Today, I have an Iron master that I have wanted to put up for a long while. It is Joe Mugovero from New London, CT. I first met Joe at Stronger Than All, a Strongman Contest in New Haven CT, in 2005, and he hasn’t stopped impressing me yet. The things that have impressed me the most since I first met him are his domination of two of the most widely recognized Grip Strength challenge implements, the Inch Dumbbell and the Blob, and his love for helping others enjoy strength training and fitness as well.

Today, I give you the most recent Iron Master, Joe Mugovero.

Joe Mugovero is a retired mailman with more than 41 years in the Post Office hails from New London, Ct. His early days had him competing in local fairs in the clean and jerk and then moved into powerlifting. One time 27 years ago he competed in a C&J contest on a Saturday and won the U.S bench press championships the next day as a sub-master.

Always attracted to strength in its many forms Joe tried bodybuilding, armwrestling, weightlifting, powerlifting, and some strongman. He considered himself a “jack of all trades, master of none“. After numerous injuries or lack of elite level ability Joe concentrated on the bench press and set numerous records in age group competition (40-55) all drug free. With more than 200 awards under his belt he permanently injured a disc in his neck which cut his left arm strength by 60%, days after setting yet another Ct. state record age of 52 with 445lbs.

It was only then that Joe turned to grip strength as a goal in it’s own right. Most of his life his left arm was more powerful than his right. Now with some serious training this would reverse…

After reading Milo magazine about a person from England who trained to lift the Thomas Inch Dumbell, Joe at about 58 started his quest to master the beast. He has fully deadlifted the INCH 687 times, sometimes doing doubles and once a triple. Every lift was witnessed by one or more members of the Breakfastclub Gym. In 2005 and 2006 he won the Rolling Thunder Championships at the Massachusetts State Strongman, beating guys half his age.

Joe on the Table with Tim Bresnan. Joe didn’t beat him, but it was a good match, he says.

Big benches are long gone now but he recently did a 330lb raw bench which he says took more hard work than the 500(single ply shirt) when much younger. Now he levers hammers, toys with the BLOB, pinches plates and does some hub lifting. Farmer’s walks with 235 lbs and a 200lb Atlas stone for 12reps over a 52″ high bar just last week.

Joe warming up on the Atlas Stones. He owns 28 of them.

Joe has been the meet director in four local strongman contests. He won the 2012 sledgehammer event against all age groups this year at the “Bash at the Beach” at Ocean Beach Park in New London, Ct.

Joe recently table curled a 123-lb dumbbell for 12 reps and preacher curled a 90lb dumbbell for 15reps. He has beat every member of the Breakfastclub Gym who put his arm on the table.

Joe closing the #3 Gripper. Can’t wait to see him certify in the future!

The only goals Joe has not achieved is pinching 2-45′s(has done 3-25′s)and certifying on the NO 3 gripper. He recently pinched 35′s w/16.35lbs extra so maybe soon and did close the NO 3 once a year ago.

Joe was the A.P.A chairperson for Connecticut from 1990-1995. He has been the meet director for at least 90 contests in weightlifting, powerifting, bench only, grip strength and strongman. He runs and owns the Breakfastclub Gym in New London , Ct. A small semi-private gym where the chalk flies, lifters curse and move big weight.

His biggest claim is not his own lifts but encouraging and making available strongman/grip equipment to Southeastern Connecticut trainees who have excelled in their own right. Joe won’t be remembered as the strongest guy walking local streets but just may be remembered as an ambassador of Powerlifting/Strongman/Grip strength promotion to the general public.

DIESELS, as I finish off this post, I have a grin from ear to ear because I’ve finally gotten the chance to post this up. Joe and I email back and forth regularly and he is always updating me on his Inch Dumbbell Domination, and I can’t wait to get the next one!

Now, it’s time for you to send in your Iron Master nominations.

It can literally be anybody, from a Fitness or Strength celebrity, to someone in a small town nearby, to even a relative. If they have inspired you in your training or have done so with others, send them my way. I can’t wait to hear from you.

All the best in your training and have an awesome weekend!

Jedd

P.S. I am traveling to Rhode Island tonight to meet up with Matt Ellis. I met him two weeks ago at a seminar and he is as passionate about helping people accomplish their goals as I am. I at breakfast with him one day and we hit it off right away, so we are going to be shooting a DVD together this weekend. If you are a “Thrower” or know someone who does, make sure you stay tuned.

• Iron Masters Recognition – LTC Nathen Acree Jr
• The New Conquest – The Iron Grip Monster
• Making Hard Feats Look Easy – The Inch Dumbbell
• Home Made Equipment to Help Lift the Inch Dumbbell
• Bi-Polar Training: Inch Dumbbell Plus Kettlebell Flip

There’s a challenge before you…

You’re the under dog…

The road ahead is long and bumpy…

The deck is stacked against you…

It’s an uphill battle…

Yet you remain confident.

You stay focused.

You keep your eyes on the prize.

You are determined.

You can make successhappen .

Never let the negative thoughts of others around you get in the way of your goals.

See it in your head.

See yourself accomplishing your goals.

See yourself hit your depth and come out of the hole strong for a successful squat.

See the ball flying out of your hand and into the receivers for a touchdown.

See it before it happens, and you’ll be that much closer to making it happen.

And make sure those around you see it that way too.

MAKE it a great day.

Jedd

Ultimate Forearm Training for Baseball | How to Bend Nails | How to Tear Cards | Feats of Grip Strength Explained | How to Build Your Own Equipment | How to Lift Atlas Stones | The Sh*t You’ve Never Seen | Sled Dragging for Athletes | The Road to the Record DVDSimilar Posts:

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With Independence Day being here, today’s Iron Masters recognition comes at a perfect time.

Today we meet LTC Nathen Acree Jr, who retired from the Army in 1995 and was recently recalled at age 59.

LTC Nathen Acree Jr

The nomination for LTC Nathen Acree Jr was sent in by his son, Austin Acree.
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS KILLER POST AFTER THE JUMP
Austin shared a great story about his dad. Check it out:

“Hi Jedd. I’d like to nominate my father, LTC Nathen Acree Jr. as an Iron Master. He has been lifting since the 70′s when he joined the US Army until his retirement in 1995.

In 2005 when I was 14 I needed a kidney transplant, my father wanted to donate his kidney but the doctor said he was too old and his cholesterol was too high. So he went back to working out running 3 miles everyday and began weightlifting again. He was 55 at the time.

After 3 months of this intense training he had lost over 30 lbs. and significantly lowered his cholesterol. Long story short he was able to donate one of his kidneys and I’m alive today because of it.

Since this time he has had to deal with skin cancer and other health issues, but he hasn’t slacked. He has also been recalled to serve in the army at 59. Now he gets up at 3 AM to go run his 3 miles and lift weights with his fellow troops.

He may not win any lifting contests, but he’s the world’s strongest man to me.”

As you can see, another great story from the Diesel Universe. Thanks so much for sharing this story with us, Austin and to LTC Nathen Acree Jr, thank you so much for service for our country. I am proud to put this story up on the Diesel site. I wish you both nothing but the best in your health and training.

If you would like to nominate someone you know for Diesel Iron Masters, send me an email at jedd(dot)diesel(at)gmail(dot)com. Tell me about the person your recognizing and shoot me a picture so we can see who they are.

For more information on the program, go here = > Iron Master

-Jedd-

P.S. Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Jedd on YouTube

Ultimate Forearm Training for Baseball | How to Bend Nails | How to Tear Cards | Feats of Grip Strength Explained | How to Build Your Own Equipment | How to Lift Atlas Stones | The Sh*t You’ve Never Seen | Sled Dragging for Athletes | The Road to the Record DVDSimilar Posts:

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