BOB HOFFMAN

1898 - 1985

Bob Hoffman - athlete, nutritionist, weightlifter, coach and philantropist - was born on a farm in Tifton, Georgia on Nov 9th 1898. His family stock was good however they had no proof of address documents as they moved from town to town. Bob was never the seven stone weakling claimed by other physical culturists. His father was a large strong man who liked to demonstrate the hardness of his tensed muscles. Given this it his easy to see how Bob was influenced in his formative years.

When Bob was 5 years old the family moved to Wilkinsburg near Pittsburgh where his athletic career started from a very young age. He was an exceptional athlete especially in aquatic sports - his favorite being canoeing.

The First World War saw Bob as a hero. He gained 3 Croix de Guerres with two palms and a Silver Star from France. From Belgium he was awarded The Belgian Order of Leopold and from Italy the Italian War Cross and the Purple Heart.

His business started in the 1920s, at first selling oil burners, before developing into the massive York Barbell Company.

Bob Hoffman, never a great coach or great weightlifter, was a man who influenced and guided weightlifting and bodybuilding for half a century. He died on July 18th 1985 suffering heart disease and dementia.

His writings and ideas have been criticised - we make no comment - but present them for you to form your own conclusions.

Weight Lifting by Bob Hoffman

206 page book published in 1939 - containing many photos of both old-time
and contemporary weightlifters & bodybuilders.

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Big Arms by Bob Hoffman

Originally published in 1939.
This edition reprinted (and possibly updated) in 1972

Contributed by

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Secrets of Strength & Development

Originally published in 1940
This edition reprinted (and possibly updated) in 1972

Contributed by

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The Big Chest Book

Originally published in 1941
This edition reprinted (and possibly updated) in 1950

Contributed by R. 'Doc' Ray

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Bob Hoffman's Simplified System of Swing Bar Training

Published in 1943

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Bob Hoffman's Simplified System of Barbell Training

Published in 1940s

Contributed by

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Bob Hoffman's Simplified System of Dumbell Training

Published in 1942

Contributed by

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The York Handbalancing Course

from the late 40s/early 50s

Contributed by Ron Tyrrell

Download Course 1 and Course 2

Bob Hoffman's Daily Dozen

Published in 1958

Contributed by

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Advanced Methods of Weight Training

Published in 1951

Contributed by

Functional Isometric Contraction System

Published in 1961

Contributed by Gordon Anderson

Functional Isometric Contraction - Advanced Course

Published in 1962

Contributed by Gordon Anderson

Functional Isometric Contraction
Exercise without Movement

Full 285 page book (expanded version of above) with many illustrations.
Published in 1962

Contributed by Gordon Anderson

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