With strength sports it’s a bit weird because there is a lot of overlap (all want to get bigger and stronger). I think it would be fair to say “I train like a [powerlifter/bodybuilder/powerbuilder/strongman]” if you don’t compete, because it’s a quick summary of your direction and goals. Everyone at a powerlifting meet may be training differently, but they are still training for the same objective and so there will be some similarities (e.g. focus on the big 3 for PL, aesthetics for bodybuilding, etc.) It delivers more information quicker than by just yelling “I LIFT THINGS TO BE STRONG” (although that would be more awesome).
I think the key thing is the “I train for…” part instead of “I am a…” If you train boxing and have never had a fight then you can’t say “I’m a boxer”, but saying “I’m training/studying boxing” is all good. If you play football recreationally on the weekends you can’t say you’re a football player, but you can say you play football. Similarly if you’re a student you can’t say “I’m an engineer/doctor/lawyer” you say “I’m studying to be an engineer/doctor/lawyer.”
[quote]Iron Condor wrote:
I think the key thing is the “I train for…” part instead of “I am a…” If you train boxing and have never had a fight then you can’t say “I’m a boxer”, but saying “I’m training/studying boxing” is all good. If you play football recreationally on the weekends you can’t say you’re a football player, but you can say you play football. Similarly if you’re a student you can’t say “I’m an engineer/doctor/lawyer” you say “I’m studying to be an engineer/doctor/lawyer.”[/quote]
This paragraph has it summed up exactly to me. Love the analogy.
[quote]Iron Condor wrote:
With strength sports it’s a bit weird because there is a lot of overlap (all want to get bigger and stronger). I think it would be fair to say “I train like a [powerlifter/bodybuilder/powerbuilder/strongman]” if you don’t compete, because it’s a quick summary of your direction and goals. Everyone at a powerlifting meet may be training differently, but they are still training for the same objective and so there will be some similarities (e.g. focus on the big 3 for PL, aesthetics for bodybuilding, etc.) It delivers more information quicker than by just yelling “I LIFT THINGS TO BE STRONG” (although that would be more awesome).
I think the key thing is the “I train for…” part instead of “I am a…” If you train boxing and have never had a fight then you can’t say “I’m a boxer”, but saying “I’m training/studying boxing” is all good. If you play football recreationally on the weekends you can’t say you’re a football player, but you can say you play football. Similarly if you’re a student you can’t say “I’m an engineer/doctor/lawyer” you say “I’m studying to be an engineer/doctor/lawyer.”[/quote]
[quote]nighthawkz wrote:
I just tell people I lift.
[/quote]
And then you get confused looks, and the inevitable, “So… You’re a bodybuilder?”
I think a lot of the disagreement comes from the strong subcultural elements in some (all?) iron sports. Some people tend to see these labels as indicative of acceptance (or desired acceptance) into the associated subculture, rather than just a word that signifies that you compete.
On a side note, this got me hooked on Strength Wars. Really cool channel.
[quote]Apoklyps wrote:
On a side note, this got me hooked on Strength Wars. Really cool channel.[/quote]
Make sure you check out the older videos (subtitles are your friend). Someone else said they don’t like the tough-guy acting in the new videos and I actually agree. Some of the older videos on the channel, however, are a treasure trove of information on technique, mobility etc. etc. Two of my favourites -
[quote]nighthawkz wrote:
I just tell people I lift.
[/quote]
And then you get confused looks, and the inevitable, “So… You’re a bodybuilder?”
I think a lot of the disagreement comes from the strong subcultural elements in some (all?) iron sports. Some people tend to see these labels as indicative of acceptance (or desired acceptance) into the associated subculture, rather than just a word that signifies that you compete.
On a side note, this got me hooked on Strength Wars. Really cool channel.[/quote]
Man, if I ever get mistaken for a bodybuilder, I just accept the compliment, haha.
[quote]T3hPwnisher wrote:
Man, if I ever get mistaken for a bodybuilder, I just accept the compliment, haha.[/quote]
It usually ends with “So… You’re a bodybuilder?” anway, no matter how much you try to explain the difference.[/quote]
And then I just give in and tell them that I’m a bodybuilder because apparently anybody who lifts is a bodybuilder.[/quote]
I work in information management. I get asked to look at people’s printers/ipads/networks/laptops (of which I have little idea) and then asked how the bodybuilding is going… Very vexing!
Exactly. It’s not unique to lifting at all. Try training in Tae Kwon Do and having people constantly refer to it as Karate. Or study political science and have everyone assume you’re real big into the election years when your focus was on Western Political Theory. And I am sure sprinters get bugged for marathon tips too, haha.
We tend to evaluate the things we have little experience with in the terms of that little experience in order to make our own understanding of the topic simpler.
[quote]tsantos wrote:
I work in information management. I get asked to look at people’s printers/ipads/networks/laptops (of which I have little idea) and then asked how the bodybuilding is going… Very vexing![/quote]
standard polite party conversation for me goes like this:
What do you do?
I work in a gym.
Ooohhh how do I lose this fat on my arms?
You fucking pay me to be your trainer, motherfucker. Now fuck off, I’ve rum needs drinking.
[quote]tsantos wrote:
I actually found myself cheering the guys on in that last one. WTF!?!?! Haha
Anyway, powerlifter clearly racked first… Why is there a run to the finish line/bell now involved?[/quote]
The simple answer is ‘because those were the rules and they both agreed to them’. You should read the youtube comments, or maybe you shouldn’t - plenty of people also thought the bell was stupid but I still think a mutual agreement means it’s kosher. Either way this one was insanely close.
- plenty of people also thought the bell was stupid but I still think a mutual agreement means it’s kosher. Either way this one was insanely close.