Iron Sport Gym
Hardcore Gym # 58
Last month, Halloween came early; we saw a horrible thing. We saw a nekkid guy lifting at Spartan Gym. At least he was alone in the gym - so no one else was offended. We also went to prison - mainly to answer fan mail, but we also sent a free picture to Mr. Snogden. But now, back to the mainstream world of HardCore v Gyms that have more than 1 member! Pennsylvania is the home of some of the strongest people I know - so it's fitting that Jeff Fiss brings info on another PA gym.
I'll let him talk:
If you're looking for the gym that has it all, look no further. Iron Sport Gym, located in Glenolden, Pennsylvania right on Route 13 is the premier strength athlete facility in the Southeastern region of Pennsylvania. Strength athletes from all over the country come to this cathedral of iron to train like warriors in their ultimate quest for immortality in the iron game. Powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, Strongman, and Highland games are the mainstay at Iron Sport Gym.
Founded by professional Strongman and Highland Games competitor Steve Pulcinella, and brother Joe Pulcinella, Iron Sport Gym started out as a 1600 sq. ft. facility which opened in August of 1995. It was a gym that was a "key" club, being that everyone who was a member, had their own key. They would be able to train at any given time of day, any day of the week. The facility was considered to be an underground gym, for not many people were aware that Iron Sport Gym had existed. The building had no external signs to advertise their location or their very existence. In the springtime, the garage doors were opened and pedestrians passing by were able to peer inside and see some of the intense training therein. As Iron Sport Gym's popularity grew, so did the membership base at the facility. Strength athletes would travel many miles to train for an upcoming event or competition season.
The inventory of the original Iron Sport Gym was admirable. This facility included two power racks, two flat benches, one incline, seated press rack, lat/low row machine, leg press, a platform, bumper plates, leg extension, leg curl, standing calf raise, a dip station, and all York plates, bars and dumbbells. Over time, many pieces of strongman equipment were being home manufactured by members of the gym. These individuals were able to construct farmers walk weights, a wooden log made from a telephone pole, a pulling harness made of a fire hose, a natural granite boulder as an Atlas stone.
In May of 1999, Steve and Joe purchased a new 7200 square foot facility located in Glenolden, PA. This is the current residency of the facility. Pictures of famous strength athletes from around the globe cover the lobby walls of the gym. Many of the pieces of equipment from the original Iron Sport Gym are included. New equipment in the gym includes: Additional plates/barbells, DB's up to 160, Atlas Stones up to 400lbs, 880lb. Tractor tire, 2 lifting logs, various farmer's walk equipment, the Yolk, Viking Press, throwing hammers, stones, and weights, kegs, reverse hyper, glute ham raise, Olympic bumper plates and 4 certified Olympic bars, heavy duty Forza bench, bands/chains, weight releasers, jump strength platform, and dragging sleds. Iron Sport's most recent addition includes another Olympic weightlifting platform and 200 more kilos of Olympic bumper plates from Werk-San barbell company. This gym has EVERYTHING a strength athlete would need. It is iron heaven.
Iron Sport does have its share of strength athletes. Aside from owner Steve Pulcinella having his professional Strongman and Highland games background, Doug Kirby and brothers Kirk and Kevin Nowack, both who are all professional strongmen, make Iron Sport their home during the work week. Pro Strongman Reggie Barton and Walt Gogola also formerly trained at Iron Sport Gym. Mike Barcelone and Jeff Fiss are the backbone of the powerlifters in the gym that rally the other guys to get out and compete in USAPL meets. Long time member Ben Cangelosi has given raw powerlifting a new name, having totaled 1930lbs at 297lbs, with only the use of a power belt. IPF world champion bench press machine Tony Succarrotte has also trains at Iron Sport regularly. Many other athletes of various levels come in to learn the tricks of the trade of strongman and highland games as well.
Iron Sport Gym is also the facility that the World Wrestling Entertainment superstars come to train when they are in Philadelphia for a show on any given week. Superstars that have been in include Kane, Hardcore Holly, Christian, Edge, Chuck Palumbo, Chyna, Stacey Keebler, Stone Cold Steve Austin and even Vince and Stephanie McMahon. It is certainly a sight to see when they are all in the gym at one time. Perfect if you are a fan of professional wrestling.
There is plenty of activity happening daily at the facility. Iron Sport Gym holds a special event called "Total Night" two to three times a year. It is their in-house powerlifting meet. Any type of power lifting gear is allowed, since the lifters can compete either raw or equipped. Past judges at Iron Sport's Total Nights include 1005lb. bench press king Gene Rychlak, and 11-time USAPL PA state Super heavyweight Champion Niko Hulslander. Total night has raised money for various charities in the past including the Delaware Special Olympics. Just recently, Iron Sport Gym has been making $20 contributions to the American Cancer Society in lieu of every membership they sell. Iron Sport has also hosted a powerlifting/strongman event called "Strength Fest" which included events such as the raw bench press, 18 inch deadlift, power clean, and the IRonMind rolling thunder grip test. All a mix of powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and Strongman. These events although held on Friday nights, small and unadvertised really draw some good lifting and some exciting times.
Whether it be training for an upcoming meet, or just to get in shape for beach season, Iron Sport Gym has something for everybody. As a matter of fact, many of the gym members are not competitive athletes, rather people just wanting to lose weight, tone up, and increase overall health. The underlying culture in the gym will always be geared toward the athletes, but everyone who is a member of the gym is looked upon no different than anybody else. Many of the people there are close friends that hang out on Friday night after a hard training session. This is what makes this awesome gym a very motivational and fun place to train. Be sure to check out the official Iron Sport Gym website at http://www.ironsport.com or email Steve Pulcinella: steve@ironsport.com. We would love it if you stopped by and check it out. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks to Jeff Fiss! It was good to go from the 'Halloween Hell' of Spartan Gym (with the nekkid lifter) to this 'Iron Heaven.' We see a wide variety of gyms - from all over the country - and they have a lot of different ideas about what makes a great gym. One of the consistent things I've noticed is the fact that they are true to whatever their vision of excellence is. This is the key to success.
Pearl Buck said it like this; "the secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." H. Jackson Browne Jr. said; "Strive for excellence, not perfection." Sometimes it is difficult to strive for excellence in things which are painful - like heavy-duty weight-training. It is easy to say that we'll struggle for excellence until we get to the last set of squats, or have to work out when we're sick. Then we start to falter mentally.
The key to success, then, is to love excellence even when it is hard work. Love it even when we're sick, or tired. Even when we're distracted, or in pain. Aristotle said; "to enjoy the things we ought and to hate the things we ought has the greatest bearing on excellence of character." Well said.
Next month, we travel way South to an unlikely home of a Hard-Core lifting crew. And we talk to a guy who affectionately describes himself as a 'champion as*hole.' You've gotta love his honesty!
Until then; lift heavy, eat big, sleep long. And please, please, PLEASE train with your clothes on. (We prefer that you wear HOUSE OF PAIN clothes, but we'll settle for anything!)
Cash & fan mail: (mail address)
Comments: rick@houseofpain.com
