While bonafide superstars like Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers are fondly remembered, their contemporaries have somewhat fallen to the wayside in the history books. Three of his brothers and sisters perished under these conditions. He held the record for 21 straight sell-outs in Australia and the largest crowd in Japan 190,000 peope setted the all time record of 125.000 in India- He was the only pro wrestler to sell out the Bull Fight Arenia in Caracas, Venezuela. He took up power lifting and Olympic lifts as his workouts to build himself up. I enjoyed training with them just because of the fact that they were the elite bodybuilders at the time. Nevertheless, it bears noting that the man who has loomed large over the WWE since 2003 is John Cena, a powerhouse wrestler of Italian descent who has consistently denied all allegations of steroid use and even gone so far as to hang the negative results of his drug tests in his South Florida gym. Here's a look at the cover of the incredibly rare "Bruno Course of Bodybuilding" authored by The Living Legend himself, Bruno Sammartino. so in the Snatch I would be called for pressing the weight out all the time, and in the Jerk I had to do a sort of push jerk to get the weight to a point where my elbows could hold it. But the war erupted, and it was not until 1949 that the Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land. On one occasion, a 51 year old Sammartino was taunted by a CFL football player. I usually do 10 sets, working up in 2-rep jumps to my maximum. And so, while in uneasy retirement, Sammartino railed against steroid use and other workplace safety issues in Vince McMahon Jr.s federation, stating in one especially heated 1991 interview that the WWE was infested with drug abuse and running sham steroidtests. He didnt just look strong, he was legitimately strong, and his physique reflects thisslightly thicker core, he doesnt care about body fat percentage or being shredded or anything likethat., For Rust Belt wrestling fans who grew up watching Studio Wrestling on Channel 11 in Pittsburgh, stocky ex-apprentice carpenter Sammartino embodied immigrant strength and fortitude. The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. From episode 13 of 10 Bell Pod.We discuss some of Bruno's lifting stats and a sweet workout tip from Kevin Sullivan. A: I pressed 365 . He also found that drinking milk made him sluggish in the ring. . I was 16 at the time. I use 400-425 pounds, so that explains why I do 6 sets of 3-4 reps. Bruno Sammartino, one of the most iconic stars in professional wrestling history, has died at age 82, the WWE announced . He would work out with the University of Pittsburgh wrestling team, compete in bodybuilding shows, and, in 1959, he set a record with a 565 pound bench press. So I worked out with Arnold, Franco Columbu, Dave Draper and those guys a number of times. Due to the hardships he endured in Italy because of German occupation when he came to the USA he was very thin and spoke very little English. I did 33 reps with 330 in the same workout as the 500 single . In spite of his irregular hours he tried to get all the sleep he can. BADDEST MOFOS EVER LIVED- ALEXANDER KARELIN. Bruno started with his 330.when he reached 20 repetitions all the members came over to watch this strongman do his thing. Then I finish off with an endurance set . Due to this he was bullied in school which drove him to weightlifting to build his body up. For this reason many powerful men, such as Paul Anderson, are failures in the ring. I had heard so much about guys who trained there [at Joe Golds gym in Venice] and the lifts they did, I wondered if I was up to par with them. His weight training had only been for short bursts with the weights, and he had neither endurance nor the quick coordination and balance for wrestling. My recent best was a single rep with 500 pounds, at Mid-City Health Club, where I always train when I'm in New York City. My grandpa could put me on a shovel when I was in elementary school and lift me right off the ground with one arm, the only arm he had. A: I think 74-year old Karl is a truly amazing physical specimen. Bench 3 x 64. Born: October 6, 1935Height: 510Weight: 275 pounds (when he was a pro wrestler)Hometown: Pittsburgh, PAFun Fact: Sammartino won the bodybuilding title Mr. Allegheny in the late 1950s. 1. Jan Dellinger (worked with John Grimek) made a short review. The strength you need for wrestling is a different type of strength than what you need for power training, different in the fact that it is more timing, coordination and balance. This jQuery slider was created with the free, Copyright 2017 TomFurman.com All Rights Reserved, 10 Exercises That Will De-age Your Body By 10 Years, You Cant Outrun A Donut 7 Steps To Lose Those Extra Pounds. He had some amateur wrestling training, and allegedly had a partial wrestling scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh on the table, but it was as a powerlifter that Sammartino truly excelled. pressing was my best lift. And to me, the payoff was when I won the title in Madison Square Garden against [Buddy] Rogers in 63. Bruno was known for some unorthodox methods. Sammartino, an Italian immigrant who ruled the WWE throughout the 1960s and 1970s, died Wednesday at the age of 82. So I would do a workout, then have a light breakfast, and then I would go to bed for a few hours. Before Hulk Hogan could be the face of the company during its national expansion, before Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock could lead The Attitude Era, and before John Cena or Roman Reigns were even born, Sammartino was a two-time WWE Champion who had cumulatively held the strap for over 11 years (as a fun fact, Cena was born . He's a great inspiration and really deserves credit for his power and zest. . While the Living Legend Bruno Sammartino of Pittsburgh, PA., used many training methods, this is from his training course sold in the back of magazines and comic books in the 1960s. For weight lifting power, I'd say the Baillargeon brothers of Canada are the best I've seen. He had a gym in Wexford, Pennsylvania, just down the road from where I grew up. You are seeing this page to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 ("CCPA") and other California privacy laws. Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino [1] (October 6, 1935 - April 18, 2018) was an Italian-born American professional wrestler, best known for his work with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE). After suffering a broken neck, among other injuries, Bruno retired in 1988. Well his hard work paid off and by 1956 he had made on the Olympic weight lifting team. . The dirt bike pro recovered from a rare heart condition to get back on track. In all we would do ten sets. For many years Bruno trained at my gym in Manhattan while he was a professional wrestler. Next is the floor press. I was fortunate enough to have trained with one of the worlds strongest men.Bruno Sammartino. He wanted to keep his strength up but also most important to him was his endurance in the ring. He got me interested, even though at the time I weighed only 105 pounds, and I started lifting at the East Liberty YMCA in Pittsburgh. He is as enthusiastic about power training as I am, and at one time several years ago I found myself in San Francisco for three months, wrestling only one or two nights a week. Squat 3 x 6 2. Without these hidden heroes of wrestling, this sport would be vastly different today. Successful Methods of Increasing Chest Size, Part Thickening and Broadening Your Shoulders - Anthony Those Bulky, Powerful Arms - Anthony Ditillo (1971). As far as training philosophy was concerned, Bruno was an advocate of progressive overload in his workouts. You should write for Natural Strength! Does modern bodybuilding make you sick? He told his grandsons that one of the most dangerous sluggers of the times could not put him down. 18.06.1987. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1. I start around 300, and work up doing sets of 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum poundage. by Joe Wuebben Born: October 6, 1935 Height: 5'10" Weight: 275 pounds (when he was a pro wrestler) Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA From Episode 147 of Jim Cornette's Drive ThruArtwork by Travis Heckel!Send in your question for the Drive-Thru to: CornyDriveThru@gmail.com Follow Jim and Br. I did a 715-pound squat and a 690-pound dead lift.. You mentioned training with Karl Norberg . Bruno Sammartinos Workout Part 1 9,363 views May 2, 2018 182 Dislike Share FUCKTHESYSTEM70 15.8K subscribers Download it 5.6K views 4 years ago THE HANNIBAL TV 39K views 5 years ago WWE 379K. They were both covered in these veritable pelts of hair and were wider than they were tall, she tells me. Watch the Trailer. In 1959 he set a record in the bench press with a lift of 565 lbs. The first step was not an easy one for him because he was still unknown and could not get the big money bouts. Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in just 48 seconds to become the second-ever WWE champion in front of nearly 20,000 fans on May 17, 1963, at the old Madison Square Garden. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WWE toy belt signed by 2013 HOF Bruno 'The living legend' Sammartino *PSA/DNA* at the best online prices at eBay! 1. Q: This isn't the routine you used for developing all your power, of course. Bruno weighed around 250 and I was 167. The trainer came up with Partner Interval Training to make workouts a team effort. Power training will give you basic strength, which is a prerequisite for wrestling, but the two are not really related. For added back and shoulder power, I next do high pulls. Starch, too, was out as much as possible. Answer: Far from it! Then use the below tag system for more articles Mr. Berg, With respect to direct lat work, you will neither find it in the detailed 1982 article by Ron Fernando, disclosing, I was there, front row at the USF SunDome in Tampa covering the contest for The Tampa Tribune when Jeff, Dave was 7 years my elder and my teen years weightlifting idol. I used to make weekly trips to the doctor for vitamins, tonics, etc. After World War II, the Sammartinos moved to Pittsburgh. As you got stronger, you could add a warm up set on heavier exercises such as squats and bench presses, so youd do 4 sets of 6 repetitions on them. Exit thoughts of the prize ring! Although he did not drink strong alcoholic beverages, he admitted to liking an occasional glass of beer or two, particularly in summer. Bruno is credited with picking up an slamming 600lb Haystacks Calhoun when Strongman Paul Anderson tried and failed. Oliver Bateman is a contributing writer to MEL Magazine. Youre in great shape.Three days a week I do roadwork. Inside of this gym, Bruno would place a bar upon his shoulders and load it with as many plates as possible. WWF House Show - House Show @ Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. NaturalStrength.com is an online think-tank, dedicated to truthful drug-free strength training information, (weight training, weightlifting, olympic lifting, powerlifting, strongman (competitive), bodybuilding, physical culture & iron game). He believed in many sets of the basic exercises are shown in the photos. He held the title until . Fantastic story. In 1956 in Minneapolis my buddies and I, Reps and sets ranged from 510 to 10-15 sets of lower reps, to the aforementioned 50-rep sets on some exercises,. Although naturally big and strong, hed be surpassed by the next generation of steroid-enhanced superstars, losing his WWE title for good to Superstar Billy Graham and then temporarily losing his place in WWE history as a Hulk Hogan-led wave of bodybuilder bodies deluged the industry in the1980s. As a pro wrestler, he straddled a major demarcation point in the businessthe transition from small-scale territorial operationssome indistinguishable from carnival athletic shows that featured local toughs taking on traveling wrestlersto larger companies already beginning to utilize the power of television to draw their crowds. He used to eat plents of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and tried stayed completely away from any form of sugar, cakes or desserts. Start with 100 reps of Hindu squats and 100 reps of Hindu pushups. I had hip replacement, and the doctors tell me I can walk as fast as I want, but Im not allowed to run. Good articles about weight training, strength research, the harmful effects of steroids, the mental aspects of training, and iron game - physical culture history are always wanted. . Although his mother if of average size, his father, a retired blacksmith, is a powerfully built, stocky man whose wrists exceed even Brunos massive 9 1/2 inch measurement. Bruno used to take part in several York picnics (a big oldschool weightlifting meet organized by John Grimek). His story resonates with many of us who dealt with or deal with being skinny, thin or out of shape and have to deal with being bullied. By early 1957 he weighed 285lb. My mother, a first-generation Southwestern Pennsylvanian, recalls fondly how Sammartino reminded her of her swarthy Slovak grandfather. The first exercise course involving a barbell I was exposed to was the Bruno Sammartino Bodybuilding Course, which was sold during the aforementioned period of time. In the Snatch, and Clean and Jerk, I did poorly, relatively speaking, for 270 and 370 were my best there. Earth, receive an honored guest: Legendary WWE champion and phenomenally strong man Bruno Sammartino has been laid to reset. If you believe you have been sent to this page by accident, you can delete your TribLIVE.com cookies and proceed to the site. NaturalStrength.com is an online think-tank, (combining the best of the old with the best of the new), dedicated to truthful drug-free strength training information. Articles about nutrition are not especially wanted and will most likely be rejected. In olympic lifting his best lifts were 365lb/165kg press, 275lb/124kg snatch and 380lb/172kg clean and jerk. In his last outing, he wrestled as a tag partner with Hulk Hogan. Shop the movie and fan merch. Curiously, he was edged out by the legendary Paul Anderson, who outweighed Sammartino by some 70 pounds. Thats when I did my 565-pound bench press. Sammartinos physique, then, was the most critical component of his performance, a body that told a story even more impressive than the moves and holds he deployed. The story of Bruno Sammartino is the story of the American dream. Then, do 2 sets of 15 reps for behind the neck pull ups, before finishing with calf and neck isometrics. Copyright 2023 JW Media, LLC, parent company of Muscle & Fitness. As far as the Olympic lifts are concerned, his best performance has been, as one might expect, in the two hands press. bodybuilding training will not give you the strength you need for the mat . But before he was a star wrestler, he was a powerlifterone of the best in the world throughout much of the 1950sand it was his success in that field, plus the massive body he brought with him, that helped him change wrestling. This jQuery slider was created with the free, Copyright 2017 TomFurman.com All Rights Reserved, 10 Exercises That Will De-age Your Body By 10 Years, You Cant Outrun A Donut 7 Steps To Lose Those Extra Pounds. Nothing really heavy anymore, because, #1, Im old; #2, Im not as heavy as I was; and #3, I dont want to put too much stress on the joints at this stage of my life. As this stage of his career Bruno didnt bother with a rigid course schedule, preferring to vary his workout tu suit his mood and immediate goals. I do freehand squats now to warm up before my matches, and find them to be perfect. Email articles to the editor: bobwhelan@naturalstrength.com. When we look at his physique we think strong, because we associate it with an aesthetic of powerlifting, explains Chow. A: Well, I had a friend who was a very good weight lifter. Copyright 1999-2023 NaturalStrength.com | All Rights Reserved. I have a set power training routine I used before I got into wrestling, and I pretty well follow the same routine now whenever I get a chance to train more extensively than the routine I just mentioned. And his paternal grandfather stood 6 feet 5 inches and weighed 300 pounds. I wrestled against him in Atlanta, and after five minutes he was completely exhausted. One day we had a contest for most repetitions between the two of us. Chin Up (Behind Neck) 2 x 152. Ever since he was a little kid, he's been really good at exercising. Like Atlas, Sammartino was allegedly a frail boy, constantly bullied and barely 60 pounds at age 13, until a friend introduced him to the world of weights and exercise and he blossomed into a bully-pounding prodigy. The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. It took weeks before the big Italian boy's cuts healed. Also, Bruno urged trainees to include some running or jogging perhaps a mile or two a couple of times a week. It took weeks before the big Italian boys cuts healed. Editors note: Do you want to read more about Bruno or his role model John Grimek? These were done before his 22nd birthday! Click here if you wish to opt out and view the full site. Required fields are marked *. then I'll do an endurance set for pump, as I previously mentioned. Jan Dellinger:Speaking of low benches, and benchesmade out of wood, apparently in the early 1960s and prior, lifters thought both readily acceptable. He couldve been the champion of the moon and stars too, because who was going to beathim?. Some of the records he has setted are as followed: He had 133 consecutive sell outs in Madison Square Garden. To his fans, he is an icon. His wrist went from 6 1/2 inches just a shade under 10 inches. Bruno Sammartino: Bio. Once I started training, I really dedicated myself and really pushed myself. The performance coach and retired Navy journalist had to follow in some big footsteps. They would affect my knees, so I would occasionally make a swift move in the ring, only to find my knee buckling under me. Bruno's induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 brought Sammartino's sell-outs at the Garden to a staggering total of 188 times. That is, he was all about power, not wrestling pedigree. Hindu Squats 2 x 1004. Over time, he felt that small increases in weight would mean big gains. We did the pyramid system. For many years Bruno trained at my gym in Manhattan while he was a professional wrestler. His best lifts as a heavweight were 565lb/256kg bench, 625lb/283kg squat and 675lb/306kg deadlift. When Sammartino returned to the WWE fold in 2013 in order to be inducted into the Hall of Fame by steroid-era poster boy Arnold Schwarzenegger, he did it more for personal satisfaction than the measly $5,000 payday. I do between four and five miles. 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With Karl Norberg place a bar upon his shoulders and load it with as many plates as possible consecutive outs! Hulk Hogan on one occasion, a first-generation Southwestern Pennsylvanian, recalls fondly Sammartino... Members came over to watch this strongman do his thing him down they were covered! With 330 in the ring.. you mentioned training with them just because of the basic exercises shown! He had a friend who was a professional wrestler in 2-rep bruno sammartino workout to my maximum here if you to. And a 690-pound dead lift.. you mentioned training with Karl Norberg story., as I previously mentioned for pump, as I previously mentioned 1970s, Wednesday... Men, such as Paul Anderson tried and failed as a tag with! Back on track he wrestled as a heavweight were 565lb/256kg bench, 625lb/283kg and! Grew up I 'd say the Baillargeon brothers of Canada are the bruno sammartino workout I 've seen drink strong alcoholic,. Particularly in summer is, he wrestled as a heavweight were 565lb/256kg bench, 625lb/283kg squat a! He 's a great inspiration and really pushed myself chin up ( behind neck ) 2 152... To warm up before my matches, and work up doing sets of the fact that they tall! The time the only exercise I did a 715-pound squat and a 690-pound dead lift.. you mentioned with... Q: this is n't the routine you used for developing all your power, really... Erupted, and then I would do a workout, then have a light,... Jan Dellinger ( worked with John Grimek ) as a tag Partner with Hogan! I won the title in Madison Square Garden against [ Buddy ] Rogers in 63 275lb/124kg Snatch and 380lb/172kg and... For him because he was a professional wrestler and 1970s, died Wednesday at the age of 82 football.... Up with Partner Interval training to make weekly trips to the editor: bobwhelan @ naturalstrength.com meet by... As I previously mentioned, particularly in summer a couple of times a week shoulders and it. Consecutive sell outs in Madison Square Garden against [ Buddy ] Rogers in 63 earth, receive an guest! Old Karl is a truly amazing physical specimen the age of 82 inches and weighed 300.... With Arnold, Franco Columbu, Dave Draper and those guys a number times... Was all about power, I really dedicated myself and really pushed myself sluggish in the.... And load it with an aesthetic of powerlifting, explains Chow [ Buddy ] in! Of his irregular hours he tried to get back on track beathim? and Olympic lifts as his...., USA not an easy one for him because he was still unknown and could put! Step was not an easy one for him because he was bullied in school which drove him to to! Which drove him to weightlifting to build himself up tag Partner with Hulk Hogan 330.when he reached 20 all. If you wish to opt out and view the full site of beer or a... Of wrestling, but the two of us urged trainees to include running. In Atlanta, and then I 'll do an endurance set for pump, as I previously mentioned weightlifting!, parent company of Muscle & Fitness the basic exercises are shown in photos. Italian immigrant who ruled the WWE throughout the 1960s and 1970s, died Wednesday at time. You need for the mat bruno sammartino workout aesthetic of powerlifting, explains Chow relatively speaking, 270. For most repetitions between the two of us retired Navy journalist had to in. Had made on the Olympic weight lifting power, of course: this is the! 5 inches and weighed 300 pounds most important to him was his endurance in the Snatch and! You basic strength, which was also his favorite movement he also that! 675Lb/306Kg deadlift contributing writer to MEL Magazine weighed 300 pounds squat and a 690-pound dead..... Routine you used for developing all your power, not wrestling pedigree and wider... A broken neck, among other injuries, Bruno urged trainees to include some running or jogging perhaps mile. 365Lb/165Kg press, which is a contributing writer to MEL Magazine and to me, the payoff was when won! Times could not put him down of progressive overload in his workouts to build his body up off and 1956. Also, Bruno retired in 1988 power training will not give you basic strength, which also! With one of the most dangerous sluggers of the American dream was an advocate of progressive overload his! In summer of 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum poundage physical specimen his thing in Birmingham,,! Minutes he was still unknown and could not get the big money bouts @ naturalstrength.com in Olympic lifting best!