DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE SUPERMAN!
By Peter Vuono
Last week, I visited my old friend, Paul Dallalis in the hospital. Paul is a giant of both kindness and strength at 6'5" and nearly 300lbs. Paul was a champion from the beginning winning the teenage national Olympic lifting championships in Willamantic CT in 1979. While still training, Paul channeled his mind and body to his fellow man as a respiratory therapist in at least two well known Boston hospitals.
Paul and I spent a lot of time together doing the things we loved; lifting weights, going to powerlfiting contests and working security at our secret passion, pro wrestling. Paul was always a gentleman- never flaunting his gift and always upbeat in times of difficulty.
Paul is fighting leukemia. In addition to this, he has spent months withstanding painful skin grafts to his leg from injuries he sustained from major lacerations in a household accident.All in the matter of a few years, I saw my beloved friend who was the picture of strength fall from Olympus.I used to have a poster in my classroom that read"Strength on the outside comes only after strength on the inside." I soon realized that the unknown author must have met Paul.
Every time I visited him or talked to him on the phone, Paul was always jocular, supportive of my needs and upbeat.He always said that life is an interesting journey when mere mortals like me would have thought of his plight as a living hell. Yet every time I leave his room, I feel inspired and strengthened through Paul's attitude and I realized that Paul had never fallen from Olympus at all; he ascended even higher.
One of my favorite movies is the anti-bullying movie Angus(1995). In the picture George C. Scott speaks to actor Charlie Talbert who plays Scott's grandson. Every time I watch the scene I think about the amazing inner strength of my friend.
In the film, grandpa tries to comfort his grandson who is being bullied. He says,"Superman isn't brave. You don't understand. He's smart, handsome and even descent. But he's indestructible; and you can't be brave if you're indestructible. It's people like you and your mother; people who are different and can be crushed and know it. Yet , they keep on going out there every time".
Paul continues to go out there every time- not just healing but inspiring and motivating. The kind of superman that I have been so proud and fortunate to know. The kind that others who are suffering need to hear about A man for whom there IS NO Kryptonite.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
CHUCK AHRENS- Strength Through Humility
A different version of this story appeared in Powerlifting USA Magazine approx. in March of 1983.
On Dec. 30, 2009 Chuck Ahrens, one of the most notable of modern day American strongmen, passed
away. Strength devotees well remember his prodigious strength. I too remember the absolutely stunning pictures in Iron Man Magazine showing a man who appeared to be wearing shoulder pads but in reality, did not. However, what was equally impressive to me was Chuck's modesty. Never did he boast or brag about his gift.It made several friends of mine immediately come to mind who were a kindred spirit to Chuck- both strong and humble. I contemplated my friends Steve Sanderson of Plymouth, Steve Monas and Dave Hartnet of NH and my pals Paul Dallalis, Frankie Ciavattone and Jeff Ciavattone of Norwood..
Finally, I thought of my teenage friend, Joey Previte. When Joey was born, circumstances arose where Joey's parents were fearful that his health would be in jeopardy.. By the grace of God, the opposite occured and Joey became a prodigy of strength. At 250lbs., he became a superb lineman garnering all scholastic honors in 3 Massachusetts newspapers.He bench pressed 405 for a double and squatted and deadlifted 500lbs. all before reaching the age of 19!
Like Chuck Ahrens, Joey is the epitome of strength and humbleness. He and Chuck would have made perfect training partners given another time and place and I dedicate this story to Joey.
CHUCK AHRENS- Strength Through Humility.
By Peter Vuono
In the early days of powerlifting, back in the 1950's there was established in Santa Monica California an outdoor gymnasium known as the Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club. This gym was enclosed by a wooden fence and was equipped with a wide variety of weights and machines. It was here at this Mecca of muscle that many of powerlifting's pioneers congregated. One of the largest and strongest of these behemoths was Chuck Ahrens. Chuck was known as weightlifting's "Mystery Man", because he was of a quiet reserved nature and refused to take off his shirt to pose for cameras. Only in one rare photo taken for Muscular Developement Magazine, did Chuck roll up his sleeve. When walking along the shores of Muscle Beach, he must have resembled one of the huge saurians that may have roamed there in the Mesozoic.
Chuck stood 6' and weighed 330 lbs., most of which was distributed in his upper body. He had a normal, non-expanded chest measurement of 58 inches. His shoulders were 28 inches wide and his arms measured 22 and three eighths in circumference!
Ahrens specialized in odd lifts. His favorites were the one arm dumbbell strict press, the two arm dumbbell press and the triceps extension. Chuck was able to press with one arm 310 lbs. for 3 repetitions! He also performed 235lbs. for 5 consecutive repetitions standing with a dumbbell in each hand! While seated, with his back up against an incline board set at 90 degrees, Chuck pressed two 225lb. dumbells for 5 reps!
In the lying triceps extension, Chuck's style was to hold the bar overhead, lower it behind and below the head and then extend it up overhead. In 1956, Chuck performed a single in this movement with 400lbs.!
Such work on the dumbbell presses and triceps extensions gave Chuck tremendous power in the behind the neck press and the bench press. In the behind the neck press standing, Chuck performed 390 lbs. without specialization. In the bench press, he performed and incredible 28 reps with 400lbs.!!
Unfortunately, Chuck's quiet and humble disposition,kept him away from actual competition.
According to the office of Unclaimed Persons of the Los Angeles County Dept. of the Coroner, the body of Charles Henry Ahrens who lived on Ocean Park in his beloved Santa Monica was unclaimed by family, friends or acquaintances at age 76.
At first, I felt terrible that Chuck died alone and it almost brought me to tears knowing that this man who inspired so many was unclaimed at death. However, in truth, God claimed his humble soul and his memory still beats in the hearts of all those he inspired. In this way, his essence was claimed by all.
"A wise man walks with his head bowed; humble like the dust".- Shaolin saying
A different version of this story appeared in Powerlifting USA Magazine approx. in March of 1983.
On Dec. 30, 2009 Chuck Ahrens, one of the most notable of modern day American strongmen, passed
away. Strength devotees well remember his prodigious strength. I too remember the absolutely stunning pictures in Iron Man Magazine showing a man who appeared to be wearing shoulder pads but in reality, did not. However, what was equally impressive to me was Chuck's modesty. Never did he boast or brag about his gift.It made several friends of mine immediately come to mind who were a kindred spirit to Chuck- both strong and humble. I contemplated my friends Steve Sanderson of Plymouth, Steve Monas and Dave Hartnet of NH and my pals Paul Dallalis, Frankie Ciavattone and Jeff Ciavattone of Norwood..
Finally, I thought of my teenage friend, Joey Previte. When Joey was born, circumstances arose where Joey's parents were fearful that his health would be in jeopardy.. By the grace of God, the opposite occured and Joey became a prodigy of strength. At 250lbs., he became a superb lineman garnering all scholastic honors in 3 Massachusetts newspapers.He bench pressed 405 for a double and squatted and deadlifted 500lbs. all before reaching the age of 19!
Like Chuck Ahrens, Joey is the epitome of strength and humbleness. He and Chuck would have made perfect training partners given another time and place and I dedicate this story to Joey.
CHUCK AHRENS- Strength Through Humility.
By Peter Vuono
In the early days of powerlifting, back in the 1950's there was established in Santa Monica California an outdoor gymnasium known as the Muscle Beach Weightlifting Club. This gym was enclosed by a wooden fence and was equipped with a wide variety of weights and machines. It was here at this Mecca of muscle that many of powerlifting's pioneers congregated. One of the largest and strongest of these behemoths was Chuck Ahrens. Chuck was known as weightlifting's "Mystery Man", because he was of a quiet reserved nature and refused to take off his shirt to pose for cameras. Only in one rare photo taken for Muscular Developement Magazine, did Chuck roll up his sleeve. When walking along the shores of Muscle Beach, he must have resembled one of the huge saurians that may have roamed there in the Mesozoic.
Chuck stood 6' and weighed 330 lbs., most of which was distributed in his upper body. He had a normal, non-expanded chest measurement of 58 inches. His shoulders were 28 inches wide and his arms measured 22 and three eighths in circumference!
Ahrens specialized in odd lifts. His favorites were the one arm dumbbell strict press, the two arm dumbbell press and the triceps extension. Chuck was able to press with one arm 310 lbs. for 3 repetitions! He also performed 235lbs. for 5 consecutive repetitions standing with a dumbbell in each hand! While seated, with his back up against an incline board set at 90 degrees, Chuck pressed two 225lb. dumbells for 5 reps!
In the lying triceps extension, Chuck's style was to hold the bar overhead, lower it behind and below the head and then extend it up overhead. In 1956, Chuck performed a single in this movement with 400lbs.!
Such work on the dumbbell presses and triceps extensions gave Chuck tremendous power in the behind the neck press and the bench press. In the behind the neck press standing, Chuck performed 390 lbs. without specialization. In the bench press, he performed and incredible 28 reps with 400lbs.!!
Unfortunately, Chuck's quiet and humble disposition,kept him away from actual competition.
According to the office of Unclaimed Persons of the Los Angeles County Dept. of the Coroner, the body of Charles Henry Ahrens who lived on Ocean Park in his beloved Santa Monica was unclaimed by family, friends or acquaintances at age 76.
At first, I felt terrible that Chuck died alone and it almost brought me to tears knowing that this man who inspired so many was unclaimed at death. However, in truth, God claimed his humble soul and his memory still beats in the hearts of all those he inspired. In this way, his essence was claimed by all.
"A wise man walks with his head bowed; humble like the dust".- Shaolin saying
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