Latest news with #BobSchwartz
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Incredible 80-year-old sets world record by holding plank for 50 minutes
Bob Schwartz can hold a plank for 50 minutes. Image: Screenshot / TikTok While most people in their 80s are taking it easy, Bob Schwartz is setting records. The Florida-based grandfather recently stunned people at the Ocean Reef Fitness Club in Key Largo by holding a plank for an incredible 50 minutes, which is believed to be a world record for his age group. At a time when fitness experts say adults should aim to hold a plank for 20 seconds to two minutes, depending on their age and fitness level, Schwartz has surpassed that, holding his position 100 times longer than the average goal for his age. Luis Bracamonte, director of fitness and wellness at the club, was there to witness the record-setting moment. 'To our knowledge, after extensive searching, it is the longest plank ever held by an 80-year-old,' he told Fox News Digital. 'Mr. Schwartz is an extraordinary individual and a perfect example of a 'super-ager.'' The plank is a simple but highly effective isometric exercise, where you hold your body in a push-up position for a period of time. While it's best known for targeting the core, it also engages the arms, legs, chest, and back, making it one of the best full-body moves you can do without any equipment. The plank can be done anywhere and doesn't need any equipment. Image: shurkin_son / Freepik Schwartz wasn't always this fit. In fact, he didn't step into a gym until age 62. Suffering from chronic back pain, he discovered that strengthening his core brought lasting relief. 'Since I've been doing core exercises, I've never had a back issue,' he told Fox News Digital. It all started in 2016 when Bracamonte set up a club contest: hold a four-minute plank and win a smoothie. Schwartz crushed it, lasting over 10 minutes. From there, he began researching plank records and realised his times were already surpassing existing benchmarks for his age group. The over-80 record stood at 15 minutes and 3 seconds, and the over-70 record was 38 minutes, but Schwartz wanted more. Though Guinness World Records doesn't recognise planking records by age group, that didn't stop him. 'In this internet age, you just post a video of your accomplishment and claim the title until somebody beats you,' he said. And that's exactly what he did. If you're inspired to give planking a try, start small. Experts suggest 20 to 30 seconds for beginners, working up to two minutes as you build strength and endurance. To avoid injury and ensure proper form, especially for older adults, Schwartz recommends consulting a trainer when beginning an exercise routine. 'The hardest part is just making the commitment and sticking with it until it becomes a habit,' he said. As mentioned earlier, being able to do the plank has many benefits. Here's why you should incorporate this simple exercise into your routine. Strengthens your core: Planks target multiple core muscles, including the obliques, lower back muscles and transverse abdominis. Reduces the risk of back pain: By strengthening your spine and abdominal muscles, planks help reduce stress on your lower back. Improves posture: Holding your body in a straight line during a plank trains you to maintain good posture. Enhances flexibility: Side planks and forearm planks stretch and engage muscles around your shoulders, collarbone, hamstrings, and even your arches and toes, improving your overall mobility and flexibility. Boosts metabolism: Planks work several major muscle groups at once, which burns more calories than traditional ab exercises like crunches, especially helpful if held for longer durations. Improves balance and coordination: Since planks require you to stabilise your body, they train your nervous system to stay balanced. This translates into better movement, especially in sports or daily activities. IOL Lifestyle
Fox News
17-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Meet the 80-year-old man who held a plank for 50 minutes — and learn how he stays fit
Fitness experts say people should be able to hold a plank for anywhere from 20 seconds up to two minutes, depending on their age. An 80-year-old Florida man has blown that goal out of the water, recently holding a plank for a whopping 50 minutes — 100 times longer than the average recommendation for his age. Bob Schwartz held the plank — which is believed to be a record for his age — at the Ocean Reef Fitness Club in Key Largo. Luis Bracamonte, director of fitness and wellness at the club, said he witnessed Schwartz's feat, which earned him the nickname of "The Plankster." "To our knowledge, after extensive searching, it is the longest plank ever held by an 80-year-old," Bracamonte told Fox News Digital. "Mr. Schwartz is an extraordinary individual and a perfect example of a 'super-ager.'" A plank is an isometric move where the person holds a push-up position for a set period of time. It is often touted as an abdominal exercise, serving as an alternative to traditional sit-ups and crunches. In addition to strengthening stomach muscles, planks also work the arms, legs, chest and back, according to experts. Schwartz's planking journey began when Bracamonte set up a contest in 2016, where any member who could do a four-minute plank would get a free smoothie. Schwartz not only got his smoothie, but he won the contest, planking for just over 10 minutes. "Prior to that, one minute was probably my max, although by this time, my core was in pretty decent shape," he told Fox News Digital. As Schwartz continued to extend his planking times, he started researching online and discovered that his times were already longer than the records for his age bracket. "The over-80 record has been 15:03 since 2019, and the over-70 record was 38 minutes," he said. Schwartz applied to Guinness World Records, but was told that they don't recognize records by age group. "So in this internet age, you just post a video of your accomplishment and claim the title until somebody beats you," he said. "So during this year's fitness challenge, we decided to video my plank and post it." "The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise, and staying with it long enough for it to become a habit." The passion for planking has become a family affair, as Schwartz's youngest grandson, who is 7 years old, has started joining him in plank challenges. Schwartz embraces planking as a convenient way to work virtually every major muscle in the body. "A plank can be done at home, without equipment, and in a short period of time," he noted. Schwartz has not been a lifelong fitness enthusiast — he didn't set foot in a gym until 2006, when he was 62 years old. After years of suffering from chronic back pain, he finally discovered the therapeutic effects of exercise. "Since I've been doing core exercises, I have never had a back issue," he told Fox News Digital. Schwartz started with a core and cycle class, eventually adding strength training sessions to his regimen. He also walks three miles each morning. "When I strength-train, I push myself as hard as I can," he said. "Many exercise sets end in muscle fail. I've been able to improve my stats every year, but it's getting much harder now." Schwartz said he also adheres to a "healthy-ish" diet, aiming for a minimum of one serving of fruit, two servings of vegetables, fish for at least one meal, and usually chicken (or occasionally pork or beef) for dinner. He also tries to minimize sugar and rarely drinks alcohol. "My blood pressure is the same as it's always been, and I'm not on any medications," he said. "I do take several supplements. My weight has not changed more than 10 pounds since I was 18." "The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise, and staying with it long enough for it to become a habit and part of your lifestyle," he said. For those just getting started with planking and fitness in general, Schwartz recommends seeing a trainer to learn the proper form and minimize the chances of injury. For more Health articles, visit He also emphasized the importance of maintaining balance, especially in older age. "Pick up a foot as you stand in a line; move it around as you wait," he recommended. "A fall and a trip to the hospital at an advanced age can be devastating." Looking ahead, Schwartz said he hopes to continue exercising and maintaining his current fitness level. "I'm going to try and at least maintain it as best as I can until the end," he said. "I enjoy a lot of different activities, but they all require a modicum of strength and agility. So until they come up with that magic exercise pill, I guess I'll keep going to the gym."
Reuters
28-03-2025
- General
- Reuters
National bar exam score hit record low in February
March 28 (Reuters) - Results for the February bar exam's multiple-choice portion of the national test were the lowest on record and suggest that pass rates for the entire test will be down. The average score on the 200-question Multistate Bar Exam was 130.8, which sank below the previous low of 131.1 in 2023, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The MBE score on last month's test fell short of the February 2024 score of 131.8. This year's MBE average is the lowest since its debut in 1972. Part of this year's decline is due to California's use of its own bar exam for the first time in February and no longer using the MBE, said Bob Schwartz, the National Conference's managing director of psychometrics. California examinees, who number between 3,000 and 4,000 each February, typically have a higher mean MBE score than do examinees elsewhere. When removing California examinees from the 2024 February MBE mean, 2025's year-over-year decline was smaller. The MBE is one of three bar exam sections, along with essays and a performance test. February's score decline is also partially due to the declining performance of repeat test takers, Schwartz said. The bar exam is given twice a year in February and July, with the February administration drawing a higher proportion of takers who have already failed the test once, which generally results in lower overall pass rates than July, since repeat test takers are more likely to fail the exam. This February, 71% of test takers were repeaters. Due to the widespread adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam — which enables examinees to transfer scores between jurisdictions without having to retake the bar — fewer of today's repeat test takers have already taken the bar exam and passed elsewhere, the National Conference said. Today's repeaters are more likely to have failed the exam at least once, pulling down the national average MBE score for February. California is not due to release results from its February bar exam until May 2. The state's hybrid remote and in-person exam was marred by widespread technical and logistical problems.
