I have been kicking around starting doing some BtNs, and it sounds like Crom agrees. I am curious about your statement about starting in the front first…I just thought that was the natural way to do it, so I am unsure what your specific epiphany is here?
In real life, I’ve only seen people get the bar on their back like you would to do a back squat, walking out of the rack with the bar already behind their heads, as opposed to starting from the front.
To be fair, if I had to do them now, I would’ve done them that way. I have been thinking about working them into my program, and @T3hPwnisher might have just saved me some figuring out to do.
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Can you expand on this. What is current powerlifting vs old powerlifting ?
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The alternative is starting with the bar racked behind your back, which is what I did at first. Some folks do that for behind the neck push jerks, but I don’t have the coordination for that.
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As an aside, have you ever tried the Bradford press, specifically for hypertrophy? If so, how did you like it?
Thoughts on smith machine for BtNs?
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@simo74 Going full “grumpy old man” here: modern powerlifting is fixated on doing things “for the 'gram”. Trainees are maxing way too often in training and care too much about hitting PRs for youtube vs at the meet. Hell, no one even cares about winning meets in general anymore: it’s all about setting records on individual lifts instead. In turn, a lot of focus has moved away from getting big and strong and, instead, people are becoming really weird 1 lift specialists maximizing leverages and technique while trying to keep bodyweight super low for the best coefficient. And raw made the sport too approachable, so now you got a bunch of really weird dudes involved in the sport. And not to say powerlifters weren’t weird back in the freakshow day, but at least when you needed a crew to be able to train you had to have SOME sort of human interaction. You got kids that are just running Starting Strength in their garages for years having screaming matches with each other even though neither one has ever actually been to a meet.
Kaz’s era of “power bodybuilding” was a fantastic era of powerlifting. Dudes were jacked, strong as hell, and played with a bunch of different rep ranges and techniques.
@samul Haven’t tried it since 08. I wasn’t doing it right back then. I think it could work as a way to pump up the shoulders: good finisher move.
@cyclonengineer I haven’t touched a smith machine in a LONG time. I know Big Z is a fan of them for high inclines, but that’s about my only frame of reference.
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Oh shit… your starting to sound like me. You sure you want too be that way?
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I’ve been a curmudgeon at way too young an age for way too long, haha.
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Can we take your response to Simo and permanently sticky it somewhere? That mentality shift was the difference between me being able to lift a decent amount but be hurt all the time and in terrible shape and me actually getting kinda strong. The BSL approach, like the subforum description says, is probably the right approach for 95+% of all lifters.
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I’m not going to agree with you but I 100% see where you are coming from.
I was looking into doing a power lifting meet in 2017. But I’m put off. You have to pay to be a member and then buy the approved gear. Thats well over £125 just for membership, singlet and belt.
The number of different categories open to enter is sickening. Its like everyone gets their own category. So everyone gets a winners medal.
And then you have the rules. How can there be 5 different federations all with different rules for the dead lift? It starts on the floor - it ends in the air. Come on.
When I was training I watched videos on completion lifting and making the most of the leverages. I mean - what? I’m not saying don’t work within the rules - but if your benching and I can fit my head under the arch in your back - you’re taking the piss.
They you get the “sumo is cheating” stuff (its not).
I can’t see the fun in being around people like that. Its why I went to strong man. Its a lot less - pedantic and petty.
But in defence of power lifting - its better than jogging.
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I found it! Haha.
But yeah: it’s gotten weird. Strongman is going in a bad direction too sadly.
Some of the things you mentioned is why I lost interest in competing in PL.
When I got into lifting again and learned that there were different sports, or disciplines of the hobby even, I thought powerlifting was the bees knees. Then I attended a powerlifting meet to support a friend and promptly lost interest. Totally see how it could be fun for some folks, but definitely doesn’t jive with me.
I’m a fan of strength training and strength sports…but damn I won’t watch a meet in person if I don’t have to.
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Even the money side of it.
£50 membership
£85 for a singlet
£75 for a belt
1 event in area all year.
If you want to compete in another federation - its another:
£50 membership
And because this federation’s approved equipment list is different to the others its:
£85 singlet
£75 for a belt
And this federation requires you to wear a certain type of shoe. Which are £90.
I mean come on.
I’ve not witnessed this. The only thing that grinds my gears are the guys in the novice comp that really should be in the opens.
I saw a comp 2 years ago - silver dollar dead lift - 240kg. A guy got over 25 reps in 75 seconds.
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I’m the same. My parents, wife and friends all mention coming to watch me at meets, and I flat out tell them please don’t bother, you will have an aweful time. You’ll be there for 7-8 hours, assuming it’s well run, and you’ll see me do, at best, 9 reps.
I only don’t mind being there because between lifts I’m focused and between sessions I’m eating and listening to a good audio book and then warming up. I’m certainly not watching the show.
I let my brother come one year becausehe brought a mate and nationals were at bodypower, so at least he could wander around most of the day and pick me up free samples.
It’s getting stupidly specialized, events and weights are getting announced way too far in advance, gear is getting silly (wtf grip shirts), people keep wanting there to be records for lifts, etc. It’s the powerlifting influence.
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Yeah unless I’m playing a handler roll for someone… forget it. Elite level guys complain there is not a real pro league. Theres a reason for that.
I understand this, but despite the fact I’m already strong I’d probably enter novice if I ever enter a strongman comp. Being good at deadlift is one event, I’ve never lifted a stone, or a log, or pulled a car, or moved a yoke. Being strong is a start but there’s plenty reason is call myself novice
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