Monthly Archives: July 2011

Big Muscles or Strong Muscles?

 by Thom Van Vleck

Dennis Rogers next to Thom Van Vleck at the York Barbell Benefit for the Wounded Warrior Project. Dennis is one of the top short steel benders of all time!

The Jackson Weightlifting Club does a lot of Strongman “Evangelism” shows (like Paul Anderson used to do).  To date, we’ve done around 250 total shows with over 100 being full blown productions with the full team.  The smaller shows are what we call “gym bag” shows where we bring in stuff we can carry in a gym bag to put on a small one or two man show.  We often get called by local groups to entertain.

One time, we got a call from the local YMCA to do an “after school” show.  I was planning on doing it solo, but had something come up so Brett Kerby went instead.  We have four core members of our team and Brett is by far the smallest, but he’s the best of the group when it comes to short steel bending and ripping decks of cards in half!  He went to do the show and when he showed up a local TV news crew was on hand and this was not planned (which Brett is not comfortable with that kind of stuff at all!).  At the end, the news crew interviewed the kids and that night we watched it.  Several kids said things like, “That was awesome” or “I liked it when he ripped the phone book in half”.  One little girl really caught our attention.  She said, “I thought you needed to have big muscles to do that…..but I guess not!”   Needless to say, we had a lot of fun kidding Brett about that.  One time we were getting ready to do a show and Brett got there early to set up the sound system.   A guy there to see the show asked, “So….when do the strongmen get here”.  No respect!

Two Thirds of the Jackson Brothers: Phil and Wayne "Staggo" Jackson. Little Brother and Big Brother! Wayne could move big weights but Phil could do some amazing feats of strength that Wayne couldn't!

Meeting Dennis Rogers made me think of Brett.  Dennis also reminded me of USAWA legend Steve Schmidt.  None of these guys are huge, muscle bound, behemoths.  But they are also NOT guys you would want to mess with.  Short steel bending requires a suspension of pain.  I once saw John O’Brien drive a 60 penny nail into his hand at least a half inch…..and he put some tape on it and kept bending for a half dozen more shows that weekend before seeking treatment….he didn’t even flinch.  If you watch these guys you will see how painful it really is and if you try it, you will KNOW how painful it is.  I have managed a 60 penny nail, halving and quartering a deck of cards, and doing phone books.  My hands hurt, my elbows hurt, and my shoulders hurt.  All lifting involves pain tolerance, but that stuff requires “pain suspension”.

So, big muscles impress the novices and sometimes even the experts….but there’s much more to it than big muscles.  Pain tolerance, tenacity, leverage, and being smart and calculating are all factors that guys like Dennis Rogers, Steve Schmidt, and Brett Kerby have mastered.  They are the kinds of guys I would want in a back alley fight because they won’t quit…..and really, who would expect such strength from someone their size!

Century Club

by Al Myers

Joe Garcia is moving up the Record List Count faster than anyone else! This past year he has went from 9th to 5th. This picture is from the 2011 Heavy Lift Nationals in York, PA where Joe added another USAWA record in the Hand and Thigh with this 1400 pound lift. Joe has more H & T records (17 total) than anyone else, everywhere from the 90 KG class to the 110 KG class.

A couple of years ago  I tagged the term “Century Club” as a way of identifying lifters who currently hold over 100 USAWA Records.  It has been a while since I have given an update on these record-setting lifters, so I think it is time I revisit this topic again.  I believe it has been a year (after last year’s National Championship) that I gave my last update on the current members in this Century Club.  I know I have highlighted the “records race” between Denny and Art a few times since, but now since Denny has stretched his lead over Art 401 USAWA records to  Art’s 378 USAWA Records, the drama with this has been  subdued and the  records race has taken a seat on the sidelines until Art starts to make “a run” on Denny.  

The Century Club is an ever-changing list, and it changes constantly.  It is based on CURRENT records, so it is possible to be on the list and then if some of your records are broken, you may fall out of the club.  I sadly report this has been the case this past year.  John Vernacchio’s record count has fallen to 97 records,  and now he is out of the Century Club.  No one new has joined since Scott Schmidt in the fall of 2009!  Scott was sitting at the number 20 spot when he made the Century Club in December 2009, climbed to spot 17 after last year’s Nationals, and now resides at the 15 spot.  By John falling off the list, the Century Club now stands at 19 members.  Who will be the next to join??  Two Dino Gym members are “knocking at the door” of accomplishing this.  Rudy Bletscher just BARELY missed the list this time as he currently stands at 99 USAWA Records.  Chad Ullom made a big push on his USAWA records this past year and now has 97 records.  With Chad hitting the Masters Class next year that will open up the record book for him to set more records as he will then be eligible for age group records.  I got my money on both of these guys to make the Century Club this summer! 

There were some changes in the orders and number counts, but the same names hold the Century Club down.  The top four spots on the list remained the same.  The biggest dropper was Bill Clark, as he dropped from the number 5 spot to 10th with only a decrease of records from 214 to 199.  I know the reason for Bill’s decrease in records as I’ve been lifting with this guy in meets all winter and have watched him break several of Bill’s records.  I’m talking about Mike Murdock.  The biggest increaser on the list is our USAWA Records Chairman Joe Garcia.  Joe added several new records this past year and moved from the number 9 spot to 5th overall with 226 records.  Dennis Mitchell notched up one spot to number 6. Take notice of  all the USAWA Hall of Famers who are members of the CENTURY CLUB (marked with a *).

Century Club

1.  401 Denny Habecker *
2.  378 Art Montini *
3.  274 Al Myers
4.  247 John McKean *
5.  226 Joe Garcia *
6.  223 Dennis Mitchell *
7.  214 Noi Phumchaona *
8.  206  Frank Ciavattone *
9.  201 Bob Hirsh *
10. 199 Bill Clark *
11. 171 Howard Prechtel *
12. 138  Dale Friesz *
13. 134 Ed Schock
14. 132  Jim Malloy *
15. 131  Scott Schmidt *
16. 123  John Monk
17. 117  Mary McConnaughey
18. 114   Chris Waterman *
19. 106  Joshua Monk

Middle Atlantic Postal

by Al Myers

MEET RESULTS – 2011 MIDDLE ATLANTIC OPEN POSTAL MEET

I just received the meet results for the 2nd quarter postal meet results for the USAWA Postal Series from the USAWA Postal Meet Director John Wilmot.  Congratulations to Orie Barnett for being the BEST LIFTER.  The turnout for this postal meet was a little less than previous ones, but the month of June presents many conflicts for people (with summer vacation plans and other competitions).  I know this was the reason I didn’t get my lifts in – I was busy getting ready for the USAWA Nationals and then I had a business trip right at the end of the month.  The deadline entry date passed before I could get my lifts done! 

Meet Results:

Middle Atlantic Postal Meet
June 30th, 2011

Meet Director:  John Wilmot

Lifts:  Clean and Press – Reverse Grip, Cheat Curl – Dumbbell, One Arm, Continental to Chest and Jerk

Officials: (1 official system used for all lifters)

Lifters using a Certified USAWA Offical:

Kohl Hess – Official Denny Habecker

Lifters using a judge who is not an USAWA Official:

Denny Habecker – Judge Kohl Hess
Orie Barnett – Judge Sam Rogers
John Wilmot – Judge Kay Wilmot

Lifter Age BWT Press Curl C&J Total Points
Orie Barnett 50 230 183 95-R 225 503 462.1
Denny Habecker 68 191 110 75-R 132 317 375.5
Kohl Hess 17 315 154 85-? 198 437 326.8
John Wilmot 64 221 115 60-R 125 300 317.2

NOTES:  BWT is bodyweight in pounds.  All lifts recorded in pounds. Total is total pounds lifted.  Points are points adjusted for age and corrected for bodyweight using the Lynch Formula.

USAWA Nationals: Let’s Celebrate!

 by Thom Van Vleck

Some of the 2011 USAWA lifters with family and friends at the Banquet following the meet celebrating a great day!

The recent USAWA meet really got me to thinking.  We all work really hard to train, prepare, and then travel to a meet.  Often at great expense.  I have been doing that for over 30 years now.   When I was younger, I would often go to the meet and head right out after collecting my trophy (if I got one!) and my drive home was filled with obsessive thoughts on how I was going to get better.  I have always been really hard on myself and as a result, I can honestly say I’ve never felt like I deserved to celebrate after a meet.  Even though I’ve had meets where I did quite well!

We need to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  Even when we don’t live up to expectations, we need to unwind a little and enjoy the moment.  That’s exactly how I felt at the USAWA Nationals Awards Banquet afterwards.  I enjoyed the moment (plus a great meal, some caked, and a scotch!).  I’ve missed to many of these in the past.  I have been a Counselor for 20 some years, but I”m often my toughest patient because my reflection won’t call me out when I need it.  Results come from getting your body to do things it does not want to do.  Rewarding yourself is an important part of training, it makes it worthwhile.

Now, I know that some folks have other obligations, such as work the next day, or small kids, or a long drive home, but give yourself a break.  Enjoy the moment.  Take a breath……then get back after it!

5th Edition Rulebook Changes

by Al Myers

At the Annual National Meeting of the USAWA last month, a few minor rule changes were approved by the membership that I want to let everyone know about.  Most of the changes in the individual lift rules were made to bring the USAWA rules into compliance with the IAWA rules.  As I’ve said before, I feel this is a very important step in accomplishing uniform rules between the USAWA and IAWA.  However, this will be an ongoing process that will need to be addressed every year for a few more years until this problem is resolved completely.

A few “big changes” were made to the General Rules.  The first was requiring Officials to be USAWA members in order to serve in an active capacity. Our official’s program has really taken off the past couple of years,  and I feel this is just another “small step” in developing a solid program for officials (I still feel we are not there yet, and more improvements need to be made).   I want to stress that there will be NO LOSS of certification status if an officials membership lapses.  All that is required is rejoining the USAWA in order to be an active official again.  These inactive officials will be identified on the Officials Roster with an asterisk.  Another change is from now on all new Fulton Bar lifts will need to be approved as new lifts by the membership.  Once approved, any new Fulton Bar Lift  will be added to the rulebook.   The next big change is that sanction requests must be turned into the USAWA at least 6 weeks prior to the meet date.  This is necessary in order to allow ample time to adequately announce the event on the website. 

These new changes will become effective August 1st, at which time the new 5th Edition USAWA Rulebook will be available.     

USAWA Rulebook Changes/Additions/Subtractions

Individual Rules of the Lifts:

  1. D7. Curl – Cheat:  Remove “Heels and toes must not rise during the lift.”  Add “The heels may rise during the lift” and “the bar may be lowered below the knees during the lift”.   These changes will bring the USAWA rule into compliance with the IAWA rule.
  2. A15. Clean and Press – On Knees:  Remove “However, touching the buttocks to the feet or lower legs during the press is a disqualification.”  Add “The lifter may press with the buttocks touching the feet or lower legs or press in an upright position, but if the buttocks are touching the feet or lower legs at the beginning of the press the lifter is not allowed to become upright during the press.”  This change will bring the USAWA rule into compliance with the IAWA rule.
  3. A44. Snatch – On Knees:  Add “The knees are allowed to move on the platform during the lift.”   This change will bring the USAWA rule into compliance with the IAWA rule.
  4. H24. Vertical Bar Deadlift: Add “Both vertical bars must be loaded to the same weight.”     
  5.  E9. Curl – 2 Dumbbells, Cheat:  Remove “The dumbbells must be turned so the rods of the dumbbells are in line with each other prior to the curl and during the curl.” Add “The dumbbells may be in any degree of rotation during the curl, but must finish with the rods of the dumbbells in line and parallel to the shoulders.”  This change will bring the USAWA rule into compliance with the IAWA rule.
  6. H15. Pinch Grip:  Add “front hang or backhang is allowed to the loading of the center bar”.  
  7. H21. Turkish Get Up:  Add “A dumbbell, kettlebell or barbell is used for this lift, but only one record will be kept regardless of the implement used.”  This change will bring the USAWA rule into compliance with the IAWA rule.

 

General Rules:

  1. VII. Officials:  Add “USAWA Officials must have current USAWA membership to be active officials.  Officials who do not have current USAWA membership will be identified on the list of certified officials as inactive.  The lack of current membership will not result in the loss of certification status.”
  2. Fulton Bar (2” Bar) Lifts:  Remove “Fulton Bar Lifts are approved for all bar lifts using a Fulton Bar and the rules of the individual lifts. Listed below are the rules for the Fulton Bar Lifts in which records have been set”.   This would require that all new Fulton Bar Lifts would need to be proposed and passed as new lifts.   
  3. VII.3 The Competition:  Add “Sanction requests must be sent in for approval at least 6 weeks prior to the scheduled event.”

 

Editing:

  1.  B7.  Deadlift – Fingers, Middle:  The photo caption changed from “Deadlift – Fingers, Little by Dale Friesz” to “Deadlift – Fingers, Ring by Dale Friesz”.

 

All changes will be made to the 5th Edition USAWA Rulebook, which will become effective August 1st, 2011.

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