Well you did admit that you’re not a powerlifter until you compete before a set of judges. That’s external validation.
If I run Sheiko, am I running a powerlifting program?
Yes. But there’s a difference doing a powerlifting -style training and being a powerlifter.
Ever heard of a non-competitive powerlifter?
But I don’t participate in powerlifting.
Your point is moot.
Because participation in powerlifting is not the sole requirement to being a powerlifter. Training like one and not like a bodybuilder or crossfitter also makes you a powerlifter…who doesn’t compete.
…Because different training styles exist within “strength training”.
One can train how ever they please, and participate in what ever they want.
Like I said before- I’m just a guy that lifts weights. What others do or call themselves has nothing to do with me.
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My point is how you lift those weights defines what kind of lifter you are.
I have no idea. Not only do I not follow soccer, I’m not in charge of the label maker either.
Brother? Check.
Father? Yep.
Many other things too.
Not in charge of that stuff.
But earlier you were policing identity by saying that one is not a powerlifter unless they compete. Now you’re saying the opposite. Which is it?
No, im saying they can call themselves what ever they want, just don’t be surprised if the world around them disagrees.
How much the topic has branched out from a seemingly simple question.
It is clear that there can be arguments in different directions. What is powerlifting, who are powerlifters, who are bodybuilders, etc. Yes - many people who train mainly in low repetitions and weight above 85% 1RM in order to increase the maximum strength of BP, DL and Squat often train in higher repetitions and do isolation exercises. And vice versa - many bodybuilders have cycles for strength. But it is immediately clear what the author wants to say. He claims that the advice to pursue getting stronger in the three main exercises in order to gain muscle is wrong. But in order to get stronger there, many people give advice that you need to perform a style of training that is much closer to the style in which powerlifters train (most of them). And therefore, to make a person train (this is just an example) with 10x1, 5x2, 8x3 with 85-90% of 1RM of the three basic exercises and do heavy chins and rows, is wrong. You can even not perform these three exercises at all, and instead train on machines and with isolations, aiming to fail the muscle between 9-12 repetitions. And as the muscle grows and becomes stronger you will do 9-12 to failure with a heavier weight. In summary: do not train in a way that seeks to increase the strength of the three basic exercises for 1, 3 or 5 repetitions. You can even safely throw out these exercises. Train exercises where you feel the muscle best and aim for failure between 9-12 repetitions.
I am not saying that this is right, this is just the author’s idea.
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I recommend you to study different training principles and methologies. Also speak with people and ask what style of training they’re doing, and why.
Maybe you can even ask do they compete in some sport.
I reckon you soon figure out that there is not a certain universal style of powerlifting training.
I checked Oxford, Cambridge and Merriam-Webster dictionaries. They all use competition/a meet as a metric. Doing something called ”powerlifting training” is not mentioned because it’s vague as hell.
This is not a very serious question. So you can say you’re powerlifter or bodybuilder if it makes you feel better. But I see it as vague and unclear.
Wow this thread blew up even more.
My last observation:
Changed into some sort of epistemological debate. I particularly enjoyed throwing shade at powerlifting feds, because essentially they exist on consent, like yup, that’s essentially the basis for modern civilization, it may seem arbitrary but it’s the reason you can exchange pieces of paper for goods, or even wave a piece of plastic over another piece of plastic and see pixels on a screen change in exchange for goods. Doesn’t make it illegitimate.
New summary: OP wants everyone to be able to self identify, ok slightly facetious, OP wants people who train with a methodology that fits his specific definition (which he also definies as objective) to be able to call themselves powerlifters, most other people want people want the definition of a powerlifter to be: one who competes in powerlifting.
OP: a human who dresses as a cat, uses a litter tray for their bathroom and meows, they choose to identify as a cat (they have all the methodology of being a cat), are they a cat?
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Good post, I specially liked this part. Abstract contracts are the base of our societies.
This I have probably most problems with. When somebody uses training method that resembles powerlifting enough to be counted as a powerlifter? It’s not a objective at all.
OP wants to disregard only relatively objective metric possible and replace it with something he defined personally.
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Yup, then defines anyone who disagrees as illogical and gatekeepers!
Fun thread.
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a human who dresses as a cat, uses a litter tray for their bathroom and meows, they choose to identify as a cat (they have all the methodology of being a cat), are they a cat?
Only if they compete in a cat contest. Obviously.
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Hey!
Don’t gatekeep catness from people.
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As I said above, the main issue of the topic is not discussed at all. Or almost not discussed. The things in the topic are as follows:
1. If you want to build the most optimal muscles naturally you should become stronger in the Squat, Deadlift and Bench Press. There is no obstacle to training other exercises, such as Shoulder Presses heavy Rows and Chins. For this purpose, the most optimal would be to train in a way and choose a program, after which you will become stronger for 1, 3 or 5 repetitions, by emphasizing the indicated exercises, isolating exercises you may not do.
Is this true or not true and why.
2. If you want to build the most optimal muscles naturally you do not need to perform the three main or other exercises, but if you are going to perform them you should train in 9-12 repetitions with failure. When the weight becomes lighter for you, increase it. Do not perform programs, the main goal of which is to become stronger in low repetitions. Isolation exercises should be as important to you as compound exercises.
Is this true or not and why?
That’s all there is to it.