[quote]JRR641 wrote:
I promise most of these guys / gals do not want that because their raw strength sucks. Guys who cannot bench 1 clean raw rep at 315 and hit 600 in a shirt + a fat gut. Don’t believe? I have seen it with my own eyes. [/quote]
Wow, I must say I’m quite shocked by this. I can imagine some one getting 300 out of the shirt if that person can bench 650 - 700 raw, but getting 300 when one cannot even hit 315 clean? Geez, who needs steroids when you got shirt.
[quote]Antman517 wrote:
JRR641 wrote:
Too bad they cannot incorporate some formula to adjust for stroke distance.
Powerlifting is all about maximizing your potential to hit bigger numbers. [/quote]
Sure…but are you hitting bigger numbers because you are not even doing the correct movement?
Kara is strong, no doubt, but I’d say none of those lifts really looked good. Even the 225 looked short.
I’ve never understood the use of shirts. I think it is bullshit and makes the sport look stupid.
I like and respect Kara–she’s strong as Hell, and fine as Hell to boot. But I think arching and shirts are kinda crappy. What’s next, hydraulic leg attachments for high jumpers? Spring-loaded shoes?
As for arching making a lift harder, yeah the Hell right. Most people arch because they can’t lift the weight with proper form. Then powerlifters call it “technique.” What’s the difference between that and a 6-inch squat?
Powerlifting IS getting ridiculous, just like bodybuilding.
[quote]baretta wrote:
Your argument that the arch hinders doesn’t make any sense. You said once you got used to the arch you had a higher bench. And if it lowers your weight on the bench, why do powerlifters do it then? Just curious.
I thought the arch lowers the travel of the bar and it also puts the bench to a decline sort of motion, which is easier, cus most people can bench more on the decline once they get the technique down pat.[/quote]
The extreme arch is used mainly for shirt benching because the majority of people won’t be nearly as strong or have great leverages bringing the bar that low. It took me a good 6 months before my raw numbers were back to normal after switching to the huge arch, but it has done wonders for my shirt numbers.
Again I challenge anyone who thinks benching like that is easy to go and try it themselves. You will then come to the realization it’s fucking HARD!
the dude benching in the video needs to cut his hair.
[quote]TTewell342 wrote:
The extreme arch is used mainly for shirt benching because the majority of people won’t be nearly as strong or have great leverages bringing the bar that low. It took me a good 6 months before my raw numbers were back to normal after switching to the huge arch, but it has done wonders for my shirt numbers.
Again I challenge anyone who thinks benching like that is easy to go and try it themselves. You will then come to the realization it’s fucking HARD![/quote]
OK, so specifically the giant arch. I can see how that might be harder until you get used to it. I still think it’s cheap, ESPECIALLY if it’s most effective with a shirt.
Theoretically speaking, if one was fat enough, would one be able to bench press a weight just by holding it?
I thought her max comp bench was over 400?
[quote]mertdawg wrote:
Theoretically speaking, if one was fat enough, would one be able to bench press a weight just by holding it?[/quote]
See: Gene.
It’s powerlifting, get over it, you arch to reduce ROM to bench more.
Calling someone on something they’re doing within the boudaries of their federation is like saying:
“OMG he dieted down for his bodybuilding contest, WHAT THE FUCK YOU CAN SEE HIS MUSCLES BETTER, unfair advantage!!!1lol!111”
Check yourself.
[quote]TTewell342 wrote:
WideGuy wrote:
Guys I’m not a pl’er so dont’ rip me but that arch she has looks ridiculous. I’ve seen alot of pro pl’ers bench and they have some arch but that’s look silly. I think I could bench 100 lbs more if I set up like that, but I’d probably injure myself so I suppose that’s the whole trick. Am I just sounding retarded here or does anyone agree?
Actually it is a little retarded but I won’t flame you cuz you don’t know. It is actually a lot harder to bench raw with a big arch. I remember when I switched to a big arch for all my benching and my raw bench went DOWN about 30 pounds! It has bounced back and is now a little higher than my old max, but benching like that RAW is hard because of all the stabilization it requires and your loss of leverage with the low touch point.
Actually… Go in the gym next time you bench and try it out! You will see.[/quote]
you are kidding
seriously you must be kidding?
or you are one of a very veyr very small minority i guess
“The IPF is a joke”…? 
in IPF we don’t quarter-squat in contests…
in IPF the percentage of drugged athletes is far less than in non-tested feds. There is not only black white, there are a few grays…
in IPF most people (that aren’t japanese or are S&M-inclined enough to spend 2 hours getting into a far too small shirt) get 30-50kgs on the shirt…
All in all… powerlifting HAS to cut a lot of the equipment AND loosen up on a few rules if it wants to be publicly accepted, few or none wants to see a meet where one of out ten even hits parallell in the squat and maybe to get their bench ok… Strongman is far better there, making a show… 
My suggestions are:
Cut benchshirt, cut squat suit… cut deadlift suit, allow knee wraps, handwraps and belt. Demand blow parallell squats, stop in the bottom of the bench… that is about it… But that won’t happen, so i guess I’ll just lift, get stronger and be happy…
Are there any powerlifters on here that are going to back me up on the raw benching being harder with the big arch thing? I actually know several powerlifters who just set up with a small arch and feet out because they don’t want their raw numbers to go DOWN!
[quote]mertdawg wrote:
Theoretically speaking, if one was fat enough, would one be able to bench press a weight just by holding it?[/quote]
LOL
Would the record then be like…infinity or something?
[quote]Adamsson wrote:
“The IPF is a joke”…?
in IPF we don’t quarter-squat in contests…
in IPF the percentage of drugged athletes is far less than in non-tested feds. There is not only black white, there are a few grays…
in IPF most people (that aren’t japanese or are S&M-inclined enough to spend 2 hours getting into a far too small shirt) get 30-50kgs on the shirt…
All in all… powerlifting HAS to cut a lot of the equipment AND loosen up on a few rules if it wants to be publicly accepted, few or none wants to see a meet where one of out ten even hits parallell in the squat and maybe to get their bench ok… Strongman is far better there, making a show… My suggestions are:
Cut benchshirt, cut squat suit… cut deadlift suit, allow knee wraps, handwraps and belt. Demand blow parallell squats, stop in the bottom of the bench… that is about it… But that won’t happen, so i guess I’ll just lift, get stronger and be happy…[/quote]
i say drop the squat all together. the public cant comprehend a squat, but just about everybody knows what a bench press is, and most can relate to benching over and picking something heavy up(deadlift). and get rid of the gear, belt only. do this and i think pl has a shot at more public appeal.
[quote]TTewell342 wrote:
Are there any powerlifters on here that are going to back me up on the raw benching being harder with the big arch thing? I actually know several powerlifters who just set up with a small arch and feet out because they don’t want their raw numbers to go DOWN! [/quote]
Increasing my arch has improved my raw bench quite a bit.
I don’t see how it would decrease it, but everyone’s different.
[quote]Valor wrote:
Sure…but are you hitting bigger numbers because you are not even doing the correct movement?
Kara is strong, no doubt, but I’d say none of those lifts really looked good. Even the 225 looked short.[/quote]
What is the correct movement? If it is bringing the bar down, touching, and pressing it back up, well, I’d say she did the correct movement. Check any fed’s rulebook and you’ll get pretty much the same definition. None of her lifts looked good? How the hell does a complete lockout “look short”?
[quote]I’ve never understood the use of shirts. I think it is bullshit and makes the sport look stupid.
[/quote]
Every sport incorporates the latest advances in technology to improve performance. I don’t see anyone in any other sport bitching about carbon fiber tennis rackets, bikes that cost more than my car, or running tracks that are proven to improve speed and reduce fatigue.
[quote]Adamsson wrote:
“The IPF is a joke”…?
in IPF the percentage of drugged athletes is far less than in non-tested feds. There is not only black white, there are a few grays…
And you know this how? A top USAPL official has contacted at least one person I know that competes in the WPO about entering the USAPL. He was told he would be shown how to get around the drug testing.
I have very serious doubts the IPF is drug free.
[quote]KBCThird wrote:
supermick wrote:
First off dont ever call me a retard you fucking prick.
Secondly learn how to spell. Maybe proof read your posts. In addition its become plainly obvious that im going to have to spell EVERYTHING out for you so you understand exactly what my point of view is. Are you ready? Gooooood.
Range of motion - in kara’s vid is not good, but its acceptable in her fed - hence why i suggested her fed needs sorting. Yes im aware its a training video but too me, many feds accept and pass poor lifts that wouldnt pass in the IPF nevermind for the ‘average’ guy in the gym.
Why not aim for the olympics? Surely this is a sign a sport has been taken seriously by governing bodies outside of its existance. If this is not appealing too you then fine, stick with your little niche in triple ply cat suits.
I admit i wandered slightly in my second post but my overall summary would be that the vid in case is not impressive to me, and the reasons behind her lifting style (her fed, silly gear) hamper the sport to a large extent.
And yes i can bench more than her raw before you ask.
First off, I WILL call you a retard because you are acting like one. Don’t like it? Tough.
Wouldn’t pass the IPF? Who cares? THe IPF is a joke. When Tiny Meeker cant touch 900 lbs in a friggin single ply, the line between single and multi-ply has been destroyed. And their drug testing policy is intellectually dishonest. As has been pointed out numerous times, drug-tested does not mean drug-free.
The olympics are a sign a sport has been taken seriously? Great, then I guess ballroom dancing is a great example of sport.
And I dont care what you bench, raw, shirted or on the moon.[/quote]
Why is our gene pool infected with peasants like you???
[quote]TTewell342 wrote:
Are there any powerlifters on here that are going to back me up on the raw benching being harder with the big arch thing? I actually know several powerlifters who just set up with a small arch and feet out because they don’t want their raw numbers to go DOWN! [/quote]
I’ve never competed, but I have worked on getting my arch up and bringing my grip out to the maximum. At 5-8 I will usually press with the legal maximum, but bring it in to give my wrist a break.
With a minimal (natural) arch, my shoulders feel like they are in a dangerous position at the bottom. My vertical ROM is about 10 inches. I can do 315 this way for 1 perfect paused rep.
With a near maximal arch I’m at 340-350. With just a little extra set-up, I get 360. I hold myself to having my feet completely flat on the floor-not up on the toes, as well as butt in “contact” with the bench (usually just grazing it). The added set-up here is to reach behind me to the end of the bench and rotate under my scapula, and pin them to the bench this way. This gives me 10 more pounds.
I tried used single ply shirt once and got 400, and with much less shoulder strain. I know a guy who got 100 pounds with a single ply shirt the first time he tried it. I know people benching in the 350-390 range who get 520-540 with a very heavy duty shirt.
I also know that if I were going to bench with my old single ply shirt, It would greatly simplify my training. I would never have a problem getting the weight started, and I could focus all of my efforts into speed and lockout. If I went back to a raw bench, I know that my strength off of the chest would have dropped off. It still might be a good break to use a shirt to give your shoulders a break from time to time.
I don’t think its the ROM that makes a difference. My shoulders are in a more stable position because my upper arm never breaks 90 degrees with an arch. Also, you can get the lats into it better with an arch. Also you can put more pressure on your upper back which helps you keep the shoulders under the bar.
[quote]KBCThird wrote:
The rules vary by fed, but most say somehting along the lines of “the your upperback and you butt must remain in contact with the bench.” Hers do.[/quote]
I thought her arse was in the air. Anyone else think so?