Broom Broom - a strongman exercise

This is a leverage exercise that used to be practised with broom handles or sledge hammers. You’ll need some kind of handle, this can be anywhere from one inch to two inches in diameter and between four and six feet long. Tighten a collar at one end and then slide some weights down the handle. You will not need much weight to begin with, try around three pounds to begin with. Use another collar to secure the weights in place.

That’s it you have your leverage bar, now to use it. Standing with the weighted end on the floor and the other end in you hand using the power of your wrists lift the weight up until it is parallel with the floor, hold for five seconds and gently set it back down to the ground, repeat for 10-15 repetitions. Do a set with the other arm and then repeat for a further 1 or 2 sets. You can also perform the exercise in the following way as described by the great Vic Boff

“Just to show that it's not so easy, Slim invites any volunteer from the audience to horizontally raise a 12-Lb. hammer - by it's end - from the floor. Needless to say, this is an all-but-impossible feat. But then Farman proceeds to lift a 24-Lb. hammer in the same manner with one hand! He lifts it up until it is at straight arm's length. Without moving his arm or bending an elbow, he lowers and touches it to his head, then brings it back to the vertical position.”

Slim “The Hammerman” Farman was the undisputed champion of leverage lifting. However don’t take this version of the exercise to failure or you’ll end up with more than just sore forearms.