The Real Wolverine
Leesburg’s Brad Dunn is known around the world for his nickname and his strength
Story by Michael Harris
Brad Dunn loads a round sphere in the back of his Cooper mini; passerbys might look at the bulky object as though it were Styrofoam the way Dunn lifts it.
It hits the deck of his hatchback with a thud. The car sinks a few inches downward as it takes on the concrete stone.
“Aw, it’s just 205 pounds,” he says to the car.
The mass of 205 pounds with no handle to latch on to may be impossible to some, but in Brad Dunn’s world it’s the weight of a tennis ball.
Not even the Cooper can handle the weight.
“It rolls around back there and it put a dent inside of it.”
Brad is a behemoth in size, strength and heart. As an American Strongman Corporation competitor, Brad is one of the strongest men in the world and competes everywhere from Orlando to Finland.
Competition can last from one day to several days and it consists of points compiled in events such as lifting logs, pulling trucks a certain distance, throwing beer kegs over a wall or picking up round stones and carrying them a certain distance.
In many countries he’s known as “The Wolverine,” made famous by the X-Men character portrayed by Hugh Jackman in movies.
LEVEL OF COMPETITION
Brad started in the Strongman competitions through an Orlando amateur show in 2004 and basically liked what he did.
He had spent a year in bodybuilding prior to that after going to a small college to play football and in the Navy. He had been on the weightlifting team at Leesburg High in the late 80s under the coaching of Tracy Sherrod.
But it was that first Strongman competition that vaulted him into what he does best. In his first shot, he won.
“I’m fortunate to find that path,” he says.
But in starting out, Brad had to compete in the North American Strongman organization where over 4,000 amateur members are a part of. Based on shows, the ones chosen have to build their qualifications for the amateur National Championship.
At the National Championship, a competitor in light heavyweight and heavyweight can receive their pro “card,” or status, by winning the event.
“There are only four pro cards handed out per year,” Brad says. “There are literally hundreds of guys going for their pro card. It is a select group and it is definitely a mark of prestige in being a pro.”
Brad says there are only 35 pros in America so only a select group can be considered professional and, unless one retires, they pretty much keep their pro status.
Brad got his pro card by winning the St. Pat’s Day ASC National Qualifier in March of 2006 in Columbia, South Carolina.
TRAVELING THE WORLD AS THE WOLVERINE
Good friend and former competitor Mike Johnston was announcing at a show in Los Angeles where he got the now famous look and moniker.
“It was Feburary of last year, 2008, in Los Angeles when I started growing the sideburns. Then I’m getting ready to start an event and I hear him announce me and he calls me the ‘Rabid Wolverine.’ I have no idea where he got that from,” he says. “So after the show, I ask him about it and he says ‘I don’t know, but the next show you do you have to really let those things grow out.’”
So he did; turns out one of the next shows was in Minneola.
“I like the X-Men and all, so I get the look and show up at the show and I mean the response was just … Oh man. And Mike saw me and he was just like ‘You are The Wolverine.’”
With a new name and a penchant for winning, Brad started going to competitions in Europe and Japan. The name sticks there more so than in America.
“It’s funny when I travel to Japan and Finland and places like that and they’ll start announcing and you don’t know what they say until they will yell ‘Wolverine’ and you get it,” he says with a laugh.
FRIENDS AND FANS
Determining which is better along the way, making friends with other competitors or making friends with some of the fans, is not an easy choice. Brad loves them both. He explains all of the competitors are friendly and at times cheer their opponents on.
“Honestly, you meet some of the nicest, coolest people in the world.” Brad says. “There are so few guys out there that have attitudes. Just because we’re big doesn’t mean we’re not people.”
Brad will speak of one such friend, Misha Koklyaev, a bald, intimidating giant from Russia. Yet, Brad labels him a “funny guy” who has a hobby of playing the accordion. Misha’s YouTube-taped accordion playing is something Brad’s four-year-old son, Magnus, asks Dad to play regularly.
“You know, I thought it was neat to go and see these places. But now when I go, it’s like I’m going there to meet an old friend and you see them and you know you’re going to meet other people as well,” he says.
But with the fans, especially in Europe, they view the Strongmen as their idols, much the way Americans view football or baseball stars.
“There’s a lot of guys who compete to compete and they’re not real comfortable with the crowd,” he says “But I love it. I get involved with the fans and that is one thing I really like to do.”
He tells the story of one fan from San Diego who watched him compete at a recent show in Las Vegas. He met with the fan, talked a bit, exchanged addresses and a few weeks later, Brad gets a package in the mail.
“He sent me three pictures of myself competing, one of him and I, and one with myself and his sister,” he says. “Then he also sent a T-shirt from Stern’s Gym in San Diego. You run into these people at these shows and they are fans. They just turn out to be the nicest people.”
HOW FAR TO GO
While the European pros compete as their sole job, Americans do not. When he’s not competing, Brad works as a trainer at Signature Fitness in Orlando.
“Those guys in Europe, that’s all they do. That IS their profession and they get paid well to do it,” he says. “They have government support and local support. I have to work. I have to do something else to make a living.”
So at age 38, Brad may only have a few years left of competing, but that doesn’t bother him right now. It’s the fun and camaraderie of the competitors and fans that keeps him going.
“Maybe I will compete a little past my prime, just because I love it,” he says.
THE BRAD DUNN FILE
Age: 38
Hometown: Leesburg
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 290
Competitions won: 6
His best event: The overhead log lift
Why: “When I had good coaching in high school (at Leesburg) with Tracy Sherrod, I think that just carried over. It helps to like what you’re doing. There are some events that you have to make yourself like what you do.”
Biggest improved event: Stones
Why: “I hated them. I tore up my bicep on them and usually I’m one of the worst guys in the competition on stones. I just got angry and said one day ‘stop being a … you know what.’ I started training hard, got focused and aggressive and the next thing you know, I win two competitions in a row. Then all of a sudden, I’m like ‘Hey I like stones now.’”
Least favorite event: Arm over arm competitions
Why: “It could be pulling a boat or a truck or anything. You have to have strong legs, strong hips, strong back and I’m not a tall guy, but I have long arms. Every time they have that event and there are 10 guys, I finish 8th. If there’s 15 competitors, I finish 11th or 12th.”
“You have to win the overall there to get your pro card
He’s been a pro for four years.
American Strongman competition.
There are only 35 pros in America.
Mike Johnston buddy of his with ASC.
– He’s a former Olympian. Funny guy, he’ll videos up of him playing the accordion and such. My son, Magnus, is four and he knows who he is and wants to see those videos.
Tobias Ide – Germany’s strongest man from last year and he competed
Magnus ver Magnusson is someone he’s met a few times.
LEVELS OF COMPETITION
Amatuer organizing body is North American Strongman – over 4,000 amateur members and based on shows you choose you have to qualify for the amateur National Championship
“You have to win the overall there to get your pro card
He’s been a pro for four years.
There are only four pro cards handed out per year.
There are literally hundreds of guys going for their pro card. It is a select group and it is definitely a certain or mark of prestige in being a pro.
American Strongman competition.
There are only 35 pros in America.
You can lose your pro card, you are required to do one sanctioned show in the United States.
“It doesn’t happen often where you lose your pro card, let’s put it this way you have to try and lose your pro card.”
The theory on why the European Countries do so well is the fact, that while it is true the U.S. has a big pool as far as population, not as many go into strongman competitions with other sports like football to go into.
“They don’t have those sports, so those countries are pulling from almost their entire male population.”
He’s a trainer at Signature Fitness in Orlando doing strength training and strongman training.
Overhead log lift is what he feels is his best event.
But what’s funny when you start improving on something you don’t like doing, then you started liking it more than other lifts.”
Stones,
There’s an event I despise.
And its an event he used to watch when he was younger and got him to love the competitions.
There isn’t a stereotypical definition of ‘we’re trying to lose weight.’ It’s just eat whatever you feel you need to be ready for a show.
You have to be conditioned because some of these events take a lot out of you. Right now (at 290) I’m a little light, not too bad, but a little light. Another five pounds doesn’t sound like much but I would be more comfortable. If I get past 300, I have to make sure conditioning is right. Once I get past 305, then I’m probably too heavy.”
Randy Sims at Signature does my diet During off-season training is a minimum of 6,500 calories. About seven meals a day and about 250 grams of protein. Some carbohydrates and fats are important. Just clean fats, essential fats like flax oils.
Europa at the Orange County Convention Center in April.
While training for a contest, Brad does four heavy sessions per week.
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