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...