Tearin' 'Em Up

I have been enjoying tearing all sorts of phone books from around the world, and thought I'd share a few of them here. This video opens up with me doing a "Grip-n-Rip" style tear ,Ala Dennis Rogers, LEFT handed. As one of my favorite movie quotes mentions, "no, I'm not left handed". LOL! After that is a series of right handed "G-n-R" tears with books from around the States and the world. Notice the clean, straight tear line in the book - a sign of legitimacy in tearing phone books.

Sometimes They Break

I've bent quite a number of this particular brand and style of hammer and they had all bent really nice...until this one.

Quartering A License Plate

Quartering a license plate the hard way.

More Phonebook Fun

A double tear on a 2-1/2" thick x 7" wide yellow pages.

Powerful Message

"Against the grain should be a way of life. What's worth the prize is always worth the fight." Powerful message right there, thanks Nickleback.

StrongMan Monogram

A pair of 1/2" x 23" hex bolts.

From A Filming Session

Here are a few of the feats I performed for a recent filming session in North Carolina with "Pound for pound the worlds strongest man" Dennis Rogers and Aaron "Mighty Mac" McKenzie.

The bolt on the left is 3/8" thick by 7-1/2" long and I bent this in a manner known as unbraced. Basically what this means is that the piece is bent only by the hands - no bracing on the legs or other objects.

The bolt on the right is 3/8" thick by 11" long and this time I performed what is known as braced bending where I pushed the bolt down over my thigh and then supported my wrists with my legs to do the final crush on the now "S" bolt with my hands.

In the center is a pair, yes a PAIR of #2 horseshoes. I duct taped them together and bent them with my hands while the shoes were braced against my leg. Once the two shoes were taped together they measured 5/8" wide by 5/8" thick. That was a fun bend for sure.

When the video footage of these bends is made available I'll post an update for where they can be seen.

Chris Rider, Dennis Rogers, and The Mighty Mac

Being a performing strongman I get to travel all over demonstrating my feats. This past weekend I went to North Carolina for a show with my mentor Dennis Rogers. While there we met up fellow strongman Aaron "Mighty Mac" McKenzie. After the show was over we went back to Mac's house to do some strength feat filming, I'll post a few of the things I did there in the next update.

I did want to mention for those who aren't familiar with Mac one of the many things he did. I had found some really nasty decks of Bicycle brand playing cards - actually they were the hardest "Bike's" I've ever come across. Well, I handed a deck to Mighty Mac and told him what they were and in no time at all he handed them back not only torn in half but torn into quarters. Dennis had named him the world's best card tearer last year and I fully agree! Great job my friend!

A Signature Feat Of Strength

Here I am performing one of my signature feats of strength at the 2009 A.O.B.S. strongman reunion. Barehanded bending a solid steel framing hammer into a “S” shape after the formal festivities were over. Commentary by “Stanless Steel”. Thanks for the video Dan Cenidoza.

"S"ocket Extension

Not too long ago I performed for my brothers 40th birthday party. Among the many items that I used in my demonstration was a socket extension bar. After the show we were talking about the different feats I had performed and my brother said how he thought one of those extensions would look really crazy in an "S" shape. Of course I agreed, and here's the result. What do you think Craig?

Something New

While out shopping yesterday I came across these 4" adjustable wrenches. Immediately I thought "that would look cool bent", so of course I had to get one. Notice how the wrench bent right on the end, that makes a lot more difficult when they do that.

Nasty Handful

These books are 2-1/4" thick while measuring only 5-7/8" across. They are a nasty handful to tear in half. Really fun books, thanks again Joy!

CHI USA Grand Opening

Thursday I was in Houston Texas performing with my mentor Dennis Rogers for the grand opening event at CHI USA. In this photo Dennis and I are standing with Farouk Shami, Founder and Executive Chairman of Farouk Systems, Inc.

It was great performing for the thousands in attendance at this special event. Thank you Dennis, John, and Farouk!

For The Scouts

Here I am getting ready to roll up a frying pan for the scouts at day camp.

F-911 Bolt

The following information is directly from the manufacturer of these bolts.

"In the past, 8640 alloy was used in the manufacturing of only the most critical Aerospace and other special High Strength requirements. Now everyone can have this Superior Quality and Strength, with the "Off The Shelf" F-911 Hex Cap Screws and at prices comparable to other so called "Grade 9" bolts. What does 8640 Alloy offer? For starters, up to 50% more Chromium content and the substantial addition of Nickel, the ingredient that makes this Alloy tough. With higher Rockwell Hardness that the F-911 specification requires to achieve an over 190,000 P.S.I. Tensile Strength average, only 8640 Alloy can reach these lofty goals with superiority."

They are most definitely, in my opinion, an extremely high quality and high strength piece of hardware - fun bend!

Nasty Little Phonebook

This book was particularly nasty to tear due to it being 2-1/4" thick and only 5-7/8" wide. I only had room for a couple of fingers of each hand on this book. That was a fun one!

3/8" x 7.5" Bolt "Short Bend"

I've been posting pictures of some of the bolts I've been bending lately and thought I'd put up a video to go with them. Here I am bending a 3/8" x 7.5" bolt with an overhand grip.

Fish Hook Bend

I've been having a lot of fun lately bending all sorts of different sizes and styles of bolts. Shown here is one that I bent a few minutes ago into the shape of a fish hook. The 1/2" x 18" hex head bolt is pictured with a 60 d (1/4" x 6") spike for comparison. Another nasty one for my collection.

A Few More Bolts

I stopped back in to visit my new friends at the hardware store and decided to wrap up a few more pieces and "have at it".

This assortment consists of 3/8" x 12" / 3/8 x 7.5" / 5/16" x 6" / 5/16" x 5.5" - all were bent unbraced at chest level with the exception of the 3/8" x 12" bolt.

Some Assorted Hardware

Earlier today I stopped in at a hardware store to follow up on some bolts they were locating for me. Among the things that I found there were these very strong F-911 Bolts, one is shown on the right side of the picture. I'll post more on that particular piece later. Also pictured are a 60 d that I crossed the ends on, a 1/4" hex bolt I bent into an "S", a 3/8" hex bolt as well as a big 1/2" thick bolt. Fun stuff for sure!

On Stage The Main Stage

On June 13, 2009 I was given a great honor of preforming on the main stage of the Association Of Oldetime Barbell And Strongmen's 26 Th reunion in Newark, New Jersey. This photo, taken by John Corlett, was captured just after I bent a 12" heavy duty adjustable wrench into a "U" shape as my opening feat.

A Message by George Carlin

This morning I received the following message in an email and thought I would share it with you all.

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ' I love you ' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?"

- George Carlin

A.O.B.S. 2009

This past weekend the Association of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen held it's 26Th reunion in Newark, New Jersey. This weekend had marked my third reunion, however this one was more special to me. After successfully attempting my first oldetime strength feat at the request of a friend in October of 2006, then seriously pursuing the training of the oldetime strongmen beginning in March of 2007, I'm still a bit of the "new guy" in this strength circle. Even with my relative newness into this arena, I was given a great honor - Performing on the main stage of the A.O.B.S. reunion! In the picture you can see the 12" heavy duty adjustable wrench I bent during my dinner performance for the 250 + in attendance, many being legends of the Iron game.

As is customary for the performing strongmen at this event, we get together in the lobby of the hotel after the formal festivities are over and we really let loose out there. In the picture is also a #3 polished steel horseshoe that I bent across the throat of Mike "The Machine" Bruce, and a 24 oz. framing hammer I bent into an "S" shape by hand.

I am very fortunate to have shared the same stage as some of the greatest strongmen of all time! For all the performers at this years event, you all did an outstanding job of showing the attendees what being a performing strongman is all about!

This just further shows that if you believe in yourself and apply all you have to your talents, anything is possible! As my friend Aaron "Mighty Mac" McKenzie likes to quote - "keep moving forward".

Special thanks to Artie Drechsler, The Legend - Slim "The Hammerman" Farman, and my mentor Dennis Rogers "pound for pound the world's strongest man" for giving me the opportunity to share in this tradition and to be a part of the legacy that is the A.O.B.S.!

Sometimes They Break

Things don't always go quite as planned. Take this pipe wrench for example, normally they will bend nicely and cooperate. Sometimes, however, the steel likes to fight back and make things more difficult. This particular wrench had been tempered a little more than normal and it barely bent before it broke in two.

Just like in anything, when you find yourself in a situation that isn't going how you anticipated or is harder than expected, set your head and dig down a little deeper. You might not end up where you thought you would, but isn't the journey as important as the destination?

Notch in the Crown's

Thought I'd tear a thumb sized notch out of the side of a deck of tough and nasty Gold Crown cards. Now that's fun!

Earlier today I came across a person who was at my performance on Saturday. She was very complimentary of my show and had a question for me. "How can you do the things you do?".

I told her the same thing I tell everyone, I believe I can. One of my favorite quotes is this, "whether you think you can or you think you can't - you're right". I'm not sure who said that but they nailed it!

Hello Mr. Kennedy.

Everywhere I went in Ireland I was surrounded by history. This is a memorial to JFK, whose great grandfather left Ireland to become a cooper in East Boston.

Well Said, Sir.

Ireland Post 2

Taking a few moments for some quiet reflection. Times like these are one of the keys to my success.

What a view, you can see the sea on the horizon about twenty miles out.

Ireland Post 1

I just returned from a series of performances in Ireland. Aside from the formal demonstrations and motivational talks I went there to deliver, I also did a bit of impromptu feats around the country.

After hiking up 1,500 feet and breaking for lunch, I thought this would be a good place to do a traditional feat of strength. With a 1,300 foot vertical rise in the background, I wrap up a 60 D spike (1/4" x 6") in only a thin bandanna and bend it around my index fingers.

Be sure to check back for more from this incredible voyage.

Sheared

Another way I like to tear phonebooks is with a shearing motion.

Interesting Spike

I'm always on the look out for new and different items for use in my training and shows. This spike fits right into that. It's made from a piece of 15-1/4" long 1/2" thick rebar. But it gets better, this isn't regular "run of the mill" rebar. This metal has a gray tone to it and felt much tougher than what you might find at a home improvement store at the same length. Plus it is very sharp, check out that chisel point. Ouch!

CR-V Socket Extension

This evening I went to a tool distributors store and was checking out all sorts of different items. While walking down one of the isles I spotted these extension bars for sockets. The one pictured (shown with an 8" adjustable wrench for scale) is labeled as CR-V steel and is just shy of 1/2" diameter by 17-5/8" long. That thing was nasty.

1,664 Pages

Yesterday I received a call inquiring if I was interested in some 2" thick directories. ABSOLUTELY! These books are fun!

A Piece Of History

Yesterday I visited with a friend of mine, artist and strongman Tom Hermansader. Tom's father was also an artist, in fact his father painted a famous portrait of the Mighty Atom. It is always great to hear more first hand accounts of the Atom from those who knew him. Tom shared some great old stories and showed me a few pieces bent by Atom from his personal collection. In the photo is a very stout looking horseshoe that the Atom bent with his teeth! That's right, with his TEETH!

Memorable Weekend

This past weekend is one that will be in my memory for quite some time. A great friend of mine and fellow Oldetime Strongman, Aaron "Mighty Mac" McKenzie, came up from North Carolina for a visit. Friday we had made our way to the training facility named "The Dungeon" of Slim The Hammerman Farman. It's a special honour anytime you get to visit with someone you greatly admire and to be mentored to by them. Every time I visit with the "old man" (Slim turns 75 this year and still routinely performs feats of strength that no one has been able to duplicate) I come away with a deeper understanding of what it is to truly be an Oldetime Strongman. Thanks Slim.

After performing for and visiting with The Hammerman till the we hours of the morning, Mac and I made our way to Dan Cenidoza's get together in Baltimore MD on Saturday afternoon. There we got to witness some incredible feats of strength. Jedd Johnson came down from upstate PA with John Eaton from NY, John Manino came down from eastern PA, as well as Luke Whippo also from Baltimore. Every one was doing what they do and we had a great time. Thanks Dan for putting this together, looking forward to the next time we can all meet up again.

Shreaded

Earlier this week I was very fortunate to have a large quantity of new phonebooks given to me. As you can imagine I have been like a kid at Christmas with these, ha-ha. The first evening alone I went through ten of these books, just having some fun. Today, as part of my workout, I decided to do a quad vertical tear. I just kept ripping a piece off the book in between sets of my other exercises. Before I knew it, I ended up with five strips of this 1-5/8" thick Baltimore phonebook. Thanks Rena!

Another Day At The Office

While working on the computer tonight I looked over and saw my camera and some mini decks of cards. I thought to myself - Hmm, I haven't videoed a mini notch yet. So I grabbed a deck and hit record while sitting at my desk.

I've been doing a lot of deck notching lately with both the full sized and mini decks. Like I mentioned in the previous post, it keeps it interesting...

Keeping It Interesting

I like to bend all sorts of different sizes and styles of horseshoes. I also like to bend them into many different designs to keep things interesting. For the most part in performance I'll stick with flattening them out into an "S" shape or crushing them into the "Paperclip", but when I'm just having fun "doing what I do" I like to mix things up now and then. Same goes for training, diet, reading material, etc. Don't fall into a stale boring routine, mix it up every so often and renew your enthusiasm.

Pipe Wrenches

Having some fun with a pair of pipe wrenches. Those "end benders" are nasty.

Leverage Lifting

Yesterday I had a photo shoot and performed a wide array of feats for several hours. Some of which were closing heavy duty grippers, double hub lifting, all sorts of tearing feats and lots of steel bending. Along with the still shots, I also had these feats captured on video. I ended up getting some great footage of the chain break with my hair, bending a framing hammer into an "S" shape, bending a 12" adjustable wrench, and "paper-clipping" a 3/8" x 1" #5 steel draft horseshoe to name just a few.

After all these other feats were performed, I grabbed my big show hammer and headed outside. Performing the hammer lever is a great all around workout for the hands, wrists, and arms. If your not doing these in your training routine your missing out on a great exercise.

Screwdriver Scrolling

I thoroughly enjoy scrolling steel. The bends are complex, and they work the fingers and hands in different ways. Plus, once you're finished you have a one of a kind work of art.

Mini Notch

More fun with the mini decks.

Vertical Tears

While working at the computer tonight I thought I'd have some fun with cards. Shown are a full sized deck and a mini deck of plastic coated playing cards torn vertically. They were lots of fun to do.

Double Hub Lifting

A few months back I had made a post about hub lifting. Along with that, I included a video clip of myself performing the lift. This has become a regular part of my training routine and the last few days I have been thinking about attempting the double hub lift. Since today happened to be the first "nice" day weather wise in a while, reaching the low 50's, I decided to head out to the driveway and "give it a go". First attempt flew right up with no trouble at all. I grabbed the camera and here is the second attempt.

Goes to show what dedication can achieve.

Different Bicycles

I mentioned in a previous post that I like tear a deck of every brand, type, and style of plastic coated playing cards I come across. Today I added another deck to my collection.

Performing

Here are a few video clips from a performance I gave this morning. Some of the other feats I performed while there were tearing phone books, tearing decks of cards - tore a deck hand cuffed as well, bent a horseshoe, and broke chain with my HAIR. The video was rolling and we captured this crazy #8 break, I ended up breaking a total of 27 links on this one! Stay tuned, this one will be on my upcoming DVD release - it's almost complete and you won't want to miss it!

260 Card Pick Up

Tonight turned into quite a productive card tearing session. After going through several other decks of cards, I finished by tearing this deck of playing cards into 5 pieces before calling it a night.

Drywall Hammer

Sunday afternoon fun, that blade was nasty.

Double Corner Tear

After I tore a full deck of cards the first time I attempted it, I have constantly looked for ways to make this feat more difficult. To add new goals, new challenges to the things I have already succeeded with. With the cards for example, I have quartered horizontally, notched, eighths, double vertically torn, and of course the double corner tear. I have wrapped them in duct tape, torn in the box, duct taped in the box, worn oven mitts, behind the back, hand cuffed, etc.,etc.,etc.

I am not mentioning these things to be boastful, what I'm getting at here is don't be satisfied and grow stagnant, every time you reach a goal add to it and go after the next one with commitment and passion. Over time you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish! Enjoy your journey.

Happy New Years!

I wanted to bring 2009 in with a "BANG"! I knew this wrench would break, however it gave me a little surprise...