As some of you may or may not know I have began to compete as a power lifter.
For the last year I have gone to the gym 4-6 times a week and worked on my strength. Nothing too serious, usually an hour to two hours and solo so nothing really pushing me or any kind of motivation aside from personal goals (which are more conservative and safe than actual potential).
About 3 months ago one of the bigger guys in the gym (Dixon, Oregon State's gym) approached me and told me he was impressed with my size/bench. Hungry for criticism and advice I began to ask him about lifting. He eventually asked if I had considered powerlifting. I hadn't but was eager for a new sport with my debate eligibility up and nothing else to fill my time (even bw runs its course, blasphemy I know) this seemed like a great venue.
Since then I have found tremendous community support and Daleer (the big guy) has been an excellent coach. I got my bench shirt last week and after it gets touched up I will be hitting the bench harder than ever. I have yet to train deadlift/squat aside from weekly box squats and some good morning lifts. I have to blow my own horn here but I have tremendous genetics for this. With relatively short arms a broad back and excellent bone density as well as overall body size I am literally built for this. I have made tremendous gains each week but my star aiming goal is to be one of those guys people read about chasing world records and setting them for future lifters. I am benching just over 500lbs right now without having my shirt figured out. My top end strength is astronomical however where I am locking out over 700lbs on the racks. Once I figure out the shirt and work on the lower end strength (of a bench) I will be right in and around 700lbs. Deadlift/squat are impossible to tell right now as I haven't maxed but that will come with time.
This is my passion and this is what I will be doing for years to come. I have always been told that I would be a tremendously gifted lifter and right now I am trying to cash in on that.
If any of you want to ask questions or discuss powerlifting I will check this blog periodically.
Here is a video of my coach (Daleer) deadlifting 744lbs in 2004. Today he did 750lbs in a SSA sanctioned tourney so his personal record is now 750lbs. But some of you may want to know what that looks like Enjoy:
Olympic lifts aren't for me.. lotta technique and less emphasis on strength. Probably broke it on clean where the weight goes over the head I am guessing?
Most dangerous lift a powerlifter does is bench where they push the weight towards their face.. youtube is riddled with videos of guys who had horrible side spotters. Fortunately I am paranoid and I don't bench unless the side spotters are reliable and I got Daleer over the top.
This sport just seems very risky and dangerous. What would happen if you got injured weren't able to work? is there any compensation plan or retirement plans advancement plans like becoming a private trainer? Is the prize money really worth the troubles you go through?
I could grabbed some statistics about your job and try to persuaded you into not competing. But you would seem too adamant about continuing the course you're taking. So I think it's better to say GooD LucKs!
Edit: Please i hope i don't see videos where people get injured...
On August 31 2008 12:16 Jibba wrote: I'm sure you can stand up for yourself, but there is a steroid culture in many weight lifting gyms so watch out. And I'm sure you know this already.
Yeah it's huge. But I think the reality we live in today is that steroids are a huge part of everything. I have already been openly offered all kinds of synthetics and it is a felony to use them.. so that is how open it is.
Sins: Injuries are a big part of this sport sure. I played football my entire life however and found myself pretty durable but also not very afraid of injury. Like with anything I find if you prepare and keep yourself sturdy you should be fine.. sure accidents happen but it'd be worse to live your life in a box.
when i work out, a big part of the reason for doing so is health. it would make no sense to take steroids for me.
plus u can always get acupucnture to naturally boost testosterone production, isntead of force feeding it to ur body and then end up with a decreased natural production due to the regulating mechanism for virtually every substance your body naturally creates.
feed firewood from the back and make it sustainible and natural... not sprinkle oil on it for the initial flare.
What kind of program are you on right now? Just on whatever your coach tells you?
Strength looks good enough for some type of periodization or westside. Box squats are great. DLs depending on how much you lift you may not be able to train much (because as the weight gets over like 600+ lbs recovery is much slower) so you'll need to hit up the assistance lifts a lot (good mornings are great as well as other hip extension work)..
What kind of program are you on right now? Just on whatever your coach tells you?
Strength looks good enough for some type of periodization or westside. Box squats are great. DLs depending on how much you lift you may not be able to train much (because as the weight gets over like 600+ lbs recovery is much slower) so you'll need to hit up the assistance lifts a lot (good mornings are great as well as other hip extension work)..
You DL sumo or regular?
I am completely green in DL.. but I will do standard. Just watched a guy tear his hamstring doing sumo and I wanna be conventional in just about everything I do anyways. Same guy was telling stories of smashing bones in his feet due to sumo pushing the toes so close to the weights.
We train metal militia style workout for bench but more westside for squat/DL. It is what my coach prefers and seems to be working for me. I have made over 150lb gain in my bench in just over a couple months and look to do A LOT more once I figure my shirt out.
I will definately have videos up once I compete. I will compete in an october/november meet and should be doing bench/DL there. Pics as well
On August 31 2008 12:37 Ender wrote: So what's your weekly diet like..any big adjustments there?
I am actually REALLY poor atm cause I did a bunch of travelling with a minimum wage job and college expenses.
Once I get back on my feet I will have around 3-4 protein shakes a day and consume a bunch of lean meats like chicken/turkey/tuna. My coach is EXTREMELY lean (watch the video) and that is what I want to do. I have trimmed down (put on weight actually, but lost fat and gained muscle). One of my rules for this is I don't want to be one of those fat pills that move an amazing amount of weight. I want to look good and move an amazing amount of weight. Greedy? Sure but I am set on it. So my diet will be heavy on lean shit and high protein with low calorie counts. Not the best for strength training but like I said.. I have an ideal in mind.
Nothing is set in stone and I am constantly learning however..
EPT
Enjoy:
