Gear Reality

Training Powerlifting
141

[quote]heavythrower wrote:
cyco, i jhad plans to compete again at a usapl meet with nothing but singlet and a belt. i was hoping to get a token bench of 135, and hit 600 squat and 650 pull.

that would have been my 'statement". unfortuneatley my shoulders and low back (all which need surgery) told me otherwise.

if i was able to do that, would i have been allowed to have an opinion then? [/quote]

Plenty of ex-lifters are involved in the leadership of this sport. Why not make your statement heard?

142

ok, so now i get it. i cant have an opinion if i am just a fan, nor can i have an opinion if i am veteran competitor, AND APPARENTLY EVEN IF I STILL COMPETED, I STILL SHOULD SHUT THE FUCK UP? oh, i get it now, i need to somehow get ingrained in the leadership of a federation to have a right to say anything.

cool. i hear you now.

an internet forum is often a place where trolls and internet tough-guys rant and start trouble, it is also a place for discussion and exchange of ideas and debate. i will say what the hell i want about the state of a sport i have competed in, loved, and supported in the past. if that upsets you, get over it, your life will go on, i promise the sun is still going to rise tomorrow. trust me.

143

if some 150lb 17 year old “want to see my abds” who curls in the squat rack yells at a guy who has competed in PL and put up respectable numbers in gear, things like y"your a cheater, the gear is doing all the lifting for you, etc>" THEN BY ALL MEANS SHOUT HIM DOWN AND PUT THAT LITTLE PIN HEAD IN HIS PLACE.

but a guy like me who has competed, used a variety of gear, and has given his lumbar spine, and both shoulder to the iron-game raises legitimate concerns about where the sport is going, i get shouted down too.
its a circular argument. you can lift any fed you want with whatever gear you want, i will get on with my life somehow, it will be tough for me, but i will make it.

but i can chime in and talk about this stuff when feel like it, and that DOES NOT mean that i am getting real worked up and losing sleep over how much your shirt is going to get you at your next meet. i am just killing time and like to talk about the iron game, the gear issue is just an unavoidable part of any discussion of competitive PL these days, sorry that offends you so much.

ok, i am not really sorry, what i am really sorry about it i ate ice-cream and brownies tonight for desert even though i am supposed to be a bodybuilder now, LOL

144

I’m in total agreement!

145

[quote]apwsearch wrote:
Raw Power wrote:
Yes, a belt is for safety especially for those lifters that have not trained their core strength properly. You don’t think a belt adds to increased lifts? How long have you been lifting? One day? For most people the belt will add 50-60lbs. to the lift. Most powerlifters live in their belt and that is the reason their abs/core strength is not up to par. If that’s conditioned properly then you don’t need a belt. Powerlifters could learn a lot from the Olympic lifters on this one.

When I first started competing in powerlifting I used all the gear that I could that the federation allowed. After a while it just turned into a circus for me personally. I found it more personally challenging to take all the gear off and compete the way that I train - raw. The AAU offers a RAW division but a belt is allowed to be worn for some reason. Most would argue that using the belt isn’t really lifting RAW. I would agree with that. The last meet I went to I didn’t use a belt. For me, those PR’s were really satisfying and legit.

There really isn’t any money to be made from competing in powerlifting especially if one is drug-free and lifting in a drug tested federation. Yeah, one can gear up and get higher numbers. Soon, the plastic trophies and $5 medals that you get don’t mean that much. It comes down to personal satisfaction and challenge. When you do the weight RAW you really know that you did it and it wasn’t because of gear that a lifter put on to make up for muscle tissue and conditioning that he doesn’t have. Just my opinion…

You are making some really ridiculous generalizations.

Most Powerlifters live in their belts?

Get the fuck out of here.

Name 1, yes I said 1 top 3 powerlifter, AAU or USAPL, your pick, that “lives” in their belts.

Now, before you do this, realize that I know probably 80% of them, so choose carefully because I will follow up.

Why don’t you rephrase your little tirade to state that you couldn’t hang with the big dogs, regardless, so you decided to become a RAW guy so you could at least explain it to yourself.[/quote]

Hmmm another angry powerlifter. Nice job. Show us how truely evolved you are.

146

Please stop it with the gear talk. My parents were killed by a gang of bench shirts. It was horrific. Those bench shirts need to burn in hell.

147

[quote]mdragon wrote:
apwsearch wrote:
Raw Power wrote:
Yes, a belt is for safety especially for those lifters that have not trained their core strength properly. You don’t think a belt adds to increased lifts? How long have you been lifting? One day? For most people the belt will add 50-60lbs. to the lift. Most powerlifters live in their belt and that is the reason their abs/core strength is not up to par. If that’s conditioned properly then you don’t need a belt. Powerlifters could learn a lot from the Olympic lifters on this one.

When I first started competing in powerlifting I used all the gear that I could that the federation allowed. After a while it just turned into a circus for me personally. I found it more personally challenging to take all the gear off and compete the way that I train - raw. The AAU offers a RAW division but a belt is allowed to be worn for some reason. Most would argue that using the belt isn’t really lifting RAW. I would agree with that. The last meet I went to I didn’t use a belt. For me, those PR’s were really satisfying and legit.

There really isn’t any money to be made from competing in powerlifting especially if one is drug-free and lifting in a drug tested federation. Yeah, one can gear up and get higher numbers. Soon, the plastic trophies and $5 medals that you get don’t mean that much. It comes down to personal satisfaction and challenge. When you do the weight RAW you really know that you did it and it wasn’t because of gear that a lifter put on to make up for muscle tissue and conditioning that he doesn’t have. Just my opinion…

You are making some really ridiculous generalizations.

Most Powerlifters live in their belts?

Get the fuck out of here.

Name 1, yes I said 1 top 3 powerlifter, AAU or USAPL, your pick, that “lives” in their belts.

Now, before you do this, realize that I know probably 80% of them, so choose carefully because I will follow up.

Why don’t you rephrase your little tirade to state that you couldn’t hang with the big dogs, regardless, so you decided to become a RAW guy so you could at least explain it to yourself.

Hmmm another angry powerlifter. Nice job. Show us how truely evolved you are.[/quote]

Yeah, I regret that last paragraph but stand by what I said on the front end.

To RawPower, sorry about that, I got carried away.

148

it was a bench shirt that made me eat those brownies. i have two little things that pop up one on each side of my shoulder when i am about to decide on something. on is a 260lb fat PL stuffed into all sorts of gear, who encourages me to injure myself and eat lots of bad food, he has devil horns by the way, the other is wearing a under-armour form fitting sleeveless shirt and stretchy pants, is a svelte 200lbs, has a shaved body and a halo, that tells me to go raw on all my lifts, use the smith machine and eat backed chicken breasts and oatmeal.

149

My squat briefs touch my privates. They make me feel uncomfortable. Should I tell an adult?

150

[quote]RickJames wrote:
Please stop it with the gear talk. My parents were killed by a gang of bench shirts. It was horrific. Those bench shirts need to burn in hell.[/quote]

Lol

151

[quote]heavythrower wrote:
hey guys, i have not posted in my log lately because there has been NOTYHING interesting about my workouts. but yesterday was interesting.

over the last month or so, i have been trying to rehab my low back, by trying to do 100 reps of abds and back raises every training day. i started out with 3-5 sets of 20, then 4x25, and recently (the last week or so i have been doing 3x33)

so i decided to try to box squat heavy.

no if you have been looking at my logs, i have been going RAW on the box squat, and my usual drop out set was about 365-405 for a few reps.

this is how yesterday went.

100% RAW:

  • bar x 25
    -bar x 25
    -135x 10
    -225x5
    -315x3
    -365x3
    -405x2

BELT AND KNEE SLEEVES:
-425x2,
-455x1(tough!)

LOOSE SINGLE PLY INZER POLY BRIEFS(POWER PANTS) ADDED
-485x2(added 5 lbs collars on the here on out)
-505x1

PUT DENIM BRIEFS ON TOP OF THE POLYS
-515x1(took REAL small jumps here on out as i was terrified of getting injured)
-525x1
-535x1
-555x1

ok, i stopped here, i would like to say like EVERYBODY ELSE that i had more in me, but i did not. it came up fast, but i felt bad things in my right knee and groin, my low back and my left outer thigh)

whats the point? i think we all need to reevaluate and take a look inward to how strong we THINK we are, when we use gear. so i can talk like i am a big man saying i squatted 550, but in reality when i see a guy reping 315 in an ATG raw squat(which is about all i can do) i have to be real with myself and say that i am not really stronger than that guy.[/quote]

Strange, I work out at a small power lifting gym. There are several top ranked lifters in the gym. The squat protocol used by me and everyone in the gym is warm up raw, then add belt, then briefs, then usually one set with wraps. If it is truly a crazy heavy day, then start to add the squat suit with straps down, then straps up.

Also, most power lifters are trained to push as hard as they can against the weight belt (Westside). The belt gives you the ability to push very hard against something. You must still have very strong abs and obliques.

152

Early one morning, me and my squat suit were walking down the beach. As we climbed up on a high rocky promontory, I turned and looked back down upon the beach at the footprints we two left in the sand. For much of the way extending down the beach into the horizon, I could see two sets of tracks- my own and my squat suit’s. But there, in the middle of our journey, there was only one set of tracks.

I turned to my squat suit and cried,“Squat suit, where were when I needed you. I can see from the tracks in the sand that you left my side. Why did you leave me?”

My squat suit replied. “My son, you do not understand, for I ahve never left your side. For where there were only one set of foorprints, there is where I carried you when you were weary and unable to continue.”

Gear is Good.

153

[quote]Ghost22 wrote:
I’m a fan of gear, so far.

It adds an element of technical proficiency to powerlifting and makes it so that even if you’re not the strongest, you can win if you know your gear better.[/quote]

But it should be about who is the strongest and best prepared. Not about the gear at all. Gear & bad judging has almost ruined the sport and will unless things change. IMO

154

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Ghost22 wrote:
I’m a fan of gear, so far.

It adds an element of technical proficiency to powerlifting and makes it so that even if you’re not the strongest, you can win if you know your gear better.

And that alone is why it sucks. This is powerlifting, not mechanical engineering.[/quote]

I totally agree with you here Professor X.

155

[quote]Pinto wrote:
Early one morning, me and my squat suit were walking down the beach. As we climbed up on a high rocky promontory, I turned and looked back down upon the beach at the footprints we two left in the sand. For much of the way extending down the beach into the horizon, I could see two sets of tracks- my own and my squat suit’s. But there, in the middle of our journey, there was only one set of tracks.

I turned to my squat suit and cried,“Squat suit, where were when I needed you. I can see from the tracks in the sand that you left my side. Why did you leave me?”

My squat suit replied. “My son, you do not understand, for I ahve never left your side. For where there were only one set of foorprints, there is where I carried you when you were weary and unable to continue.”

Gear is Good.[/quote]

Baaaaaaaaaaahahahahah I swear to god that is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read on this site. Pinto, you’re my hero!!

156

[quote]Hanley wrote:
Pinto wrote:
Early one morning, me and my squat suit were walking down the beach. As we climbed up on a high rocky promontory, I turned and looked back down upon the beach at the footprints we two left in the sand. For much of the way extending down the beach into the horizon, I could see two sets of tracks- my own and my squat suit’s. But there, in the middle of our journey, there was only one set of tracks.

I turned to my squat suit and cried,“Squat suit, where were when I needed you. I can see from the tracks in the sand that you left my side. Why did you leave me?”

My squat suit replied. “My son, you do not understand, for I ahve never left your side. For where there were only one set of foorprints, there is where I carried you when you were weary and unable to continue.”

Gear is Good.

Baaaaaaaaaaahahahahah I swear to god that is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read on this site. Pinto, you’re my hero!![/quote]

Yeah, but after all that, shouldn’t it have been, “Gear is God?”

157

heavy, i’ve always respected your opinion on this issue and you know i agree with you. of course, this opinion wasn’t too popular on the other forums we have been on, haha!

this is one reason why i like strongman better. for the most part, it’s what you can actually lift and anyway you do it is good. yes there are a few events that allow straps and even suits, but if it were up to me i would eliminate all suits.

i hope you and your family are doing well!

158

That is excellent!! Double denims can stand by themselves. Great post.

[quote]Pinto wrote:
Early one morning, me and my squat suit were walking down the beach. As we climbed up on a high rocky promontory, I turned and looked back down upon the beach at the footprints we two left in the sand. For much of the way extending down the beach into the horizon, I could see two sets of tracks- my own and my squat suit’s. But there, in the middle of our journey, there was only one set of tracks.

I turned to my squat suit and cried,“Squat suit, where were when I needed you. I can see from the tracks in the sand that you left my side. Why did you leave me?”

My squat suit replied. “My son, you do not understand, for I ahve never left your side. For where there were only one set of foorprints, there is where I carried you when you were weary and unable to continue.”

Gear is Good.[/quote]

159

HEAVYTHROWER, I am not entering this discussion, but I respect you and your opinion a lot, unlike most of these morons. I did martial arts for years and powerlifting. I had a fully herniated L5-S1 and could barely function(not work, no working out at all, no sex) then I had surgery and have totally recovered.

The doc was incredible and endorsed by guys who train our Olympic Team. I am better than ever. Contact me privately and I might be able to steer you in a helpful direction. I no longer have a bad back.

[quote]heavythrower wrote:
cyco, i jhad plans to compete again at a usapl meet with nothing but singlet and a belt. i was hoping to get a token bench of 135, and hit 600 squat and 650 pull.

that would have been my 'statement". unfortuneatley my shoulders and low back (all which need surgery) told me otherwise.

if i was able to do that, would i have been allowed to have an opinion then? [/quote]

160

Whoah…lots of different opinions floating around. I like to keep things simple. I am no powerlifter, but have immense respect for anyone geting a 600+lb. lift, gear or no gear. Are there separate brackets in competition for raw lifters vs. geared lifters? If not there should be. Or else gear should be outlawed from comp. I understand gear helps somewhat with safety, but it also creates a false sense of safety. Much in the same way that football players with a shitload of equipment get much more severely injured than me and my rugby boys with our cuts and bruises and no pads.

I love squats. I train for strength which in turn helps my speed and size as an athlete. I go just below parallel with a slightly wider stance than shoulder width, always RAW. Recently, I got 345 lbs. for 10 solid reps which I think is good for a tall guy. I never use a belt, and all I wear is Ace supports from the dollar-store to keep my knees warm.

You tell me, who is “STRONGER”: the amateur powerlifter who stands 5’6" and uses the extreme wide stance and all kinds of gear, looking for 1 rep of 600, or a dude like me who just slaps (relatively) big weight on the bar and repeatedly sits in the hole. Answer: They’re both fuckin demons!! They are just different animals. Could I throw on gear and get more than my “calculated 1rep max” of 455? Probably, but I’ll never know because I have enough injuries and don’t need the risk. I’m well over 6’; I’ll never be a competetive powerlifter. Why would I try to train like one? So when asked what I am capable of lifting, I give them the 10-rep numbers. Good thread everyone…