Thanks Dave Tate and Crew

Training Powerlifting
21

[quote]Dr. Ryan wrote:
For any of you that attended the Test-Fest, you should remember the first part of this story, for everyone else, here goes:

Back in October I hurt my low back on my last set of squats. I was on the second rep of 335x3. Needless to say, I didn’t do the third rep, or any back squatting for the next several months.

Fortunately the pain was not excruciating, I could still work and work out. I was definitely limited on what I could do at the gym, especially lower body. I basically followed the RH program I outlined at Test-Fest.

So, in January I got the opportunity to start working out with Dave Tate and a couple of his training partners. I walk into the EliteFTS gym (which I have started calling the London Dungeon {it’s in London, OH}) on Saturday morning, squat day, having not had a barbell on my back for about 3 mo.

Talk about the most humbling experience of your life. Here is Dave, who has squatted over 900#, Mike Ruggerio, 1050# and Todd Brock. Here I am not having squatted in months, plus learning to box squat with a new stance. I was stuggling with reps of 225. However, these guys were great, offering tips and encouragment.

Fast forward to this past weekend, and I squatted 500X1 (195# bodyweight). Huge PR for me, actually I had been setting PR’s for several weeks, but this is one of those benchmark numbers.

I would never have done that in my life if it wasn’t for the help of Dave, Mike and Todd. So, I thought I would extend them a personal note of thanks and let everyone in on the secret.

It all comes down to training environment and training partners. Surround yourself with people who are positive, encouraging and stronger than you and you will get stronger. Stronger than you ever could by working out by yourself or having someone spot you. This is an absolute! That is the secret. Worth it’s weight in gold.

For anyone who does not know Dave,other than being the hard-core, tell-it-like-it-is, no BS guy you hear about, he is really a great person. He gave out a copy of his Under the Bar book to all the people at Test-Fest, and if you haven’t read it, I would highly encourage you to read it. Great book about life and lifting.

So, once again thank you Dave. I appreciate the opportunity.

Take care,

Ryan[/quote]

Great to hear Doc. It was great to meet you at the Arnold this march.

Tom

22

[quote]Kuz wrote:
Excellent work, Doc! Clearly a lift to be proud of.

It’s interesting how you talk about one of your biggest keys in the PR was environment and the people you surround yourself with for training. That was a big takeaway for me from the Test Fest back in January since Dave really emphasized it.

I’ve often wondered that if I was able to get to a more suitable gym and (more importantly) get a workout partner (which I have not had in at least 5 or 6 years), what kind of results I would get.

Keep us posted on how things go going forward…

Kuz[/quote]

You would do much better.

23

[quote]Fonebone wrote:
Ryan:

Great story. I’m glad you are well again. I’m jealous, man. I would love to spend a day or 2 hanging out at EliteFTS and learning from the masters. I know that, just by applying the concepts that Dave talked about at the Test-Fest my squat (and other lifts) have improved dramatically.

Unfortunately there is not a powerlifter in sight at my gym, and most of the trainers seem to be masters of teaching the curl. So…no one around to give “verbal cues” and informed criticism. I do get some funny looks though :/[/quote]

Fonebone,

If you are interested in finding some people in your area, you can call up the guys at EliteFTS and they may be able to help you out. I know Bob Youngs, who is a EliteFTS team member is in Florida. He answers questions on Dave’s site and he may be able to give you some help finding some people to train with.

Also, you could post a thread looking for other T-men in your area.

Take care,

Ryan

24

[quote] Great to hear Doc. It was great to meet you at the Arnold this march.

Tom

[/quote]

Thanks Tom!

25

[quote]matticus wrote:
Hey Kuz. I was in DC and ate lunch with you TriGWU and some other folks on Saturday.

Anyways I saw you on Dr. Ryan’s thread wondering aloud about training partners and environment. If you’re really interested in finding some environment send Dave Tate and email asking who he knows in your area.

In my case, Travis Mash is an NC lifter and while he is 3+ hours away he knew where other really good lifters in the state trained. He gave me contact info for Kyle Robertson who he trains with on occasion. I had to work to get in contact with the right people (calls, emails), but it’s been awesome.

It’s still a little over an hour commute, but I go to lift with Kyle and about 4 other lifters 1-2 times a week (when my schedule permits). It is more than worth it, heck I’d move closer to the place if I could. They train in a typical fitness center, but have a monolift, glute ham, Reverse Hyper, chains, Bands, etc…

More important than the equipment though is exactly what Dave preaches: Environment is everything!! There is nothing more motivating. There is nothing more informative as far as technique than having people around you who’ve done it and know how it should be done.

Kyle is a 900+ pound squatter at 220 and Brett (who’s helped me out a lot) has totaled over 1900 at 181. There are two to three other really solid lifters as well. There’s not many people around that really love to train to be strong. If you show up as one of them they’ll welcome you with open arms. [/quote]

Nice post. Excellent advice.

Travis and Kyle are both EliteFTS lifters if I’m not mistaken. I saw them both lift at the Arnold. That was the first powerlifting meet I ever watched. Those guys are unbelievable. The atmosphere in that place was unreal. I think your testosterone levels shoot up just from sitting in the crowd.

I joked with Dave that I thought I walked into a genetics convention about cloning, with all the 300 pound bald guys with goatees that were walking around.

26

[quote]Kuz wrote:
Excellent work, Doc! Clearly a lift to be proud of.

It’s interesting how you talk about one of your biggest keys in the PR was environment and the people you surround yourself with for training. That was a big takeaway for me from the Test Fest back in January since Dave really emphasized it.

I’ve often wondered that if I was able to get to a more suitable gym and (more importantly) get a workout partner (which I have not had in at least 5 or 6 years), what kind of results I would get.

Keep us posted on how things go going forward…

Kuz[/quote]

South Side is only an hour away; Hogan is making the trek every Friday night. :wink:

27

[quote]Eric Cressey wrote:
Kuz wrote:
Excellent work, Doc! Clearly a lift to be proud of.

It’s interesting how you talk about one of your biggest keys in the PR was environment and the people you surround yourself with for training. That was a big takeaway for me from the Test Fest back in January since Dave really emphasized it.

I’ve often wondered that if I was able to get to a more suitable gym and (more importantly) get a workout partner (which I have not had in at least 5 or 6 years), what kind of results I would get.

Keep us posted on how things go going forward…

Kuz

South Side is only an hour away; Hogan is making the trek every Friday night. :wink:

www.ericcressey.com[/quote]

See Kuz, an opportunity presents itself to hit the iron with your buddy Cressey. Now the only question is will you sack up and make the drive? LOL

Eric,

I just realized I forgot to send you an e-mail about your videos. Hopefully you got them. I’ll send you an e-mail.

Take care buddy,

Ryan

28

Great job on the new PR, doc! And thanks for all your help in DC. My back feels 100% and I’m back to squatting and pulling heavy. I appreicate it!

-Nate

29

[quote]Nate Green wrote:
Great job on the new PR, doc! And thanks for all your help in DC. My back feels 100% and I’m back to squatting and pulling heavy. I appreicate it!

-Nate[/quote]

Thanks! Glad to hear your lifting is going well. I hope everything else is going equally as well for you. It was nice to meet you in DC.

Take care,

Ryan

30

DAMN doc NICE!!! work thats a hell of a PR. Also shit that 195 BW about floored me I would not have guessed that.

Anyhow great to hear your progress and that things are going so well.

Phill

31

[quote]Phill wrote:
DAMN doc NICE!!! work thats a hell of a PR. Also shit that 195 BW about floored me I would not have guessed that.

Anyhow great to hear your progress and that things are going so well.

Phill[/quote]

Phill,

Great to hear from you buddy. Hope things are going well. I haven’t heard from you since your trip to visit TC. Are you still in the country or did you jet off to Thailand to soak up some culture for awhile?

Don’t be a stranger, send a brother an e-mail from time-to-time.

Take care,

Ryan