Training Problems of the Tall Man (complete) - George Jowett (1949)

 

It's not what you think . . . It's one of my favorite YouTube vids. 

Have a watch, he's spot on here and 

I'll get back to the Jowett article in a bit. 

  

This fella plans to bench 315 every day until he has 100,000 subscribers. Hey, it's great to see all the variations he's come up with to date. It's a real tough call. You want him to get that 100,000 but you don't want the variations to end . . . 

Good stuff! 

https://www.youtube.com/@PowerlifterChris/videos

The article by Jowett to follow goes well with: 

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/03/training-problems-of-tall-man-george-f.html

The one above's from Vim, a 1940 issue, the one to follow's from a '49 issue of Your Physique. After a while you find that some of these articles were published repeatedly by various editors of mags. 

Anyhow, here's George . . . 

In the last issue of this publication (Your Physique, April 1949, page 12), I treated certain back conditions relative to the tall man, as much as my space would allow, and intend to conclude them as near as possible in this issue.

You will recall that I laid real stress on the small of the back, and also the spine in the shoulder area. I am hoping you have borne this in mind so you may better conciliate that instruction with this. 

For a moment let us return to the lumbar region where I informed you inveretedure(?) of the spine is possible because of the longer back range. Despite this fact, nature has provided a certain compensation in the lower pelvic region. Invariably, this section of the spine is more rigidly straight than on the short man. Rarely is there any backward tilt to the tall man's pelvis.

Neither does he have the heavier buttocks of the short man which would tend to accentuate a backward tilt in the tall man, more than with the short man. If such was common, which it is not. This spinal rigidity helps to straighten the lumbar vertebrae, and keep them in place.

However, this is never reliable unless the muscles in this area are thoroughly developed. 

Proof of the tall man's spinal condition is shown in the fact that most tall undeveloped youth have a noticeable rounding in the upper back, of have stooped shoulders. This is brought about by two conditions. 

First, the spine in the lumbar area, better known as the small of the back, due to its muscular weakness, is TOO straight. This weakness extends all the way up the back but, not only in the spinal erector muscles, but also in the trapezius muscles of shoulders. Thus the weight of the upper body, more noticeable on the shoulders, follows a natural path of resistance, allowing the shoulders to be pulled forward, which bows the upper back, and droops the shoulders. 
The vertebrae in this case stand out against the skin like a row of golf balls. 

This condition never happens where the natural arch of the back is positive. When this area becomes inverted in its curve, which means to be curved inward (sway backed), the bowed upper back and stooped shoulders are less possible. In fact, this condition creates the reverse, developing an exaggerated backward poise of the shoulders. I want you to have a true picture of what this means. A good example is to take a willow branch in your hands, and press on the end with your hand. You will see the branch bends more acutely at the near end, which is equivalent to the shoulders. The lower part of the branch will not bend inward, but slightly out, making a bow along the branch more acutely accentuate toward the end. 

Now, if you press inward on the branch with the thumb of your hand holding the stick, and then press on the extreme end, you will find a  resistance to the bend at the upper end. You can force a bend of course, but the more you press inward with your thumb, the more resistance will be formed at the upper end. The upper bend will only be achieved by a straightening out of the bend implied by your thumb. 

This explains how your back arcs are created by its positions and pressures. 

From this we can see that the tall man has a natural protection, which if not allowed to goo too undeveloped (how could I possibly correct that - to goo too - it says nothin' but sounds great!), will provide him with an absolute protection against sway back, more than what is naturally provided for the short man.

Build the muscles in the pelvis and lumbar region to their limit. In doing this, I do not want to you confine all your attention to the spinal erector muscles. Naturally, they are vastly important. So are the latissimus dorsi muscles. Strangely enough. these latter muscles are somewhat of a paradox to the novitiate body builder, and often to the more experienced exercisers. Due to the fact that when the latissimus dorsi muscles are flexed, a pleasing spread of the shoulders is made, forming a broad V of the upper body with the waist. 

This being a noticeable muscular feature inclined the body builder to favor those exercises that will improve this appearance. They overlook the fact that the section of the latissimus dorsi that contributes to this display represents but the minor part of the muscle.

Bear in mind that this muscle arises from the pelvis . . . 

. . . covering the flat of the back to a height that covers the lower edge of the shoulder blade. From here it swings off abruptly into a thick cable-like ligament along the side of the body to become attached on the bone of the upper arm in the arm pit. It is this latter part that shows up to make the V display in a shoulder spread. The broad part that clothes the flanks of your back remains almost unmoved in this act. 

The latissimus muscles are termed the "broad back" muscles by reason of their width and depth of muscle over the lower half of your back. 

This is where many bodybuilders get mixed up . . . They place the broadness of this muscle as being across the breadth of the shoulders by reason of the V formation induced by flexing the upper part of the muscle. Truly, the shoulder area is the exact broad of the back, but, as you now realize, it has no connection with the "broad back" structure of the latissimus muscle. 

These muscles are attached to your backbone by a broad, grisly tissue of muscle that completely overlaps your spinal erector muscles. However, the tissue is thinner along the spine than elsewhere, which allows the spinal erector muscles to show their existence by bulking against this tissue.

The point to bear in mind is that the major strength of this powerful muscle lies within its broadest area, consequently, when building these broad back muscles as a protection over the lumbar and pelvic region you must apply exercise that actually influences this section, more than the upper portion that tapers off to become attached to your upper arm. Nevertheless, the upper section is never isolated when exercising the broader section. They obtain some benefit. 

One of the best exercises to develop the massive lower breadth is the favorite exercise practiced by all Bent Press lifting specialist. As you probably know, more weight is raised in this lift than in any other one-hand lift. Experts can perform almost equal with the best two-hands lift, as proved by the record of 371 pounds by Arthur Saxon.

The latissimus dorsi muscles are the chief factors in the Bent Press, which shows you how powerfully they can be developed. 

You should practice this exercise with at least a 100-pound barbell, once you learned the lift. You lift the barbell to your shoulder, then bend slightly sideways so your upper arm is resting on the side of your body. Keep your lifting leg rigid, and straight under the line of the weight. Slightly bend your other leg, and allow your free arm to rest on its corresponding thigh. From this position bench over sideways away from the weight, bending your knee more as you do so. Keep bending until you feel your upper arm leaving your side, then comeback to the original position, repeating the movement about a dozen times. 

Do not bother about adding repetitions in this movement; instead, every week add 10 pounds or more to the weight of the barbell. 

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2012/04/bent-press-harold-ansorge.html 

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-much-can-you-bent-press-part-one.html 

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-much-can-you-bent-press-part-two.html  

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-i-bent-pressed-250-lbs-bob-hoffman.html  

There may be more on the Bent Press here, check it out. 

Also, if you can find a copy of Walter Dorey's book,

"Secrets to Mastering the Bent Press"  - it's a keeper.

As is "Taming The Bent Press" by Dave Whitley. 

In this exercise it is the latissimus dorsi that supports your upper arm, and the weight, and the more effortful you feel the exercise the more you will realize that the desired section of this powerful muscle is in action. 

 . . . a good bent presser lifter can handle an enormous amount of weight in this exercise. If he can bent press 200 pounds, he will readily be able to handle between 225 to 250 pounds. 

I have handled well over 300 pounds in this exercise, as did . . . 

. . . Joe Nordquest (above), and others. It was a favorite with Arthur Saxon, King of Bent Pressers, and 450 pounds was a common poundage for him to handle in this exercise. All bent pressers have powerful backs from the base to its peak. 

Practice this exercise along with those I gave you in the last issue (dang it!), and no matter how tall you are, or how gangly your undeveloped back is now, it will develop marvelous size and power into those muscles, and your spinal erectors, protecting you from every being a victim to sway back, with its inverted curvature. 

Now let us take a jump to the upper section of the tall man's back where the defects of stoop shoulders, and round back occurs.

Apart from what I have already explained to you on how the straightness of the lower spine acts upon the upper part, the muscle is usually too thinly spread on the upper back of the tall youth, which does not give the necessary muscular support to the shoulders which further accentuates the defects. 

My last article (dang it - part two, er one!) explained this sector, and what to do. To what I have already advised I would suggest the following exercise, as forcibly helping to straighten the upper back, and better poise your head with your body as it develops the right muscles. 

This is the well known Two Hands Floor Dip, which is mainly recommended for the pectorals of your chest, but the slight change I will make in it will do what we want, and the help it gives to the pectorals we might say is an additional gift in chest improvement. 

Lay flat on your face on the floor, and place a 25-pound plate close to your head. Reach around, er, reach over with your hands and slide the weight so that it lays in the middle of your back squarely on your shoulder blades. Place your hands on the floor, Sailor, and keep your legs and body straight. Hug your shoulder blades together tightly, and raise yourself up by straightening your arms. Put plenty of pressure into the start of the exercise, and lift your head up high. Here is where most of the benefit is gained, though the muscular action is prolonged the more you force your head on your back.

Do this as many times as you are comfortably able, adding one count every third practice night until double the number of repetitions are made, then increase the weight by 5 pounds and start over from your original low count, working up to the limit as before. 

This exercise will quickly develop a pleasing improvement on your upper back, straightening the shoulders, and squaring the back. Your head poise will be splendidly improved so that the prominent spinal knob usually seen at the base of the neck with your shoulders will be held in line with your spine by new, solid muscle. Most therapeutic. 

We commonly find the youth who has grown tall too quickly has a narrow back. This is not actually a defect. Your growth has been more concerned with height than in spreading out your frame. That will come naturally, but you can help it by practicing exercise that will spread your shoulders. Of course, the chest  has a great deal to do with this too. Where the back in narrow, so is the chest, and in a different manner to that found on the small-chested short man. 

To spread your shoulders you practice such exercises that bring into action the upper part of the latissimus dorsi. 

You find such exercises as leaning over from the waist with a straight back, feet spread apart and legs straight are helpful when weight resistance is added over time . . .

In your hands hold a bell of suitable weight. Hold the bell a few inches off the floor, and without bending your legs, or raising your body from its original position, slowly pull the barbell to your throat spreading out your elbows so that they are on a straight line with your shoulders at the conclusion of the exercise. The important part is to point your elbows outwards. The more you do the better are the latissimus dorsi muscles brought into action. 

You can perform this same movement with one hand. In this case the free hand should be placed on something solid and held rigidly straight as you pull the bell as high as you can to your chest. The elbow must be kept pointed out so that it finishes in a line level with the shoulder. A dumbbell or kettlebell is the best to use in this exercise. Do not forget to treat both arms alike, said the ambidextrous steroid junky posing as a body-builder. Get them butt-pins in with either hand, you sack of weak shit dependent on chemicals for what you're oh-so-fucking "proud" of. A rather sad lot warranting perhaps pity more than respect. Loved by plumbers, though; grocery chains as well. We all mature, however, and moving from "I did a big boom on the rug" as a child all the way up to "I made my body a piece of garbage" is something, isn't it? And, the trophy for Best Ambidextrous Butt-Pinner Moving Up From Rug-Dumping goes to!

Followed by our award for most self-righteous natural lifter 

posing as a blog author.

Twelve counts for each arm is a good start, call 'em reps if you must, adding one count every third practice session, call it a workout, unto 24 counts are made. Then increase the whistle, er, bells, damnit increase the BELL by five pounds and repeat from the low count working up as before.  

An outstanding problem with most tall men is the length of their clavicles, or collar bones. 

Note: if you've heard of the latest "get taller" tibia or femur bone-breaking surgery you may be interested in our shoulder-widening, clavicle-cracking procedure. It's tops! 

In many cases the clavicles are not long enough (fortunately there are no bones in the penis or there'd be a line around the block at that clinic). They are not long enough to develop the shoulder width to give the body the shoulder spread needed to create that Guardsman physique . . .  

FUCKING HELL this is an excellent noir novel! Likely written by Charles Willeford under a pen name (Franklin Sanders) in order to pay the bills and get published often enough to do that. Funny as shit in parts, suspenseful, the alienated element beautifully displayed, great writing and I'm betting I'm betting he cranked it out fast to boot. 

Some folks can't tell the difference between shite and shinola, no matter the genre . . . not my problem . . . I am loving this novel and it only costed me 35 cents! 

Get back to the article already, asshat. 

Clavicle width . . . in many cases they are not long enough to create the desired physique. 

However, there is no reason to despair. Nature has endowed you with a pair of deltoids to cap your arms at the shoulders. By developing these to the fullest of their natural capacity fine, outstanding shoulders can be developed. 

                                                                                                          Doug Hepburn 

Here is where kettlebells come into prominence. They are especially adapted for deltoid exercise and offer a range of exciting movements that will thrill(!) you and they build for you massive looking shoulders. 

The upper arms are much benefitted in this program too. To goo too. It is difficult for me to spare the space in this article to enumerate the many deltoid exercises. I better suggest that you obtain the particular course which will give you the proper guidance in this instruction with the variety of deltoid exercises. 

Note: The Bob Hoffman book, "Broad Shoulders" has some pretty extensive listings of shoulder exercises. You can find it, in several parts on this blog. 

https://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2026/03/list-of-blog-posts-to-march-11-2026.html

This 2025 French film gets much more Kafkaesque than the 1957 version . . . 

The Incredible Shrinking Man.

                                                                            https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32642156/

An 87-minute anxiety attack masquerading as a movie - in a good way. 

100% critic's review on Rotten Tomatoes . . . not the audience never-good-enough reviews . . . forget that crap. 

Her partner is a person with bipolar disorder. He suffers a manic episode, a psychotic break, and disappears suddenly. She tries to find him on foot. It's not "Run, Lola, Run" . . . very good film! Lithuanian, English subtitles. 

                                                                  https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/runner_2021

 As you will recall, I previously remarked that the chest is always affected by a narrow back, and different to that of the short man. This lies in the fact that the lower rib box is apt to be more prolapsed than any part of the upper chest. It is more than a narrowness, it represents a falling in of the lower chest walls by reason of insufficient supporting muscular structure. 

The general run of chest exercises will always help to solve all chest problems, but to a degree, and only when the chest walls are not collapsed beyond a certain degree, which is constantly evident in the tall, lanky person. I have found the following exercise very valuable in having the right effect on the lower chest walls. It is not actually a chest exercise, but as I explained that the latissimus dorsi muscles covered the back area from the lower edge of the shoulder blades down, it must be apparent to you that they also flank the lower rib box, which they do. Our object in this particular case is to increase the back width of the lower rib box by pulling on them from the spinal juncture of the ribs where they are attached, and at the same time create enough supporting muscle so that the lower chest walls, on the back and flank, are sufficiently maintained as they improve. This allows the positive chest exercises to perform more beneficially.

You can widen the lower rib box with chest exercises, but this does not support them behind, leaving this area to function like a pair of bellows, rising and falling with your respiration, instead of remaining boxlike so that there is a permanency to the strength of the new muscle structure. Only in this manner can a strong chest be built. 

The exercise I am going to explain induces the latissimus dorsi to pull out, and back, on the lower rib box. The improvement of these powerful muscles, by reason of their association with the lower rib box will provide permanency in the lower rib position.

Stand erect with a light barbell across your shoulders, behind your neck. Not too light. Just heavy enough to make the muscles work. 

Stand with your legs fairly wide apart and hold on to the barbell with your hands. Now, tense your back muscles strongly, and slowly twist your shoulders around so that your upper turns on your waist. NOT YOUR HIPS. 

When you have twisted as far as you think you can go use your arms to turn your body around further. If you do this right you will feel a distinct pull of the back muscle over the lower rib box area behind. This pull will be extended to your sides. The more you feel this exertion the better results you will obtain. Never swing the shoulders and bell in the turn. Use your muscles to forcer your body around. 

Here is what happens . . .    

If you are turning your body to the left side, the muscles will pull out on the rib box on the right side of your back. On your left side the reverse in happening, the twist exerts an outward pull on the side chest wall as the latissimus dorsi contracts. The positions are alternately changed as you turn your body on your waist from side to side, so that both sides obtain an equal share of the pulling action on the rib behind, and a widening is exerted from the sides. 

In proportion the muscles are developed in size and strength, with the results the lower rib box is squared with the rest of the chest walls, and widened across the diaphragm. 

From this point, chest exercise influencing the widening of your diaphragm has a substantial ally prepared to help finish what this exercise begins, to the betterment of your lower rib structure, to the chest, in general. 

                                                                                       The author at 15 years of age

                                                                                    A little later with Doug Hepburn