He went down in history as the "Iron Samson". Alexander Zass was rightfully considered the most powerful man on the planet. The secret of his success is not in exhausting resistance training, but in the author's program for the development of tendons. For many years, Zass worked in the circus arena, striking the audience with his phenomenal physical capabilities.
Alexander Ivanovich Zass: facts from the biography
The future famous athlete and circus performer was born on February 23 (according to the new style - March 6), 1888 on a farm near Vilna. Zass spent his childhood in Saransk, in the Penza province. The boy's family subsequently moved there. From a young age, he surprised those around him with outstanding physical capabilities. With a weight of 66 kg, Alexander did squeeze with his right hand with a torso deviation of 80 kg.
In 1908, Zass performed for the first time on the circus arena, which later became for him the place where he received his first life education. It was in Orenburg, in the Andrzhievsky circus. Alexander never possessed special physical data: with a height of 167.5 cm, in his best years he weighed 75 kg. The size of the biceps is 42 cm. Modern bodybuilders can boast of more impressive parameters of their body.
The secret of Zass's strength consisted in a system of exercises developed by him, aimed at developing tendons. The basis of the training complex was the so-called isometric exercises, and not the usual contraction of muscle fibers for athletes during exercise.
Iron Samson
Before the imperialist war, Zass performed in the circus arena with impressive power performances. During the First World War, he served in the Vindavsky regiment, which in peacetime was stationed in Saransk. Glory came to Alexander when he carried a horse wounded under him on his shoulders from the battlefield.
In 1914, Zass was seriously wounded by shrapnel and was taken prisoner in Austria. He tried to escape twice, but only the third attempt to escape was successful. So Zass ended up in the south of Hungary. Here he entered the Schmidt circus troupe. It was then that he received the nickname "Iron Samson".
Achievements of Alexander Zass
Later Alexander signed a contract with the Italian impresario Pasolini and toured Germany, Italy, Switzerland, England, Ireland, France.
In 1924, Zass lived primarily in Britain. From here he regularly went on tour to various countries. Soon, Alexander received the title "The Strongest Man on Earth."
The athlete was also engaged in literary creativity. In 1925, Zass's book was published, where he described several of his systems of training and physical development. The athlete's achievements include the wrist dynamometer and a cannon invented by him for the impressive "Projectile Man" attraction. It is noteworthy that Zass was fluent in several European languages.
In 1954, Alexander appeared in front of the public for the last time in his usual role. At that moment he was 66 years old. After that, "Samson" acted as a trainer, working with dogs, horses, ponies, monkeys and other animals. One of the numbers of Zass was especially spectacular: he wore two lions on a yoke in front of the audience.
Alexander Zass passed away on September 26, 1962. Buried near London, where he lived in recent years.
