The 19 Beasts Of Instagram
Men’s Health’s rundown of the most badass fitness freaks you should follow
There are the World's Strongest Men and there are the Fittest Athletes on Earth (Crossfitters). And then there are the Beasts of Instagram, and it's about time they got their due, too.
The fitness game has changed. Once upon a time, the greatest feats of strength could go unnoticed, viewed by only a select few who saw things happen live, or watched them on TV, or went hunting on YouTube. But the rise of Instagram has changed all that, allowing any and all fitness freaks to post their latest and greatest athletic accomplishments.
Now, the greatest titans of training showcase their strength every day, piling up views and likes. And whether they're teaching moves you can add to your own gym routines or just drawing gaggles of "oohs" and "ahhs," they have us glued to Instagram.
When you see the very best Beasts that Instagram has to offer, it’s easy to understand why:
The Most Powerful Beasts
Mike O'Hearn
They don't come much stronger than Mike O'Hearn, 48, a one-time bodybuilder who rose to prominence during his years as "Titan" on "American Gladiator." He still refers to himself as the Titan, and given that big incline bench, we can't argue with him much.
BEAST RATING (just how jaw-dropping is this Instagram?): 5 stars
TRAINER RATING (our assessment of how much you can learn from his videos): 3 stars
Simeon Panda
Not only does Simeon Panda lift heavy weights, but he dares to use them on motions other than the big three (deadlift, squat and bench press), impressing with curls and lesser-known shoulder presses that mere mortals might not even attempt with lighter loads.
BEAST RATING: 5 stars
TRAINER RATING: 3 stars
Larry Wheels
There are deadlifters, and then there's Larry, who could probably deadlift your car for you in a pinch.
BEAST RATING: 5 stars
TRAINER RATING: 3 stars
Jujimufu
Cross WWE star Hacksaw Jim Duggan with Marvel's Thor and sprinkle in odd gymnastics talents and you get Jon Call, who lifts very very big weights in very very strange ways.
BEAST RATING: 5 stars
TRAINER RATING: 0 stars
Brad Castleberry
Brad Castleberry calls himself the "Manimal," and for good reason, when you check out that . . . 1,080-pound deadlift. Viewer beware, though: Some corners of the web have accused him of photoshopping his weights.
BEAST RATING: 5 stars
TRAINER RATING: 0 stars
MOST ATHLETIC
Steve Weatherford
Since being cut as Giants punter two years ago, Steve Weatherford has redefined himself (and bulked up considerably) as the creator of the Armageddon arm workout. And yes, his V-bar shoulder press move is worth trying.
BEAST RATING: 4 stars
TRAINER RATING: 5 stars
Cade Cowdin
Another former football player, Cade Cowdin's gone from working out to become an NFL linebacker to teaching others how to work out.
BEAST RATING: 4 stars
TRAINER RATING: 3 stars
Terron Beckham
Terron Beckham is the cousin of Giants star Odell Beckham Jr., and the bloodlines definitely show, even if his 2016 NFL training camp cameo with the Jets didn't put him on the path to football stardom.
BEAST RATING: 4 stars
TRAINER RATING: 2 stars
BEST TEACHERS
Julian Smith
The renowned Julian Smith is one of the most creative training personalities on Instagram. You can't learn many of his moves anywhere else.
BEAST RATING: 4 stars
TRAINER RATING: 5 stars
Joe Donnelly
Another former NFL player (albeit briefly), Joe Donnelly can move big weights with the best of them, but advocates technique and clean eating habits, too.
BEAST RATING: 4 stars
TRAINER RATING: 4 stars
Jeff Cavaliere
Jeff Cavaliere is far from the biggest guy on this list, but few on Instagram break down anatomy and technique better than this former Mets physical therapist.
BEAST RATING: 2 stars
TRAINER RATING: 5 stars
Eric Cressey
A veteran performance coach who's worked with plenty of baseball players, Eric Cressey has a potent bench press for a man who weighs less than 180 pounds.
BEAST RATING: 1 star
TRAINER RATING: 5 stars
MOST ENTERTAINING
Tony Sentmanat
If you want to see a workout that's equal parts crazy and powerful, you want to see Tony Sentmanat do his thing in the gym.
BEAST RATING: 5 stars
TRAINER RATING: 1 star
Bradley Martyn
Anyone can go to the gym to lift weights, but Bradley Martyn has made his social media name by routinely lifting the gym's girls, too.
BEAST RATING: 3 stars
TRAINER RATING: 1 star
Tom Finn
There are many ways to train legs. And then there's powerlifter Tom Finn doing weighted wall-sits like this. Yes, he's powerful.
BEAST RATING: 4 stars
TRAINER RATING: 0 stars
Ulisses
You may not find a better set of abs on Instagram. And no wonder, when you see the unique exercises Ulisses uses to train his core.
BEAST RATING: 3 stars
TRAINER RATING: 1 star
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