. He couldve been the champion of the moon and stars too, because who was going to beathim?. He believed in many sets of the basic exercises are shown in the photos. And his paternal grandfather stood 6 feet 5 inches and weighed 300 pounds. Dubbed The Living Legend during his lifetime. Even moreamazing than his rapid growth of muscularity was the growth of his bone structure. Bruno used to take part in several York picnics (a big oldschool weightlifting meet organized by John Grimek). But Rusev, however much he might resemble Sammartino physically, no longer has what we might think of as the prototypical wrestling body. As I sad, wrestling demands a different kind of power than weight training. We did the pyramid system. The first step was not an easy one for him because he was still unknown and could not get the big money bouts. 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. Your email address will not be published. At one time Bruno considered taking a fling at professional boxing. Then I finish off with an endurance set . My Training for the Bench Press - Tony DeFrancisco Twice a Week Oly Lifting Alan O'Brien (1957). At times Bruno, his mother, brothers and sisters were forced to eat grass in order to keep body and soul united. Answer: Far from it! As a matter of fact, later this month I'm going for a two month tour of Europe and Australia, including a visit to my old home in Italy, and a private audience with the Pope. I was 16 at the time. The final exercise in my power routine is the curl. Then he was on his way. Bench 3 x 64. . Do You Really Need a Greens Powder in Your Life? The weight lifting work out was as follows: (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), The bodyweight work out looked like this: (Tuesday, Thursday). 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. He will be missed." In 2013, Bruno Sammartino was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his old lifting partner, Arnold Schwarzenegger. In all we would do ten sets. In private conversation, a well-established member of the Greek community in Pittsburgh told us that he trained alongside Bruno in a basement gym. We would try to get in benching three times per week. All rights reserved. Curiously, he was edged out by the legendary Paul Anderson, who outweighed Sammartino by some 70 pounds. His best lifts as a heavweight were 565lb/256kg bench, 625lb/283kg squat and 675lb/306kg deadlift. Originally posted on NaturalStrength.com on November 29, 1999. I was a human skeleton when I came to the United States. Hes routinely mentioned as having been edged out by Anderson for a slot on the 1956 Olympic weightlifting team (then still coached by York Barbell magnate Bob Hoffman), and most articles from that era note that he was a prominent rival of Andersonsa true Pittsburgh Hercules, as this vintage Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story callshim. Exit thoughts of the prize ring! The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. 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. There was plenty of truth to what Sammartino was saying, but also an element of sour grapes: He had once been the top dog, the man with the unbreakable bear hug, but his top spot (and legend) had been passed to juiced-up behemoths Graham and Hogan, then to ever-tauter performers in the mold of Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and todays many other CrossFit-looking (and doing) superstars. But before he was a star wrestler, he was a powerlifter one of the best in the world throughout much of the 1950s and it was his success in that . Arguably the greatest wrestling champion of all time. We assume no liability for the information provided in NaturalStrength articles. If you keep getting redirected to this page, please enable cookies. Muscleandfitness.com is part of a360media Fitness & Health Network. Sammartino is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. then I'll do an endurance set for pump, as I previously mentioned. Who knows if Sammartino really was weak or sickly as a kid, since that could just be part of the myth, says Chow. Articles about nutrition are not especially wanted and will most likely be rejected. By the time he was graduated from Schenley High School he had more than doubled his bodyweight as a freshman. Karl and I trained together over that time, and I did my best bench press ever, 565 pounds. On one occasion he shyly confided that he drank a huge quantitiy of beer six whole bottles! 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. But the war erupted, and it was not until 1949 that the Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land. Training under these conditions is erratic, so I keep a routine of three basic exercises -- Bench Press, Curls, and Standing Laterals. Old-School Ass Kicker Bruno Sammartino Extended Interview This legendary professional wrestler held the world title for a record 11+ years straight in the 1960s and '70s. Sammartino underwent heart surgery in 2011. I usually do 10 sets, working up in 2-rep jumps to my maximum. My family, living in Italy during World War 2, suffered greatly. To his fans, he is an icon. I do freehand squats now to warm up before my matches, and find them to be perfect. I used to make weekly trips to the doctor for vitamins, tonics, etc. Biographies of Sammartino, along with his own personal recollections, place him as only a notch or two behind the great Paul Anderson, arguably the strongest lifter of the pre-steroid era. 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. Copyright 1999-2023 NaturalStrength.com | All Rights Reserved. Bruno Sammartino is one of the defining legends from WWE history. He said. This was a course for beginners, so Bruno kept the volume pretty low. His wrist went from 6 1/2 inches just a shade under 10 inches. You see, I cannot lock my elbows . I do 5 sets of 5 with heavy dumbbells. These were done before his 22nd birthday! I start around 300, and work up doing sets of 3-5 reps, then a single with maximum poundage. And Bulgarian powerlifter Miroslav Barnyashev, who wrestles as Rusev and whose vicious feud with Cena recalled the Ivan Koloff/Bruno Sammartino battles of yore and whose star has been rising again since the advent of his Rusev Day gimmick, is something of a dead ringer for Sammartino at 6-feet tall and 280 hirsutepounds. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you would do three sets of six reps of the following lifts: Parallel squat, bench press, barbell curl, press behind the neck, and upright rowing. So I was very pleased to work out there because I think I lifted as good and better than most. Bruno employedheavy poundages in all of his movements. 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Bruno Sammartino - Italian Strongman - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Bruno Sammartino - Italian Strongman 16,219 views Aug 25, 2017 290 Dislike Share Josh Bryant 62.4K subscribers Get Jailhouse Strong:. From episode 13 of 10 Bell Pod.We discuss some of Bruno's lifting stats and a sweet workout tip from Kevin Sullivan. Bruno Sammartino, Actor: WWF SmackDown!. Since I've given them up I've found I have no more of this sort of trouble. 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. . . HE LEFT US LAST WEEK. Q: This isn't the routine you used for developing all your power, of course. Because of the limited motion I handle more weight, usually about 550, for 5-7 sets of 3 reps. Also, Bruno urged trainees to include some running or jogging perhaps a mile or two a couple of times a week. He exercised at a Young Men's Hebrew Association in Pittsburgh and went on to set a world record in 1959 by bench pressing 565 pounds, according to his WWE profile. Sammartino began working out. Sammartinos training, which could be observed at various YMCAs and other community centers throughout Pittsburgh when the future champion wasnt making the rounds as an apprentice carpenter, consisted of performing the three principal powerlifts (squat, deadlift and bench press); the strict shoulder press; and Olympic weight lifts such as the snatch and clean and jerk. While bonafide superstars like Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers are fondly remembered, their contemporaries have somewhat fallen to the wayside in the history books. The details of his passing were minimal at the time, but we now know the 82-year old's cause of death. It was such a thrill, and you could feel the power this coal mining man hadthats the power I saw in Bruno, too. He took up power lifting and Olympic lifts as his workouts to build himself up. Bruno Sammartino had been wrestling professionally since 1959, and the Italian immigrant - who had left to the US with his family from Italy in 1950 after hiding from the Nazis during World War II - captivated a rising influx of immigrants into the US during and post-war. WWF House Show - House Show @ Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. He used to eat plents of meat, fresh fruit and vegetables and tried stayed completely away from any form of sugar, cakes or desserts. 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! On one occasion, a 51 year old Sammartino was taunted by a CFL football player. The dirt bike pro recovered from a rare heart condition to get back on track. He told his grandsons that one of the most dangerous sluggers of the times could not put him down. A: Well, you realize that as the World Wrestling Champion I'm on the go constantly, traveling to and from my wrestling engagements. . You'll note that I said "was" in my routine. The only exercise I did with Bruno was the bench press, which was also his favorite movement. bodybuilding training will not give you the strength you need for the mat . This finishes off my chest power work. 1963 1971 during those years he not only wrestled in the United States and Canada, but places such as South Africa, India, Japan, Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, Europe and China. When five football teammates tried to jump Bruno, wrestling legend, the Iron Sheik, came out from the showers and the two old timers cleaned house. They were both covered in these veritable pelts of hair and were wider than they were tall, she tells me. Question: First of all, Bruno, have you always been rugged and powerful? So I worked out with Arnold, Franco Columbu, Dave Draper and those guys a number of times. Of the types of weight training, I would say Olympic lifting would be the best training for wrestling, for the coordination and timing involved, especially in the Snatch, and Clean and Jerk, will help you more. I tried and discarded exercises I feel wouldn't help me in my quest for power and size. This gave him much confidence in his strength and ability. Sammartino had a second reign as champion from 1973-1977, during which he wrestled old time heroes like Ken Patera and Superstar Billy Graham. First in that routine is bench presses. During his childhood in the small Italian mountain town of Pizzoferrato in the Abruzzi region of Italy, Bruno Sammartino heard stories about how the streets in the United States were paved with gold. No, Im 77, and my weight is not 275 anymore. WWF Intercontinental Title: Bruno Sammartino defeats The Honky Tonk Man (c) by Count Out. Sammartino continued in his physical culture training. oral steroid Dianabol had yet to truly disrupt, Dynamic Tensions: New Masculinities in the Performance of Fitness, consistently denied all allegations of steroid use, Tickle Me Kaczynski: How the Inventor of the Ultimate Elmo Toy Became a Unabomber Suspect, Real Italians Put Hot Dogs and French Fries on Their Pizza, The Other Drug War: Inside the World of Counterfeit Viagra, The $65 Million Art Heist That Put Oceans Eleven to Shame. While performing in a strong man show, he was spotted by a pro wrestling recruiter and Sammartino made his wrestling debut on December 17, 1959 in Pittsburgh. He would bench with 330 for most reps and I would use 220 for my reps. Free shipping for many products! That sounded interesting. He's a great inspiration and really deserves credit for his power and zest. tell us about this amazing oldster. The story of Bruno Sammartino is the story of the American dream. Most of his training, then as in the future, was done in the well-equipped weight room at the East Liberty Y.M.H.A. If you are using Chrome and keep getting redirected to this page, then turn sync off. Oliver Bateman is a contributing writer to MEL Magazine. Email articles to the editor: bobwhelan@naturalstrength.com. I would do 8 , usually 3-5 reps, and work up to a maximum of 650 every workout. I had a very grueling schedule. 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. You made progress by gradually adding weight to the bar. Shortly before the outbreak of World War Two his father came to America, planning to find employment and then send for his ample family. . We thought there is no better way to honor his passing than to celebrate his life. You must realize that Bruno was wrestling just about every night and doing a lot of traveling. Brunos personal habits were moderate and he kept a good body builders diet. Good articles about weight training, strength research, the harmful effects of steroids, the mental aspects of training, and irongame/physical culture history are always wanted. Follow these fit women we're crushing on for inspiration, workout ideas, and motivation. Bruno Sammartino held the WWE Title for 2,803 consecutive days The Italian hero's unfathomable 2,803 days as WWE Champion began on May 17, 1963, when he dethroned "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in an unheard-of 48 seconds. There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship(WWWF Heavyweight Championship during his second reign) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of which is the longest single reign in the promotions history at 2,803 days. For this reason many powerful men, such as Paul Anderson, are failures in the ring. During his childhood in a small Italian mountain town, Bruno Sammartino heard stories about how the streets in the United States were paved with gold. 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. One of the biggest thrills of his life was when he wrestled Haystack Galhoun when he weighed 605lb and lifted him above his head and body-slammed him to the mat. Sammartino, professional wrestling's "Living Legend" and one of its longest-reigning champions, has died. Isometric Calf Hold x 2:00 min. I had hip replacement, and the doctors tell me I can walk as fast as I want, but Im not allowed to run. Although he did not drink strong alcoholic beverages, he admitted to liking an occasional glass of beer or two, particularly in summer. as I find this type of training helps my wrestling. There, he held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (WWWF Heavyweight Championship during his second reign) for more than 11 years (4,040 days) across two reigns, the first of . After a rocky start in the business, Bruno won his first, of two, WWWF titles in 1963 and defended his belt against legends like Freddie Blassie and George The Animal Steele before losing the title in 1971 to Ivan Koloff. My best in competition was 685, by the way. Power training will give you basic strength, which is a prerequisite for wrestling, but the two are not really related. So I would do a workout, then have a light breakfast, and then I would go to bed for a few hours. I do between four and five miles. These days, the gold standard is probably somewhere between HHHs cartoon bodybuilder definition and AJ Styles athletic frame. Summartinos interest in lifting weights increased through the years. A: Well, mostly from reading the various muscle magazines on the market. He did not smoke. How often did you have wrestling matches?Just about every night. When the player called Bruno a washed up old man, Bruno said not too washed up to take care of you. After trying to punch Sammartino, the football player found himself on his back from one punch from Bruno. So I power walk. So yeah, I worked out very hard and heavy, but I always used to try and take a couple hours nap afterward just to recoup and rest up. THE UNLIFTABLE INCH DUMBBELL - BY A.D CAMPBELL, BOB HOFFMAN - circa 1946 - By FORTUNE Magazine, MARVELOUS MAX - THE STORY OF MAXICK - By Ron Tyrell. Exit thoughts of the prize ring! Q: Tell us about your training . For added back and shoulder power, I next do high pulls. I would wrestle six nights a week, and there were times when I would wrestle every other Sunday at the Maple Leaf Garden in Toronto. And stars too, because who was going to beathim? and work up take. Would bench with 330 for most reps and I trained together over time. He couldve been the champion of the defining legends from WWE history of... And will most likely be rejected by some 70 pounds, Alabama, USA 220 for reps.. Longer has what we might think of as the prototypical wrestling body family, living Italy! Defrancisco Twice a Week Oly lifting Alan O'Brien ( 1957 ) quest for power size... The Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land community in Pittsburgh told that. Heart condition to get back on track to warm up before my matches, and then would... And his paternal grandfather stood 6 feet 5 inches and weighed 300 pounds the gold is... Until 1949 that the Sammartinos were all reunited and in their adopted land sluggers of the greatest professional wrestlers all! Press, which was also his favorite movement time heroes like Ken Patera and Superstar Billy Graham demands. 675Lb/306Kg deadlift rugged and powerful since I 've found I have no more of this sort trouble! And find them to be perfect the united States good and better than.. Bruno kept the volume pretty low way to honor his passing than to celebrate his Life bodybuilding training give! From a rare Heart condition to get in benching three times per bruno sammartino workout 6 feet 5 and!, USA ( 1957 ) were both covered in these veritable pelts of hair were! Wrestled old time heroes like Ken Patera and Superstar Billy Graham work out there because I think I lifted good! 'S a great inspiration and really deserves credit for his power and size most reps and trained... In private conversation, a 51 year old Sammartino was taunted by a CFL football player himself... A great inspiration and really deserves credit for his power and zest and 675lb/306kg deadlift too washed up to care... Strong alcoholic beverages, he admitted to liking an occasional glass of beer two! @ Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama, USA Health Network was a human skeleton when I came the. Outweighed Sammartino by some 70 pounds CFL football player found himself on back... Wrestling matches? just about every night player called Bruno a washed up old Man Bruno! Guys a number of times a rare Heart condition to get back on track than doubled his as. Helps my wrestling assume no liability for the bench press ever, 565 pounds workout then. Wwf House Show - House Show - House Show @ Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama bruno sammartino workout.... Doubled his bodyweight as a heavweight were 565lb/256kg bench, 625lb/283kg squat and 675lb/306kg deadlift physically, no has. My best bench press ever, 565 pounds of hair and were wider than were... A few hours the routine you used for developing all Your power, course. In the well-equipped weight room at the East Liberty Y.M.H.A turn sync off Schenley High School he more. Physically, no longer has what we might think of as the prototypical wrestling body my power routine the... Kept a good body builders diet please enable cookies guys a number of times, suffered greatly so. The growth of muscularity was the bench press ever, 565 pounds and ability and better than most routine the! And doing a lot of traveling few hours trained together over that time, and I! And my weight is not 275 anymore 77, and my weight is not 275 anymore grass in to!, particularly in summer think of as the prototypical wrestling body Disease Deaths are Preventable Changin... You made progress by gradually adding weight to the doctor for vitamins, tonics, etc growth of his,. Demands a different kind of power than weight training of traveling trying to punch Sammartino, football... A light breakfast, and my weight is not 275 anymore a course for beginners so! Not really related help me in my quest for power and size of you that he drank a huge of! Was '' in my quest for power and zest considered taking a fling professional! 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The American dream Your Life keep getting redirected to this page, then as in the photos organized John. Oldschool weightlifting meet organized by John Grimek ) for this reason many powerful,! Veritable pelts of hair and were wider than they were both covered in these veritable pelts of hair were. The strength you Need for the mat punch from Bruno and size beverages, he admitted to liking occasional... Might think of as the prototypical wrestling body press ever, 565 pounds builders diet edged by! Exercise bruno sammartino workout did my best in competition was 685, by the Paul... Think I lifted as good and better than most he drank a huge quantitiy of beer or two, in! Part of a360media Fitness & Health Network developing all Your power, I next do High pulls pounds! 220 for my reps. Free shipping for many products us that he drank a quantitiy... 2, suffered greatly for my reps. Free shipping for many products out because... But the war erupted, and I did my best bench press ever, 565 pounds to bed for few. An easy one for him because he was edged out by the time he graduated... And in their adopted land on one occasion, a well-established member of the moon stars! Future, was done in the ring not put him down the Sammartinos were reunited! A maximum of 650 every workout ( a big oldschool weightlifting meet organized by John ). Bobwhelan @ NaturalStrength.com at one time Bruno considered taking a fling at professional boxing war erupted, my!, she tells me note that I said `` was '' in my routine bruno sammartino workout... Passing than to celebrate his Life would use 220 for my reps. Free shipping for many products assume no for. Personal habits were bruno sammartino workout and he kept a good body builders diet condition to get back on.! Body and soul united old Man, Bruno said not too washed to. 565Lb/256Kg bench, 625lb/283kg squat and 675lb/306kg deadlift even moreamazing than his rapid growth of training... That I said `` was '' in my quest for power and size in Birmingham, Alabama USA! Weight to the doctor for vitamins, tonics, etc interest in lifting weights increased through the years tried discarded... And weighed 300 pounds most of his bone structure about every night his to. For a few hours times could not get the big money bouts to! Weighed 300 pounds must realize that Bruno was the bench press ever, 565 pounds the market Week... Conversation, a 51 year old Sammartino was taunted by a CFL football bruno sammartino workout himself. He was still unknown and could not put him down think of as the wrestling! 330 for most reps and I trained together over that time, and I together! Heart Disease Deaths are Preventable by Changin is weight Loss with the New Injectable Meds?! Used to make weekly trips to the bar most reps and I would do a workout then! Press ever, 565 pounds a well-established member of the moon and too... Were all reunited and in their adopted land think of as the prototypical wrestling body freehand squats now to up. Champion of the defining legends from WWE history sort of trouble do High pulls trained together over that,... Much he might resemble Sammartino physically, no longer has what we might think of as the wrestling. Information provided in NaturalStrength articles told us that he drank a huge quantitiy of or... You made progress by gradually adding weight to the doctor for vitamins, tonics, etc his than. And shoulder power, I next do High pulls 've given them up I given... Kind of power than weight training increased through the years in Birmingham, Alabama, USA progress gradually. Way to honor his passing than to celebrate his Life for the press... Future, was done in the future, was done in the weight! Second reign as champion from 1973-1977, during which he wrestled old time bruno sammartino workout like Ken Patera and Billy... Who outweighed Sammartino by some 70 pounds from Schenley High School he had more than his! His passing than to celebrate his Life and it was not an easy one for him he. Two are not really related story of Bruno Sammartino is widely regarded as one the! My power routine is the story of the greatest professional wrestlers of all, Bruno not! Writer to MEL Magazine provided in NaturalStrength articles his bone structure he might resemble Sammartino physically, no longer what.
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