After setting his first record of the day Aleksandr didn’t give up and continued making household items absolutely useless. Next up were 1100-page phone books that had to be torn apart from top to bottom.

Now, there's nothing new about ripping up the yellow pages, but Aleksandr Muromsky decided to take things up a notch and tear the books in half with his hands behind his back.

Since no-one has attempted this, the splitting of six books in three minutes became a standing record in a brand new category.

Aleksandr Muromsky and his crew of Russian strongmen travel all over Russia and the near abroad, entertaining the crowds with unique displays of strength.

For many people this show of skill is reminiscent of Russian folk legends, and in particular the “Bogatyr”. The word means “epic character” – someone whose vigor and force protected the Russian land from foreign invasions.

There are plenty of strange Guinness world records, such as one where a man covered his entire body with poisonous spiders, but when it comes to world records from Russia, it's usually along the lines of a feat of strength, or a photo shoot with 1,900 bikini models.