About the Author

Maxick, whose name was "anglicised" from the German, Max Sick, was anything but a man in poor health! Paradoxically, he was to become known as "The Muscular Phenomenon." He was born in Bregenz, a town in the extreme western tip of Austria, on June 28, 1882. Although as a child he had been sickly and of poor physique, by long training in weightlifting and gymnastics he became a phenomenon of muscularity and strength. Although standing only 5 feet 3 3/4 inches and weighing at his best from 145 to 147 pounds, Maxick set records in weightlifting that few heavyweights of his day could equal. Outside of straight weightlifting, Maxick showed up equally well. Indeed, in hand-balancing and gymnastics he could perform some astounding feats. As would he expected in view of his extraordinary strength, Maxick had a superb muscular development. So completely were all his voluntary muscles under his control that he could make any desired group "dance" in time to music. He was, in fact, one of the first great exponents of the art of "muscle control," and could do things in this department that astonished even the great Eugen Sandow, who himself was an expert in the art. For many years, Maxick made his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he conducted a gymnasium and health studio. He also went periodically on exploring expeditions into the Matto Grosso of Brazil. Maxick died in Buenos Aires about 1960.