Finding a Coach?

Training Powerlifting
21

[quote]LiquidMercury wrote:

[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.[/quote]

Your 551 is with wraps though right, and worlds doesnt allow wraps if you are talking about IPF world classic. 626 seems a bit much

22

551 was with wraps though I’ve done it without wraps as well in training. I wasn’t talking about the IPF federation. I’m competing at APC Worlds in November though next year I’ll likely transition to USAPL or some other drug tested federation as I’m likely to get dusted at this Worlds competing against those who use (not that I have anything against those that do).

626 seems a bit much to you. Not to me. And that’s really all that matters. I just missed 602 at Nationals (sunk it a bit too much and couldn’t recover) but know I’ll have that and more come Worlds.

23

[quote]@JC_Tree_Trunks wrote:

[quote]LiquidMercury wrote:

[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.[/quote]

Your 551 is with wraps though right, and worlds doesnt allow wraps if you are talking about IPF world classic. 626 seems a bit much[/quote]
You sound like you’re his coach telling him that 626 is a bit much. What difference does it make to you what he sets his goal at…

24

Jan Gable coaches at World Gym. In the 80’s she set World records in Bench in 3 weight classes, including the first woman to bench 380. She then switched to body building. She is laid up for a hip replacement for a few weeks.

She coaches me and my daughter. In 4 months with her my lifts are up 10% after 8 months of plateau. She uses periodization. She includes lots of stretching, and I 've had none of my usual injuries flare up.

jangable@mac.com

25

[quote]LiquidMercury wrote:
551 was with wraps though I’ve done it without wraps as well in training. I wasn’t talking about the IPF federation. I’m competing at APC Worlds in November though next year I’ll likely transition to USAPL or some other drug tested federation as I’m likely to get dusted at this Worlds competing against those who use (not that I have anything against those that do).

626 seems a bit much to you. Not to me. And that’s really all that matters. I just missed 602 at Nationals (sunk it a bit too much and couldn’t recover) but know I’ll have that and more come Worlds.[/quote]

Ah I see I was just confused by the wraps part of it. 551 with wraps to 626 no wraps would be a bit much imo, but now I see all outside factors are constant, I dont think 626 is too much. And I like your attitude, that type of attitude I think is even better than your natural squatting ability. Because in the end your mind controls your destiny. I’ll def be intrested to see how you do, good luck. And if you stay in 181 we’ll most likely compete against eachother a couple years from now in the USAPL. good luck

26

[quote]@JC_Tree_Trunks wrote:

[quote]LiquidMercury wrote:
551 was with wraps though I’ve done it without wraps as well in training. I wasn’t talking about the IPF federation. I’m competing at APC Worlds in November though next year I’ll likely transition to USAPL or some other drug tested federation as I’m likely to get dusted at this Worlds competing against those who use (not that I have anything against those that do).

626 seems a bit much to you. Not to me. And that’s really all that matters. I just missed 602 at Nationals (sunk it a bit too much and couldn’t recover) but know I’ll have that and more come Worlds.[/quote]

Ah I see I was just confused by the wraps part of it. 551 with wraps to 626 no wraps would be a bit much imo, but now I see all outside factors are constant, I dont think 626 is too much. And I like your attitude, that type of attitude I think is even better than your natural squatting ability. Because in the end your mind controls your destiny. I’ll def be intrested to see how you do, good luck. And if you stay in 181 we’ll most likely compete against eachother a couple years from now in the USAPL. good luck[/quote]

In 2 years I drop to the 165’s and powerlifting takes a back seat to (benching stops) as I’ll be taking another run at the olympics for rowing (lightweight). I’ll still do some meets but my powerlifting will be simply cross training for my rowing.

27

[quote]navid123 wrote:
Sandiego barbell is a powerlifting club, check them out.[/quote]

They were in Spring Valley, a suburb of San Diego. They are closed now.

28

[quote]LiquidMercury wrote:

[quote]@JC_Tree_Trunks wrote:

[quote]LiquidMercury wrote:
551 was with wraps though I’ve done it without wraps as well in training. I wasn’t talking about the IPF federation. I’m competing at APC Worlds in November though next year I’ll likely transition to USAPL or some other drug tested federation as I’m likely to get dusted at this Worlds competing against those who use (not that I have anything against those that do).

626 seems a bit much to you. Not to me. And that’s really all that matters. I just missed 602 at Nationals (sunk it a bit too much and couldn’t recover) but know I’ll have that and more come Worlds.[/quote]

Ah I see I was just confused by the wraps part of it. 551 with wraps to 626 no wraps would be a bit much imo, but now I see all outside factors are constant, I dont think 626 is too much. And I like your attitude, that type of attitude I think is even better than your natural squatting ability. Because in the end your mind controls your destiny. I’ll def be intrested to see how you do, good luck. And if you stay in 181 we’ll most likely compete against eachother a couple years from now in the USAPL. good luck[/quote]

In 2 years I drop to the 165’s and powerlifting takes a back seat to (benching stops) as I’ll be taking another run at the olympics for rowing (lightweight). I’ll still do some meets but my powerlifting will be simply cross training for my rowing.
[/quote]

hmmm damn. Well thats pretty sick though. I saw a rower at our school that was huge deadlift 495 but had some serious trouble benching just 205 for a couple. So i could see benching not being important, but good luck in the rowing. Being a track athlete in college right now, I think alot of people that just lift underestimate how much different it is to have to train 3 or more hours a day ontop of lifting. After the olympics then will you go to powerlifting purely?

29

[quote]100lbweakling wrote:

[quote]navid123 wrote:
Sandiego barbell is a powerlifting club, check them out.[/quote]

They were in Spring Valley, a suburb of San Diego. They are closed now.[/quote]

AJ Roberts trains at a place dubbed “San Diego Barbell” – although it looks like a commercial gym to me it has a monolift. I only know this from the training videos that his girlfriend posts.

30

[quote]frankjl wrote:

[quote]100lbweakling wrote:

[quote]navid123 wrote:
Sandiego barbell is a powerlifting club, check them out.[/quote]

They were in Spring Valley, a suburb of San Diego. They are closed now.[/quote]

AJ Roberts trains at a place dubbed “San Diego Barbell” – although it looks like a commercial gym to me it has a monolift. I only know this from the training videos that his girlfriend posts.[/quote]

Damn. Don’t tell his wife about the girlfriend. :slight_smile:

That’s World Gym in the videos, on Garnet in San Diego. The nice guys he trains with may call themselves San Diego barbell.

31

[quote]@JC_Tree_Trunks wrote:
hmmm damn. Well thats pretty sick though. I saw a rower at our school that was huge deadlift 495 but had some serious trouble benching just 205 for a couple. So i could see benching not being important, but good luck in the rowing. Being a track athlete in college right now, I think alot of people that just lift underestimate how much different it is to have to train 3 or more hours a day ontop of lifting. After the olympics then will you go to powerlifting purely?[/quote]

Depends where I am in life and whether or not I’ll try and do consecutive olympics or not. I can’t imagine I know how I’ll feel by 2016 physically or emotionally and thus do not assume I’ll have a clue what my goals will be by that time.

As far as benching goes - it’s pointless for rowing past the extent of giving some balance to your back. A big chest/triceps are just extra weight that doesn’t contribute to boat speed. When I start having to drop the weight permanently instead of just manipulating my bodyweight pre-weigh in I’ll simply stop benching and allow my muscle to atrophy. So sure it’s been a fun run at trying to build a decent bench and I can at least say I’ve benched 315, ultimately it will simply not be what I need for speed and if I do choose to continue powerlifting while rowing and after I’ll simply live and die by my squat/dead which is kind of the case anyways right now. I’d like to be able to total elite as a 165’er based solely on my squat and dead at some point.

32

[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. quote]

This right here tells the story. If you are THAT serious about your training, you would make the investment to train at another location with other serious lifters. Nothing can replace this. A good online coach is second in order.

I praise Josh Bryant all the time because the guy got my total to jump over 150lbs in 16 weeks. There is a reason guys like Dave Tate put their training in someone else’s hands. In over 10 years of training, the money I paid Josh was hands down the best I have invested.

Keep in mind I’m NOT saying to take whatever a trainer or “guru” says as gospel, you should always have your mind open for new ideas and methods.

33

[quote]Monopoly19 wrote:

[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. quote]

This right here tells the story. If you are THAT serious about your training, you would make the investment to train at another location with other serious lifters. Nothing can replace this. A good online coach is second in order. [/quote]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Plus, World Gym isn’t even expensive. Environment is priceless and it is the best environment in San Diego County.

34

Look you can ether take any of our advice an go with it or just argue. IMO…I started with a custom Bill starr/ Wendler 5/3/1. And after two cycles of MY OWN work out I have added 50lbs on my Bench an DL, an currently working on my Squat numbers. MY new custom work out is a double week 5/3/1(5/5/3/3/1/1). Why because I have adapted to what I have read up on the internet an other PL’ers over the internet. I am currently looking into competing in the US in December of 2012,Jan 2013.

35

Look you can ether take any of our advice an go with it or just argue. IMO…I started with a custom Bill starr/ Wendler 5/3/1. And after two cycles of MY OWN work out I have added 50lbs on my Bench an DL, an currently working on my Squat numbers. MY new custom work out is a double week 5/3/1(5/5/3/3/1/1). Why because I have adapted to what I have read up on the internet an other PL’ers over the internet. I am currently looking into competing in the US in December of 2012,Jan 2013.

36

I went ahead with Josh Bryant. Starting this week. My hamstrings and triceps are giddy with excitement.

37

[quote]TheBlade wrote:
I went ahead with Josh Bryant. Starting this week. My hamstrings and triceps are giddy with excitement.[/quote]

Congrats. Be sure to give him honest feedback on how lifts feel, etc. He hits you with a substantial amount of volume early on, so be ready for that if you haven’t trained that way.