Alexander Zass - A Different Kind Of Strength

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  • čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
  • A documentary covering the life, achievements and training methods of the great Alexander Zass. He was also known as Samson and "The Father of Isometric Training".
    Old School Bodybuilding playlist: • Old School Bodybuilding
    TIMESTAMPS:
    00:00 - Childhood
    05:17 - Early training
    08:13 - First contest
    10:28 - Becoming a strongman
    12:53 - World War 1
    14:47 - Prisoner of war, isometrics and jailbreaks
    19:35 - Return to the circus
    22:07 - Training principles
    23:29 - Retirement and death

Komentáře • 1,6K

  • @NattyLifeYT
    @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +76

    Old School Bodybuilding playlist: czcams.com/play/PLK7oVKkif-qXRDEob5MKbaT0KEZRe9niu.html

    • @yuvrajkumar1430
      @yuvrajkumar1430 Před 4 měsíci +2

      Brother please make video on prof rammurti naidu the indian hercules love from Bharat Bharat🇮🇳😊💪

    • @Gabrong
      @Gabrong Před 4 měsíci +2

      whoa whoa whoa. you looked up how to pronounce the Hungaian words and did a great job of it! or... where are you from?

    • @leszekwolkowski9856
      @leszekwolkowski9856 Před 4 měsíci +3

      I can't find anything regarding Zass's ethnicity. Born in then Polish Wilno (Vilnius) but was he Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, Belorussian, German? I suppose ultimately it doesn't make that much of a difference but I'm a geneticist so I can't help but ask.

    • @Gabrong
      @Gabrong Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@leszekwolkowski9856 I wasn't talking about Zass

    • @leszekwolkowski9856
      @leszekwolkowski9856 Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@Gabrong Appologies. My inquiry was directed toward the @NattyLifeYT

  • @thecentralscrutinizerr
    @thecentralscrutinizerr Před 4 měsíci +843

    The storms of this man's life were intense.
    His greatest strength wasn't in his body, but his mind.

    • @kazimierzspaczynski7401
      @kazimierzspaczynski7401 Před 4 měsíci +26

      Mind that made Alex so strong. I am 69 and do pull ups, push ups, dumb bells and other exercises.

    • @primesspct2
      @primesspct2 Před 4 měsíci +6

      agreed, and well said!

    • @mutation7777
      @mutation7777 Před 4 měsíci +5

      @@kazimierzspaczynski7401 gr8! heres ur medal!

    • @CT2507
      @CT2507 Před 4 měsíci +10

      @@J.Biden69 He could have given up in the prison, loosing his strength and wasting away in chains. But even under those conditions he found a way to train and stay strong. That's the power of the mind.

    • @CT2507
      @CT2507 Před 4 měsíci +9

      @@J.Biden69 You think they gave enemy prisoners nourishing meals during a war? Food that would grow your strength?
      Prison was not the place that made him, what are you talking about? He was strong before prison and once in chains and chained to the floor he started loosing his strength. Did you watch the video at all?
      That's when he applied his will power and mind to find a way to get strong again in spite of being in chains. And that's when he developed isometric training.
      But by any rate, it is always a strong mind and strong will power behind any training that makes it successful. Being born with strong bones and tendons is only the tip of the iceberg.

  • @kellyredds7292
    @kellyredds7292 Před 4 měsíci +477

    Breaks off seals of a train to make dumbbells without stealing a pin from the train, rescues a dying horse out of bonding, escapes prison four times only to make it back to the circus, and leaves his entire estate to a colleague out of empathy. This guy must have been a demi god.

    • @user-vb2wh6gj2p
      @user-vb2wh6gj2p Před 4 měsíci +15

      Superbad he was a great strong man Alexander' Robert Stanley

    • @trumanhw
      @trumanhw Před 3 měsíci +35

      Exactly what I was thinking but with 1 omission:
      Never harmed anyone while escaping, and loved his animals.
      He actually sounds like a deeply compassionate, caring guy, who's strong + mentally tough.
      You know ... like how
      ... strong men make good times
      ... good times create weak men.
      ... weak men create hard times. ... rinse + repeat. 😢 where we are today withe the alphabet idiots.

    • @scladoffle2472
      @scladoffle2472 Před 3 měsíci +11

      @@trumanhwyikes

    • @horsthooden4600
      @horsthooden4600 Před 2 měsíci +14

      @@scladoffle2472 Truth not yikes. That whole rainbow shtick is yikes.

    • @zevomen1894
      @zevomen1894 Před 2 měsíci +10

      ​@@trumanhw Your lack of self awareness in casting shade and contempt on people different from you in your own comment about this extraordinary man who was marked by both great strength AND great empathy & pacifism...
      You leave yourself in no such company but shame, lest you be a troll.
      You disgrace his memory.
      You said it yourself, he never hurt his captors... People who enslaved, beat, and tortured him...
      And he never sought revenge.
      All he ever did was fight his way out of his circumstances so that he could live his life the way he wanted to... Free from oppression.
      Not so different from what many oppressed people groups around the world are attempting themselves.
      I think it's time to look inward there, sparky. Play fetch.

  • @megaslayercho
    @megaslayercho Před 4 měsíci +254

    This man gave a hole new meaning to the expression "hold your horses"

    • @BatkoBrat
      @BatkoBrat Před 4 měsíci +3

      "Who's gonna carry the boats!? And the logs!!"

    • @SomeBuddy777
      @SomeBuddy777 Před 4 měsíci +2

      Yes indeed, a whole new meaning!

    • @paulrippcord506
      @paulrippcord506 Před 2 měsíci

      Maybe he invented the saying in the first place?

    • @Essex121514
      @Essex121514 Před 2 měsíci +1

      Whole*

    • @julianraiss5697
      @julianraiss5697 Před 2 měsíci +2

      :D you believe those photoshoped pictures and dumb tales? do you also believe in santa clauss still ?

  • @wideopenthrottl
    @wideopenthrottl Před 4 měsíci +162

    This dude's life is pure inspiration. His feats of strength are on another level. And he isn't even huge.

    • @kazimierzspaczynski7401
      @kazimierzspaczynski7401 Před 4 měsíci +8

      He was a 1 inch taller and 5 lbs heavier than me. He was The Man.

    • @dialecticalmonist3405
      @dialecticalmonist3405 Před 4 měsíci +14

      He's not even 260 though. Bradley Martin would destroy this little man.

    • @BatkoBrat
      @BatkoBrat Před 4 měsíci +7

      That and also his personality. The guy was humble, heroic, empathetic and had love for animals. A sweet soul in a rock solid body :)

    • @fastinradfordable
      @fastinradfordable Před 4 měsíci

      @@dialecticalmonist3405he’s not on PEDs tho

    • @rgw5991
      @rgw5991 Před 2 měsíci

      lol @@dialecticalmonist3405

  • @roel.vinckens
    @roel.vinckens Před 4 měsíci +569

    Now I want to see the movie of this man's life ...
    Well done !

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +66

      He definitely deserves it.

    • @coppertopv365
      @coppertopv365 Před 4 měsíci +24

      Not many could do today, what he did.. not even with movie magic could it give him the full respect he deserves.

    • @MrJohnnyDistortion
      @MrJohnnyDistortion Před 4 měsíci

      Hollywood will embellish the movie story with falshoods.

    • @thatdude3977
      @thatdude3977 Před 4 měsíci +2

      ​@@coppertopv365😂

    • @vincentperrault5900
      @vincentperrault5900 Před 4 měsíci +9

      Check out the movie ''Louis Cyr''. The strongest man that ever lived, a fascinating legend!

  • @Archangelm127
    @Archangelm127 Před 4 měsíci +386

    How on earth has nobody made a movie about this dude?

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +48

      It seems Hollywood doesn’t have much interest in this stuff. There’s a pretty good documentary made about The Mighty Atom but iirc it was funded but his family. I don’t know if there are any proper feature films made about old school lifters/strongmen.

    • @Archangelm127
      @Archangelm127 Před 4 měsíci +26

      @@NattyLifeYT I know. If it has any actual charm, much less (God forbid) realism, latter-day Hollywood isn't interested.

    • @pokerboyfakerish3266
      @pokerboyfakerish3266 Před 4 měsíci

      There is a film documentary that was made in Québec in 2013 about Louis Cyr's life. You should definitely give it a watch! (Titled ''Louis Cyr'') @@NattyLifeYT

    • @ThouSwell-zx3fd
      @ThouSwell-zx3fd Před 4 měsíci +6

      It reminds me quite a bit of a novel called Life on Umbriel, in which a 19th century strongman was groomed to take down a legendary outlaw who lived on top of a mountain.

    • @dialecticalmonist3405
      @dialecticalmonist3405 Před 4 měsíci +25

      Hollywood has no space for this kind of toxic story.
      They would prefer a story about a more "transitioning" sort of man.

  • @esmolol4091
    @esmolol4091 Před 4 měsíci +54

    This young man, is what one would really consider a real legend.
    What a machine.

  • @kekethetoad
    @kekethetoad Před 4 měsíci +155

    How has there not been a movie made about this man??!!
    What a video dude. Easily the best of yours that I've seen.

  • @NeoArmstrongJetArmstrongCannon
    @NeoArmstrongJetArmstrongCannon Před 4 měsíci +793

    The (overcoming) isometrics training was my entry to strength training and is something I do to this day religiously. And from my experience I can tell everything Alexander says is true. I do shoulder presses, bicep curls, RDLs , rows, bench presses and squats all isometrically 3 times a week and just trying it once you'll see that it's no bs. Your muscles start burning after 3 seconds. And the gains? Lightning speed. I was as a beginner able to go from 0 to 4 pull-ups in 2 weeks with just isometrics. Granted newby gains also played a part in this, but I think it's nothing short of incredible nonetheless. What's also true that this kind of training builds powerful tendons and strong muscles, but not big muscles. Rather than big, voluminous muscles, this training builds dense, compact, rock-like muscles, which will leave no one doubting the power behind them. Bruce Lee would also train this way, as per his notes and famous photos of him performing a bicep curl and a reverse curl with a metal bar chained to the floor. And Bruce Lee was considered one of the strongest pound-for-pound human. And he was also very lean with small muscles, which were, however, as stated by his student, hard as a rock. Another example is the unbeaten Indian wrestler The Great Gama, who would push on trees as a part of his training. And when he was asked why he does it, he said (paraphrase) "Because compared to the tree, throwing humans is a piece of cake." Another strongmen to allegedly have utilised isometrics were Paul Anderson or The Mighty Atom. I can sing nothing but praises to this forgotten way of training and if I've piqued your interest, I recommend the CZcams channels NoLimitSquad (who dedicates his entire channel to isometrics) and Red Delta Project (a modern-day fitness genius who's written a book on isometrics and talks about them often), but The Bioneer and Hybrid Calisthenics have also made videos about them. And there's also the channel Eric Moss, a modern day strongman who performs similar feats of strength nowadays, who also credits a big part of his strength to isometrics. All I can say about overcoming isometrics is a famous quote by Shia Laboeuf: "Just do it!"

    • @geraldfriend256
      @geraldfriend256 Před 4 měsíci +13

      Making an8x12 gym and I am installing a large eyebolt in the foundation for just that purpose. To hook a chain and bar to it and attempt impossible deadlifts.

    • @Tagerrun
      @Tagerrun Před 4 měsíci +26

      Newbie gains are a thing my friend when you just start lifting almost any kind of stimulus will get you results. If you want to maximize your muscle growth of athletic ability I recommend watching some of Dr mikes videos from RP hypertrohy. They do more than just body build there.

    • @nerveandmuscle
      @nerveandmuscle Před 4 měsíci +9

      If you program them correctly you can still reach new levels. I didn't get close to the one-arm pull-up till I started making most of my workouts overcoming isometrics with a dash of dynamic work every few days.
      And there are a few more of us out here. www.youtube.com/@studioathletics

    • @kimwelstead8994
      @kimwelstead8994 Před 4 měsíci

      Bruce Lee was an actor and performer. Don't believe all his self publicity. The Guy never even fought in any tournaments.

    • @farrierss1724
      @farrierss1724 Před 4 měsíci +9

      Thank you for posting these resources!

  • @alexstetson2397
    @alexstetson2397 Před 4 měsíci +233

    This was so inspirational that I want to get a picture of Alexander for my home gym.

  • @pillepolle3122
    @pillepolle3122 Před 2 měsíci +10

    that stoneage barbell was ingenious. he even added some rope for better grip. he took the rule "find something heavy and lift it" very seriously. He was truly a strongman both in body and mind. He was a surivivalist and very intelligent. What a life. Great documentary. Real great.

    • @adorp
      @adorp Před 2 měsíci

      It is AI generated. Not the real one.

  • @plantsheal-pflanzenheilkun6424
    @plantsheal-pflanzenheilkun6424 Před 4 měsíci +85

    Zass is a true inspiration. Among Hercule Grün, Steve Reeves and Hermann Görner, these guys are more than just strongman. They give taste to life and show what the human mind and body is capable of.

  • @conciglio5576
    @conciglio5576 Před 4 měsíci +125

    This is an incredible documentary, most people today would have never heard of this man if it was not for this video. Those photos of him staring into the camera were chilling considering what that man had seen and experienced in his life.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +6

      Thanks so much!

    • @williamwalker8107
      @williamwalker8107 Před 3 měsíci

      Imagine Zass confronting the strutting and posing muscle men of today.

    • @damageincorporatedmetal43v73
      @damageincorporatedmetal43v73 Před měsícem +1

      As I've said in the past, I've faught a few. theres this method... It envovles the sences, does it smell clean ??? When she pulls her pant's down does it dring a tear to you're eye ???

    • @williamwalker8107
      @williamwalker8107 Před měsícem

      @@damageincorporatedmetal43v73 WTF

  • @tomlucasrccrawlers9108
    @tomlucasrccrawlers9108 Před 4 měsíci +119

    I've read Zass's books. This little documentary is very well done. Great job.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +6

      Many thanks :)

    • @jacobclark89
      @jacobclark89 Před 3 měsíci

      Did they mention how to make your tendons strong ?

    • @Aiordo
      @Aiordo Před 3 měsíci

      Yes through overcoming isometrics. @@jacobclark89

    • @vwilhelm5788
      @vwilhelm5788 Před 2 měsíci

      Are they in Russian?

    • @Aiordo
      @Aiordo Před 2 měsíci

      Yes but they have been translated into english@@vwilhelm5788

  • @arxierus
    @arxierus Před 4 měsíci +9

    As a high school student more than 50 years ago I was considered to be the strongest on campus. Isometric training was certainly a part of my regimens. Thanks for this great video.

  • @soloman8059
    @soloman8059 Před 4 měsíci +16

    Read his book myself and thought that if someone were to encapsulate it in a video, then there is no better candidate for this task but you. And you did so magnificently.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +3

      That's very kind of you to say, thank you :)

  • @piggypoo
    @piggypoo Před 4 měsíci +40

    Man, they should make a movie about this guy's life.

  • @Inv1s1bleMan
    @Inv1s1bleMan Před 4 měsíci +107

    IDK if you had already made a video about french canadian strongman Louis Cyr but if you didnt yet...YOU DEFINATELY SHOULD. a true legend .Im from Quebec myself and really proud of him.😊

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +52

      I’ve covered some of his feats in one of my videos, but definitely will be making a full biographical video on him at some point

    • @Inv1s1bleMan
      @Inv1s1bleMan Před 4 měsíci +13

      @@NattyLifeYT I thank you already in advance 😁

    • @pewpew9193
      @pewpew9193 Před 4 měsíci +1

      Great fishin up in K-Beck.

    • @Snugglez187
      @Snugglez187 Před 4 měsíci +2

      *definitely

    • @HeartlessNinny1
      @HeartlessNinny1 Před 4 měsíci +1

      ​@@pewpew9193 it's pronounced _quee-beck_

  • @samjay1256
    @samjay1256 Před 4 měsíci +16

    This is up there with one of most inspiring stories I ever heard. Much respect to him!

    • @voornaam3191
      @voornaam3191 Před 4 měsíci

      Maybe Turgenyev or Dostoyevski wrote that book, hesitated to publish it, but a fairy read it, used her magic and created a little boy. Who knows, maybe it is true!

  • @aVerveQuest
    @aVerveQuest Před 2 měsíci +3

    Imagine your entire childhood and adolescence seeing only one form of entertainment. The focus that must instill, the amazement is unimaginable to us

  • @-metaldemon
    @-metaldemon Před 4 měsíci +58

    these " little CZcams videos " are really good quality mini documentaries and cool pieces of history, again really well done and peace and positivity to everyone.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +9

      Many thanks! I know it looks pretty simple when it’s all done, but as a one man show it’s quite a lot of time to put these together 😁. I’m really honoured that people would even call it a documentary though, I try to improve the quality a little bit every time. 💪

    • @Jgfhujnggg23342
      @Jgfhujnggg23342 Před 4 měsíci +3

      @@NattyLifeYTtrust me brother, at least from me, I notice the hard word, great job man, please make more videos like this👍 maybe one about that Greek that did progressive overload by carrying I think a bill everyday from a calf👍👍👍

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +3

      @@Jgfhujnggg23342 Thank you brother! I already made a video about Milo of Croton, back when I read my scripts extra slow 🤣 czcams.com/video/EaHoGlwOV9c/video.html

  • @chuckduncan9098
    @chuckduncan9098 Před 4 měsíci +66

    As I recall, Charles Atlas also used isometric training as part of his program and a variation he called "dynamic tension". As a gymnast, we used isometric strength training as part of our workouts. For example, the iron cross and the planche are isometric strength moves. However, I learned the hard way that one should slowly relax the muscles after isometric contractions to avoid injury to tendons from the sudden release of contractions. I enjoyed the video immensely.

    • @retrobilly1719
      @retrobilly1719 Před 4 měsíci +1

      Yes He did and if you follow His Course It is Very Challenging ,Calisthenics & Bodyweight exercises too

    • @chuckduncan9098
      @chuckduncan9098 Před 4 měsíci

      By the way, love rockabilly@@retrobilly1719

    • @johnmoyer5515
      @johnmoyer5515 Před 4 měsíci +1

      I did gymnastics in high school it I think was the strongest I ever was I believe

    • @chuckduncan9098
      @chuckduncan9098 Před 4 měsíci

      College was my peak strength period. We never used weights, but the first time I bench pressed I pressed way more than my body weight. Many years ago.@@johnmoyer5515

    • @jeffrobodine239
      @jeffrobodine239 Před 3 měsíci +1

      "Dynamic tension " is the movement of the muscles under contraction. The martial artist harry wong wrote a training book called " dynamic strength ". It works.

  • @roboutaboutintas5444
    @roboutaboutintas5444 Před 4 měsíci +22

    One of the most unusual and amazing stories on your channel. In addition to his physical prowess, Alex comes across as a very decent human being. Many thanks for this!

    • @2DReanimation
      @2DReanimation Před 4 měsíci +5

      Yes, and there's more, like in his first escape, in order to make money, he proposed a money making scheme to a friendly prison guard, where in exchange for him smuggling him lamp oil, he would give him money, which he made from renting out an oil lamp he made out of tincans to the other prisoners so they could gamble in the dark.

    • @roboutaboutintas5444
      @roboutaboutintas5444 Před 4 měsíci +3

      @@2DReanimation Alex put determination and innovation on another level!

  • @arpsyntharts5968
    @arpsyntharts5968 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Thank you, what a heartbreaking story - especially when he stayed with his beloved horse and rescued it by carrying it home... What a beautiful person! ❤

  • @georgeluther8017
    @georgeluther8017 Před 4 měsíci +31

    I literally cannot express how exceptional and inspiring your channel is. Thank you for all your hard work and passion!

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +2

      Thanks so much bro! It means a lot 💪

  • @user-ex6en4zu7g
    @user-ex6en4zu7g Před 4 měsíci +18

    this story gave me goozebumps several times

  • @BasicDefense
    @BasicDefense Před 4 měsíci +6

    This man is legendary. This man needs a movie made

  • @up2me967
    @up2me967 Před 4 měsíci +9

    Guy was one motivated induvidual. What an amazing story!

  • @perfection-0__0_18
    @perfection-0__0_18 Před 4 měsíci +50

    That was a fantastic video! Isometrics are exactly as Alexander zass said for the tendons, and they really do increase strength in a way you just can't get from regular barbell training, isometrics are great for anyone who is into grappling because it builds strength in many different angles/positions 🎉💪👍

    • @hanoi9316
      @hanoi9316 Před 4 měsíci +1

      The brain inhibites our true strength due to the risk of tear of tendons and articculations.So that is the secret of the super strenght of the bronze era

  • @mehmethancelik638
    @mehmethancelik638 Před 4 měsíci +18

    My grandfather used to lift horses. Men and women used to be very strong. My grandparents' wrists are bigger than mine

  • @MrinmoyRoy1990
    @MrinmoyRoy1990 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I subscribed to this channel when it had only a couple of thousand subs. I am watching a video after like 6 months now and I am glad to see the growth and the quality of videos are getting so much better! Bravo!

  • @nicholasmcdaid9143
    @nicholasmcdaid9143 Před 2 dny

    I would like to be remembered for having taken the time to appreciate such people. Those featured on this channel are true champions, and history refuses to give them up. It is truly inspiring!!

  • @ravishsomashekar8265
    @ravishsomashekar8265 Před 4 měsíci +15

    Most adventurous inspiring. Unimaginably wonderful life of SAMSON.GREAT GREAT GREAT.

  • @Mod3rnPhilosopher
    @Mod3rnPhilosopher Před 4 měsíci +15

    Wow, came across this video. I live in Vilnius and I am writing this comment from Vilnius currently, these places, especially Lithuania produced a lot of strongmen and in general the men are strong, but not as much these days, as we are eating fake food and living in comfort

  • @Rpodnee
    @Rpodnee Před 3 měsíci +2

    What a strong and kind man. I am truly inspired by his determination.

  • @acidspit14
    @acidspit14 Před 4 měsíci +32

    This guy makes Schwarzenegger look like a chump. In addition to his intelligence, he also had a big heart. A true inspiration of what a real man can endure.

    • @neonbelly4
      @neonbelly4 Před 4 měsíci

      @@nedkelly3436 narcissist arnie was never at war. Never admitted using steroids. U just like him because mass monsters are popular nowadays

  • @paulocorreia9670
    @paulocorreia9670 Před 4 měsíci +13

    Thank you for this brother. I did isometrics for a while, i didnt had money to train on a gym and i needed something new so i saw some things about this great man, bought a chain, and let me tell you, isometrics are a must. Incredibly painfull to do, you gotta be carefull but, the strength gain to me was almost godly after 4 months

    • @acidspit14
      @acidspit14 Před 4 měsíci +4

      I never enjoyed traaining in gyms. I built my own gym at home, in the kitchen (i lived with my parents). I used anything that could make resistance, or just anything heavy, in addition to doing pushups. I learned a lot more from this than in the gym. It's like the man in the video said, if u really wanna do this, ur gonna find a way

  • @elmaquiavelico5709
    @elmaquiavelico5709 Před 4 měsíci +30

    A great character, I been trying some of his training methods for the last months.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +6

      Are you finding the training?

    • @elmaquiavelico5709
      @elmaquiavelico5709 Před 4 měsíci +5

      ​@@NattyLifeYT Some of them, like the chain isometrics.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +7

      Sorry meant to say how are you liking the training? Are you seeing any interesting results?

    • @daviddupre5591
      @daviddupre5591 Před 4 měsíci +3

      This type of training will reàk havoc on your nervous system, so watch out.😦

    • @perfection-0__0_18
      @perfection-0__0_18 Před 4 měsíci +10

      ​@@daviddupre5591Not necessarily, it can be performed with less intensity and longer duration, and also short duration and higher intensity, like with all training it should be done steadily at the start and progress in resistance/effort over time👍

  • @Alex-cw3rz
    @Alex-cw3rz Před 2 měsíci +29

    The fact that a modern day (and at the time) world strongest man pumped full of as many chemicals as possible can barely walk with a horse on his back and this guy did it with relative ease in the middle of a warzone where he hadn't eaten for a day or two. I think calling him the strongest man on earth would seem somehow to be an understatement.

    • @rh_BOSS
      @rh_BOSS Před měsícem +1

      Looks like you don't know much about circus. Just like their American carny counterparts, circus strongmen have always manufactured outlandish stories about their strength feats, inflated their PBs and body measurements, retouched (crudely) their photos, used fake weights and wrestled against plants from the audience.
      Also, given the height of Zass, the horse he's carrying in that photo would barely qualify as a pony if it were standing next to you.

    • @Alex-cw3rz
      @Alex-cw3rz Před měsícem +1

      @@rh_BOSS can you disprove his story, because it wasn't just him who said it, it was the army as well.
      He is an older man in that photo and walking through water, of course it's going to be smaller. Also you do know how tiny human variation in height is you can tell the size of horse by it's comparison to a human, if he was what a foot taller that would make barely any difference in telling the size of that horse.

    • @rh_BOSS
      @rh_BOSS Před měsícem

      ​@@Alex-cw3rz ​You have no idea, how these things work, do you?
      Claims have to be proven, not disproven. The burden of proof lies on whoever is making the claims. "What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
      Wikipedia cites a collection of anecdotes called "Pop Culture Russia" as the source for the horse story, which is laughable as far as the standard of proof goes. I bet, the story originated from Zass' 1925 autobiography and has never been independently corroborated. It's all a bunch of BS, just like the stories about The Mighty Atom flattening bullets with his forehead and biting through surgical instruments.

    • @Alex-cw3rz
      @Alex-cw3rz Před měsícem +1

      @@rh_BOSS but in this case the claim has been proven, he said it and the army said and I presume that means his commanding officier said it. Therefore you need to disprove it, it seems you've just presumed there was no evidence before actually doing any research.

    • @rh_BOSS
      @rh_BOSS Před měsícem

      ​@@Alex-cw3rz ​ Can you cite even a single source? So far I haven't seen any. Anyone can claim that "the army said it" (whatever that even means). Find a transcript of someone in official capacity at the time referencing this story. At least cite a book that references an exact date and place. You'd think that such a story would be newsworthy at the time, especially when it's backed by army officials. Show me a news clipping from a WWI-era Russian newspaper. Anything beyond baseless claims.

  • @erikals
    @erikals Před 4 měsíci +5

    a Movie of this man needs to be made. Absolutely Incredible !

    • @djrival819
      @djrival819 Před 2 měsíci

      Watch the movie of Louis-Cyr you will understand why Samson never add a movie.....he was a fake and a fraud.

  • @AtheistNihilist
    @AtheistNihilist Před 4 měsíci +26

    This is one of your best videos ever. Excellent job!

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +2

      Much appreciated brother! It’s definitely the one I spent the most time on, I’m glad it shows 😁

  • @bio-plasmictoad5311
    @bio-plasmictoad5311 Před 4 měsíci +7

    pound for pound he's one of the strongest ever.

  • @6lav
    @6lav Před 4 měsíci +3

    Watched this video twice and showed it to two others. Such an great historical account of an amazing story. The video is very well done and I love how you added additional commentary to make it funny lol.

  • @akinwale8356
    @akinwale8356 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Thanks for this video. I couldn't get enough of this legend. My fitness journey started with watching my father do dynamic tension. I also became a student of Charles Atlas. My forte has always been out lifting guys that were bigger than me. I didn't know it then but I always valued building tendon strength.

  • @samuelwestlund3386
    @samuelwestlund3386 Před 4 měsíci +5

    Overcoming isometrics was a concept I was not introduced to until my final year of college. I started with two fifty pound resistance bands doubled up, but later I got my hands on a 130 pound resistance tube so that I didn't have to improvise anymore. Before that, I was mostly doing bodyweight and light dumbbells, and still do. But overcoming isometrics taught me that some of my old exercises (running, climbing in trees, swinging pipes and tree branches around) already did what the dumbbells that I'd bought in my late teens did, and shortly after trying isometrics for the first time I took up these other exercises again and now only do weights when I'm tired.

  • @davisdenver6756
    @davisdenver6756 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Loved the documentary! You told the story very well, and I liked how you put in the extra effort to find the historical pictures. This is definitely one of the best fitness channels on CZcams. :)

  • @Jedi007c6
    @Jedi007c6 Před 3 měsíci +12

    Hard times make strong people, and soft times make weak people.

  • @franklogrim8510
    @franklogrim8510 Před 4 měsíci +5

    incredible story, rare to come across good content like this nowdays!
    Thank you for taking me on this journey!

  • @TOKYEO
    @TOKYEO Před 4 měsíci +14

    I can aldready tell this is gonna be a banger. Also, the editing is great!

  • @Omgitm10
    @Omgitm10 Před 4 měsíci +16

    This was one of, maybe even the best video, from you, so far. Really fantastic story. I want a biopic movie of samson, right now! Can someone call Nolan or Scott?
    This story motivated me like hell for my upcoming training later. Thanks for your great work, really love your channel!

  • @peters972
    @peters972 Před 4 měsíci +2

    It’s always important to leave a comment to support great effort like this.

  • @ahbobie9088
    @ahbobie9088 Před 4 měsíci +2

    This was extremely inspirational to me. Thank you for posting this video detailing Alexander's extraordinary life.

  • @dartvid
    @dartvid Před 4 měsíci +9

    That fact that he was able to do all of this until his 60s is so imressive to me, becuase the whole time I thought with all his stunts he would be destroying his body, but apperntly he was just built different

  • @MattKrolczyk
    @MattKrolczyk Před 3 měsíci +2

    What an amazing video and audio. Thank you for the knowledge and entertainment.

  • @runninggirl2765
    @runninggirl2765 Před 3 měsíci +3

    First time on your channel and what a story! Wonderfully narrated and illustrated. This guy was tough-emotionally, mentally and physically. Nice job!

  • @Segrate127
    @Segrate127 Před 4 měsíci +9

    I've been waiting fot this

  • @regharman1
    @regharman1 Před 4 měsíci +9

    That was excellent. Thank you for putting that together.

  • @LS-ti1rz
    @LS-ti1rz Před 4 měsíci +2

    I can't thank you enough for posting this video. I honestly have never heard of this truly amazing human being. I love learning about people from the past who had such true hardships yet in the face of such difficulties persevered none the less. This man never gave up. He found his passion and though faced with possibly having to give up on that dream to satiate his fathers ambitions for him, fate once again intervened with a poster of the Circus while on his way to begin his apprenticeship for the train conductor career. I feel fortunate to now know about this man and his amazing story. For me this is what i appreciate about the internet. To learn about people that once passed this way and lived such incredible lives. If not for this video i may have never learned about this truly amazing man. Thank you sincerely. I also believe a great movie could be made about this guy and if placed in the right hands could become an Oscar worthy story.

  • @ServantOTMHG
    @ServantOTMHG Před 4 měsíci +1

    Great Job, Thank you for taking the time to bring us all this story.

  • @dioniziomorais8138
    @dioniziomorais8138 Před 4 měsíci +13

    FINALLY HIM

  • @LotoTheHero
    @LotoTheHero Před 4 měsíci +9

    What an amazing man!

  • @StetzMusic
    @StetzMusic Před 12 dny +6

    Where you been ?

  • @Zenoandturtle
    @Zenoandturtle Před 4 měsíci +2

    One of the most inspiring stories I have yet come across.

  • @johnporter6812
    @johnporter6812 Před 4 měsíci +12

    I must admit I was hoping you would do a video on him.

  • @Oldtimenattylife
    @Oldtimenattylife Před 4 měsíci +6

    We still need a video on a true pioneer of modern strength Joseph Curtis hise, I’ve tried to promote him but CZcams still hiding my channel from the good folk who watch this stuff.

  • @normannisbet1213
    @normannisbet1213 Před 4 měsíci +7

    Thank you for a well entertaining insight to this incredible man’s life and really well narrated too. Top job! 👌🏻

  • @bukkakedisaster
    @bukkakedisaster Před 4 měsíci +2

    A great video! It's rare these days that I watch a video for half an hour without doing something else on the side, but with this one I just couldn't do otherwise. I've been doing isometric exercises myself for years and have had good success with them

  • @lacanian_lifter
    @lacanian_lifter Před 4 měsíci +6

    Dude this was such an entertaining and inspiring doc. Astounding work.

  • @heyitsmort7744
    @heyitsmort7744 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Love to see more long videos from you!!

  • @williamalvarez9563
    @williamalvarez9563 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Just wow!...I don't think I would
    wish to be as physically strong as he was as much as I would have his character, his discipline, his level of dedication to a goal.

    • @DuncanL7979
      @DuncanL7979 Před 4 měsíci

      Seriously...for all of his physical strength, the real strength is in this man's mind. Incredible will

  • @fabchi4597
    @fabchi4597 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I knew overcoming isometrics before getting to know the amazing story of Alexander zass which I knew something about before watching this video. What an amazing man, I loved this video and I want to thank you first of all for such such documentary. I got to know about isometrics because I was and I still am a fun of Bruce Lee that implemented this type of training in his own routine. Bruce described isometric training as SUPERIOR to weightlifting for strength, exactly like Alexander zass. He would although consider this type of training incomplete because lacks of movement. My experience has been an in an out from this method. I used it but I never stack to it and made it my staple. Lately things have changed since I became father twice in 17 months. My training time shortened down to 20 minutes per day and I had to make the best use of it. This made me think immediately on isometrics as a main way of training and keep up strength and size. What I do is this: every day I do one exercise with isometrics in which I train 3 positions of that exercise, ex. a row, I do 3 angles of that movement, for each angle I do 6 sets of 6/12 seconds max contraction and I rest 20" between each contraction. This takes me less than 10 minutes to complete normally, than with the same muscle group I do another exercise that involves repetitions and I try to cumulate as many reps as possible in the short time I have. Given the pull day example I do row isometrics followed by an emom of wide pull ups 10 minutes, 10 reps every minute. So in 20 min I trained strength and work capacity. I normally train every day, 7 days out of 7 and I train twice push, twice pull, twice legs. What I do is alternating the isometrics with dynamic, for example pull day one I do isometric row and pull ups, pull day 2 isometric pull up and dynamic row. Same thing with push. At the moment this is an experiment and in a few months I could give my overall experience. However for what I used isometrics in the past I can say that they have always been useful and always brought forward the movement that I was training that way so I am sure I will see great results

  • @Winterascent
    @Winterascent Před 4 měsíci +10

    Got to wonder how many undocumented very strong men existed over time, as hard labor and abundant food allowed for maximum development.

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci

      True. Or how many had/have insane genetics but never even get close to realising it because they just aren’t interested or never got the motivation

  • @roadwary56
    @roadwary56 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Truly an astounding man and documentary. So well done.

  • @mariaorsic9763
    @mariaorsic9763 Před 4 měsíci +2

    Absolutely fantastic. Your podcast is astounding!!!!

  • @jacquestaulard3088
    @jacquestaulard3088 Před 4 měsíci

    Yes! I DO appreciate this as well as the light-hearted narrative. What an impressive man, one who never lost his compassion but was not a burden to anyone during his life, his prison time, his toils with animals.

  • @heyheyhophop
    @heyheyhophop Před 4 měsíci +4

    I'd say 22:15 has the most iconic image of the man, the one with the horse on his back is undoubtedly the second most iconic one

  • @brucefree8
    @brucefree8 Před 4 měsíci +4

    Interesting story! His focus on strengthening the tendons before the muscles is completely in line with all traditional training in ancient China (kung fu, Qigong, etc.) and where rather small and lean men are able to perform incredible features.

  • @wyofarm3482
    @wyofarm3482 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Wow, at the age of 60, an inspiration for me to continue training and implement isometrics! Thanks for this amazing story. It deserves to be seen on the Big Screen!

  • @glennbishopbishthemagish
    @glennbishopbishthemagish Před měsícem +1

    I think this is your best video so far! Thanks!

  • @michaelhajba9379
    @michaelhajba9379 Před 4 měsíci +9

    Great video! I love stories of amazing men’s lives and adventures 👍

  • @MrDziuka
    @MrDziuka Před 4 měsíci +3

    What a man he was. Thanks for making this video.

  • @The-Dom
    @The-Dom Před 4 měsíci +1

    Our minds limit our strength to protect our bodies from tearing our tendons etc. this dude unlocked this restriction. I worked with a dude that had this kind of mind over matter. He was mentally unstoppable, a truly unique man, and i witnessed him lift things that should not be possible.

  • @DorlaVegas-cw2kz
    @DorlaVegas-cw2kz Před 4 měsíci +2

    I haven't been on this channel for weeks. Have a lot of checking up. Love you control. THANK YOU. PS I'VE BEEN HITTING LIKE

  • @Josh-jw7cb
    @Josh-jw7cb Před 4 měsíci +3

    Amazing video as always!

  • @hannibalwantsahuggrande3433
    @hannibalwantsahuggrande3433 Před 4 měsíci +7

    Holy crap man this video is amazing! Thank you amd make more like this please!

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci

      Thanks so much! Definitely more to come :)

  • @bryang7863
    @bryang7863 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I see a man who had a dream that was constantly held down but through mental fortitude and the inability to accept defeat his dreams became his reality. Lots of lessons to be learned, Alexander Zass strong inside and out

  • @jasonthomas1688
    @jasonthomas1688 Před 4 měsíci

    You did an amazingly great job on this video, I could see the entire story in my mind unfold as you spoke.

  • @andresllera5742
    @andresllera5742 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Super interesting and awesome life of this person!!!

  • @MessageinaBottles
    @MessageinaBottles Před 4 měsíci +1

    Another example of a hero and someone to admire and look up to , these people we can learn from what an example of will mind and strength just listening to this has inspired me to push harder at all i do , thank you

  • @alexandreborrasoto6456
    @alexandreborrasoto6456 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Amazing video❤
    The isometric exercice saved me when needed heal my body from a motorcycle accident. I practique it every day.

  • @nerveandmuscle
    @nerveandmuscle Před 4 měsíci +8

    Great history video. Loved it.
    Isometrics, especially Overcoming Isometrics but also static contractions like Maxick are the base for everything I do. If your tendon strength is there along with efficient and powerful muscle fibers the rest will come.
    I first started using them in 2016 and found that even though I was training for strength, it improved my stamina and explosiveness and I was reaching new heights in some of the physical tests we took in the Corps like the Combat Fitness Test(CFT).

  • @kletko
    @kletko Před 4 měsíci +8

    Fantastic presentation & story. It must have been very difficult to make a video like this with such a small amount of footage. Bravo!

    • @NattyLifeYT
      @NattyLifeYT  Před 4 měsíci +2

      Many thanks! Yeah it's a bit of a challenge. I used some AI generated pic here for the first time to help fill some of the space. I know some other people film themselves instead and cut to the face cam when they have nothing else to show, but I'm no good in front of the camera 😂

    • @kletko
      @kletko Před 4 měsíci

      @@NattyLifeYT I know how you feel. I create boxing documentaries of fighters from the 1920s - 1960s, makes you want to rip your hair out sometimes.

  • @frankmassello9073
    @frankmassello9073 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thank you for this. Great work. A fine tribute to a truly deserving man

  • @frannelk
    @frannelk Před 4 měsíci +2

    Man, so beautiful story, you are doing a serious work, the work of LOVE, thanks for creating this video.

  • @patrickscahillii9365
    @patrickscahillii9365 Před 4 měsíci +3

    Outstanding presentation and research, BRAVO.

  • @terminardo
    @terminardo Před 4 měsíci +4

    Amazing video again! Loved it!

  • @reginaldquigby8867
    @reginaldquigby8867 Před 2 měsíci

    really amazing story, most stories on youtube do not captivate me but this inspiring one did. many thanks and great job illustrating it!

  • @Cici_Silo
    @Cici_Silo Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thank you extremely much and may God bless you greatly for not ruining your most excellent video with background music. Far to many tubers suffer under the delusion that background music somehow enhanses their videos. It does not as you obviously know. Actually it is their viewers who have to suffer under the tubers delusion. So thanks again voluminously for not having music in your video which I thoroughly enjoyed!

  • @orangutanklaus7035
    @orangutanklaus7035 Před 4 měsíci +7

    What a great video! What a great story! What a remarkable man!💪😮