Back in the vaudeville days of the early 20th
century and even today in some areas, there were men and women performing
various feats of strength that would get the crowd roaring and make their jaws
drop in amazement. In the fitness world today, almost nobody does even a few
feats because it’s not up to their standards and don’t want to go to that other
level but I believe you’re a little different. You can learn various feats
because the human body is capable of doing things we still haven't discovered
yet.
When you
train in certain feats whether it’s nail bending, card tearing, ripping phone
books in half, scrolling steel or even pick up an awkward heavy object; make it
interesting, find what makes them fun to do and perform in a way that’s geared
towards who you are and what you represent. I've seen guys who try to copy
another’s performance or try to be something they're not but I've also seen
guys who have a unique way of performing or even just training to where yes
it’s a little odd but it’s cool at the same time. Being unique is never a bad
thing, you are one person and you have the right to become anything you want to
be if you set your mind to it.
Even if you
don't aspire to be a performing strongman you can still make the most out of
your strength feats by just playing around and build your body a little
differently. Some people take aerobics classes, run on the treadmill, lift
weights, do complicated programs (Insanity anyone?) but then there are those who
do things a little out of the ordinary, they use their bodies in ways most
would run away from. Imagine steel that’s not meant to bend just melt in your
very own hands or tearing up decks of cards like a piece of paper or lever
heavy sledgehammers to your face without smashing into it. It is beautiful when
you get it down to a “T”. One of my favorite feats which I have performed in
front of more than 600 kids and adults is where I bend a 6 inch spike into a U
while holding the wrestler’s bridge with my nose touching the floor. Most
people can't even hold a bridge like that let alone bend a spike that big so
it’s an awesome feeling to be able to do that. Work on different feats and find
ones that you find exciting to you and want to perform the most of, this helps
you find your niche and find your creative side.
Taking
certain feats to a new level is the fascinating thing in the world of Physical
Culture. On video I've seen a guy rip a deck of cards while being hung by his
neck, another in person where he had a plate on his stomach and someone from
8-10ft up drops a bowling ball on top of it, why not rip a phonebook while
hanging upside down; there are many unique ways to do a feat but I advise you
to not go so crazy like a WWE show but you can do things that nobody else can
do and that’s where taking it to another level is just that much sweeter. You
have more power in you than you would believe and you have gifts that people
would envy but never think you’re not good enough. You want to be different and
you are different so do what makes you happy. Don’t be someone else, they’re
already taken, be who you are and have fun with it.
