Powerlifting is a sport. We compete against one another. Stop forcing meet directors to give a medal to every single lifter because you want to lift Masters 1- drug tested- police and fire- blah blah blah division. That’s STUPID. Lift open, get the weight classes stacked. The two most fun meets I have ever done were ones where I had real competition. I didn’t even win either one! I came in 3rd both times. But it was fun as hell, the top 3 guys were within 100 pounds of each other. If any of us had made a mistake, there was a chance for the next guy to jump forward.
It’s a SPORT. Stop hiding in amateur divisions/age groups collecting pointless trophies and records. Start lifting open and battle it out for 5th place. It’s a lot more fun.
Bench- Last warmup x 2 x 1, Opener with reverse band x 1
405 for 2 singles
465 with reverse monster and mini band.
This work wasn’t as easy as it should have been. I had was having a lot of trouble staying in my groove and nothing moved fast. Nothing was hard, I just didn’t feel explosive. I was flat out slow. Easy weights, but slow.
Close Grip 2BD- 5 x 2
315, 335, 335, 355, 355. Right pec felt a little weird kept this pretty light.
Shoulder Press- 4 x 15.
Used some seated machine that I like pretty well.
Hammer curls
Reverse Curls
My elbows feel great. Usually they wouldn’t at this point. When my elbows start to hurt, I start lowering the bar really slow but I feel like my bar speed on the descent has been very good. I am very happy to be feeling healthy. All this curling and changed warm-ups are helping.
Just started reading this thread, usually I don’t make comments but when I saw your earlier post where you hit your 700 dl, I just had to say your very passionate and to keep grinding through.
My squat has been very frustrating over the past several weeks. Light weights with the wider stance feel great but anything over 500 feels like shit. I feel like I have no power out wide.
I’ve tried this wide stance squat thing so many times. I’ve been told by a lot of different lifters that my squat would be so much better wide. Each time I hear it from someone I respect I usually give it a try and each time I fail at it. I never feel near as strong and my numbers are terrible. What I’ve realized is that I have built a big ass squat over the past decade with a stance that works for ME. Its different than most, considerably narrower. But it works for me, so much that I’ve squatted 755 @ 242 raw. Only 5 pounds off of making the all time top 20 squat world ranking. I’ve also PR’ed HUGE in my last two meets with that stance.
What I’m learning is that I need to trust myself and do what is working for me. I’ve stayed injury free and am moving weights that only a handful of other people in the entire world have ever done. While I sincerely appreciate other’s insight, I need to learn from my history and know that for me narrow stance squatting is where it is at. Thankfully I am learning this during an off season.
I’m not nearly as strong as you, but I agree with the squat stance thing. I’ve tried to go wide too and light weight feels like nothing, but anything around 400 and up kills me. I think my hips are actually too mobile for it. Your wide squat would get better if you took a year or two to get accustomed to it, but who knows where your narrow stance would be at that point if you had kept at it.
Much needed bench deload. Pec and elbow on right side have been a bit sore and needed the break. Good timing on this.
Bench- 5 light singles
225, 275 and 3 singles with 315 and a red slingshot
Machine Press- This is some hammer strength machine. Who cares about the weight, did a few sets of 5.
Pressdowns, flyes and curls superset with monster mini band. Did 4 rounds of 25 reps.
Recently got some new equipment at the gym. A high school in Grand Rapids had upgraded a lot of their stuff so we got a perfectly good olympic platform with sold oak center for $100. Thing is a monster. Also got some Spud safety straps for the monolift. Next thing I would like to do is buy a Boss bench and another squat bar. In due time.
My right pec has been bothering me a bit. Last week on the heavy reverse band set I felt a slight pull. No tear or anything just felt a little strained. Been experimenting with Voodoo bands. We have a broken light band that works fine for doing it. Usually I think stuff like that is bullshit but I’m a believer. Wrapped up around the arm pit and worked my pec and shoulder through as much motion as could. Feels normal again. I don’t fully understand the science with this stuff but it seems to work.
