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Reminder: The WPC Raw Worlds is Coming to the USA and There's Just 5 APF Qualifying Meets Left !
By HOP Oregon Distributor 07/30/2010 8:11 pm
Here's information on the WPC's Raw Benchpress and Powerlifting Worlds and on where you can still go to lift and qualify for this international championship.
Straight legged Deads standing on 4 inch platform, 135x5,225x3, work sets 275x5,315x5,365x5 surpirsingly tough using the 5.3.1 wth these so we'll so how my deads feel at the end of the cycle.
Cable WIDE V bar rows, 260x10,280x10,300x10
Machine single arm rev fly, 90x12x4
Rope cable pullovers (shoulder extension) 90x15x4
All done for His Glory despite my weakness God still loves me. CT
Okay, this past weekend I was talking to Rick Brewer's "better half", Kris, at the HOP table at our meet. We were discussing the HOP Blogs. I told Kris that I don't post my old fart retirement workouts, because: 1)compared to my past sessions, they're pretty wimpy, and 2)no one cares about what an old man like me is doing now. My goal of the blogs was to take a different perspective of the strength world.
SO...........I get inspired by watching my kids this weekend lift at our HS PL meet. I decide on Monday (chest day) to do flat bb bench. I haven't done any type of flat benching in about five weeks, and with the way my old wrecked shoulders feel, I didn't think I'd be doing it period.
Off to the hardest of hardcore gyms, Metroflex of Arlington. Warmups were a little achy, but not bad. At first I planned on doing light sets of 10. I got past 225 for 8 reps and thought, "Hmmm, I wonder?". I told myself to just hit sets of 5 and see where it goes. Well, 275 didn't feel bad. Up to 315 I go.
Anyone who knows my past knows that I had to switch to reverse grip bench due to a pec injury. I decided that since I didn't have spotters and I wasn't going too heavy, I went with a pronated grip. This is the first time in awhile for that! 315x5x2 sets was really easy. I decided on a third set: 1...2...3...4...5...wow, it's light....6...7...8 and rack. Amazingly, my shoulders were a little tender at the top part of the lift, but not on fire. I wisely racked my weights (yes, even at Metroflex I rack them) and walked away in one piece.
One guy commented about a comeback. Not likely, but it crossed my mind for about a nanosecond. I never thought I'd be happy about doing 315 for reps, considering my past. But with the way my body feels, how PL has changed, and my fitness goals are different, there will be NO comeback. The temptation is strong, but to quote Frost "and miles to go before I sleep". Retirement is tough!
I'm sitting here listening to some pretty mellow music and I found myself wondering what in the HELL is going on with Powerlifting? When did this crap go sideways and every Tom, Dick and Harry decide they wanted to start their own federation?
I started competing in 1987 (I think) or so. Back then all I knew about was the ADFPA, USPF, AAU and some fledgling federation, the APF. I was going to college in eastern Nebraska, having moved from extreme western Nebraska 10 miles outside of a town of 350 folks, so I was probably a bit more sheltered than most.
Now I just read that yet another federation has sprouted up on the east coast, the EPF. What do folks NOT get about drowning this sport in federations. I usually just sit back, nod my head and not really care about it all. I can't do that anymore. I can't believe the fucking arrogance of yet another individual to start another federation. It's not like there aren't enough to choose from.
I could see the need to start one back in the day when there was only one show in this country, or two maybe. But there are around or just over 30 federations now in the U.S. Holy bat crap are you going to tell me that the EPF came up with something new and fancy so they had to start their own little group?
Let's break it all down. If you put all the federations in an excel spreadsheet and then compare commonalities between them all you come to this:
13 - Raw Federations
8 - Single Ply Federations
10 - Multi-Ply Federations
Now I know that adds up to more than 30 BUT a few feds have both, or all, raw/single/multi-ply divisions. I think it's absurd for these folks, in the last few years, to think they are so righteous that they had to create their own federation rather than lift in one that offered what they want. IT WAS ALREADY THERE. THE WHEEL HAS BEEN INVENTED, IMPROVED AND IT WORKS. Please, just leave it alone already.
Someone should get all the federation owners in the same room and start pulling some heads out of their asses so they can see the light and not a bunch of bullshit.
This discussion has been hashed, and re-hashed, on every forum out there. When will folks listen.
ATTENTION ALL LIFTERS!!!! If you want to stop the creation of new federations then................................ hang on cuz here it comes.......................... STOP LIFTING IN THEM!!
It works the same as in sales of any type. If your sick of the same product then stop buying the new products that mimic the old products. Stick with the old and the new will die. The AFPF is proof of this. They tried and it died.
I'm asking ALL OF YOU who compete. Please stop supporting all these bullshit federations and let's get back to where it used to be back in the day. Stay Strong, J.R. Bolger
I get asked to wrap knees fairly often because I've garnered a reputation for being sadistic, which as everyone knows is what lifters look for in a good knee wrapper. It's perfectly okay to wrap your knees yourself, frankly I usually wrap my own unless I'm going heavy and need a little extra pain/support. Having a friend (or at least someone who doesn't smell) wrap your knees when you need them tight can save you a little energy for that big lift, and is well worth it. Because so many of the kids we coach feign incompetence when it comes to knee wraps, i've posted a quick clip of a good (but not the only) method of wrapping someone else's knees. As you can see in the video, the lifter (Molly) braces her foot against the thigh of the wrapper (Jesus), and flexes her quad which keeps her knee cap in place – getting a tight wrap over a floating knee cap sucks in the worst way. We start at the top of the knee, about one wrap width above the top of the knee cap, and the lifter holds the end of the wrap while the wrapper begins wrapping in middle increments around the knee to about one wrap width below, then comes back up. Middle increments means each revolution goes over the bottom 50% of the wrap above, and vice versa on the way up. At the top, we tie off with a simple bow, which will stay in place if done correctly due to the tension in the wrap – a good pull usually suffices. At the end of the lift, just tug on one end of the wrap and the wrap unravels itself. This method saves a lot of wasted time and energy fumbling with the end of the wrap both before and after the lift. Sometimes I fumble on purpose because I am, after all, somewhat sadistic, but if you like your training partners, this is a good way to go.
Hi, my name is Scott Parker. I am honored to be posting on this blog. I am a Colorado resident and have lived and lifted in many places- Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, among others.
For me, powerlifting has been one of the single most powerful influences in my life- besides family. Way back in 1981, I read Terry Todd's great book titled, "Inside Powerlifting." I learned about all of the greats- Larry Pacifico, Tony Fitton and others. I was hooked. No more wrestling or soccer. Powerlifting is what I wanted to learn.
As I said above, I grew up in Ohio. In the book, it indicated that Larry Pacifico is an Ohioan. So, the next day, while at school, I looked him up and used the principal's phone to call. He wasn't there, so I left a mesage. I was nervous and didn't expect a call back. Resigned, I went back to class. Wouldn't you know it, while dozing in class, he called back. My principal fetched me and let me use his phone. I nervously returned the call. I introduced myself and explained that I had read about him and asked if I could meet him. He said yes and invited me to come lift at his gym, Power Elite.
That next Sunday, I drove the 45 minutes to the gym. What a day. I walked in and introduced myself. He then proceeded to introduce me to the best- Mike Bridges, John Topsoglue, Eric Stuber and Tim Martin, among others. I was even allowed to train. What a day! This little 16 year-old kid lifting with giants! I continued training there until I left for college.
This whole reminiscing episode may seem boring to many. What I am trying to point out is that this sport has a great history. One that is never spoken.
Without Larry Pacifico, I could have never competed or, for that matter, I would have eventually injured myself with poor technique. Also, and most importantly, he taught me self-confidence. Without his support, I probably would have never gone to college and then on to become a physician. So, for me, Powerlifting actually made me what I am today. Thank you Larry!
As you may already surmise, my future postings will discuss my version of the history of powerlifting, including it's evolution, individuals that influenced me and the greats of the sport. Of course, I will discuss other topics as I think of them.
Have a great Holiday Season. Feel free to contact me- Scott
Hello all, my name is J.R. Bolger. I've been competing in Powerlifting since the late 80's. My first meet was in Des Moines, Iowa at a YMCA if I remember correctly. I went 600/325/620 or around abouts those numbers.
I've competed in the USPF, ADFPA and later the USAPL, AAU and now exclusively the APF. I am the Arizona State Chairman for the APF. I'm also a member of the APF Executive Committee. I've been a USAPL State Referee, USAPL athletes representative and am now a WPC referee.
My current total is 2,188 at 308 lbs. with a 942 lb. Squat, 573 lb. Bench and a 673 lb. deadlift. I'm 42 years old and reside in Peoria, Arizona. I am co-owner of a garage gym and powerlifting team, Raging Inferno Power, aka RIP.
I don't follow to much for the newer, facy stuff for training. I lift heavy and old school. I'm not saying that the bands, chains, boxes and all those gadgets don't work. I'm just saying they aren't in my workouts.
I don't care who lifts where or what federation but at least respect each person for committing to the desire and stepping on the platform. In the same respect I don't care if you choose to do steroids or not but have the INTEGRITY to lift in the appropriate federation.
We, as Powerlifters, need to stop the proliferation of federations or this splintering will kill and already bleeding sport. If you aren't happy with a federation become a leader and effect change, don't get all butt hurt and start your own federation.
I speak my mind and will always answer questions as they come up. More to follow. Stay Strong, J.R. Bolger
