I’d be pretty interested to know, too. I don’t know what it is, but the Japanese are like that one kid that everybody knew growing up who could come along, see you doing something, try it for the first time ever, and do it 10 times better than you.
One interesting bit of info that I’ve heard from fellow lifters and talking to a couple Japanese IPF lifters.
Their shirts (most) are modified Titan F6’s, 1-2 sizes two big…they stitch a new seam on the arms/shoulder to make them tighter and pull the collar down lots, they call them “muffin tops”. I’ve talked to a guy who used one, he benches about 430lbs and can touch 200lbs with this design. I’d love to get my hands on one soon.
[quote]Power GnP wrote:
One interesting bit of info that I’ve heard from fellow lifters and talking to a couple Japanese IPF lifters.
Their shirts (most) are modified Titan F6’s, 1-2 sizes two big…they stitch a new seam on the arms/shoulder to make them tighter and pull the collar down lots, they call them “muffin tops”. I’ve talked to a guy who used one, he benches about 430lbs and can touch 200lbs with this design. I’d love to get my hands on one soon.[/quote]
[quote]Power GnP wrote:
One interesting bit of info that I’ve heard from fellow lifters and talking to a couple Japanese IPF lifters.
Their shirts (most) are modified Titan F6’s, 1-2 sizes two big…they stitch a new seam on the arms/shoulder to make them tighter and pull the collar down lots, they call them “muffin tops”. I’ve talked to a guy who used one, he benches about 430lbs and can touch 200lbs with this design. I’d love to get my hands on one soon.[/quote]
…and they shorthen the sleeves by 1-2". The trick I hear is that they then bench off the collar, or just below. I think the picture you posted shows how that’s possible.
I have heard, and this is only secondhand info, that some Japanese benchers will take the maximum width grip and then rotate their hands outwards heavily. Net result: thumb and forefinger still cover the ring but it is equivalent to moving your grip out an inch past it each side. Requires a bit of flexibility and wrist strength, but seems to shorten the stroke and lockout.
I don’t think they are stronger then the U.S yet they are mastering the sport it seems. Whatever they are doing its working, their new techniques new shirts ext is helping them win.
Hell other parts of the world in terms of strength sports have always been far ahead of US, wasn’t until Lou and westide adapted European methods that we started progressing a lot.
Powerlifting especially geared lifting is becoming more and more technique and mastering it with your gear. Its becoming a lot like Olympic lifting in the sense of how important technique is.
