Today we talk about the Bronze Era bodybuilder and titan of industry, George Jowett. George F. Jowett was an English born Canadian strongman who left his mark on physical culture.
Jowett was a renown magazine editor, the first president of the American Continental Weightlifting Association, and the undisputed World’s Strongest Man.
Jowett was dubbed The Most Scientific Lifter in America. He was a leading authority on physical culture and fitness, and popularized American weightlifting clubs. He strived for physical perfection and helped many men improve their lives through fitness.
George F. Jowett Bio
George Jewett was born on December 23, 1891 in England. After moving to Canada Jowett joined the military to fight in World War 1. After the Great War Jowett moved to the United States and got to work building his body and his business.
He was annihilating the competitors in strongman competitions throughout the 1920’s. He dubbed himself as the World Strongest Man. A moniker which others called him once they saw the feats of raw power and strength he was capable of.
It wasn’t always that way for George though. He was injured as a child and was told he might not walk again. Some doctors said he wouldn’t live to see 15 and would be crippled until death.
George refused to be written off. He was determined to lead a life worth living. When he was around 10 years old his uncle took him to see a strongman perform at the circus. Hercules the strongman performed that day. He lifted barbells and massive weights high in the air.
George Jowett heard the strongman say that he too was told that he would be a weakling his whole life. But Hercules overcame the odds with physical training and sheer will.
Upon hearing this young George Jowett became more determined than ever to heal himself and get STRONG. Thus began his strength training endeavors.
Go George Go
Jowett started lifting odd objects and performing calisthenics. He took an interest in athletics and was gifted at gymnastics and combat sports. He became a champion gymnast and won many boxing matches.
At 17 he sailed to Europe and became the welterweight wrestling champion of France. Around the same time he crushed the World’s junior one arm press record by pressing 224 pounds overhead.
He clearly had a knack and passion for physical training, so he made it his career and life’s work. He helped others and inspired them to improve their lives, health, and mindset through physical training and competition.
Jowett was an ambitious business man. He became the editor of Strength Magazine before he turned 20.
Jowett started the Body Sculpture Club and he Co-founded the American Continental Weight Lifting Association with fellow Bronze Era bodybuilder and physical culturist, Ottley Russell Coulter.
Another old school bodybuilder, Bob Hoffman, later recruited him to work for his muscle magazine, Strength and Health.
As a new weightlifting magazine editor Jowett offered sage advise to everyone who read his work.
George F Jowett was known for his impressive physique, athletic accomplishments, and mail order exercise guides that helped men all over the world get fit.
George Jowett feats of strength
Jowett had a power build at 5′ 6″ tall and 200 pounds.
His strongman feats included bending horseshoes and iron bars with his bare hands. Grabbing blacksmith anvils from the nose and lifting them overhead with one hand. He even lifted a 168-pound anvil over his head. Which requires surreal hand and grip strength.
Jowett’s Resume
Accomplished Gymnast and wrestler.
Most scientific strength athlete
The Champion of Champions.
Olympic weightlifting instructor.
Invented the Apollo system of strength training.
Co founded the Milo Barbell company and the Milo publishing company.
Strength training advocate.
Invented the Fulcrum dumbbell.
Trained lots of students in the art and science of strength training and bodybuilding. Including Bob Hoffman. Also trained Johnny Weissmuller the original Tarzan an ape man. He was an olympic swimmer and all around athlete. He was long an 6’3″ tall was a standout in the 1930’s.
Developed the World War Two US National Fitness Plan.
George Jowett Workout for chest muscles
Deep dumbbell flys for the chest muscles. Light weight. 5 pound dumbbells in each hand. Start with 6 repetitions and work up to 18. Perform dumbbell flies every third workout. Exhale fully at the top. Breathe deeply to expand the rib cage. “Go slowly and concentrate strongly”. This takes practice.
Another chest exercises was the cross body chest builder. Take to light dumbbells and extend your arms straight out. Take a big breathe in filling your lungs with air completely. Then cross your arms across your body as far as possible. One one the other. Contract your chest muscle hard as you try to move your arms across your chest. Exhale and move your arms out back to the starting position. Then cross your arms again this time with the other arm on top. Repeat for 9 repetitions.
George Jowett Training Philosophy
Grip strength. Strengthen your tendons and ligaments.
The George Jowett Institute
George Jewett was an editor by trade. In addition to printing selling muscle building programs via the mail, he made a mint printing magazines.
He was a prolific writer of the time and wrote many, many books on p[hysical culture. He has numerous guides about how to get stronger and perform acts of exercise specialization.
His editorial work led him to write many books:
George Jowett Books
The Jowett Institute Course in Health, Muscle Building and Physical Perfection is still available in some corners of the internet. If you can find it let me know.
The Strongest Man that Ever Lived – Written about his Canadian brother Luis Cyr.
The Key to Might and Muscle – Building a strong body, bones and all.
Strongman Stunts Made Easy – a perpetual classic.
The Art of Hand Balancing and Tumbling – Gymnastics and balancing training exercises.
Weight Training for Body Builders – Progressive Dumbbell and barbell training. As well as exercises specialization guides to execute movements correctly.
And of course, the Molding Might Men series which contains six books. Each book focuses on developing a specific muscle group.
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