from imdb.com
Bench-pressed 560 lbs in his prime (age 25). Now, at the age of 50, he benches 400 lbs.
Well considering I have actually trained with him several times at my gym when hes on the east coast and visits my family, no he never does barbell. He does do 110-120's on flat for easy 10 though. He usually smith machines upto 275 for 10 -12 as well. Nothing special but on arm day i was blown away when he grabbed 90's and curled them incline seated with his feet up for 10. I got no reason to lie, hes never flat benched with me. But he did say at his best ever he benched low 500 for a single. I believe him as well. Arnold confirmed in front of me before also.
Lou was very strong for his height. If you remember he did pretty damm well in the World Strongest Man competition. I never saw him bench but I did see him do shoulders and trained arms with him a few times back in the early 80's and he is strong as hell. I would doubt he might have benched that. In Pumping Iron how much is he incline DB curling.
from imdb.com
Bench-pressed 560 lbs in his prime (age 25). Now, at the age of 50, he benches 400 lbs.
Well considering I have actually trained with him several times at my gym when hes on the east coast and visits my family, no he never does barbell. He does do 110-120's on flat for easy 10 though. He usually smith machines upto 275 for 10 -12 as well. Nothing special but on arm day i was blown away when he grabbed 90's and curled them incline seated with his feet up for 10. I got no reason to lie, hes never flat benched with me. But he did say at his best ever he benched low 500 for a single. I believe him as well. Arnold confirmed in front of me before also.::)
I would have to see him do it to believe it.uh oh, watch out corinth, "toolargeforyou" is friends with Arnold and Ferrigno. ::)
Of course that would probably cost me 20 bucks.
no way in a million years, i would doubt that he got anything over 405, great physique though.
dude he was huge in his primei know he was but there's no way in hell he benched 5 45's and a 35 on each side of the bar, sorry.
dude he was huge in his prime
Well considering I have actually trained with him several times at my gym when hes on the east coast and visits my family, no he never does barbell. He does do 110-120's on flat for easy 10 though. He usually smith machines upto 275 for 10 -12 as well. Nothing special but on arm day i was blown away when he grabbed 90's and curled them incline seated with his feet up for 10. I got no reason to lie, hes never flat benched with me. But he did say at his best ever he benched low 500 for a single. I believe him as well. Arnold confirmed in front of me before also.
no way in a million years, i would doubt that he got anything over 405, great physique though.
Just to put thing into perspective here is what franco columbo did. He was only 5'5" and 198, way smaller then Ferrigno. If Ferrigno had any power at all he should at least have been over 500lbs on the bench.
Powerlifting world records
Bench press 525 lb (238 kg)
Squat 655 lb (297 kg)
Deadlift 750 lb (340 kg)
I just opened this thread and my wallet just lost 20 bucks
he even rips off twinks nowadays :'(
Just to put thing into perspective here is what franco columbo did. He was only 5'5" and 198, way smaller then Ferrigno. If Ferrigno had any power at all he should at least have been over 500lbs on the bench.
Powerlifting world records
Bench press 525 lb (238 kg)
Squat 655 lb (297 kg)
Deadlift 750 lb (340 kg)
100's.
Hahaha that scene was funny - Lou does an obviously hard set, but when he's done, his dad wipes his own face with a towel, saying,"Whew! What a workout!"Boom! Take a look at this hunk-a-man.
LOL!
Boom! Take a look at this hunk-a-man.
I have the director's cut of PI and in that, you can see an extended scene where Lou, his dad, Nelson Mandela and Onlyme have tea on the evening of the day before the Olympia, where Onlyme lifts up Lou's spirit by presenting him with a free 3 pack of Gillette blades.LMAO.
Not that strong for his weight, and IMO not that ambitious on his own, needed others to push him.It was done for the sake of the movie. I am positively sure he could have thrown way more weight.
I recently watched the 1977 WSM competition which both Louie and Franco both competed in. If I remember correctly, Louie placed 4th and Franco placed 5th. Franco was ahead of Louie until the last event where he was injured and could not continue. (He dislocated his knee while doing the refrigerator race.)Where can you find that video?
I was actually quite impressed with Franco. He was competing at 188lbs, and while most of the other competitors out weighed him by almost 100lbs, he was still very competitive.
from imdb.comits bb not powerlifting i doubt you can get 135 for 10...
Bench-pressed 560 lbs in his prime (age 25). Now, at the age of 50, he benches 400 lbs.
Where can you find that video?
Lou was reportedly on a horrible diet of basically tuna and not much else for Pumping Iron so he was weak as hell when they shot that
i once looked at Lou Ferrigno from 1000 yards away with a pair of binoculars and he sent a carrier pigeon to me with a note saying "you owe me 20 bucks".
WTF are you guys talking about? Everyone creams all over some 18 year old fat fuck with half the size and build of Lou Ferrigno doing 500lbs in the bench yet you guys wouldn't believe big Lou could bench over 500lbs?
Yea it is amazing what some of these guys think. I can bet not one of them had ever seen Lou in his prime and how big he was. And I am pretty sure they didn't have Lou on the WSM just because he looked good. He was a huge and very thick 275+ when I saw him in person nearly all the time in the gym. And not one person would ever doubt he could bench at least 405. Really some of these guys need to get out of the house and go to the gym. Did anyone eatch Pumping Iron and see with your own eyes Lou incline dumbell curling 100 lb dumbells. Holy shit! and you don't think he could bench heavy. ??? ???
Wasn't even in shape for this. 400 would have been a joke.
::)
I can't believe they even gave Louie those lifts...You have to hold the that shit up...Which Lou could not do...
In the early 80's, he claimed a bench press of 420 pounds for reps for his training for the movie Hercules. Dude was over 6'4" and had a legit 60" chest and 23.5" arms at 330 pounds in 1993.
Pretty sure big Lou could bench over 500. Lou was massive, you just don't get that way without moving some heavy Iron.
Wes- I can understand judging by your build how you could see it the other way. I myself benched 445 for a single, my best ever. I did this at 225 pounds bw, I have long arms like Lou and, Lou has much more mass than I, Lou had to be strong.
Pretty sure big Lou could bench over 500. Lou was massive, you just don't get that way without moving some heavy Iron.Who cares,I benched 300 at 155 pounds!!
Wes- I can understand judging by your build how you could see it the other way. I myself benched 445 for a single, my best ever. I did this at 225 pounds bw, I have long arms like Lou and, Lou has much more mass than I, Lou had to be strong.
There are lot of stupid teenagers/21ish year olds on this board. I'm convinced judging by threads like this and others. Afterall the board steroid "guru" is a whole 19 years old. LMAO! What a joke!
great clip ...you have to love 70's tv.....4 things i noticed....1. i never realized matty ferrigno was gay 2. lou was incredibly skinny off the juice which i assume he was he had "spaghetti arms" 3. for a guy who made his fame through bodybuilding/lifting weights he had the worst form of anyone on the clip 4. even matty realized his son/bodybuilders weren't athletes
Wasn't even in shape for this. 400 would have been a joke.
Based on what he did on Pumping Iron, I would say NO. Yates and Coleman are probably among the very few BB that could actually BP over 500.Levrone, Ruhl, Wolf...
What was Arnold max BP? I always read that Arnold was the best bpresser of his generation...
The World's Strongest Man Competition was in 1977, and out of a field of 8-10 competitors, Lou was fourth. He won the steel bar bending event, and the car lifting event. And for some of you old wrestling fans, Ken Patera was third in that event.
u always read wrong. Arnold wasn't a good bench presser. He had longer arms than most and plus when he moved to america he stopped training heavy and started doing a lot of supersets (chest and back for example). He didn't train for 1 rep maxes or anything. Franco could move some heavy weight on the bench press because of his short arms, but he had awful form.Probably if I read it "Magoo" style I might have read it wrong... >:( I've read it right, but probably who ever wrote it didn't write the truth...
Probably if I read it "Magoo" style I might have read it wrong... >:( I've read it right, but probably who ever wrote it didn't write the truth...
Levrone, Ruhl, Wolf...Dennis Wolf??? what makes you think that, repace that with Dennis James and you're on the money
Dennis Wolf??? what makes you think that, repace that with Dennis James and you're on the money
Dennis James doesn't bench tho.true, but neither did dorian and hes on the original list, DJ has inclined 495 on some vid before tho
true, but neither did dorian and hes on the original list, DJ has inclined 495 on some vid before tho
great clip ...you have to love 70's tv.....4 things i noticed....1. i never realized matty ferrigno was gay 2. lou was incredibly skinny off the juice which i assume he was he had "spaghetti arms" 3. for a guy who made his fame through bodybuilding/lifting weights he had the worst form of anyone on the clip 4. even matty realized his son/bodybuilders weren't athletesat the time lou was said to weigh 225lbs the same as when he made that dreadful movie sinbad. so apparently when he's off or on low dose he leans down to 225 at 6 ft 5 that ain't a hunk of man.....
Levrone, Ruhl, Wolf...
Yea it is amazing what some of these guys think. I can bet not one of them had ever seen Lou in his prime and how big he was. And I am pretty sure they didn't have Lou on the WSM just because he looked good. He was a huge and very thick 275+ when I saw him in person nearly all the time in the gym. And not one person would ever doubt he could bench at least 405. Really some of these guys need to get out of the house and go to the gym. Did anyone eatch Pumping Iron and see with your own eyes Lou incline dumbell curling 100 lb dumbells. Holy shit! and you don't think he could bench heavy. ??? ???
The incredible Jerk
Lou's got a good chest on him and reasonably short arms for his frame so a good lift on the bench is possible for him.
560 sounds a bit excessive to me but at a push I don't see any reason why he couldn't put up 480-500 for a single.
Based on what he did on Pumping Iron, I would say NO. Yates and Coleman are probably among the very few BB that could actually BP over 500.Yates never benched 500. He really didnt bench after his first year or two training. Very good on Inclines though- got a few reps with 425 at one point. Lou was heavier than Yates with a bigger chest and arms so I believe the 500 bench. Dorian would kill Lou on back or legs though.
Based on what he did on Pumping Iron, I would say NO. Yates and Coleman are probably among the very few BB that could actually BP over 500.
Don't believe #560 for Lou, atleast not a clean bench. I do think he could get into the low #500's, but not that high. I'm basing that on what other dedicated Powerlifters, Strongmen, OL'ers, and Track and Field guys were doing at the time. #560 was and is, a huge number. You'll see it today even with raw lifters, etc...... once they break into the low #400's, it's a big fight for every pound after that point.
This.
Listen, folks, there's no way he pressed 560. That is a HUGE weigh to press. Many of you fail to understand that, just because so and so pushes 400-plus-change, doesn't mean there's not a WORLD OF difference between 425 and 560! It isn't some smooth and linear climb in poundage as some suggest. Heavier weight requires greater and greater amounts of force and size.
Few elite powerlifters press between 500 and 600, raw. Heck, Coan never hit 600, and he is, despite having the personality of a clam, one of the very greatest.
Get a clue, folks.
A 500lb bench press is huge. Thats the ultimate benchmark in all strength sports, so for a guy as monstrous as Lou thats not really far fetched. 60lbs heavier than that is though, theres a big difference. Not buying the 560 claim either bro.
low louie maybe got 405 back in the day for a double..THATS IT...
and i'm talking without a bench shirt..i dont consider bench shirt benches as legit..my weak ass put up 285 for a single wearing a double ply..and i could barely get 225 up without one..
chest looks thick enough for 500+ to me
What does chest thickness have to do with ultimate bench-press prowess, especially when we're talking about poundages in excess of 450 pounds? Most huge pressers are mostly triceps/shoulder effort. Anyone who knows anything about bench pressing for huge numbers knows it's best to minimize pectoral work so as to both prevent tears and to fully engage the triceps/shoulder/back effect.
500 is nothing nowadays, hundreds can do it, including myself 8), but in Lue's day only a handful could.....its possible for him to have done 560 considering he was 330 at onepoint and in the strongestman comp.....but maybe not, 500 for sure though
a) Did you press 500 drug-free?q-a..........no, juiced to the gills
b) Did you press 500 raw?
c) Lou was 330 in the early '90s (much less in his classic era) ... and I can guarantee you he never pressed anything over 400 (if he barbell benched at all) during his comeback training. I trained with him and Platz around this time when I was an editor at MuscleMag and visted Venice World Gym/Gold's. Huge, but not a heavy trainer.
d) The WSM contests at the time in which Lou participated were not anything CLOSE to what they have become. When Ferrigno competed, he was up against friggin' pro ball players, etc.
500 is nothing nowadays, hundreds can do it, including myself 8), but in Lue's day only a handful could.....its possible for him to have done 560 considering he was 330 at onepoint and in the strongestman comp.....but maybe not, 500 for sure though
q-a..........no, juiced to the gills
q-b.......no bench shirt, elbow, wrist wraps
q-c.........maybe he didn't, but I believe we are talking if he was strong enough to do so
q-d.......didn't know that
I will never bench 500lbs in my life bro :oBench is something you either have or you don't...not trying to brag but a year off the gym,no juice, eating doughnuts everyday, can easily crack 315 in my second chest workout, but some people can't bench even weighing 300 lb with a big chest.
Bench is something you either have or you don't...not trying to brag but a year off the gym,no juice, eating doughnuts everyday, can easily crack 315 in my second chest workout, but some people can't bench even weighing 300 lb with a big chest.
yeah that's true. Some people a good at bench, other at deads..lol ;D
myself, I am good at tanning. I can have a great tan
;D
yeah that's true. Some people a good at bench, other at deads..
myself, I am good at tanning. I can have a great tan
;D
Bench is something you either have or you don't...not trying to brag but a year off the gym,no juice, eating doughnuts everyday, can easily crack 315 in my second chest workout, but some people can't bench even weighing 300 lb with a big chest.
What does chest thickness have to do with ultimate bench-press prowess, especially when we're talking about poundages in excess of 450 pounds? Most huge pressers are mostly triceps/shoulder effort. Anyone who knows anything about bench pressing for huge numbers knows it's best to minimize pectoral work so as to both prevent tears and to fully engage the triceps/shoulder/back effect.
Agreed. Chest thickness has nothing to do with it, it has more to do with chest girth and overall upper body mass and power as a whole.I would also add joints tendons and ligaments
I would also add joints tendons and ligaments
Bench is something you either have or you don't...not trying to brag but a year off the gym,no juice, eating doughnuts everyday, can easily crack 315 in my second chest workout, but some people can't bench even weighing 300 lb with a big chest.
The bench doesn't seem like it's a true test of strength. The NFL combine should be using an exercise like clean and press to gage strength instead of bench press.True strength?.....Deadlifts is the only true strength in my opinion. I have met lots with strong bench and weak everything else. Every single person I have met with a strong deadlift is strong in any lift.Deadlifts also recruit muscle from everywhere in the body and its an exercise you can put every once of power into it....I have seen stars after moving some heavy weight with deads.. sounds cheesy but true,lol
Ferrigno never had a prime..
I am reasonably strong but I do have to work on the bench. if i miss it or mess it up a couple of workouts it feels way way harder.
I am gonna give training a real good hard run the next 6-8 weeks see if I can add 10lbs or so to my bench!
I think chest thickness in general is a good indicator of strength.
When have you ever seen a guy witha thick chest who was not strong (405+)
Yeah true, despite what some people say I firmly believe that in order to maintain a big chest you need to do some sort of bench press dumbbell or bar. Im not talking about pec depth or beauty here, im talking pure chest ribcage mass and overall girth. Thats what requires big numbers.
lou was very strong . dont think otherwise . big boned man too .
lou was very strong . dont think otherwise . big boned man too .Do you have permission to re-open ancient worthless threads, "kimo" ?
Do you have permission to re-open ancient worthless threads, "kimo" ?
He pushed a car over when he got really pissed and Bill Bixby turned green and huge. Hope this helps.
The bench doesn't seem like it's a true test of strength. The NFL combine should be using an exercise like clean and press to gage strength instead of bench press.QFT
Looked pretty awesome hereA lot of the late 70's and 80's guys can do that pose but almost no one can do that pose anymore. The pose is meant so that your waist is showing (kind of sucked in) at the bottom and the top of your waist burdens the thickness, but it is hidden by your arms, so the illusion is your chest sticks out way in front of your waist, unfortunately today's pregnant bodybuilder won't look good in this pose anymore, one of the few poses that actually looked good on tall bodybuilders.
A lot of the late 70's and 80's guys can do that pose but almost no one can do that pose anymore. The pose is meant so that your waist is showing (kind of sucked in) at the bottom and the top of your waist burdens the thickness, but it is hidden by your arms, so the illusion is your chest sticks out way in front of your waist, unfortunately today's pregnant bodybuilder won't look good in this pose anymore, one of the few poses that actually looked good on tall bodybuilders.
Looked pretty awesome hereIndeed..never saw this one I think.
I think I know what you're talking about ;D
I think I know what you're talking about ;D;D
Thanks for the honest answers, dude.
He might have had the capacity at one time to do so, but without specific training over a period of several months, he would have been crushed like a bug under 560.
u always read wrong. Arnold wasn't a good bench presser. He had longer arms than most and plus when he moved to america he stopped training heavy and started doing a lot of supersets (chest and back for example). He didn't train for 1 rep maxes or anything. Franco could move some heavy weight on the bench press because of his short arms, but he had awful form.awful form? gtfo of here with that bullshit, I've seen video of Franco benching 405 lbs for 10 reps with very clean form