Strength Athlete

Brian became a strength athlete in his late teens under senior strength coach John Cupello at the Apollo Gym in Manchester.  Fitness and strength became very much a part of Brain’s life from that day forward.  Brian achieved some minor success in drug-free bodybuilding competitions by the National Amateur Body Building Association (NABBA).  He went on to set some respectable lifts as a drug-free power lifter and specialty strength athlete at 200 lbs bodyweight in 1980: Squat 665 lbs x 1 rep, Dead Lift 525 lbs x 1 rep, Bench Press 405 lbs x 1 rep, Seated Press Behind Neck 225 lbs x 1 rep.

Brian extended his role as a strength athlete when in 1985 he went to Iceland to wrestle the 4 time World’s Strongest Man, Jon Pall Sigmarsson.  Brian and Jon became good friends and later Brian helped to coach Jon Pall in both the martial arts and strength training.