Edward Aston was one of the world’s strongest men. He was born in Great Britain in the late 1800’s and made a name for himself as a physical culture pioneer, writer, businessman and inventor.
In 1910 he beat German phenom Max Sick in a lifting competition and that put him on the map.
He went on to become Britain’s strongest man after beating Thomas Inch (famous for inventing the “Inch Dumbbell” known for being almost impossible to lift.) in a lifting competition. Thus started is 20 year reign as the strongest man in the British Empire.
Edward Aston’s Workout
Like other Victorian era strongmen, Edward Aston trained using barbells, dumbbells, and all kinds of bells variations.
His workouts included lots of powerlifting style exercises with compound lifts, along with grueling strength training and strict movements.
Old School Strongmen Exercises
Aston trained with the classic old school strength exercises popular during his time.
Floor clean and press, clean and jerk, and snatches with one and two hands were performed regularly.
Bent Press was another popular move performed during the bronze era of bodybuilding, however it’s ill advised to do this exercise nowadays.
As far as repetitions, muscle development comes from doing high reputations with full concentration and muscle control.
Along with some heavy lifting and maxing out thrown in the mix for raw, dense, deep strength cultivation.
Edward Aston early years
Edward Aston started training young.
He grew up in a working class family of craftsman. There was always heavy stuff around the workshop that he would pick up.
He also took to gymnastics at a young age and walked on his hands for fun and to build his arms, shoulders and body control.
As a teenager, Aston saw Eugene Sandow perform and immediately enrolled in weight lifting training school after seeing him.
It was long after that when Edward Aston was competing and beating the best in class strongmen and breaking records across the board.
Edward Aston’s Training Philosophy
Edward Astons contribution to physical culture was significant.
He’s noted for his quote:
“If everybody lifted weights the world would be better.”
Aston was on to something here. If people trained more the world would be better.
People would be calmer, stronger, and more confident.
They would be healthier, more resilient, and suffer from less illness and chronic pain.
Insurance would cost less and so would medical bills. People would have more energy to be more productive. And ultimately enjoy life more.
Horace Fletcher Chewing
Edward Aston followed Horace Fletcher’s advice to chew food until it was a smooth paste before swallowing.
This helps digestion and emulsifies makes better use of the vitamins and minerals and nutrients in the food.
Chewing your food thoroughly is an important variable to health and vitality.
All things in time
Edward Aston stressed living a balanced live and giving proper time to prober things.
All things done in the proper time such as rest, play, eating, and living life.
Edward Aston is an example of grit, determination and setting goals.
He began lifting in a blacksmiths shop using a broom handle. He’d hang buckets of sand on each end for more weight.
The Anti-Barbell
Aston invented the Anti-Barbell. The Anti-barbell is a long stick with weight on one end.
It’s similar to loading a plates on one side of a barbell and lifting it. It gives a much difference feel.
You have to create an interesting internal muscle tension to balance the weight and move incorrectly. I have personally done this type of anti-barbell work to help balance my uneven chest muscle.
Edward Aston’s Books
Aston captured his knowledge in books Modern Weight Lifting: And How to Gain Strength.
And How to Develop a Powerful Grip.
Aston was well known for his grip strength. He could tear a deck of cards in half.
English strongman of the victorian era.
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