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World Bodybuilding History.
BOB HOFFMAN – “FATHER OF WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING”.
Bob Hoffman, known during his lifetime and still often referred to as the “Father of World Weightlifting,” driven by the idea of creating and building a “Muscle Empire,” which he turned into a sport officially recognized throughout the world, Bob Hoffman (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898–1985) was born in the State of Georgia, USA.
At the age of eighteen, he participated in the First World War. During the war, Bob Hoffman was awarded several times for bravery. In 1919, he ended his military service. Speaking about sport, Bob Hoffman stated: “We didn’t get into this business to make money; we got into it to build a stronger and healthier America.”
In 1920, Bob Hoffman entered the oil business, from which he withdrew in 1938. He created his sports empire with the money he had earned from the oil business.
In 1922, Bob Hoffman began publishing the magazine Strength and Health, and in 1932 the magazine Muscular Development. He called his publications “a magazine for real men” and “the family health magazine.”
The exceptional athletic talent of John Grimek and Bob Hoffman’s enormous efforts concentrated the attention of the sports world on York. People eagerly bought bodybuilding magazines featuring photographs of John Grimek and descriptions of his training and went to train in gyms. Bob Hoffman and John Grimek became very close friends, and this friendship lasted until Bob Hoffman’s death.
In 1924, Bob Hoffman organized the first weightlifting competitions in America. In 1940, the York Club team, led by Bob Hoffman, took all first places at the U.S. national weightlifting championships.
Between 1936 and 1968, Bob Hoffman was the official coach of the U.S. Olympic weightlifting team. This period is regarded by many specialists in the history of weightlifting as the “Golden Age” of American weightlifting.
In 1930, Bob Hoffman became involved in the activities of the A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union). Sports historians unanimously recognize that from the 1930s until the 1980s, the main center of American weightlifting and bodybuilding was Bob Hoffman’s “York Barbell Company,” founded in the State of Pennsylvania, and the sports club of the same name, the “York Barbell Club.”
Beginning with the 1932 Olympic Games, Bob Hoffman worked extensively for and served the U.S. national weightlifting team. From 1948 to 1968, he was the coach of the U.S. national weightlifting team, while his sports club’s athletes won the U.S. weightlifting championship team trophy forty-eight times.
Jim Murray, who for many years worked as an editor for the magazines of Bob Hoffman and Joe Weider, recalls Bob Hoffman introducing himself: “Hello, my name is Bob Hoffman. I’m the coach of the U.S. Olympic team, and I just might be the world’s healthiest man.”
Among other products, Bob Hoffman’s company manufactured barbells and dumbbells, which he sold according to a model devised back in 1902 by Alan Calvert, the owner of the “Milo Barbell Company.” Bob Hoffman purchased Alan Calvert’s company in 1924.
It was precisely through the activities of his company that, throughout all those years, Bob Hoffman sought to involve Americans in health and physical education activities. He stated that “the success of every American’s life is achieved through physical development of the body.” For millions of people, Bob Hoffman turned American York into a true “Mecca for lifters everywhere.”
Sometimes new, non-standard activities were introduced to the public. John Figarelli wrote that in 1962 Bob Hoffman introduced people to isometric training, which required little time and effort to achieve results.
Bob Hoffman was the first to begin the business of selling exercise equipment and nutritional supplements. The press called him a “living pioneer of the health food industry.”
Throughout his entire period of activity, Bob Hoffman was a leader in the production and sale of health and sports products. He gathered promising American athletes, provided them with jobs in his companies, and prepared them for national and international weightlifting and bodybuilding competitions.
Among these athletes were John Grimek, Steve Stanko, John Davis, John Terpak, Tony Terlazzo, John Terry, Dick Bachtell, Yas Kazuhara, Jim Park, and Jules Bacon.
One of Bob Hoffman’s followers was also Sigmund Klein. Some of Bob Hoffman’s famous athletes, such as John Grimek, Steve Stanko, and Tommy Kono, were simultaneously successful weightlifters and bodybuilders.
Bob Hoffman believed that it was possible to lift enormous weights and at the same time be a good bodybuilder and look good. Time showed that he was mistaken.
Having himself been an athlete, Bob Hoffman throughout his life won and was presented with more than six hundred various prizes and awards.
In 1961, Bob Hoffman was officially received at the White House, where, during an official meeting, he inducted U.S. President John Fitzgerald Robert Kennedy (1917–1963) as an honorary member of the A.A.U.
In 1969, together with Congressman George Atlee Goodling, Bob Hoffman was officially received at the White House for the second time, where he met with U.S. President Richard Milhous Nixon (1913–1994).
Bob Hoffman was a supporter of U.S. President Richard Nixon and, together with athletes, participated in the president’s election campaign. He published a monthly sports publication, Activity Report, and regularly provided it to the President of the country and many members of the U.S. Congress.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed Bob Hoffman as his adviser on physical fitness matters, while Bob Hoffman himself referred to himself as the “Father of Physical Fitness.”
Famous for his philanthropic activities, Bob Hoffman supported various sports competitions and various educational institutions. During the 1970s, he appeared on various U.S. television programs and was frequently written about in the American press. Throughout his life, Bob Hoffman published a number of popular books.
The world press frequently carried information about the fierce competition in bodybuilding and commerce between Bob Hoffman and the President of the I.F.B.B., Ben Weider.
Until 1970, when the I.F.B.B. took its decisive step at its founding congress in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Bob Hoffman was the single most influential figure both in professional American bodybuilding and in the country’s physical culture.
Before that, Bob Hoffman had no competitors in officially recognized bodybuilding because he represented an officially recognized sport. Bodybuilding was under the F.I.H.C. federation, which in turn was a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.).
In 1970, the situation changed. Following the founding congress held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the I.F.B.B. federation quickly became a member of G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations), and in this way closed the way to official recognition for other international federations for several decades.
Bob Hoffman publicly expressed his outrage at this injustice, all the more because Oscar State, Secretary General of the World Weightlifting Federation, who through his personal assistance to I.F.B.B. President Ben Weider played a decisive role in Belgrade, had for many years been his close colleague in weightlifting activities.
Bob Hoffman stated that “IFBB is not a democratic organization because it does not allow its athletes to participate in A.A.U. competitions.”
At the same time, also angered by Oscar State’s cooperation with the Weider brothers, in Europe an authoritative continental bodybuilding leader, called the “anti-Weider Crusade,” the Englishman Oscar Heidenstam, adopted a strict anti-Weider position.
Seeking to calm the passions, Ben Weider came up with the idea that the I.F.B.B. could become a member of the A.A.U. Thus, in 1972, Ben Weider registered as a participant in the A.A.U. congress held in the State of Kansas.
The congress discussed the legitimacy of the I.F.B.B.’s membership in the G.A.I.S.F. organization. A number of well-known sports personalities were outraged by the Weiders’ actions and threatened to protest against the I.F.B.B.’s membership in G.A.I.S.F.
It is not surprising that at that time the A.A.U. congress did not support Ben Weider’s initiative, which was supported by only two congress participants. The I.F.B.B. was not admitted to the A.A.U., and Oscar Heidenstam was especially pleased about this.
The ideology of both Ben Weider and Bob Hoffman was the same – it was a synthesis of personal ego, sport, and business.
Ben Weider was more energetic, and therefore he managed to overtake the A.A.U. According to Oscar Heidenstam, Ben Weider significantly overtook Bob Hoffman through aggressive bodybuilding magazine publishing and magazine distribution.
Oscar Heidenstam regarded the I.F.B.B.’s membership in the G.A.I.S.F. organization as a great mistake (“it was a terrible mistake”) and expected a stronger protest from Bob Hoffman.
Of course, Bob Hoffman was also dissatisfied. He wrote that through membership in the G.A.I.S.F. organization, “the Weiders, who for many years had been engaged in publishing pornography, seek only material benefit” (“Weiders who for many years had been ‘publishing pornographic magazines’ were only interested in money...” ).
The opposition to the Weider brothers failed.
After almost five decades of dominating bodybuilding, Bob Hoffman had to give way to the Weider brothers. For Bob Hoffman, this was a real tragedy of his life.
BOB HOFFMAN – “FATHER OF WORLD WEIGHTLIFTING”.
Bob Hoffman, known during his lifetime and still often referred to as the “Father of World Weightlifting,” driven by the idea of creating and building a “Muscle Empire,” which he turned into a sport officially recognized throughout the world, Bob Hoffman (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898–1985) was born in the State of Georgia, USA.
At the age of eighteen, he participated in the First World War. During the war, Bob Hoffman was awarded several times for bravery. In 1919, he ended his military service. Speaking about sport, Bob Hoffman stated: “We didn’t get into this business to make money; we got into it to build a stronger and healthier America.”
In 1920, Bob Hoffman entered the oil business, from which he withdrew in 1938. He created his sports empire with the money he had earned from the oil business.
In 1922, Bob Hoffman began publishing the magazine Strength and Health, and in 1932 the magazine Muscular Development. He called his publications “a magazine for real men” and “the family health magazine.”
The exceptional athletic talent of John Grimek and Bob Hoffman’s enormous efforts concentrated the attention of the sports world on York. People eagerly bought bodybuilding magazines featuring photographs of John Grimek and descriptions of his training and went to train in gyms. Bob Hoffman and John Grimek became very close friends, and this friendship lasted until Bob Hoffman’s death.
In 1924, Bob Hoffman organized the first weightlifting competitions in America. In 1940, the York Club team, led by Bob Hoffman, took all first places at the U.S. national weightlifting championships.
Between 1936 and 1968, Bob Hoffman was the official coach of the U.S. Olympic weightlifting team. This period is regarded by many specialists in the history of weightlifting as the “Golden Age” of American weightlifting.
In 1930, Bob Hoffman became involved in the activities of the A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union). Sports historians unanimously recognize that from the 1930s until the 1980s, the main center of American weightlifting and bodybuilding was Bob Hoffman’s “York Barbell Company,” founded in the State of Pennsylvania, and the sports club of the same name, the “York Barbell Club.”
Beginning with the 1932 Olympic Games, Bob Hoffman worked extensively for and served the U.S. national weightlifting team. From 1948 to 1968, he was the coach of the U.S. national weightlifting team, while his sports club’s athletes won the U.S. weightlifting championship team trophy forty-eight times.
Jim Murray, who for many years worked as an editor for the magazines of Bob Hoffman and Joe Weider, recalls Bob Hoffman introducing himself: “Hello, my name is Bob Hoffman. I’m the coach of the U.S. Olympic team, and I just might be the world’s healthiest man.”
Among other products, Bob Hoffman’s company manufactured barbells and dumbbells, which he sold according to a model devised back in 1902 by Alan Calvert, the owner of the “Milo Barbell Company.” Bob Hoffman purchased Alan Calvert’s company in 1924.
It was precisely through the activities of his company that, throughout all those years, Bob Hoffman sought to involve Americans in health and physical education activities. He stated that “the success of every American’s life is achieved through physical development of the body.” For millions of people, Bob Hoffman turned American York into a true “Mecca for lifters everywhere.”
Sometimes new, non-standard activities were introduced to the public. John Figarelli wrote that in 1962 Bob Hoffman introduced people to isometric training, which required little time and effort to achieve results.
Bob Hoffman was the first to begin the business of selling exercise equipment and nutritional supplements. The press called him a “living pioneer of the health food industry.”
Throughout his entire period of activity, Bob Hoffman was a leader in the production and sale of health and sports products. He gathered promising American athletes, provided them with jobs in his companies, and prepared them for national and international weightlifting and bodybuilding competitions.
Among these athletes were John Grimek, Steve Stanko, John Davis, John Terpak, Tony Terlazzo, John Terry, Dick Bachtell, Yas Kazuhara, Jim Park, and Jules Bacon.
One of Bob Hoffman’s followers was also Sigmund Klein. Some of Bob Hoffman’s famous athletes, such as John Grimek, Steve Stanko, and Tommy Kono, were simultaneously successful weightlifters and bodybuilders.
Bob Hoffman believed that it was possible to lift enormous weights and at the same time be a good bodybuilder and look good. Time showed that he was mistaken.
Having himself been an athlete, Bob Hoffman throughout his life won and was presented with more than six hundred various prizes and awards.
In 1961, Bob Hoffman was officially received at the White House, where, during an official meeting, he inducted U.S. President John Fitzgerald Robert Kennedy (1917–1963) as an honorary member of the A.A.U.
In 1969, together with Congressman George Atlee Goodling, Bob Hoffman was officially received at the White House for the second time, where he met with U.S. President Richard Milhous Nixon (1913–1994).
Bob Hoffman was a supporter of U.S. President Richard Nixon and, together with athletes, participated in the president’s election campaign. He published a monthly sports publication, Activity Report, and regularly provided it to the President of the country and many members of the U.S. Congress.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed Bob Hoffman as his adviser on physical fitness matters, while Bob Hoffman himself referred to himself as the “Father of Physical Fitness.”
Famous for his philanthropic activities, Bob Hoffman supported various sports competitions and various educational institutions. During the 1970s, he appeared on various U.S. television programs and was frequently written about in the American press. Throughout his life, Bob Hoffman published a number of popular books.
The world press frequently carried information about the fierce competition in bodybuilding and commerce between Bob Hoffman and the President of the I.F.B.B., Ben Weider.
Until 1970, when the I.F.B.B. took its decisive step at its founding congress in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Bob Hoffman was the single most influential figure both in professional American bodybuilding and in the country’s physical culture.
Before that, Bob Hoffman had no competitors in officially recognized bodybuilding because he represented an officially recognized sport. Bodybuilding was under the F.I.H.C. federation, which in turn was a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.).
In 1970, the situation changed. Following the founding congress held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the I.F.B.B. federation quickly became a member of G.A.I.S.F. (Global Association of International Sports Federations), and in this way closed the way to official recognition for other international federations for several decades.
Bob Hoffman publicly expressed his outrage at this injustice, all the more because Oscar State, Secretary General of the World Weightlifting Federation, who through his personal assistance to I.F.B.B. President Ben Weider played a decisive role in Belgrade, had for many years been his close colleague in weightlifting activities.
Bob Hoffman stated that “IFBB is not a democratic organization because it does not allow its athletes to participate in A.A.U. competitions.”
At the same time, also angered by Oscar State’s cooperation with the Weider brothers, in Europe an authoritative continental bodybuilding leader, called the “anti-Weider Crusade,” the Englishman Oscar Heidenstam, adopted a strict anti-Weider position.
Seeking to calm the passions, Ben Weider came up with the idea that the I.F.B.B. could become a member of the A.A.U. Thus, in 1972, Ben Weider registered as a participant in the A.A.U. congress held in the State of Kansas.
The congress discussed the legitimacy of the I.F.B.B.’s membership in the G.A.I.S.F. organization. A number of well-known sports personalities were outraged by the Weiders’ actions and threatened to protest against the I.F.B.B.’s membership in G.A.I.S.F.
It is not surprising that at that time the A.A.U. congress did not support Ben Weider’s initiative, which was supported by only two congress participants. The I.F.B.B. was not admitted to the A.A.U., and Oscar Heidenstam was especially pleased about this.
The ideology of both Ben Weider and Bob Hoffman was the same – it was a synthesis of personal ego, sport, and business.
Ben Weider was more energetic, and therefore he managed to overtake the A.A.U. According to Oscar Heidenstam, Ben Weider significantly overtook Bob Hoffman through aggressive bodybuilding magazine publishing and magazine distribution.
Oscar Heidenstam regarded the I.F.B.B.’s membership in the G.A.I.S.F. organization as a great mistake (“it was a terrible mistake”) and expected a stronger protest from Bob Hoffman.
Of course, Bob Hoffman was also dissatisfied. He wrote that through membership in the G.A.I.S.F. organization, “the Weiders, who for many years had been engaged in publishing pornography, seek only material benefit” (“Weiders who for many years had been ‘publishing pornographic magazines’ were only interested in money...” ).
The opposition to the Weider brothers failed.
After almost five decades of dominating bodybuilding, Bob Hoffman had to give way to the Weider brothers. For Bob Hoffman, this was a real tragedy of his life.