Wednesday, December 2, 2009

November 2009

Dean Vernon Wormer
"Zero point zero".

Sunday, November 8, 2009

October 2009

Alex "You Wanna Piece o' Me" G.
Proving you're never too young to fight for your woman.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

September 2009

Robert Melia
New Jersey cop (aka "Bob the Flamer") with an unconventional love for cattle.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

August 2009

Chew Kok
Cab driver that reminds us that no matter how bad things get, they could always be worse

Sunday, August 9, 2009

July 2009

George Hamilton
Tanned. Rested. Always on vacation.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

June 2009

John Delorean
The stainless steel tycoon knew what it took to impress a lady.

May 2009

Pagoza Joe
He listens more than half the time.

April 2009

Dick Vitale
For putting renewed vigor into old games.

March 2009

Haiku
Marking Jungle time.
Tough choice over God of Fire.
Haiku is the one.

February 2009

Obama
Magic man.

January 2009

Spicy McHaggis
For inspiring humor to [hopefully] get us through the downturn.

December 2008

Prometheus
For his love of fire.

November 2008

Judge Smails
From the movie "Caddyshack" for his inspirational speech at the yacht club about the stock market and success.

October 2008

Jackson Browne
The Pretender, always; at home and on the road.

September 2008

Nikita Krushchev (1894-1971)
For his threatening role in the cold war. Don't even think about leaving him a vmail.

August 2008

Jack Black
For his drive to complete just one pushup. Not a big number, but one's all you need.

July 2008

Alex
The Man. The Legend.

June 2008

Mr. Bean
For rubbing people the right way.

May 2008

Alfalfa
From "The Little Rascals" fame. President of the "He-Man Women Haters Club".

April 2008

Andy Grove
Semiconductor mogul and author of "Only the Paranoid Survive" which at the Iron Jungle translates to "question everything".

March 2008

Kamal
For entertainment purposes, he soaks himself in lamp oil and burns himself in front of crowds. "I am only scarred about the face and breast, chest, neck, and head . But other than that I look fine"

February 2008

25 Cent
Record holder in the 40.

January 2008

Rockefeller
For bankrolling the whole operation.

December 2007

Robert Hooks
He's got his cool, baby, and that's enough.

November 2007

Edward Muench
He suffered for his art.

October 2007

Rodney Dangerfield
For his acknowledgement that he never got any respect.

September 2007

J. Edgar Hoover
For wiretapping conversations that took a turn for the worst, sometimes by accident and without even knowing it.

August 2007

People of Planet Earth
Without which the IronJungle would be exactly where it is today......nowhere.

July 2007

Butch Cassidy
For coming out "guns a blazing" against all odds.

June 2007

The Village Idiot
Above average stupidity lost ten years of historical data by not backing up important files..

May 2007

Rob Roy
Perfect traveler and trail blazer providing an unfair competitive advantage.

April 2007

Dave Bellomo
For kickin' it old school with his dinosaur training regimen.

March 2007

Buck Weimer
Inventor of the under-tec containment system.

February 2007

Billy Dee Williams
Famed spokesperson for Colt 45 Malt Liquor.

January 2007

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Eminent English naturalist who achieved lasting fame by convincing the scientific community that species develop over time from a common origin.

December 2006

Venus De Milo
For a statuesque performance that brings a smile to the masses.

November 2006

Jack Palance (1919-2006)
For celebrating his Oscar award by doing one arm pushups; at age 73.

October 2006

Buck O'Neil
Former Negro League athlete who, at 94 years old, stepped up to the plate to became baseball's oldest ever professional player.

September 2006

Gallagher
For exchanging his skills in comic relief for a paycheck.

August 2006

Stephen Colbert
His humorous reports always grab audiences hook, line, and sinker.

July 2006

E.F. Hutton
For the deafening silence created from his buying and sellout advise.

June 2006

Mr. Clean
For removing incriminating cookie stains.

May 2006

Yukon Cornelius
Famed gold prospector that always has nuthin'.

April 2006

Alpha Dog
For being the Master of the Havasu Falls Peacock Strut and for serving up C-rations to his campmate through the side vent.

March 2006

Harvey Mudd
A mining engineer and co-founder of one of the richest copper (and perhaps Sapphire) mines in the world. Namesake of Harvey Mudd College founded in 1955.

February 2006

Aretha Franklin
Giant of soul music, singer with clean pipes, and icon of American pop as a whole.

January 2006

Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727)
One of the foremost scientific intellects of all time. Newton had numerous ground breaking discoveries in optics, mathematics, mechanics, gravitation, and chemistry. Many consider Newton the greatest scientist of all time. He was also a virgin all his life.

December 2005

Michael Vale
Most known through his acting role in Dunkin' Donuts commercials as "Fred the Baker".

November 2005

Mark Birmingham
For reporting that Webster defines "success as the state or condition of being successful".

October 2005

Felix the Cat
The wonderful wonderful cat.

September 2005

Marlin Perkins (1905-1986)
Recognized as one of the leading ecologists and naturalists in the world. Without the advent of the web and digital wildlife cameras, he helped bring wildlife into American living rooms.

August 2005

Casey Butt
Iron game author and scientific predictor of maximum muscular bodyweight.

July 2005

Bob Villa
The original host of PBS's famed television series "This Old House" who has been causing spousal disputes for over 25 years.

June 2005

W. Mark Felt
Lived a double life as the mysterious 'Deep Throat' informant, and ironically led the investigation to find himself.

May 2005

Annabelle
This Jungle member started hittin' the juice at the age 18 months.

April 2005

Sister Mary Elephant
For her tolerance with constant pandemonium.

March 2005

Richard Sandrak
Little Hercules.

February 2005

Jimmy the Greek
70's sports talkshow icon.

January 2005

Phil Black
Inventor of the FitDeck.

December 2004

R. Madeline (Gramma) Bucci
She set the gold standard since 1912.

November 2004

Hal Beames
Not to be confused with Jim Beam, this super nice guy dishes up a heapin' helpin' of sammiches.

October 2004

Glenn the Tailor
Official tailor of the Iron Jungle. Known for his generous cut shirts.

September 2004

Timmy Lupus
Little known, but feared and dreaded.

August 2004

Paul Harvey
For providing the rest of the story.

July 2004

Jose Cuervo
Famous Mexican goose farmer that took things a bit too far.

June 2004

Johnny Hempseed
Hittin' the deck. Rockin' it North.

May 2004

Kris Holm
2002 World Unicycle Trials Champion.

April 2004

Moment of Silence

March 2004

Monk Zhang Xiao Ju
Master of the extreme ball pack.

February 2004

Rev. Frank Garrett, Jr.
Host of Austin's 88.7FM KAZI weekday morning radio show "Wake-Up Call".

January 2004

John Winger
John Winger, who was never convicted, went on to become a candidate for the Special Olympics.

Monday, July 6, 2009

December 2003

Hank Nasiff, Jr. (1962-2001)
Affectionately know as "Hank, The Angry Drunken Dwarf".

November 2003

Josey Wales
The outlaw who would punch a hole in anyone that stood in his way.

October 2003

Rusty the Addict
Because anyone can get started, but knowing when the line is crossed another matter.

September 2003

Johnny Cash (1932-2003)
Dressed in black, this America hero walked the line with a burning ring of fire.

August 2003

Mrs. Nichols
Official 3rd teacher of The Iron Jungle.

July 2003

Bill Murray
And then depression set in.

June 2003

Peter Gabriel
For shocking the monkey.

May 2003

Lance Armstrong
National and world champion cyclist, two time Olympian, role model, testicular cancer survivor, and 4-time [now 7-time] winner of the Tour De France.

April 2003

Mike Weir
...is left handed.

March 2003

'The Guy'
For presiding over the rise and fall of a false empire.

February 2003

George Washington Carver (1864-1943)
Inventor of the peanut.

January 2003

Kiana
A head-turning endorser of the Powerblock system, she is a firm reminder not to watch TV during workouts.

December 2002

Guido
Non scompigli intorno con Guido quando sta tagliando sulla carne di antipasto della costruzione del muscolo, o vi darà l'occhio di puzzo.

November 2002

Kid Rock
Self proclaimed real McCoy.

October 2002

Barry Bonds
Talented, arrogant, and proud of it. Bonds delivers and deserves to be well taken care of. His heroics often snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Don't piss this player off, or he could become public enemy number one.

September 2002

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
The most popular American poet of the 19th century, a storyteller, whose works are still cited or parodied. Longfellow is considered the first professional American poet. A number of his phrases have become a common property.

August 2002

Jackie Chiles
For his 'so-called' lawyer skills.

July 2002

Chris 'Cueball' Matthews
Proving all theories are true.

June 2002

Chevy Chase
For his portrayal of a zen golfer in the movie "Caddy Shack".

May 2002

Andrew Raynes
Strongman Andrew "Stumpy" Raynes doesn't stop training until he's sick and shares a common nickname with the world's shortest ATE salesperson.

April 2002

Arth Guinness
Arth Guinness revolutionized the brewing industry and fathered 21 children.

March 2002

Kurt Kenobbie
Not to be mistaken for some skinny blond guy from the Foothills, a 24 year old Kurt Kenobbie bulked up to levels normally reached by men twice his age.

February 2002

Dick "Night Train" Lane, 1929-2002
* Abandoned in a Dumpster when he was 3 months old * His mother was a prostitute and his father was a pimp * Childhood nickname "Cue Ball" for having thrown a cue ball into the back of the head of a boy who ran from a lost pool bet * Record-setting rookie defensive back with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952 * Pioneered now illegal clothesline tackle dubbed the "Night Train Necktie" * Six time Pro Bowl Player * Married and divorced three times * Road manager for comedian Redd Foxx * Proved that in America any dream is possible *

January 2002

Joe Hise
During Great Depression, Joe Hise added 29 pounds of muscle in one month by doing rib cage expanding Hise Shrugs and guzzling milk.

December 2001

Yingying
Yingying lifts weights during performances at the Chinese Acrobats Arts Festival in Beijing late October 20, 2001. Yingying is said to be the only member of the endangered species in the world able to dunk a basketball, go down a slide and drive a car.

November 2001

Johnny Cash, 1932-2003
Per business newspaper IBD, his "Ring of Fire" helped him chase down dreams to walk to line [whereever that line may be].

October 2001

Phillip W. Katz (1963-2000)
Software pioneer that invented the PKZip compression technique used by millions.

September 2001


August 2001

Izzy Mendelbaum (1913-1998)
Even while in his 80's, Izzy was serious force in the gym. Izzy used motivational phrases like, "It's go time", "Drop your purse, Honey", "We're kickin' it up a notch", and "You lag, you drag" to inspire his workout parnters. Our personal favorite was "Get ready for a ride on the pain train!".

July 2001

Jack Lalanne
Legendary fitness pioneer Jack Lalanne boasts a 29 year old body at age 85. Jack has personally warned Iron Jungle members against the nutritional hazards of airline food.

June 2001

Molly Hatchet

May 2001

Giant Majin
This Asian legend continues to leave Jungle audiences awestruck and dumbfounded with his patented 'cobra' style posing technique.

April 2001

Alt Tab
Alt pioneered the "secret super set". Iron Jungle members rely on his ability to pump multiple exercises simultaneously by transferring muscle groups on demand. One exercise on the main floor for all to see; the others hidden in the background away from prying eyes.

March 2001

Eric the Waiter
A bulked-up Eric the Waiter once fueled a legendary Iron Jungle push-up contest by serving high carbohydrate meals delivered on a silver platter.

February 2001

Captain Kirk
Pioneered the cross wind takeoff.

January 2001

Howard Schultz
Bean roasting pioneer Howard Schultz serves up the official beverage of The Iron Jungle international road warrior wireless player moguls.

December 2000

Broadway Joe Willie Namath
Broadway Joe Willie battled through numerous meniscus tear nightmares. Career highlights include NFL Hall of Fame induction, wearing/selling women's clothing and accessories, and Iron Jungle Hall of Fame membership.

November 2000

"Poobah"
The Iron Tongued Pygmy, who, according to Johnny Meah, is “a versatile dwarf who is still performing at age 70.”

October 2000

Anna Nicole Smith, 1967-2007
Injury plagues all bodybuilders. ANS reached BBHOF status by dropping a dumbbell and badly injuring her left wrist. We can only speculate that this happened in a weight room while doing double bubble dumbell curls. See Anna's wrist before her injury.

September 2000

Immyja Elway
In a hotly contested battle for this month's honors, Immyja beat out all challengers including Roger the Waiter, Cankle, and others. Immyja showed a rule breaker attitude that cemented his nomination by spitting in the face of authority.

August 2000

Surge
There could be a Pointe in Tyme when Surge becomes the most controversial member of The Iron Jungle Bodybuilding Hall of Fame.

July 2000

Mr. Fix
Mr. Fix gained the respect of The Iron Jungle members by performing an isometric strength training workout in a D/FW airport terminal prior to his international flight departure.

June 2000

"Friend of Kelso"
This nominee says he has heard nothing about being selected into the BBHOF, that he knows nothing about The Iron Jungle and that he hates publicity. Seems like strange words from a guy who selects a different photo of himself to be placed by his advise column in a mainstream powerlifting magazine each month. However, we still like his training methods. [Note: If you have a comment regarding this months nomination, please email it to LightenUpDoctorKen at IronJungle.Com]

May 2000

Stanazcek
Weighing in at 114lbs of pure muscle, Stanazcek blew away all challengers with a 1306 pound double bubble in the squat/deadlift at the IPF World's.

April 2000

Mike Chin
With his patented nod, Mike Chin inspired Jungle members to exercise the hard to reach facial muscles.

February 2000

Ray Corbin
The famous words of Ray Corbin , the heavily muscled character actor of War Games fame, inspired Jungle members to fight through the pain and take it to another level.

January 2000

Arron Hitz
The following are exact quotes from the emails that got Arron nominated: "HE IS VERY HAPPY THIS WEEK BECAUSE WHOPPERSARE NOW 2 FOR 2 BUCKS. HE WORKOUTS AT POWERHOUSE GYM LOMBARD IL 60148. HE CAN BENCH 315 AT 150PUONDS AND ALL WITHOUT ANYSLEEP!! HE ALSO HAS BEEN CHSASED AND BIT BY DOGS AND DEADLIFTS OVER 500POUNDS. HE MAKES ARONLD SWARZ. IMITAITONS ALOT AT THE GYM TOO. HIS TRAININIS SOMEHTIING TO SEE." [sic]

Saturday, July 4, 2009

December 1999

James Bond
007. Women love him, men want to be him. Iron Jungle members have long aspired to emulate this legendary hero, recently making his Omega Seamaster the official timepiece of the Iron Jungle.

November 1999

Neil Confessore
During his training for the Long Island Marathon, Neil lost 56 pounds in bodyweight, but was still able to maintain a bench press of over 370#. Neil is yet another successful example of the rare "powerlifting marathoner".

October 1999

Tim Banse
For his efforts in propagating "Kelsoism" and at The Iron Jungle.

September 1999

Uncle Booger
At home or on the road, Uncle Booger's philosophy is to keep all essential tools close by so each workout will have as few interruptions as possible. Uncle Booger's dedication and ingenuity keep him firmly seated on the iron.

August 1999

Ben Buford
Ben who, you ask...
Ben led the local black militant force in the movie "Shaft". Ben had bigguns by 1970's standards and looked a lot like the "Incredible Hulk".
..oh, that Ben Buford!

July 1999

Tim Isaac
In July 1997, the doctors said Tim would never lift weights again. In July 1999, with a completely revamped tricep muscle, Tim shocked the powerlifting world by bench pressing 802 pounds. Tim psyches up for his workouts by banging the seat of a metal folding chair against his head five times. This priming ritual is now used in several Iron Jungle locations.

June 1999

Big Iron Dave
The sole reason for Big Iron Dave's nomination was his cool sounding nickname.

May 1999

John the Bachelor
In seventh grade John stood a towering 6' 1" and was know to unleash his mighty forearm strength with the "book flip" exercise. As a young adult hitting the heavy iron John put a solid 40 pounds on his frame in one season.

April 1999

Greg Turturro
In a world of fancy marketing hype, greedy free agents, and fast food, Greg "The Real Deal" Turturro delivers results. Living alone in his van, Greg lived on sun-cooked pasta and the occasional heater meal. He developed massive forearms by personally revamping his desert home which was flattened by insect infestation and desert winds.

March 1999

Telly Savalas
Telly Savalas became a 1970's icon and renowned spokesman for the Player's Club. "Kojak" was selected for his signature bald head, his membership in the Player's Club and his classy selection in eyewear. On occasion, "Kojak" would show his muscle by roughing up a few bad guys during his TV show.

February 1999

John Wayne
Back when men were men, there stood a hero whose toughness served as a role model for those about to do battle. In a moment of eloquent glory, on screen legend John Wayne delivered a legendary (and ri-'G'-damdiculous) Hall of Fame speech to motivate our young men to make their mark on the world.

January 1999

The Earl of Sandwich
During his money making adventures, which usually meant playing cards, The Earl of Sandwich hated to be interrupted by dinner, so he'd just grab some meat between two slices of bread to expedite getting back to the tables. In other words, he would make big 'ole sandwiches so he could gamble and eat more sandwiches.

December 1998

Riku Kiri
Riku is a top contender in the World's Strongest Man competitions. One year he pushed through incredible pain and competed in the 'car carry' event despite having a broken ankle. This inspired one Iron Jungle member with an ankle injury to continue to focus on his fitness goals. Born in 1963, Riku has been hitting the iron since the age of seven and is a very tough man.

November 1998

Reggie
Reggie's infectious enthusiasm and abundant admiration for great workouts have driven The Iron Jungle members back to their "no frills, no fancy plants, no pretty shirts, just give me cold iron" roots. This Reggie gets no credit to the now famous REGI sammich.

October 1998

Homer J. Simpson
Born: 5/10/55; Height: 6' 0"; Weight: 261 lbs; Eyes: Black; Hair: Brown; Social Security#: 568-47-0008; Occupation: Springfield Nuclear Power Plant Safety Inspector; Salary: $382.19/wk; Address: 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, NT 49007; Favorite Exercise: 12 oz. curl

September 1998

Sammy the Cat
After emerging on the Iron Jungle scene in May 1996, Sammy distinguished himself with brilliant feats of strength in a brief yet inspiring career. Sammy was the only IJ member to successfully master the One-Arm Getup, a feat he once performed while perched in a tree. As a beloved Iron Jungle protege, Sammy's loyalty and dedication are will live on forever.

August 1998

Bill Henderson
Bill runs the very motivational "Worlds Strongest Moron" web site and has organized three Strong Man competitions for his workout partners. These efforts has catapulted Bill to be one of the all time favorite IJ BBHOF members. Training on a diet of Eggo Waffles, Cheez-Its, and generic Cherry Cola; Bill has placed as high as 2nd. Bill's fans at The Iron Jungle are hopeful that they will be invited to attend his Strongest Moron competition.

July 1998

Bill Kazmaier
In the 1989 Worlds Strongest Man contest Bill Kazmaier suffered a sprained ankle from the car roll event and a bicep tear nightmare from the stone carry event. Even with these sever injuries, his dedication to strongmanisn drove him to continue the competition. "Kaz" was unanimously nominated during the final workout at The Iron Jungle Phoenix location. The members staged a four hour long workout in 100+ degree heat where Kaz's WSM performance acted as inspiration.

June 1998

Lonnie Dee
Lon's moldable physique single-handedly redefined The Iron Jungle most muscular pose. Striking a Dee pose, when correctly mastered, effectively uses the trap and neck muscles to cut off the blood supply to the poser's brain.

May 1998

Elijah McCoy (1843-1929)
THE REAL McCOY! Engineering innovator Elijah McCoy, while working as a railroad fireman, developed and patented on July 2, 1872 an automatic lubricator for steam engines later used in steamboats and locomotives here and abroad.

April 1998

Jeff Kwiatkowski
At age of 20, Jeff reached a peak level of fitness at 6'0", 235 lbs (9.6% BF). At this time he sported a total of five broken noses and bench press maximum of 385 lbs. Years later, as an encore to pyramiding 20 sets of squats, he fell down a flight of steps only to crash through a large glass viewing window to break his fall. Jeff now bewilders his neighbors by completing a .6 mile Farmer's Walk course though his Manorville, NY subdivision with 105 lbs per hand in 15 minutes.

March 1998

"ErectoMan"
For providing anonymous inspiration to members as they make their 5:45AM pilgrimage to The Iron Jungle. Known only as "ErectoMan", this gaunt figure, in serious need of upper body work, haunts the roadways to The Iron Jungle providing a constant reminder of the importance of weightlifting.

February 1998

Matty Ferrigno
In the 1975 Mr. Olympia documentary "Pumping Iron", Matty Ferrigno mesmerizes the entire family while giving son Lou some timeless bodybuilding tips over dinner. The Matty quote below has become the motivational equivalent of a "double dog dare" at The Iron Jungle.

"Don't feel sorry for yourself. If your training hard, he [Arnold] may be training twice as hard." - Matty Ferrigno

January 1998

Coach Harlan
Coach Harlan was a football coach at Wharton High School in the 1980s. During the off season Harlan's routine of was "less than 8 reps means too much weight and more than 10 reps means not enough". This rule seemed to magically work for all exercises and form was optional. It is a wonder the violently shaking Universal Gym was never capsized from all stations jackhammering at full tilt. To start 1998 The Iron Jungle returned to the basic "get 8 to 10" program on many exercises; however, we use no machines, form and age restrictions are strictly observed.

December 1997

Melvin Tuten
At 6'7" 335lbs, Melvin boldly did the Farmer's Walk marching 100lb dumbbells through crowded downtown Washington, DC streets. In doing so, Huge Melvin unknowingly inspired the 1st annual Iron Jungle Farmer's Walk contest.

November 1997

Juan Lancaster
In Issue #50, page 21 of Hargainer Magazine is a photo of Juan deadlifting his Volvo with a kerb weight of well over 2000 lbs. Juan permanently mounted a T-bar device to his vehicle. This allows him to work in some much needed heavy 'deads' during any long road trip. This devotion to his workouts made him an instant nominee.

October 1997

Louis Cyr
The legendary old time French Canadian strongman. Genetics gifted him with one of the best bodies in the strongman game. The great Cyr's structure is enshrined with a small statue at the York Barbell Company. There is a huge life-size statue of this great man is on display in Toronto.

September 1997

Bob Mullen
Most likely, Bob's roots are far from that of the Iron Game. None of the members have ever spoken with him, but his body composition does not suggest that a trip to a gym has ever been a priority. What Bob does is shoot Colt 45 pistols really fast; more rapidly than anyone else on the planet. Bob is the World Quick Draw Champion. From this day forward, members of The Iron Jungle pull a "Bob Mullen" when a good workout is only possible is a very limited amount of time and the exercises are done in rapid succession

August 1997

Kenny Kirwin
This Rhode Island legend and mentor, introduced Big Mike to the iron game in 1979. To add more weight to an already impressive bench press, Kenny had Big Mike balance on top of the bar for negative work. Kenny also pioneered "Cutting a Deck", now used in today's grueling catapult sets at The Iron Jungle.

July 1997

Mark Mims
Nominated very late in the month, Mark easily defeated all other potential candidates. His dedication to results can only be described as true professionalism. His inspiration changed the attitude and awareness at The Iron Jungle virtually overnight. Mark freely shares his techniques that are often mimicked, but never fully capable of duplication by mere amateurs.

June 1997

Maxwell "Silver Collar"
When it comes to building muscle, The Iron Jungle always counts on the original Maxwell. Referred to by most as "msc" or "s", Maxwell is constant reminder that consistent small progressions in weight equal big and lasting strength gains. Accept no substitutes.

May 1997

Bob Hoffman
Probably the most influential man in the world of iron sports and longtime sufferer of strongmanism. Bob was the father of the York Barbell Company. He also founded the Weightlifting Hall of Fame headquarters, (N 40.02378, W 076.74269) a small, very specialized museum dedicated to the respective heritages of Olympic lifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and strongmanism. Bob's legend was created during the time when strongmen would demonstrate their might by lifting cumbersome objects and performing incredible stunts. Bob himself once bit a nail in half at the World's Fair strongman competition.

April 1997

Stuart McRobert
The fundamental training philosophy of The Iron Jungle is founded on the principles in McRobert's Hardgainer Magazine and BRAWN textbook. Both are a must buy for the drug free athlete devoted to strongmanism. McRobert's method is simple: Your focus should be on the 'big' lifts done in good form. Every workout add a small amount to your lifts. Leave the isolation exercises out of your program; they will only tax your recovery capabilities. Stay away from the hype in the 'muscle mag'.

"Life is short and quickly slips away - make the absolute most of it. Get your act together, direct your own life, realize your own goals."

March 1997

Maximum Bob Whelan
In Maximum Bob words, "toning is an inferior way to train with weights and is nothing more than low standards and surrendering to the norms of society". This symbolizes his dedication to serious bodybuilding. Maximum Bob catapults his clients' pain levels with torturous sets of cannonballed sandbag carries through a brutal obstacle course at his renowned Strength Training facility in Washington, D.C.. Maximum Bob's quest for total failure provides inspiration to The Iron Jungle.

February 1997

Stan "Flanders"
As the saying goes, "You never really appreciate someone until they're gone." A FOR SALE sign appeared on Stan's house and prompted his, long overdue, nomination. Each morning at 6:05AM, Stan unknowingly motivates the bodybuilders at The Iron Jungle by giving them an enthusiastic wave with his massive forearm from across the street . Stan's house was one of the original "Great Places" located on The Iron Jungle sign post.

January 1997

John Taroli
John sparked new motivation to The Iron Jungle in an unconventional sort of way. John, an ex-bodybuilder, is also a very creative metal worker. He fabricated a slick attachment that bolts onto our power rack to hold the Gerard Trap Bar. He then turned us on to some 3/4" rubber mats that are traditional used to line horse trailers. The mats are 1/4" thicker than those square mats generally sold for weightlifting. They also tougher and cost about 1/3 the price! They now pave the entire floor at The Iron Jungle.

December 1996

Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D.
Randall J. is the President of IronMind Enterprises, Inc. His philosophy reduces getting big and strong into one simple concept. We quote here from his book: "First load the bar to what you normally [squat] use for ten reps. Now, do twenty - no kidding. Second, every single workout, add at least five pounds to the bar". Super Squats, p. 22. ISBN#0-926888-00-5

November 1996

Chuck Clark
Chuck's posted this Email to advise a young lifter on building bigger legs to earn him this honor: Try this: "Take your 10 rep poundage and do 20 with it for 1 set. Take as many breaths as you need to do this. You should be breathing hard and have the definite opinion that the gym floor looks like a good place to be toward the end of the set. That's it for legs. Next week, come back and do it with 5 lbs more. You want something to back it up? Try reading any of the works of Randall Strossen Ph.D, J.C. Hise, Stuart McRobert, Peary Radar and many others". -Chuck Clark SPT

October 1996

Drew Israel
After shaking uncontrollably while performing a 20 rep set with 450 pounds on the Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral Leg Press, Drew proceeded to carry a 200 pound bloody sandbag through a professional Chinatown office building until collapsing in a seizure. Drew "The Living Wall" is so large he was named after a country.

September 1996

George Zottman
The man that added a special twist to the bicep curl. To this day, there or still those that have not heard of The Great Zottman: "I have never seen anyone do a Zottman curl... It seems to be such an obscure exercise that I'm surprised to learn that you [Mike Bucci] actually know who created it". -Michael Fenner, editor, MAF FITNESS NEWSLETTER.

August 1996

Pat H.
Founder of The Iron Jungle. Selected for his efforts in pioneering a new intensity level for the Farmer's Walk by stunning the crowd with a double cannonball. This practice has now become the norm.

July 1996

Al Gerard
Inventor of the Gerard Trap Bar.

June 1996

Brooks Kubik
Author of the step by step training programs Big Bench and Big Arms. Kubik holds many drug free bench press records and made the "Five-by-Five" bench press routine a mass building standard. Brooks' work is published monthly in HardGainer magazine.

May 1996

Paul Kelso
Founder of The Kelso Shrug System, a bodybuilding routine guaranteed to increase your strength and drop your I.Q. by 15%. In the words of Peary Rader, "Kelso has taken the shrug farther than anyone else in the game."

April 1996

No entry
Another dark and disappointing month at The Iron Jungle.

March 1996

No entry
A dark and disappointing month at The Iron Jungle.

February 1996

Jackie Chan
Chinese action actor and star of the hit movie Rumble in the Bonx. Jackie sets a great example by always going all out and 110% in everything he does.

January 1996

Bruce Lee
Chinese action actor that redefines the meaning of intense.

December 1995

Eugene
The first man in Mike's neighborhood to "do the stack".

November 1995

Franco
The 1976 Mr. Olympia winner, from the island Sardegna, that requires no last name.

October 1995

Brian D. Kline
4' 4", 105 pound, bodybuilding legend from V. Beach, CA. Best Bench: #315, Best Squat: #375, Best Vertical Leg Press (Kline's favorite exercise): #450.

September 1995

Mike B.
For his inspiration and bringing new levels of intensity to The Iron Jungle and earning the nickname Big Mike.

August 1995

Peary Rader (1909-1991)
Founder of Iron Man magazine and the 20 rep breathing squat. Rader began squatting with 35 pounds for 10 reps and worked up to well over 300 pounds for 20 reps."It's gonna be the hardest work you've ever done. You gotta be absolutely annihilated when you finish. If you even think of a second set, then you are loafing. All the muscle you'll ever build depends on how hard you work on this one set of squats". -P. Rader