My progress has been stalled for a little while and I’m on the look out for a coach. Problem is…it’s very hard to find one. There are plenty of personal trainers, but few who do powerlifting.
(I found one after tons of googling but he just said he’s moving out of the city soon…)
Any tips?
I live in San Diego, btw
I would suggest being your own coach. Read up on various methods/principles of lifting, watch videos “so you think you can squat” and others like it showing form taught by the best powerlifters in the world, and video tape your own lifts so you can observe them
To be honest, half the fun of powerlifting is coaching yourself in my opinion, coming up with different methods, just doing your own thing. And even if you would prefer a coach, there is almost no way it would be worth the money
But then again you could just go to powerliftingwatch.com and check out the powerlifting clubs in your area. If you join a powerlifting club you basically will be coached by a peer who is probally very very strong
Sandiego barbell is a powerlifting club, check them out.
[quote]@JC_Tree_Trunks wrote:
I would suggest being your own coach. Read up on various methods/principles of lifting, watch videos “so you think you can squat” and others like it showing form taught by the best powerlifters in the world, and video tape your own lifts so you can observe them
To be honest, half the fun of powerlifting is coaching yourself in my opinion, coming up with different methods, just doing your own thing. And even if you would prefer a coach, there is almost no way it would be worth the money[/quote]
Been doing that for years (been training 9 years, for powerlifting maybe 4-5). It is a lot of fun, I’ve tried pretty much everything out there over the years, tried the base program, modified it, tweaked it, etc., but eventually no matter what I tried my progress has gotten stuck.
[quote]@JC_Tree_Trunks wrote:
I would suggest being your own coach. Read up on various methods/principles of lifting, watch videos “so you think you can squat” and others like it showing form taught by the best powerlifters in the world, and video tape your own lifts so you can observe them
To be honest, half the fun of powerlifting is coaching yourself in my opinion, coming up with different methods, just doing your own thing. And even if you would prefer a coach, there is almost no way it would be worth the money[/quote]
To say “that there is almost no way it would be worth the money” is misguided, IMO. If you’re looking to obtain the best total possible, I think a coach can go a long way to meet that goal. Not only can he/she help with programming flaws, but an experienced coach can give advice on form correction in real time. Even subscribing to online training programs from people like Mike Tuchscherer, Adam Hires or Josh Bryant will not only improve your numbers, but also expand your training knowledge base and see that there are different ways one can get stronger.
Could also take a look at various online coaches. There are a few of us on here that do online consulting, and other big names in the PL world as well.
Why would you hire a powerlifting coach? You’re way better off reading a few articles, you’ll save tons of money too. All the world champions do it like that, that’s what all the experts on here told me. Trust me they know their shit, I heard one guy even totaled 1300
Can’t go wrong with an online coach. Check out the guys on Elitefts, pretty sure Pulcinella, Carrol, Dizenzo, Rhodes, Darden, and Josh Bryant all do online coaching.
I’ve personally worked with Shelby Starnes with nutrition, and Josh Bryant with training. It has really taken my training to the next level and is definitely a great investment.
OK. An online coach sounds good too.
I read articles nowadays and almost everything is like “oh yeah, I’ve done that before, that was cool, worked for a little while”.
The one thing that seems to be hot right now that I’m reading about that I haven’t tried is the microcycle thing. Usually I’d some program, Westside, 5/3/1, Smolov jr. various specializations, something off here, something I wrote up myself that’s some combination of various things I’ve read (that’s usually what I do actually last few years), possibly with some kind of linear or undulating or some other kind of periodization thing. But I haven’t tried the pure hypertrophy for two weeks, then power for two weeks, then strength, etc. I’ve generally just done a program for 6-12 weeks, then another one, then another one, etc.
So maybe I’ll try that first before hopping on…did anyone feel like that busted plateaus?
If not, or maybe I should just hop to coaching immediately (what do you think?),
There are a lot of names being thrown around, so maybe someone could recommend a few more specifically for me? I weight 180, interested in competing in 181s and then eventually 198s. I train only raw and also train for aesthetics and try to stay lean, eventually getting an elite total in the 198s raw being at 7% body fat. For the time being I’m natty.
I’d suggest getting hold of an online coach. Most are priced reasonably and usually sell training in 12-week blocks. I don’t think you can go wrong with Josh Bryant. You can reach him at joshstrength.com. Don’t be the program hopper guy.
OP what are your numbers right now in the big 3?
[quote]TheBlade wrote:
OK. An online coach sounds good too.
I read articles nowadays and almost everything is like “oh yeah, I’ve done that before, that was cool, worked for a little while”.
The one thing that seems to be hot right now that I’m reading about that I haven’t tried is the microcycle thing. Usually I’d some program, Westside, 5/3/1, Smolov jr. various specializations, something off here, something I wrote up myself that’s some combination of various things I’ve read (that’s usually what I do actually last few years), possibly with some kind of linear or undulating or some other kind of periodization thing. But I haven’t tried the pure hypertrophy for two weeks, then power for two weeks, then strength, etc. I’ve generally just done a program for 6-12 weeks, then another one, then another one, etc.
So maybe I’ll try that first before hopping on…did anyone feel like that busted plateaus?
If not, or maybe I should just hop to coaching immediately (what do you think?),
There are a lot of names being thrown around, so maybe someone could recommend a few more specifically for me? I weight 180, interested in competing in 181s and then eventually 198s. I train only raw and also train for aesthetics and try to stay lean, eventually getting an elite total in the 198s raw being at 7% body fat. For the time being I’m natty.[/quote]
Not to toot the locals horns but STB does consulting as do I (totaled elite at 181 raw and I even got called “pretty boy” by one of the judges (female) and STB is pretty fricken beastly and also has elite status) - Both of us are more conjugate style lifters.
Josh Bryant is good as well (be ready for lots of volume) - Undulating periodization
James Smith (previously with Juggernaugt) - Just a really fricken smart guy
Chad Wesley Smith (Juggernaugt) - Linear/Undulating periodization, trains a lot of athletes as well.
Those are just some names off the top of my head of people that do online training and that I’ve had experience with in some way or another. Can’t go wrong with any, find one that trains people with similar goals and the style of training you’d like to see/learn more about.
My PRs are 345/305/485 at 196.
Currently I lift 295/285/455 weighing 180
Last weight cut I was doing 285/275/405 at 170 (back in September), so clearly I’ve been doing something wrong (except for my dead, perhaps)
By conjugate style does that include block periodization?
With a fairly big hypertrophy component?
I do like westside but I have a feeling I’ll get most out of gaining more mass, my technique is fine (the consultation with the coach that turns out ot be believing confirmed it) and I’ve been doing more intensity than volume for the main lifts. Westside seems to have worked most for my deadlift. I get nothing from box squats, though.
What are your and STB’s raw lifts?
Yes conjugate includes block periodization (or at least it does for me and STB) - I know in my own training I have to worry about my weight simply because I continuously outgrow my weight class if I just eat for recovery so there is definitely an element of hypertrophy training in there.
I just went and competed at APC Nationals (181 raw open) and went 551/308/556 (missed 602/330/576 - technical issues here unfortunately) which gave me an elite total in the 181’s. I’ll be competing at GPA Worlds end of november and am looking to go 626/350/600 which will make me #1 on PLWatch American All time list for squats as well as a new world record across all federations for drug tested squat with wraps.
I don’t know STB’s lifts offhand but he’s competed at many national level events and definitely knows his stuff. He’s a bigger lifter and competes in the 242’s/275’s usually.
Why don’t you just come train at World Gym in PB? Probably 15-20 of us that train there on a regular basis (not all at the same time of course).
Check out San Diego Barbell. AJ Roberts trains there. I heard he’s pretty strong.
CS
I don’t have much to add, aside from encouraging you to get some help. Please, PLEASE disregard the guy who had said that doing this on your own is better. Having someone ( or multiple someones!) watch over your training is invaluable. Everyone needs a coach. Even coaches need coaches.
If you don’t hire someone, find a training group in your area, like a couple of guys above have mentioned, being around strong and like minded people is going to help you immeasurably. Good luck!
I’ve been to world gym, cool place.
I wouldn’t want to train there regularly though, my university gym is well equipped and…free and close.
Liquid mercury,
That is a beastly squat, great deadlift, and …average bench (although 350 would be a different story). Maybe I should pay you half-rate to keep track of my lower body days:P
But seriously I’d be concerned our leverages/strengths/weaknesses are too different.
Or what’s your take, looking at my numbers? Have you worked with people with similar proportions in their lifts?
Seems like an ideal coach would be someone who’s at exactly where I want to be, so someone whose results are motivating and at the same time reachable, in several years, so someone who lifts 445/385/575 (± whatever to get elite) or so raw in the 181s, (while staying around 190 at 8% BF or so most of the year), know anyone that’s close to that?
(or have you worked with anyone to get like that?)
That is a godlike squat, though, damn.
[quote]TheBlade wrote:
I’ve been to world gym, cool place.
I wouldn’t want to train there regularly though, my university gym is well equipped and…free and close.
Liquid mercury,
That is a beastly squat, great deadlift, and …average bench (although 350 would be a different story). Maybe I should pay you half-rate to keep track of my lower body days:P
But seriously I’d be concerned our leverages/strengths/weaknesses are too different.
Or what’s your take, looking at my numbers? Have you worked with people with similar proportions in their lifts?
Seems like an ideal coach would be someone who’s at exactly where I want to be, so someone whose results are motivating and at the same time reachable, in several years, so someone who lifts 445/385/575 (± whatever to get elite) or so raw in the 181s, (while staying around 190 at 8% BF or so most of the year), know anyone that’s close to that?
(or have you worked with anyone to get like that?)
That is a godlike squat, though, damn.[/quote]
My bench has always been my weak point - in part because of my sports background (rowing) where we never benched and due to a few shoulder surgeries due to injuries from college lacrosse. The first time I benched was college and I could barely press the bar. I look more at the journey in that lift of where I’ve come and continue to improve upon it realizing though that I’m not likely ever to be a stellar bencher but hopefully just put up respectable numbers.
As far as people I’ve worked with, I’ve worked with clients of all different leverages, from someone that is 6’8" with terrible leverages for all three lifts, to people that are more similar to my own. When your a coach, it’s not necessarily just about your own personal experiences though those help of course, but the science of it and in turn the ability to communicate to the athlete. I coach high school rowing as well and most definitely am not the prototypical rower body yet managed in the last 4 years to have 21% of my athletes get full scholarship and a multitude more on partial scholarships upon graduation. As I said, it’s not necessarily always about the specific leverages, it’s about the ability to assess and communicate. An example might be CS who is working with Ed Coan in person. Ed Coan isn’t built like anyone really which is in part why he is so great. I doubt CS is worrying too much though about whether or not they have similar leverages because of Ed’s resume (not that I’m comparing myself to Ed Coan at all lol).
I’d say the ideal coach is one with a reasonable amount of experience working with a wide variety of people that has both personal success and success with their clients and has the ability to communicate in a way that helps you. Some people are great powerlifters but don’t have a coaching mind and some coaches simply don’t have the greatest numbers but are capable of analyzing something and being able to break it down for the client in a way that sees success. This is true in most sports.
As far as the staying lean year round goes, that’s not too hard once you learn how to manage your nutrition which isn’t necessarily the forte of a lot of powerlifters I realize. I rarely will be above 10% bodyfat for the year (only when I’m in the midst of winter and not getting ready for any meets) and I have to stay reasonably lean since I drop so much weight to make the 181’s (as much as 21 lbs, as little as 10 lbs).
So that’s my thoughts on coaching as a whole which transverses all sports. As far as someone that does online coaching, in the 181’s/198’s, that has a bigger bench/deadlift than what I’m sitting on right now I don’t really know anyone. Most of the online coaches out there seem to be heavyweights. I believe Brian Schwab does some online consulting (148 lbs geared) but other than that most everyone seems to be in the 220’s+.
Also I missed the 602 squat at Nationals just by a bit but I’ve had 455+175 band tension, 525+100 lbs chain squats in training and honestly I just took the 602 a bit too low. So where you say good squat I say “fuck that I’m pissed” haha. Looking for 626 at worlds.