King Joes Barbell Club

PHOTOS TAKEN FROM  IOL FORUM

KING JOE's GYM WAS Honored to have the members from Dave Draper's IOL forum share their Bash time with us.

               King Joe's Gym hasn't seen this much action in eons, Tony really puts a lot into the place and it's very good to see a crowd in there that appreciates a real old school gym (not to mention, a cool T-shirt). The crew from the gym was jazzed to see people come in from all over to spend some time here. King Joe likes nothing better than holding court on the lifting platform and was very impressed with the talent that turned out to learn the classic lifts. (The guy doesn't quite realize that he is a wonder of nature, does he?) -BYRON

Anytime anyone wants to come out for some split style olympic lifting, strongman work on Saturdays, hiking in the hills, cross country skiing with Joe once there's snow on the ground, or really anything, you have a standing invitation at King Joe's Gym. -BYRON

King Joe's Gym

Simply put, you aren't going to find many places like King Joe's Gym anymore. Just a hop, skip and a split clean away from the hotel, King Joe's is a hardcore training facility that hearkens back to the good ole' days of lifting and gyms. Small, disorganized and unassuming, it is obvious what is important here by the emphasis given it.

The Olympic Lifting platform centered in one end of the gym. The "strongman" room in the back.

Strewn about the rest of the floor were various homemade and commercial pieces of equipment. There was no rhyme or reason to the layout...equipment was simply where you found it. Mismatched plates were everywhere...even a few old "deep dish" York 45s. (What should you expect in Scranton, Pennsylvania?) In short...I loved the place.

The "king" of this unlikely collection of iron was King Joe. You could almost overlook him...but his presence was much larger than his physicality. Eighty years young, with hardball biceps and whipcord forearms, it's obvious that King Joe has been around the block a few times. Weighing maybe 135 pounds, soaking wet with rocks in his pockets...this "entity" is still capable of a 300 pound plus deadlift with a pronated grip.

"Ya don't wanna use an alternate grip, you'll blow a biceps. Build your grip, ya girl!"

Get the flavor? King Joe kept a careful eye on the activities, as well as dispensing bits of sage wisdom regarding lifting. He is truly the king of his domain.

Those that had opted to workout at King Joe's busied themselves in various directions, occasionally engaging King Joe or Cajin for advice or instruction. Elke put on quite a display of strength and Olympic lifting. In fact, King Joe kept on referring to Elke as "that strong girl with the beautiful form." High praise, indeed.

Michelle terrorized the deadlift, knocking off doubles and triples with a weight that had been her previous best PR. Michelle has lost weight and gained strength as she continues her quest toward a law enforcement career.

I chuckled while Dan Manor and Cajin engaged in "Arnold speak" while doing wrist curls.

Laree demonstrated the TRX strap apparatus.

Tom Perrine did an arm workout (provided by yours truly) and finished with behind the back wrist curls (again, by yours truly.)

I worked in with big Guy Miller during an intense few sets of double D handle lat pulldowns. (Well, they were intense for ME.) Watching those big hams that hang off Guy's shoulders always makes me a little envious. He didn't seem to be taxed by the weight and his form was impeccable.

Barefoot Byron repped out in the deadlift with 315. (Yes, Gary...he dropped it!)

In short, it was a glorious cacophony of clanking iron, sweating bodies, free style training and information exchange. I already miss the place.

Hail to thee, King Joe. --Wicked Willie 2008