I seemed to always have a fascination and connection to exercise. From as far back as I can remember, I was always running around and playing games and sports.
My father was a fireman and stayed in shape by playing sports with us and
training a little with some weights that we had in the basement. I had
two uncles who were Phys Ed. Teachers and coaches in NYC: an uncle who
later became a dentist was a sturdy guy and played football at Fordam
when Vince Lombardi was one of the Seven Blocks of Granite; and another
uncle who trained with Angelo Siciliano (Charles Atlas). In addition,
my father’s cousin Felix Bocchicchio was the manager and trainer for
Jersey Joe Walcot, the heavyweight boxing champion of the late 40’s and
early 50’s.
So maybe this stuff was in my blood.
I
remember buying spring sets and using level bells and isometric devices
as well as sneaking in some weight lifting in my basement. I became
pretty good at it, and noticed some interesting things. I noticed that
there were different ways to lift weights. If you lifted them “strict”
(which was Staten Island for strictly), it was hard but it seemed to be
somehow better for you. I also noticed that changes happened to your
body and that sports success came even easier than it did before I did
the exercises.
I became rather fascinated with the muscles and how they worked and looked and the role they played in sports performance. Thus, I began my life-long journey into the study, performance and teaching of exercise.
More coming soon: the story of Dr. Ben's first gym; his discovery of slow training ...
