A Return To Respectful Powerlifting?

Training Powerlifting & Strength Sports
1

Submitted by Putt Houston on February 28, 2008 - 8:37am.
www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/7421

"I’m thinking that the integrity of the sport in front of other athletes (peers of competitive sports) will rise tremendously in the respect for execution of the lifts this year at the Arnold Classic. They have been WOWed by the huge numbers in the past…now this year they may actually watch and go “damn, they have to squat so deep!”

The “break-parallel squat” was something which separated you at the public gym from the average squatter. Powerlifters were held with more respect and under tighter scrutiny in anticipation of perfection in execution. I think we have gotten away from that as a whole in the sport.

The entertainment value of the sport will not be, as much, in the mind boggling numbers. In the past, from the spectators view, the event may have appeared like a series of great individual lifts. (No one really knows who’s beating who or in what place) This year the real entertainment comes in the form of competition. The battles for winning, man vs man, team vs team, will be prevalent to the audience as much as it will be behind the scenes with the lifters.

I’m hoping that 5,000 people walk away from the event with the true respect for powerlifting as a professional sport as it was years ago. When I first got started in powerlifting, your average gym rat would often have more respect for how deep you had to squat, and the fact that you had to pause your bench to a complete stop, more than he did for how much weight you were handling.

If the USAPL can pull it off at the highly anticipated main event for powerlifting, we should all be so thankful."

I read this and thought it would be a decent discussion piece for the forums. For those of you who didn’t know the WPO has ran the powerlifting event at the Arnold Classic for the past several years, the organizing team last year of the Classic decided to replace the WPO with the USAPL/IPF. Do you all agree with the article? How do you think people will react to the difference in equipment, depth, quality of lifts and the sheer weight being lifted (no 1100 lb squats this year folks)?

Let try an keep this a civilized discussion, no federation bashing needed.

Personally I have two training partners leaving tonight to lift for team Canada and really hoping the event is a sucess.

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So far, when the football team lifts, I squat the deeper than most. I do not care what numbers they are using, but once they squat deep, I respect them. There are not that many people that squat that deep. Benching, on the other hand, has been perfected pretty well, so I am pretty impressed that sometimes people that are considered pretty small bench some good numbers.

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As an IPF lifter I’d like the event to do well…as I think this is as big a stage as any to get this sport known.

My main concerns are the atmosphere.
-WPO played loud music, had special effects etc. they were known for their showmanship.
-The IPF is more interested in fairness, strict competition…that said there probably won’t be any loud music or special effects.

What I think the USAPL has going for them is the team format, which should be very interesting.

I wonder if the regular “convention goer” will be able to distinguish the multi-ply, untested, above paralell squat from the single pl, tested, deep squats? or will they see it as–where’d all the strong lifters go?

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Props to my boy Putt Houston. I drive about two hours every Friday evening to train with him and get some quality coaching and food.

Secondly, as unfortunate as this is, I think a lot of people will be confused by the drop in weight from last year to this year. Especially since there is a raw division and a geared team battle. I wonder how many of the spectators will understand the difference between the raw lifters and equipped lifters other than “those guys aren’t lifting as much except on the deadlift”.

Even though the sport will seem alien to some people I think it is a great PR move for the USAPL/IPF and is a great step forward for the sport. I think many people will look at this the way they will look at their first college wrestling match. Not knowing enough to really appreciate what is going on, but still getting excited when everyone else is.

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Good explaination, its definitly not something that will happen over night, but I think this sport needs what the IPF has to offer or it will continue to be what it currently is–a relitively unknown ‘underground’ sport. I can not count the amount of times I’ve been called a weightlifter or “that sport in the Olympics”.

If powerlifting has any chance of every getting into the Olympics, its the IPF.

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I completely agree with you about powerlifting…USAPL/IPF is the only way to go. It is Drug Free and they are very strict on lifts. I lol’d everytime i see a 1000+ bencher.

Got a question though. In the USAPL, at least back when i lifted they only took the top person from each weight class from our country to go to IPF. You say you are an IPF lifter; therefore, you are the top canadian in what weight class? Just curious and surpised to see some GOOD legit powerlifters on this site.

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[quote]Jhuczko wrote:
I completely agree with you about powerlifting…USAPL/IPF is the only way to go. It is Drug Free and they are very strict on lifts. I lol’d everytime i see a 1000+ bencher.[/quote]

You must not have seen Kennelly.

I’m guessing he says “IPF” because there’s so many different IPF affliates around the world who you couldn’t tell were IPF affliates from looking at the their acronyms. USAPL and CPU for example!!

There is actually a few good lifters here… Nator’s going to Collegiate nationals… Smokotime’s done over 700 at 100… Jack Reape too… I think the keyboard warriors just dilute the forum a bit!!

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[quote]Jhuczko wrote:
I completely agree with you about powerlifting…USAPL/IPF is the only way to go. It is Drug Free and they are very strict on lifts. I lol’d everytime i see a 1000+ bencher.[/quote]

The IPF is great, its the only organization I will ever compete in, though I wouldn’t go so far to call it the only way to go…thats how we start to offend other organizations.

Usually thats how it works, certain exemptions can be made though. If for example your country is trying to send a team to Master Worlds and you can not fill that team, say you don’t have a lifter for the 75 M2, but you have a particularly good 1st and 2nd in 90 M2 then you may send both those lifters, thats how I remember it anyways, correct me if I’m wrong.

The IPF is the governing body and as Hanley said its easier to identify a lifter if he calls himself a IPF lifter. Very few would know that the CPU is the Canadian IPF affiliate, most Countries also have provincal/state affiliates, mine being the APU or Alberta Powerlifting Union.

I have not been to worlds, but at 20 I also have three more years as a Junior lifter and have some big goals to accomplish. I would like to gain an elite total by the end of 08’ and total over 700kg at 90kg at Canadian Nationals in April.

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That’d be a pretty sick total… What did you do at your last meet? Does the CPU help fund lifters trips away or is it down to the lifter to pay his own way?

I know in the UK the BWLA (IPF affiliate) pay pretty much all the costs for their full meet international lifters and have an agreement in place with Titan for free gear too.

Oh and the WPF is a pretty awesome fed from what i’ve seen too…

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[quote]Hanley wrote:
There is actually a few good lifters here… Nator’s going to Collegiate nationals… Smokotime’s done over 700 at 100… Jack Reape too… I think the keyboard warriors just dilute the forum a bit!!
[/quote]

Don’t rule yourself out Hanley!

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[quote]Hanley wrote:
That’d be a pretty sick total… What did you do at your last meet? Does the CPU help fund lifters trips away or is it down to the lifter to pay his own way?

I know in the UK the BWLA (IPF affiliate) pay pretty much all the costs for their full meet international lifters and have an agreement in place with Titan for free gear too.

Oh and the WPF is a pretty awesome fed from what i’ve seen too…[/quote]

It’s sad, we’re most definitly on our own when it comes to expenses, its a great organization but there just no money going in their pockets.

If I were to go to Junior Worlds in Sandton, South Africa this year (which I may pass on, and concentrate on Brazil in 09’) the costs would be out of my pockets. Once I attain an elite total I should be able to get Titan sponsership…that said I don’t want to part with my Metal Deadlifter haha.

Sounds like BWLA lifters have it good.

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[quote]Power GnP wrote:
Hanley wrote:
There is actually a few good lifters here… Nator’s going to Collegiate nationals… Smokotime’s done over 700 at 100… Jack Reape too… I think the keyboard warriors just dilute the forum a bit!!

Don’t rule yourself out Hanley![/quote]

Meh… I’m getting there. All my lifts woulda been top 10 on the USAPL junior ranking list for '06. Total woulda been like 7th. The goal’s to break into the top 3 this year, 272.5/190-200/272.5 would give it to me. It woulda been good enoguh for 3rd at the US nationals last year too if it happens. Just gotta put the head down and train away and see what happens!!

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But you compete in Ireland right? How do you compare over there or is there any sort of competition?

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[quote]Power GnP wrote:
But you compete in Ireland right? How do you compare over there or is there any sort of competition?[/quote]

It’s hit and miss. The 100kg junior ranks are starting to get very competitive. The national total record’s 750kg, that’s standing since '98. If all goes to plan I’ll break it next year, and break it again the year after and hope it stands for another 10 years!!

There was a junior last year who did over 700kg raw at 100kg. Pulled 315/320kg I think, he’s a senior now. Well over 6 foot too, so as he fills out he’ll be unstoppable. There’s a 100kg junior who totalled low 6’s this year too, again raw. I’m hoping to break 700 in June equipped.

There’s a 75kg guy who I train with who’s probably the top junior lifter in Ireland atm. Squatted 210 (with about 10-15kg in the tank, twas his first time in full gear) and Pulled 240kg this year already. His dad also happens to have totalled 820@100 as an M2 lifter!!

All these guys are single ply IDFPA (Irish WDFPF affliate), the IPF is barely functioning over here.

We also have a guy who’s done 865 @ 90kg in the WPF, and seriously looks good for a run on 900 this year.

The standard is good in some classes, the depth of competition wouldn’t be as large as in the US or Canada but the quality is top notch.

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865 at 90kg in single ply? Very impressive, I’m about 92kg right now at around 12%bf so I pretty well have the 90’s filled out, by mid 09’ I would like to make the move to the 100’s, hopefully gaining elite there as well. 110kg’s I think is my calling in Open’s, I’m about 6 feet.

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Admittedly, I only have a very pedestrian knowledge of Powerlifting as far as the various federations and their rules go.

However, I’m very much behind the Team concept.
I think that’s great! -at least from a fan’s perspective.
It’s far easier to follow and get behind a Team board than keep track of each individual’s accomplishments as they relate to the ‘big picture.’

Anyone remember the IFL? The International Fight League? Watching MMA is always enjoyable -but the team format made it even better, IMO.

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[quote]CurtMcDonald wrote:
Props to my boy Putt Houston. I drive about two hours every Friday evening to train with him and get some quality coaching and food.

Secondly, as unfortunate as this is, I think a lot of people will be confused by the drop in weight from last year to this year. Especially since there is a raw division and a geared team battle. I wonder how many of the spectators will understand the difference between the raw lifters and equipped lifters other than “those guys aren’t lifting as much except on the deadlift”.

Even though the sport will seem alien to some people I think it is a great PR move for the USAPL/IPF and is a great step forward for the sport. I think many people will look at this the way they will look at their first college wrestling match. Not knowing enough to really appreciate what is going on, but still getting excited when everyone else is.[/quote]

It will be or was boring I assume.

People that like weight sports have to eventually get that the average joe sports fan thinks thy’re boring to watch. Local high school girls basketball here in Pa. will routinely outdraw almost any weightlifting or powerlifting event in this country.

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[quote]Power GnP wrote:
865 at 90kg in single ply? Very impressive, I’m about 92kg right now at around 12%bf so I pretty well have the 90’s filled out, by mid 09’ I would like to make the move to the 100’s, hopefully gaining elite there as well. 110kg’s I think is my calling in Open’s, I’m about 6 feet.[/quote]

Yeah, he’s an incredible lifter alright. Just double checked results there too, he did 870 as at a light 100kg in the IPF last year at the Celtic Games (3 guys out of my gym entered, they all usually lift at 90-100kg, so two went up weight classes and one stayed put so they could get the most team points!)

I was in the same position as you, I was about 12% at 92kg and I just could not keep my weight down. It wasn’t worth the hassle like. I knew I was gonna end up at 100kg as a junior so I figured I may as well give myself 2 or 3 years to grow into the weightclass. I’m up about 10kg since last May, and my totals up about 80kg too!! The goal’s to get to a full 100kg at about 12%. I’m 100 @ about 16-17% at the mo.

I dunno where I’ll end up. Right now I can’t see myself in the 110’s. I’m 5’10 and don’t know if I could support 110kg at <16% bodyfat.

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[quote]Power GnP wrote:
I wonder if the regular “convention goer” will be able to distinguish the multi-ply, untested, above paralell squat from the single pl, tested, deep squats? or will they see it as–where’d all the strong lifters go?[/quote]

I think the second most likely (this is not a knock on USAPL, but against the average moronic human). Most regular gym-goers consider tandem ass off the bench bench-pressing no different from a competition bench so I can’t fathom they would understand the difference in multiply vs single.

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[quote] Matt wrote:
Power GnP wrote:
I wonder if the regular “convention goer” will be able to distinguish the multi-ply, untested, above paralell squat from the single pl, tested, deep squats? or will they see it as–where’d all the strong lifters go?

I think the second most likely (this is not a knock on USAPL, but against the average moronic human). Most regular gym-goers consider tandem ass off the bench bench-pressing no different from a competition bench so I can’t fathom they would understand the difference in multiply vs single.

[/quote]

If powerlifting were ever to become an olympic sport, I’d assume that gear would have to be kept to a minimum, just to unite everyone on the same playing field. How much less would the olympic 100m mean if there was another division for those wearing special shoes let you run 20% faster? I’m not anti-shirts or anything, but I think that the concept of multi-ply vs. single ply vs. raw is a little much for a pedestrian spectator to think about.