Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Hi Zohar & Mel! Interesting post on the late, great Serge Reding. I overheard a conversation at the 1970 world championships where Serge created quite a stir with his physique and strength when he became the thrid man to clean over 500 lb. During the conversation, which was aided by an interpreter, it was disclosed that Serge had front squatted 320 kg.(705 lb) and back squatted 350 kg (771 lb) for 1 rep. At this time his bodyweight was below 300lb. The following year he set a world record in the press with a lift of 502 lb in which the clean was done as if there were no weights on the bar. The lift was done at the world championships in Lima, Peru and was broken within minutes by eyev with a 507 lb effort. Unfortunately, Serge injured his wrist at the meet and could not continue in the snatch. He subsequently got his bodyweight up to around 145 kg. and became either the first or second man (Rudi Mang may have been the first ) to snatch over 400 lb. He died in Manila, ines, shortly after the 1974 worlds, which was held in Manila. His death remains a mystery. [Mel Siff: I believe that Serge was the first man to ever reach a 400lb snatch. I met him when he had bulked up to 145kg and was regularly using powerful electrostimulation (ES) as part of his training. When he stayed with our family he used one ES device for stressing the muscles as an adjunct to heavy training and another microcurrent device for restoration, applied across the skull and the spinal column. I still have one of the Christamas cards that he sent to our family not long before his death. I still remember with great fondness this gentle, cultured, humble gentleman who taught me so much about lifting - it was so sad that he did not even live beyond his 30s. Such a young, strong man to die so young! ] In 1974 the world record back squat in powerlifting was around 415 kg. It is incredible that even Serge could front squat that kind of weight. For anyone who never saw Serge, he was around 5' 7 " tall with enormous and shapely arms, chest, thighs and calves. He looked as if he could lift anything and was unusually flexible to have so much muscle bulk. I have never heard of any lifter front squatting much more than 300 kg. and recently read where current Olympic supers champ Rezazzadai backs squats 400 kg. All time C & J record holder Leo Taranenko stated that his best back squat was 380 kg. although not a max effort. I would have to put Reding's 400 kg. for 5 reps front squat as the single greatest feat of strength of all time, surpassing 's three plus ton back lift and Goerners 330 kg. one hand deadlift. These feats may never be duplicated. Simply amazing. Dan Wathen, Youngstown State Univ. ----------------- Mel Siff wrote: <Periodically I have discussed some of the training feats and methods of the great Belgian superheavy Olympic weightlifter, Serge Reding. One of his training feats that I mentioned was explosively squatting 400kg (880lbs) for 5 reps without wraps or any assistive clothing. I think I may have said that this was a back squat. However, I must correct that observation if I did indeed misstate it, because he did that weight for FRONT squats when he visited South Africa and stayed with our family back in the early 1970s not too long before his untimely death.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 24, 2001 Report Share Posted May 24, 2001 *** Dr Siff wrote: I met him when he had bulked up to 145kg and was regularly using powerful electrostimulation (ES) as part of his training. When he stayed with our family he used one ES device for stressing the muscles as an adjunct to heavy training and another microcurrent device for restoration, applied across the skull and the spinal column. **** Dr Siff, do you know how Reding would fit EMS in his training regimen? Would he include a few purely EMS-based training sessions or would he use EMS methods as part of a training complex in the same workout as he would do weightlifting and weight lifting exercises? [i provided many details on his and Kots' methods of using EMS when I addressed a seminar at the Australian Inst of Sport in Canberra back in 1988. When we used EMS, we did it about 30-60 minutes after normal training and after he had enjoyed a good meal with our family. When I visited Dr Ratov in Moscow, he showed me other methods involving the concurrent use of EMS during various exercises. Charlie Francis, up in your part of the world, can tell you all about how he used EMS with Ben - he even wrote a short article in S.P.O.R.T.S journal for the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) describing its use in athletics. If you cannot find it, then I will look for a copy from the days when I was a member of the CAC. Mel Siff ] Did Reding engage in any form of plyometric training? In any form of jump training? Would he do sprints (Actually I think that the Reding interview answered that question). [The first person who told me about plyometrics (not using that word, which was really an American coach's misinterpretation of " pliometrics " , i.e. eccentrics) was Serge, who did a fair amount of jump training. He said to me that heavy plyometrics for a man of his huge bulk could be idiotic. He tended to prefer doing everything explosively and really enjoyed fast front squats and dynamic shrug pulls. Even without any significant plyo work, he was still very fast and could jump very high onto a gymnastic horse placed at the height of his armpits. He avoided any significant quantity of running or walking because he felt that this could weaken him. Mel Siff ] Christian Thibaudeau Quebec, Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 24, 2001 Report Share Posted May 24, 2001 Dan Wathen<icp328@...> wrote: > For anyone who never saw Serge, he was around 5' 7 " tall with > enormous and shapely arms, chest, thighs and calves. He looked as > if he could lift anything and was unusually flexible to have so > much muscle bulk. I have trouble thinking of Serge Reding as " shapely " ... For a photo: <http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/7342/73wc3.jpg> For a whole gallery: <http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/7342/Rdg2.html> He did look like he could lift anything though. Matt Madsen Irvine, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2001 Report Share Posted May 25, 2001 Incredible! The only lifter I can think of with a similar build is the great Soviet SHW Sultan Rachmanov (Elvis with muscles). [i met Sultan at the 1979 World Championships in Greece and yes, he is rather reminiscent of like an hypertrophied Elvis - my " Supertraining " book has a photo of the two of us together with Vardanian! He certainly was most impressive looking, but had a much smaller midsection than Reding and he was much taller. However, his massiveness was not as stupendously impressive as that of Serge, though in the lifts he outperformed Serge. Pisarenko, was over 6ft tall, extremely muscular and looked like a bodybuilding weightlifter and he outlifted both Reding and Rachmanov. Unfortunately his hobby of mixing with the Russian mafia did not set the greatest example for us. Mel Siff] Jan Baggerud Larsen Oslo, Norway -----Original Message----- Dan Wathen<icp328@...> wrote: > For anyone who never saw Serge, he was around 5' 7 " tall with > enormous and shapely arms, chest, thighs and calves. He looked as > if he could lift anything and was unusually flexible to have so > much muscle bulk. Matt Madsen: I have trouble thinking of Serge Reding as " shapely " ... For a photo: <http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/7342/73wc3.jpg> For a whole gallery: <http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/7342/Rdg2.html> He did look like he could lift anything though. Matt Madsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 26, 2001 Report Share Posted May 26, 2001 " Serge Reding looks like he got lost in a Gain Weight factory " . Hahaha! I like that! I would love to see a video of Reding's lifting. Does anyone know if there are any VHS videos available for purchase? Dr Siff wrote: [it is interesting to note that, only 9 years later, Vardanian was jerking almost the same (222.5kg) as eyev, but in the 82.5kg division. Mel Siff] *** It is also not so very interesting to note that, only 3 years after Vardanian's 222.5 kg jerk, I jerked 40 kg in my first competition in the 48kg division, weighing in at a light 44 kg. Jan Baggerud Larsen Oslo, Norway Serge Reding As a college student at Kent State University in 1970 I had the good fortune to travel to Columbus for the World Weightlifting Championships in September of 1970. My friends and I saw the 242 and Superheavy Weight Devisions compete. At the time I owned a Standard 8 Bell & Howell movie camera (I still have it-it was a mechanical device without batteries that you had to wind). Anyway, I still I took films of both weight classes. I had seen and read of all the super's but had been impressed with tales of Redding physique strength in " Strength & Health " and " Iron Man " (the Peary Rader publication not the present one). I distinctly remember (and then looked at again yesterday) eyev doing his historic 227.5 (501.5 pound Clean & Jerk) then moments later Reding cleaning 228 like nothing then missing the Jerk forward. Prior to that, Reding had been unable to recover with a much lighter clean (215?). He was amazing!! I still have most of those old magazines and pictures. I still have a magazine with a picture of Reding in just shorts standing with Bob Hoffman and the caption read words to the effect " Serge Reding looks like he got lost in a Gain Weight factory " . (Gain Weight was the name of a Hoffman product) [it is interesting to note that, only 9 years later, Vardanian was jerking almost the same (222.5kg) as eyev, but in the 82.5kg division. Mel Siff] Buckley Hingham Mass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2001 Report Share Posted May 27, 2001 Serge Reding > There is no question that Serge Reding was perhaps of the strongest > men who ever lived. Furthermore, he also had one a very impressive > physique. > > I've been reviewing some of the posts on Serge Reding posted. There > seems to be some conflicting lifting numbers. In a couple of posts, > it is stated that Serge Reding squats 5 reps of 400 kgs. Yet in an > interview (Tommy Kono interviewing Andre DuPont, Serge's coach) which > was also posted, the following were his best lifts: What date was the interview? Maybe before he peaked as a lifter? > > His best Front Squat for a single is 617 lbs. and 573 lbs. for three > repetitions. He`s done 705 for > one repetition and 617 for triples in the regular squats. On a 45 > degree incline he has Pressed 396 lbs. > for a single and for 3 reps, 363 lbs. Although he doesn't work on the > Bench Press nor the Dead Lifts > he has done 463 lbs. on the Bench and 771 lbs. on the Dead Lift. Some of these numbers look pretty low for an official 500# clean. The 880x5 front squat seemed really unlikely, though. If you accept the premise that he was one of the strongest men in history, 880x5 back squat seems possible. > > These are also very impressive. But still there's a huge disparity > between 400 kgs. for 5 reps and those figures in the interview. > > Also, in another post, it was stated that Serge's calves measured 26 > inches -- equivalent to a woman's waist. Yet, in the same interview > the following are Serge's measurements: > > AD--He stands 5'8 " and at the bodyweight of 303 lbs he has the > following measurements: > Chest, normal--56'' > Waist--47 " > Hips--48 " > Thighs--31 " > Arms; straight 18 1/4 " , flexed-- 20 1/2 " > Neck-20 " > Calves-20 " > measurement around his shoulders--65 " > Hat size-- 7 1/2 > Shoe size--8 1/2 (European size 43). These measurements are plausible for 300#s on a 5'8 " frame. 26 " calves seem really unlikely. > > Again, there's a huge disparity between 26 inch calves and 20 inch > calves. > > Could someone please explain the disparity? Which figures are the > more accurate ones. Thanks. > > Jeff Santos > Manila, Philippines Kurland, Chicago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2001 Report Share Posted May 28, 2001 The date of the interview was 1972. " The following is an interview with the Belgian national coach DuPont about his lifter Serge Reding prior to the 1972 European Championships. " Serge Reding died early 1974. I think it was in January. Jeff Santos Manila, Philippines > > Serge Reding > > > > There is no question that Serge Reding was perhaps of the strongest > > men who ever lived. Furthermore, he also had one a very impressive > > physique. > > > > I've been reviewing some of the posts on Serge Reding posted. There > > seems to be some conflicting lifting numbers. In a couple of posts, > > it is stated that Serge Reding squats 5 reps of 400 kgs. Yet in an > > interview (Tommy Kono interviewing Andre DuPont, Serge's coach) which > > was also posted, the following were his best lifts: > > What date was the interview? Maybe before he peaked as a lifter? > > > > His best Front Squat for a single is 617 lbs. and 573 lbs. for three > > repetitions. He`s done 705 for > > one repetition and 617 for triples in the regular squats. On a 45 > > degree incline he has Pressed 396 lbs. > > for a single and for 3 reps, 363 lbs. Although he doesn't work on the > > Bench Press nor the Dead Lifts > > he has done 463 lbs. on the Bench and 771 lbs. on the Dead Lift. > > Some of these numbers look pretty low for an official 500# clean. The 880x5 > front squat seemed really unlikely, though. If you accept the premise that > he was one of the strongest men in history, 880x5 back squat seems possible. > > > > These are also very impressive. But still there's a huge disparity > > between 400 kgs. for 5 reps and those figures in the interview. > > > > Also, in another post, it was stated that Serge's calves measured 26 > > inches -- equivalent to a woman's waist. Yet, in the same interview > > the following are Serge's measurements: > > > > AD--He stands 5'8 " and at the bodyweight of 303 lbs he has the > > following measurements: > > Chest, normal--56'' > > Waist--47 " > > Hips--48 " > > Thighs--31 " > > Arms; straight 18 1/4 " , flexed-- 20 1/2 " > > Neck-20 " > > Calves-20 " > > measurement around his shoulders--65 " > > Hat size-- 7 1/2 > > Shoe size--8 1/2 (European size 43). > > These measurements are plausible for 300#s on a 5'8 " frame. 26 " calves seem > really unlikely. > > > > Again, there's a huge disparity between 26 inch calves and 20 inch > > calves. > > > > Could someone please explain the disparity? Which figures are the > > more accurate ones. Thanks. > > > > Jeff Santos > > Manila, Philippines > > Kurland, Chicago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2001 Report Share Posted May 29, 2001 In 1974 I saw the following from Serge Reding at a BW of 340lbs (this was confirmed since I saw him on the scales) Bench 465 X 5 reps. We handed the bar to him while he was lying on a flat bench, narrow grip. Squat (back) 770 X 3 sets x 10 reps done Olympic Style (most of the squats which I saw him do were in sets of three reps. High Pulls off of Milk crates - 300 kg to shoulder level. He did not drop under the bar but pulled them to shoulder level to work on his explosiveness, again for sets of three reps. Hyperextensions with three 20 kg plates held on his shoulders. Vertical Jump, around 1.5 meters (I know I have been told this was impossible by the members on the list, but I saw him do it twice). While these numbers may not seem impressive, if you could have seen the ease which he handled the weights, it was tremendously easy. Joe Littleton Houston, TX -----Original Message----- From: niceguy691200@... [mailto:niceguy691200@...] There is no question that Serge Reding was perhaps of the strongest men who ever lived. Furthermore, he also had one a very impressive physique. I've been reviewing some of the posts on Serge Reding posted. There seems to be some conflicting lifting numbers. In a couple of posts, it is stated that Serge Reding squats 5 reps of 400 kgs. Yet in an interview (Tommy Kono interviewing Andre DuPont, Serge's coach) which was also posted, the following were his best lifts: His best Front Squat for a single is 617 lbs. and 573 lbs. for three repetitions. He`s done 705 for one repetition and 617 for triples in the regular squats. On a 45 degree incline he has Pressed 396 lbs. for a single and for 3 reps, 363 lbs. Although he doesn't work on the Bench Press nor the Dead Lifts he has done 463 lbs. on the Bench and 771 lbs. on the Dead Lift. These are also very impressive. But still there's a huge disparity between 400 kgs. for 5 reps and those figures in the interview. Also, in another post, it was stated that Serge's calves measured 26 inches -- equivalent to a woman's waist. Yet, in the same interview the following are Serge's measurements: AD--He stands 5'8 " and at the bodyweight of 303 lbs he has the following measurements: Chest, normal--56'' Waist--47 " Hips--48 " Thighs--31 " Arms; straight 18 1/4 " , flexed-- 20 1/2 " Neck-20 " Calves-20 " measurement around his shoulders--65 " Hat size-- 7 1/2 Shoe size--8 1/2 (European size 43). Again, there's a huge disparity between 26 inch calves and 20 inch calves. Could someone please explain the disparity? Which figures are the more accurate ones. Thanks. Jeff Santos Manila, Philippines t to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2001 Report Share Posted May 29, 2001 : This was done against a wall. Serge chalked his fingers and then reached as far above his head as he could touch flat footed. He then " marked " the wall. Serge then re-chalked his fingers and jumped touching as far above his head as he could on the wall. The distance between the top of his fingers at both his standing mark and the fingers on the mark where he touched when he jumped was measured. I know this is not very scientific, but it is the way they measured it in 1974. I saw him easily stand flat footed and jump up on a closed bleacher that was the same level as his arm pits, which of course, was lower than the top of his shoulders. I also saw him stand flatfooted and slam a basket ball in a 10' goal. Now at 340 lbs that was more than a little impressive. [One small comment - I am constantly having to correct the spelling of Serge's last name in letters on this topic. His correct name was Serge Reding, not Serge Redding. OK? Mel Siff ] Joe Littleton Houston, TX -----Original Message----- From: Hobman [mailto:khobman@...] Joe wrote, >In 1974 I saw the following from Serge Reding at a BW of 340lbs (this was >confirmed since I saw him on the scales) > >Bench 465 X 5 reps. We handed the bar to him while he was lying on a flat >bench, narrow grip. > >Squat (back) 770 X 3 sets x 10 reps done Olympic Style (most of the squats >which I saw him do were in sets of three reps. > >High Pulls off of Milk crates - 300 kg to shoulder level. He did not drop >under the bar but pulled them to shoulder level to work on his >explosiveness, again for sets of three reps. > >Hyperextensions with three 20 kg plates held on his shoulders. > >Vertical Jump, around 1.5 meters (I know I have been told this was >impossible by the members on the list, but I saw him do it twice). > >While these numbers may not seem impressive, if you could have seen the ease >which he handled the weights, it was tremendously easy. Joe - I was one who questioned the vertical. Not because I thought it was impossible, but because I felt the measurement had to be taken from the top of his head (his height) to what he could reach _over_ his actual height. This is a more accurate measurement of vertical since it cannot be cheated by 'shrugging down' the should and arm as is now taught by many people to athletes testing for NFL combines. So I didn't question the number, just the method of taking it. However, since Serge was 1.75 m or so in height, if he actually vertical jumped 1.5 meters it would mean he could jump up and fully extended (ie - no bend at the knees) he would have his feet up to his standing shoulder height. So I question this. I believe he could get up on a table 1.5 metres high by bending his knees at the apogee of his jump. But since the official world record vertical is 49 " or 47 " or something like that I can't see him exceeding it by a foot or more. So, I ask again, how was the measurement derived? Hobman Saskatoon, Canada 'Grip it and rip it!' Modify or cancel your subscription here: mygroups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2001 Report Share Posted May 29, 2001 Joe wrote, > >This was done against a wall. Serge chalked his fingers and then reached as >far above his head as he could touch flat footed. He then " marked " the >wall. Serge then re-chalked his fingers and jumped touching as far above >his head as he could on the wall. The distance between the top of his >fingers at both his standing mark and the fingers on the mark where he >touched when he jumped was measured. > >I know this is not very scientific, but it is the way they measured it in >1974. I saw him easily stand flat footed and jump up on a closed bleacher >that was the same level as his arm pits, which of course, was lower than the >top of his shoulders. I also saw him stand flatfooted and slam a basket >ball in a 10' goal. Now at 340 lbs that was more than a little impressive. Umm... Jeez. The guy was the 8th wonder of the world. Flat out amazing. Hobman Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2001 Report Share Posted May 30, 2001 One of my powerlifting training partners measured his VJ at the " toppidrettssenteret " (institute of high level sports) in Oslo. His VJ measured 78 cm and this was actually one of the best results they had ever measured there, including results by top Norwegian jumpers. Imaging their reaction if Serge came in and *doubled* this result @340 lbs BW! Jan Baggerud Larsen Oslo, Norway RE: Serge Reding Joe wrote, > >This was done against a wall. Serge chalked his fingers and then reached as >far above his head as he could touch flat footed. He then " marked " the >wall. Serge then re-chalked his fingers and jumped touching as far above >his head as he could on the wall. The distance between the top of his >fingers at both his standing mark and the fingers on the mark where he >touched when he jumped was measured. > >I know this is not very scientific, but it is the way they measured it in >1974. I saw him easily stand flat footed and jump up on a closed bleacher >that was the same level as his arm pits, which of course, was lower than the >top of his shoulders. I also saw him stand flatfooted and slam a basket >ball in a 10' goal. Now at 340 lbs that was more than a little impressive. Umm... Jeez. The guy was the 8th wonder of the world. Flat out amazing. Hobman Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.