The legendary Max Sick is best known for his unconventional approaches to strength training. He was a super-strong strongman and the creator of the Maxalding exercise system of muscle control. He was a vegetarian whose feats of strength seemed superhuman.
Early Life
Max Sick wasn’t always strong. He was born on June 28, 1882, in Vienna, Austria and for the first years of his childhood he suffered from multiple health conditions including lung issues, rickets, and edema (dropsy).
Maxick’s fascination with physical development and strength training began during his teenage years. He tried different physical activities and sports such as swimming and gymnastics in an effort to build his body and regain his health. It was around this time that he discovered a deep interest in weightlifting, which later became his lifelong passion.
Inspired by the strength and physical prowess of famous strongmen of the time, Maxick immersed himself in the world of strength training. He became a regular at the local gymnasium and trained diligently, seeking to transform his weak body into a powerhouse.
Maxick’s dedication and perseverance paid off, as he began to see significant progress in his strength and overall health.
Maxick the strongman’s real name was Max Sick. He changed it because he didn’t like the associate with sickness or ill health.
Maxick became a fascinating figure in the world of physical culture and strength training during the early 20th century. His methods challenged traditional notions of strength and bodybuilding, making him a pioneer in the field of athletics and physical development.
Being weak and sickly as a child instilled in him a deep appreciation for the potential of the human body’s ability to adapt and improve. He grew a fascination for studying the connection between the mind and body. Very quickly, he recognized that mental focus and control played a crucial role in physical performance. These early insights would shape his future training methods and philosophies.
Maxick’s Diet
Maxick was a vegetarian which was a stark contrast to the popular muscle culture of the time. Everyone believed that to be a strongman you had to eat lots of meat. This idea was popularized by elite strongmen such as Eugen Sandow and George Hackenschmidt.
Sandow believed every strongman should eat at least two pounds of beef per day. At one point, Maxick publicly challenged Sandow to a weightlifting and strength contest to prove his philosophy was superior.
Sandow declined the challenge.
Maxick defied all odds by thriving on a meatless diet and winning competitions against meat-eating rivals. He always emphasized the importance of proper nutrition and rest for optimal physical development. He believed in the power of natural, whole foods to support strength and vitality.
Max Sick’s Career
Maxick had a notable career as a strongman, author, and teacher. He achieved several significant accomplishments that helped build his reputation as a pioneer in the field of physical culture. Here is a brief look at his career, feats of strength, and contribution to physical culture.
Extraordinary Strength and Feats
Maxick’s remarkable physical abilities and feats of strength were a hallmark of his career. He possessed exceptional muscle control and coordination, allowing him to perform feats that seemed impossible to many.
Maxick could bend steel bars, resist the pull of multiple men, and demonstrate precise control over his muscles. His displays of strength captivated audiences and garnered him widespread recognition.
Development of Muscle Control Method
Maxick developed and popularized the concept of muscle control, which became the cornerstone of his training system. He emphasized the power of the mind in influencing muscle contractions, promoting precise control and coordination of individual muscles. Maxick’s teachings on muscle control challenged traditional strength training methods and influenced subsequent approaches to physical fitness.
Instruction and Teaching
Maxick had a significant impact as a teacher and instructor. He owned a training studio in London, where he taught and mentored fitness enthusiasts. His teachings attracted a dedicated following, and his influence extended beyond his immediate students.
Legacy in Physical Culture
Maxick’s contributions to the field of physical culture and strength training left a lasting legacy. His Maxalding principles continue to challenge and inspire generations of athletes and fitness enthusiasts to explore alternative training methods.
Max Sick’s Principle of Mind Control
Max Sick placed great emphasis on the concept of muscle control in his training methods and philosophies.
He believed that developing the ability to consciously control and coordinate individual muscles was essential for maximizing strength, performance, and overall physical development.
Here are some key thoughts and principles that Max Sick expressed regarding muscle control:
Mind-Body Connection
Maxick believed in the intimate connection between the mind and body. He saw the mind as the driving force behind physical performance and the key to unlocking the full potential of the body.
Precision and Control
Maxick emphasized the need for precision and control in muscle movements. He advocated for the ability to isolate and activate specific muscles independently, allowing for fine-tuned control over the body. By developing this level of control, individuals could perform movements with utmost efficiency and effectiveness.
Quality over Quantity
He believed that the quality of movement was more important than sheer quantity. Instead of mindlessly repeating exercises, Maxick encouraged individuals to prioritize precise muscle contractions and movements, ensuring each repetition was performed with intention and control.
Isometric Contractions
Isometric contractions, where the muscle is activated and held in a static position without joint movement, played a significant role in Maxick’s training. He saw isometric contractions as a valuable tool for developing muscle control, strength, and mind-body connection. Maxick incorporated various isometric exercises and techniques into his Maxalding training method.
Natural Development
Rather than relying on external aids or artificial methods, Maxick promoted a holistic approach that emphasized the body’s ability to adapt and progress through proper training and lifestyle practices.
The Maxalding Method of Training
While Maxick’s methods may have seemed unconventional to some, his legacy as a pioneer in physical culture endures. Because of his journey of self-discovery, he developed a unique approach to strength training based on the mind-body connection. (Aka mind-muscle connection.)
His training methods foreshadowed later developments in disciplines such as yoga, Pilates, and functional training. His teachings inspired generations of athletes and fitness enthusiasts to explore alternative approaches to strength training and to appreciate the power of the mind in physical performance.
One of Maxick’s key principles was the idea of “muscle control.” He believed that the mind could directly influence the muscles, enabling individuals to perform extraordinary feats of strength and control. He called this “Maxalding” which became a culture of its own.
Maxalding emphasized the importance of concentration, relaxation, and precise muscle contractions in his training regimen. Through Maxick’s unique exercises, he demonstrated incredible control over his body, performing feats like bending steel bars and resisting forces that seemed impossible for an average person.
Maxick’s training methods were distinct from the traditional weightlifting practices of his time. While many strength athletes focused on heavy weights and repetitive movements, Maxick advocated for a more holistic approach. His exercises mainly focused on a combination of bodyweight movements and isometric contractions.
You can pick up your very own copy of the Maxalding system of training here.
Memorable Moments in Maxick’s Career
Here are a couple of anecdotes from Max Sick’s life:
Bending Steel Bars
During a visit to a blacksmith’s shop, Maxick asked if he could try to bend a steel bar. The blacksmith, skeptical of Maxick’s claims, handed him a bar, expecting him to fail.
To the amazement of everyone present, Maxick effortlessly bent the solid steel bar using his muscle control techniques. This demonstration showcased his extraordinary physical abilities and left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it.
Challenging Eugen Sandow
Maxick reportedly had an encounter with Eugen Sandow, another prominent figure in the world of physical culture during that era. Sandow was known for his impressive physique and strength, and Maxick, confident in his own abilities, challenged Sandow to a physical contest.
Parents Against Weightlifting
When he was about 12 years old, Max Sick built for himself some barbells out of stone. Out of concern for his poor health and safety, his parents destroyed the weights and forbade him from training with them again. Young Max was forced to improvise. This had a great influence on how Max developed his later training methods.
Maxick’s Publications
Maxick’s methods challenged the status quo and encouraged individuals to think beyond conventional approaches. Through his teachings, Maxick demonstrated that true strength and control are not solely determined by muscle mass or brute force, but by the harmonious integration of the mind and body.
Maxick’s philosophy and methods gained popularity during his time, attracting a dedicated following of individuals seeking to enhance their physical abilities and overall well-being. He produced a personalized postal course of Maxalding, which was sold and distributed until the late 1970s. He also published:
“Muscle Control”
Maxick’s most famous book, “Muscle Control,” was first published in 1911. The book details instructions and exercises for developing muscle control by wielding the power of your mind.
“The Science of Breath and Physical Regeneration”
Published in 1916, this book explored the relationship between breath control, energy circulation, and physical regeneration, providing practical guidance for readers to optimize their breath and vitality.
“How to Develop Will Power”
Published in 1920, the book explores topics such as concentration, visualization, and mental focus, offering readers practical advice on developing mental fortitude to support their physical endeavors.
Max Sick’s Famous Quotes
Max Sick is famous for his insightful and inspiring quotes that reflect his philosophy on physical culture, strength training, and personal development. Here are a few of his famous quotes:
“The control of the mind over the body is not a theory, but a fact.”
“Strength without muscle control is like speed without direction.”
“Muscles will develop if you develop them, but you must control them, too.”
“There is an art in the bending of steel bars and an art in the artlessness of standing still.”
“The power of concentration is the magic key to success.”
“Strength does not come by chance; it is acquired by effort.”
“Great achievement is born out of great desire.”
“True strength lies not in the size of the muscles but in the ability to control them.”
“The human body is capable of almost unlimited physical development if it is trained by natural methods.”
“The path to physical excellence is paved with discipline, dedication, and a deep understanding of oneself.”
Conclusion
In the beginning, Max Sick had so much going against him. He was born sickly and his parents were overly cautious about their son overexerting himself. His vegetarian diet was also thought to be detrimental to strength training.
He overcame all these challenges and many more to become one of the most influential strongmen and trainers of his time. He developed Maxalding, which sold for many decades even long after his death. Today we pay a great tribute to one who challenged conventional wisdom and inspired many to consider alternative forms of fitness training.
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