the thigh or hip. That is a style known as braced and will be a topic for another day.

Tearing License Plates

Another great oldetime feat is legitimately tearing a license plate in half. By legitimately I am referring to a plate that has not been altered by making a "notch" or a cut in the edge to be torn.

Pictured are a pair of plates that I tore at the same time, that's right, two plates together - torn at once. This particular pair were torn at the 25th reunion of the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen (A.O.B.S.) dinner on June 7, 2008 during "Slim The Hammerman" Farman's "Rising Stars of Strength" show. My presentation was concluded with the tearing of these plates, which were verified as unaltered immediately beforehand by several strength notables who were in attendance.

A Sculpture of Steel

I also practice a form of scroll work with long lengths of steel bar. The picture to the left shows a bar that began as a straight piece of 1/2" square steel at a length of 20 feet. Over a period of several hours I twisted, coiled, and bent this piece into the flowing work of art now seen.

Scrolling an "Odd Object"

Scrolling - multiple bends in the same piece of steel.

Odd Object - implement other than one traditionally used in a performance of oldetime feats.

One of the feats that I have become known for is the scrolling of a tool, in the case at hand, a framing hammer. This is an extremely difficult feat of strength due to many factors. First off, hammers are not supposed to be bent in this manner or even at all. They are tempered steel and are very tough. When putting the power to an implement of this type, the steel wants to "load" on itself like a giant flat spring. In addition to this, the bends are made in opposite directions. As one bend is being completed, precision needs to be applied as to not undo the other.

Another hindering factor is the length. The general thought is that the longer the object the greater the leverage. This is true, however when dealing with complex designs the increase in length also transfers into an increase in difficulty because of the distance from the bend to the hand and the ability to control the piece. Think of it this way, what is easier to hit a nail with? A hammer grasped near the head or grasped near the end of the handle? The farther away from the target area, the more difficult to control.

Pictured above is a 24 oz. tempered steel framing hammer. It's overall length was 15-3/4" prior to being scrolled.

An Oldetime Favorite - Bending Horseshoes

One of the greatest overall strength feats is the bending of a horseshoe. There are several styles that can be used in the performance of this feat, my personal favorite is the "push - pull" on the side of the leg. I feel that this is a more difficult technique and requires greater wrist and hand strength to be successful. I also like to perform a variation I came up with that does not use any bracing against other body parts, doing the bending while only making contact between my hands & wrists and the horseshoe. More on my un-braced horseshoe bends at another time.

There are several designs that can be made from the twisting of a horseshoe. One of the classic strongman designs was to bend the shoe to 180 degree's which will make an "S" shape. "The Mighty Atom" Joseph Greenstein, would make the "W" pattern in his shows. This was done by continuing past the 180 mark and bringing the "legs" of the shoe back around, thus resulting the pattern of an "W".

"The Human Vise" Pat Povilaitis created a design known as "The Horseshoe Heart". He has accomplished this by bending the horseshoe the entire way around and continuing on until the heels of the shoe are lined up in front of each other. This has become the standard design which is imitated by strongmen all over the world - myself included, as I have received instruction from this Master Strongman.

I mentioned in the previous post that I have some unique feats, this carries into the horseshoe design also. Looking to have something different in the realm of horseshoe bending, I began to do my own original design. I call this the "paper-clip". I continue to crush the shoe all the way down until the "legs" are parallel with the twist. Pictured is a 3/8" thick by 1" wide #5 steel horseshoe that I "paper-clipped". It is shown with a quarter for scale.

Getting Started

Welcome! You've found the blog of Oldetime Strongman Chris Rider. With this website I will be sharing with you some of the many oldetime feats of strength that I perform, along with some new feats that I have created to keep my shows fresh and original. I can be reached for questions and bookings at strongmanchrisrider@gmail.com . Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back often for some of the most unique feats of strength being performed today.