Summary
Highlights
Rob introduces Mark, known online as 'deadliest lift,' and asks about the origin of his unique handle. Mark explains it started as a cool name idea, related to 'deadlift,' and evolved into a self-fulfilling prophecy due to his unorthodox lifting style, which often involves having his head in the ceiling or using unusual stances.
Mark discusses how he began experimenting with 'dangerous' or atypical lifts, pushing back against rigid notions of proper technique. He found them fun and an expression against conventional lifting rules. His social media presence grew after participating in Mikey Maybee's 'Ego Lifting' competition, which celebrated weird lifts.
Rob introduces historical strongman feats, starting with Louis Cyr's back lift, where immense weight is supported on the back. Mark shares his recent contemplation of attempting a back lift due to his extensive plate collection. The discussion moves to lifting people, with Mark acknowledging the difficulty due to uneven weight distribution and movement, referencing strongmen like the Saxon brothers and Chuck Aaron.
The conversation shifts to lifting animals, starting with Eugene Sandow's static hold of a pony. Mark mentions lifting his own dog. Examples of increasingly dangerous animal lifts are shown, including William Pagel climbing ladders with a horse dangling below him, William Travers lifting horses with chains, and Hermann Görner wrestling an elephant. The segment culminates with Katie Sandwina's 'deadliest' feat of fighting against two horses pulling her by a neck harness.
Rob presents strongman feats involving supporting incredibly heavy external objects, such as Eugene Sandow having a soldier on horseback ride over him, and the Saxon Trio holding up planks while a car drives over them. Mark expresses interest in these, playfully suggesting companies sponsor him to build apparatuses. The 'deadliest' award in this category goes to Mighty Adam, who lay on a bed of nails supporting 17 band members and their instruments for extended periods.
The discussion continues with Mighty Adam's famous hair and teeth lifts. Mark reveals he recently performed a teeth deadlift after a shoulder dislocation, highlighting the neck strain involved. They discuss historical teeth lifting, including York Barbell's custom teeth lifting straps. The focus then shifts to barbell-specific feats, like Hermann Görner's barbell sway press and two-fingered deadlifts (achieving 595.5 pounds), showing his versatility in grip positions.
Rob introduces a strongman named Rodando, known for jumping over a deadlifted barbell, a feat Mark, despite his strength, finds challenging due to flexibility issues. Frank 'Cannonball' Richards, who could withstand a cannonball shot to his torso, is also mentioned. Mark shares the origin of his home gym, purchased in March 2020 just before commercial gyms closed during the pandemic, solidifying his commitment to home training.
Mark explains that his 'goofy' lifts are not part of his regular training but rather spontaneous explorations of strength. He trains conventionally for strength gains and uses odd lifts for spectacle. He avoids performing these in commercial gyms to respect equipment and other patrons. The conversation concludes with the idea of Mark doing a live 'tinkering' session at a home gym convention, demonstrating his spontaneous approach to unique lifts.