“If a man seriously proposes to go in for lifting heavy weights, he should make a point of practicing certain lifts every day. This daily practice is essential to the achievement of any real success.”
-Arthur Saxon
Get ready to delve into the captivating world of legendary strongman Arthur Saxon. He was incredibly strong and showed people the strength and power that a human being was capable of.
Born Arthur Hennig in 1878 in Leipzig, Germany, Saxon’s journey to become a true titan of strength was fueled by his determination and unwavering passion for pushing the boundaries of what the human body could achieve.
From traveling circuses to grand theaters, Arthur Saxon captivated audiences worldwide with his awe-inspiring performances.
The stage was his kingdom where he showcased mind-boggling feats of strength like bending iron bars, tearing phone books in half, and lifting heavy weights like they were a child’s toy.
Saxon’s shows were a spectacle of pure power that left spectators in disbelief and ignited a fire within aspiring strength enthusiasts everywhere.
Hennig Brothers
Arthur Saxon came from a strong family. Hard working blue collar manual laborers. He trained with his blood brothers who were also physically gifted with strength and were skilled athletes.
The brothers trained together for a while. They trained hard and trained fiercely. They disturbed the people around them with the noises they made while training and some nosey neighbor called the police and they were forbidden to lift weights.
The Atlas Club
The bothers formed Club Atlas at a young age with the training equipment they collected.
So they started their own club until it was shut down for damaging the building they were in with weights. Then Arthur Saxon joined a weightlifting club at 16 years old and kicked his training into overdrive.
The Saxon Trio
He met a mentor Arno Patschke who took him under his wing and recruited him and Oscard Hilgenfeldt to start the Saxon Trio.
They toured for a little while but eventually Arthur joined forces with his true brothers to form the true Saxon Trio.
Together with his two younger brothers Hermann and Kurt, they formed the famous Saxon Trio, a force to be reckoned with in the world of strength sports.
The trio had a seeming inseparable bond and showed an unwavering determination and a strong commitment to greatness. Arthur Saxon embodied strength and power which inspired others around him.
But it was Arthur who stood out from the pack, with a physique that could make Adonis jealous and a strength that seemed otherworldly.
Arthur Saxon’s Physique
Saxon’s physique was nothing short of a work of art. He had broad shoulders, a powerful chest, and rippling muscles with veins like lightning bolts. He had the aura of a true champion.
Saxon’s showdown with Sandow
Saxon faced formidable opponents who dared challenge his supremacy. One of his most notable competitors was Eugen Sandow, the “Father of Modern Bodybuilding,” who focused on sculpting aesthetic physiques.
Saxon, however, was all about raw power, setting the stage for an epic clash of strength versus aesthetics.
Sandow’s Challenge and Lawsuit
During one show Sandow happened to be in the audience when Saxon declared himself the strongest man in the world.
Sandow had a fit and jumped on stage to challenge Saxon to a weightlifting competition.
Saxon won the challenge and Sandow couldn’t complete the weightlifting move with the chosen weight. Later, Saxon started calling himself “The Conqueror of Sandow”.
To which Sandow responded with a lawsuit which he won and the nickname got buried.
Sandow got to save face and secure his reputation. But real ones know that Arthur Saxon toppled the the world’s “most physically developed specimen”.
Arthur Saxon’s Diet
Saxon eat enough food to feed an army. Arthur ate protein-packed meals consisting of meats, eggs, and dairy t form the foundation of his nutritional regimen.
Breakfast was 8 eggs and a pound of bacon and sausage. He also loved butter and creme.
Lunch and Dinner was meat, beef, steak pork chops, mutton, chicken and turkey. Pounds of meat a day.
And let’s not forget the mountains of carbs that he devoured to replenish his energy stores, ensuring his muscles had the fuel they needed to crush every challenge that came his way. Barley, meal, and fresh baked bread, and lots of beer.
He crushed beer with his bros.
On one occasion the Saxon Trio performed drunk on stage. They destroyed the set. They dropped a guy on his head and smashed a baby grand piano with a barbell. Laughing their assess off the whole time.
The crowed loved it and the club owner even booked them again for the following week.
Saxon’s Training
It wasn’t just his diet that fueled Saxon’s success. His training routine was a relentless assault on the iron.
Compound exercises like deadlifts, squats, and overhead presses were the pillars of his strength-building arsenal.
The bent press, a display of shoulder and core power, was his signature move, setting him apart from the rest.
Arthur Saxon – The Strongman on Stage
Saxon was a man of many stages, captivating audiences with his unparalleled strength in various venues across the globe. From grand theaters to traveling circuses, he left no stone unturned in his quest to astound and inspire.
Prominent figures like Florenz Ziegfeld, renowned for his extravagant productions, recognized the magnetism of Saxon’s displays and showcased them as part of their awe-inspiring variety shows.
But it wasn’t just the stage that witnessed the might of Saxon. Away from the performance stage, he was known for his jovial personality and a mischievous streak that endeared him to fellow crew members.
Stories abound of his humorous antics and pranks which injected a sense of camaraderie and laughter into the demanding world of strength exhibitions. The Saxon Trio’s love for beer was as legendary as their displays of strength. So much so it actually cost him a job – he was let go from Wringling Brother’s circus because he brought cases of beer back to his train car which was against policy apparently.
Arthur Saxton’s Lifestyle and Memorable Moments
The buzz surrounding Saxon’s performances and the awe-struck faces of those who witnessed his feats speak volumes about his impact.
Whether it was bending iron bars with his bare hands or tearing phone books like they were made of tissue paper, Saxon’s demonstrations of strength were etched into the minds and hearts of those lucky enough to see them.
Saxon’s Nicknames
Some of the nicknames he earned as a strongman include:
- “The Conqueror of Sandow”: He started calling himself this after he beat Sandow on stage in a strongman challenge.
- “The Bent Press Supremo”: The bent press was Saxon’s signature weightlifting move.
- “The Iron Hercules”: This nickname pays tribute to Saxon’s extraordinary strength and his ability to perform incredible feats of power, much like the mythical Greek hero Hercules.
- “The Titan of Strength”: The title “titan” emphasizes his colossal strength and dominance in the world of strongman competitions, highlighting his larger-than-life abilities.
- “The Mighty Oak”: Drawing inspiration from the strength and resilience of the oak tree, this nickname signifies Saxon’s unyielding power and unwavering presence in the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
- “The Iron Man”: This nickname combines Saxon’s association with strength and iron, representing his remarkable feats and unbreakable determination.
- “The Strongman Sensation”: This nickname emphasizes the awe and sensation generated by Saxon’s displays of incredible strength.
The “Unbreakable” Umbrella
Legend has it that during one of his performances, a spectator challenged Saxon’s strength by presenting him with an umbrella, claiming it to be unbreakable.
Not one to back down from a challenge, Saxon accepted and proceeded to apply his immense strength to the umbrella.
Much to the surprise and amusement of the onlookers, Saxon managed to bend the supposedly unbreakable object in half, leaving everyone in stitches as the man returned to his seat defeated.
The “Unflinching” Carriage Push
During a strongman competition, Saxon participated in a unique event that required contestants to push a horse-drawn carriage over a set distance. As Saxon prepared to push the carriage, an unfortunate mishap occurred when one of the horses unexpectedly moved, causing the carriage to roll back and catch Saxon off guard.
Instead of becoming flustered, Saxon held his ground and managed to stop the carriage in its tracks, all while maintaining a composed expression. His calm and unflinching response left the audience in stitches and earned him admiration for his quick reflexes.
Saxon’s Feats of Strength
Arthur Saxon’s strength was legendary. He accomplished feats that are standing records, never matched by anyone ever again even now, more than a hundred years later. Some of Saxon’s most memorable feats include:
| One-Hand Snatch | 200 lbs. |
| Two-Hand Military Press | 252 lbs. |
| Bent Press | 371 lbs. |
| Two-Hands Anyhow | 448 lbs. |
| Two-Jerk from Behind Neck | 311 lbs. |
| Toss from Hand to Hand at Arm’s Length | 315 lbs. |
| One-Arm Military Press | 126 lbs. |
| Tow-Hands Clean and Jerk | 342 lbs. |
| One-Hand Clean and Jerk | 247.5 lbs. |
Arthur Saxon’s Books and Publications
Arthur Saxon has two publications in his name. The first one is ‘The Development of Physical Power‘ published by Radley (London, 1906).
The second is ‘The Text Book of Weight-Lifting‘ (1910).
Conclusion
Arthur Saxon was one of the Bronze Era’s most formidable strongmen. He was an entertainer renowned for his showmanship.
Unlike most other strongmen, Saxon was widely respected because his shows were real. Not stunts designed to fool his audience.
Arthur Saxon toured Europe, Canada, and the US on several occasions where he drew large crowds and made a name everywhere he went.
He is credited as one of the most influential pioneers of weightlifting and the best in Bent Press. He is still celebrated today for his strength and the awareness he brought to strength sports.
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