These two sites are the benchmark internet repository for the huge amount of material that was written both by and about the great strongmen who lived between the close of the 19th century and the start of the modern era and the popularisation of bodybuilding (i.e. the rise of Arnold).

One of the most prolific authors both in and about that period is the British author, David Gentle.

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So who is David Gentle, exactly? 

David Gentle is an internationally recognised author and historian of physical culture. For several decades, he has been a regular contributor of over 25 of the world’s top muscle magazines.  His prolific writings include over 2,000 articles published in the World Muscle Press.

He was born in 1933 and was a successful bodybuilding and Maxalding practitioner, winning awards for both his physique and muscle control abilities.  He wasn’t a slouch in the strength stakes, either, hitting a double bodyweight bench press of 136kg (300lbs).

David received the John Grimek Life-Time Achievement Award in Italy in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to physical culture and was also awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Physical Culture Award by the Oscar Heidenstam Foundation for services to bodybuilding.

You can see my round-up of some of my favourite articles by David here.

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David Gentle’s new website

Recently, I was contacted by the site administrator to let me know that David has a new website.  Please go and check it out.  It has a more complete articles section, which is intended to be updated continually.  It contains David’s extraordinary collection of iron works including articles about:

• Muscle groups – David’s insights into training abs, arms and forearms
• Legendary bodybuilders – Marvin Eder, John Grimek et al.
• History of physical culture – a century of muscles
• Bodybuilding – an encyclopaedia
• Insights and reflections – David’s personal thoughts on the iron game
• Weight training – dumbbells, barbells and more
• Unusual feats of strength – tough teeth and other strange things
• Profiles of the greats – Sandow and his friends

Please visit David Gentle and enjoy the writings of one of the most prolific writers of physical culture of his time!