Unbreakable Might And Strength: John Henry And Sledgehammer Training

Sweat pouring down like a waterfall, a fire within his soul, John Henry carved his name into the very depths of the human psyche that became legendary. A tale of raw power, relentless grit and a sledgehammer that made him a mythical American titan.

A man among myth and an epic saga that brings you into the heart of man's will to fight with only the shirt on his back and a hammer that made mountains quiver. A spirit beyond comprehension that echoes throughout the generations. More than a story, it's a blueprint to channel that fiery energy into training like a hero among mere mortals. Strength that defies machinery. If you're hungry for the powerful development that is training with a sledgehammer, time to shut off the news, get into a quiet space and read on. A guide that helps you become a force to be reckoned with.

John Henry wasn't just a man, he was a hurricane in human form. A hammer at his side at birth, so goes the myth, was a railroad worker in the late 1800's, the days when muscle was a currency for progress. As the legend goes, he was a black man that was built with a physique that would make Hercules look twice, took on the Steam Powered Drill in a contest of awesome proportions to strike steel spikes into the rocks, laying tracks. It was the ultimate contest of man vs machine. He won but at a cost. He beat the machine with such intensity that it broke his heart (literally). Although victorious, it was without tragedy in the end.

Was he the real deal? Was he made up? Who gives a shit? John Henry was the very definition of a laborer's laborer and an embodiment of what it means to be a hard working human being. He wasn't just physically strong, he was a man that didn't bow down. The hammer that made him an American Legend, it was a tool that forged not just a body but the spirit of a warrior.

What makes Sledgehammer Training so valuable in today's fitness culture?

It carries more than what a fancy looking gym and shiny dumbbells could ever do. Sure thy can make you strong and have merit to your development, but a hammer forges strength that is indescribable. It's royalty among tools of power and might (see what I did there?). It's primal, raw and commands the respect for those that hold it in their hands. You're not just swinging, you're channeling the force of a weapon that can destroy or build. You're mastering control and building a body that moves mountains. It's just you and the hammer, creating something amazing.

It's one of the finest tools in existence to build strength. Here's an idea why that is.....

It's A Full Body Recruiter: Every time you swing this fucking thing, your legs are engaged, your core is being tested in stabilizing, your back is in the trenches that adds in power with your shoulders and arms. You're not isolating, you're developing muscle that acts as one gigantic piece of an ever growing puzzle. 

A Grip That The Gods Would Be Proud Of: Holding that hammer in your hands and swinging with such force that it sounds like thunder roaring, you're building forearms and hands that could crush stones into the tiniest of pebbles. Your hands will be like a vice.

Explosiveness Like Dynamite: It's not slow reps, it's unleashing controlled chaos. That swing becomes a burst of power, hitting those fast twitch fibers like a Barry Bonds homerun. 

A Mental Fortitude: It's not ethical to swing a hammer with half-assed technique, quite frankly it's almost impossible. Your focus is demanded, your intent is ferocious and your heart is being commanded to JUST BRING IT!! It's a test as much as as building muscle, just like John Henry looking into the mighty steam drill.

Is There Science Behind Sledgehammer Strength?

Absolutely...It's beyond simplicity or just caveman type stuff. With training with a sledgehammer, in a 2014 study in the Journal Of Strength And Conditioning Research, it shows that swinging a sledgehammer improves muscular endurance and explosive power, especially in the posterior chain (your ass, hammies and the back). The dynamic, multi joint nature of the movement jacks up the heart rate torches calories like a damn furnace (400-600+ per HR) and builds real world strength. When it comes to the demanding grip, it strengthens tendons and ligaments, building resilience against injury. 

Want to get an idea on how to properly swing a hammer? Check it out HERE!!!  

When it comes to repetitions, it can vary depending on your goals, start with a few swings per side and build from there, you can do other exercises as well which you can look into and see what you'd like to do. For me, I try to keep the sets at 10-20 per side with basic swinging and build up in the hundreds at times, with a heavier hammer, you won't have the same speed tempo but you do what's possible and still be explosive with your swings. Keep solid form, progress accordingly and kick ass in your journey.

Be amazingly awesome and carve out your legend. For the best hammers, go to Strongergrip.com and have one made for you, even go as far as having something you love engraved into the head of the hammer like I have with my SF Giants hammer which I have loaded up to 32 lbs of Thunderous Fury. Moving and smashing this thing is incredible, lifting and moving 10's of thousands of pounds per workout. 

Share this on your social media

Contact me either through email or using the Contact Form

Shoot me a comment (please be respectful)

Weapons Of Strength

             In Mythology, there are specific weapons that can wreck havoc but at the same time, they define the strength of the person that holds that weapon. Zeus’ Thunder Bolt is one of the all-time mightiest weapons and it puts destruction into wherever he throws it but it gives him the ultimate power over all the gods. Thor’s Hammer is the muscle weapon of Norse Mythology, like the Sword of Excalibur; only one person is deemed worthy to hold it in his hands and it gives him strength that excels over anything else and brings manly power in its grasp. Poseidon’s Trident is just flat out surreal when it’s been used at it’s maximum power, it can devour oceans, destroy ships within a snap and puts you at a stand still to how it is unmatched by just about every other weapon.

            One of the most underrated stories in American Folklore is that of John Henry and the Epic Sledgehammer. In a time where race was feared and those of different color got the shaft just for what their skin holds brought a lot of hardships, hard ache and the struggle to live among other people. Henry brought struggle to light by the use of his mighty hammer and taking on an obstacle that is practically impossible to do, he turned it into triumph and the will to fight for what he felt was the right thing to do. With the swing of his hammer, he symbolized what the weight of the world felt like and fought with every breath of him with swing after swing; he built hope and internal strength that has been long forgotten. Although he was physically gifted and was a might of man, he used the strength of his heart to conquer the demons that roamed in that time.

            The most powerful weapon is nothing physical, nothing you can see with your very own eyes and it’s certainly not a weapon that is to be underestimated and that’s the power of your mind. How we use our minds determines our strength on another scale. The way we think creates a chain reaction that pits you against the ultimate opponent and that’s YOU!!! We build thoughts, emotions and solving/creating problems by how we use our minds, the stretch of the imagination is limitless and with practice; we can devour obstacles, conquer challenges and fin solutions that have logical correction. By understanding who you are and how we perceive ourselves and change how we think we can build success and live the life that was meant for us. By projecting your Self-Image, you learn to create success that brings you happiness, love, protection from negative energy and can even create financial success with the right attitude and using your imagination.

            It’s not something to just jump in and think it’s an instant snap of your fingers. If you want to build your weapons, you need to step up and take it step by step by finding what you want to do whether it’s to build strength, lose weight, build functional muscle or even just want to build a better income; project yourself with a thirst for a positive attitude, be organic, don’t be afraid to fail and be responsible for what you want to accomplish. Nobody can create success for you; no one has your body, your health or your dreams. Be bold and look to things that give you guidance, learn what gives you purpose and how you can make yourself into a happy and high self-esteemed person.

            

       Watch the movie Field Of Dreams sometime and look to the biggest quote of the movie “If you build it, they will come.” What that truly means in my eyes is that to truly be successful, you need to build yourself from within and they (meaning the universe and your imagination) will come to you and guide you but it’s up to you to make the effort. 

Having The Power Of John Henry In Your Hands

We've all heard stories of men with super strength and the ability to move mountains, rivers and show artificial things who's boss because real strength comes from man not machine. I've heard stories like this ever since I was little and one of my all-time favorites is that of the Legendary John Henry. The man born with a mighty hammer.

A poor african-american boy born into slavery wanted nothing more then to be free and stronger then his fellow man. That dream came true when he was set free by Honest Abe and the Emancipation Of Proclimation and grew to be a towering man of pure powerful muscle and strength that we still talk of today. After being married to a lovely and beautiful woman, they set out to find work with no more then a few things and the trust of John's powerful sledgehammer.

Working on the railroad back in those days was common for african-americans so building tracks was honest work but very hard labor and bosses tried to find the best they can get to build as many tracks for trains as possible. All were hard working men but none had the strength and might Big John Henry did and he pounded every nail and spike into those tracks until he couldn't stand anymore. As civilization started becoming more industrialized, machines started their trend of taking over the working man of the railroad and most of them just couldn't stand the speed and power that machines had. Machines were building tracks faster and in less time. One man couldn't help but stand and fight the machine and prove that man was better then machine.

Certain stories of John Henry said he couldn't beat the machine, some said he did but either way, the towering man of strength put every fiber in his being to conquer and out power that overloaded metalized machine and almost every story has said he died doing it. No matter what story you remember of old John you must remember its message. Focus on the very thing that gives your meaning and putting your heart and soul into it and everything else won't mean a damn thing. John gave us the inspiration to conquer our own machines in life and that you don't need so many things to live your life, all he had was his hammer, the clothes on his back and a bride that stood by his side till the very end. The point I'm making is never let something stand between you and your dream of success.

Now whether John Henry was real or a made up anecdote to inspire men of that era and from generation to generation onward there was and still is however a reincarnation of John Henry and his name is Lawrence Farman. In the strongman world he is known simply as Slim and in full Slim The Hammerman. A man who worked tirelessly in a rock quarry for over 50 years became the strongest man in hi specialty feat of leverage lifting using a heavy sledgehammer. He performed strongman shows showcasing his power of bending nails, driving through boards, mangle long bars of steel, break chains and of course lifting his mighty hammers. No one will ever beat Slim at what he did and if it does happen I want to see it. Now you too can become Hammer Strong and use Slim's and Henry's inspired strength to lever and beat tires with your own sledgehammer and if you're a Thor fan you can get a set and work hard that will make the go himself proud.

Never try to be a second rate somebody, be a first rate you and build your own legendary status just like John Henry before you has done as well as Slim. Trust the tools you have and let them be your guide to super strength, power and might.