Author Archives: Al Myers

Farewell

By Al Myers

This will be my last blog as webmaster for the USAWA.  Now I may write more blogs for the USAWA, but only after the new webmaster ET approves, edits and publishes them.  This also marks the end of my duties of the USAWA Secretary/Treasurer position.  Eric and I have been working together to make a smooth transition over the past couple of months but now all that is done!  The USAWA funds are now in his hands for organizational transactions and I’ve “tidied” up the website so he won’t be burdened by jobs I’ve left undone.

I’m not going to make a sappy farewell speech here, but it has caused me to reflect on the past 12 years of being the administrator of the USAWA.   That should be the official title instead of Secretary/Treasurer because that it what the job is.   It’s a weekly (and sometime daily) duty of attending to something involved with the USAWA.   It may be updating the membership roster, taking in a deposit to the bank, updating the website, attending to Executive Board matters, writing a blog for the USAWA Daily News, or just responding to an email from a lifter.  It’s way more work than anyone realizes.  I know Eric will be up for the job and I encourage all of you to keep giving him encouragement and “pats on the back” because he sure isn’t doing it for the money!

After taking over this position from Bill Clark 12 years ago I had no intentions of doing it forever (or as long as Bill had!).  Bill was the only Secretary/Treasurer the USAWA had known as he held that position for 22 years since the beginning!  Now I know most of us have had our disagreements with Bill over the years, but I give THAT GUY a big hand for holding the USAWA together for so long.  I fully understand the effort and energy he had given to the USAWA, as well as the many hours of his life.  I’m very grateful to him for that. I tried my best to not “drop the ball” after everything Bill had accomplished and I hope what I’ve done will be seen as being successful from my USAWA peers as the years move on.

Now let’s get behind ET and the new Executive Board and keep the USAWA going strong!

 

Updated Rulebook

By Al Myers

I just finished updating the USAWA Rulebook with the rule changes made by the membership over the past few years. it was last updated in 2017.  It now contains the rules for the new lifts that have been added since that time – the Lurich Lift, the Rim Lift, and the Habecker Lift.

The new USAWA Rulebook is the 11th Edition.  It is available for free download on the USAWA website.

Updated Club Certificates

By Al Myers

I just recently updated the Club Certificates for all member clubs of the USAWA.  These are available under “About Us”/”Member Clubs”.  Any club can easily download their certificate for printout to proudly display in the training facilities.   Currently the USAWA has 8 member clubs – Dino Gym, Ambridge BBC, Clark’s Gym, Franks Barbell Club, Habeckers Gym, KC Strongman, Ledaig Heavy Athletics, and Schmidt’s Barbell Club.

New Lift – The Rim Lift

By Al Myers

I performed the Rim Lift at the 2018 IAWA Gold Cup in Eastbourne England. I feel it will be a great new lift for the USAWA!

I performed the Rim Lift at the 2018 IAWA Gold Cup in Eastbourne England. I feel it will be a great new lift for the USAWA!

At the National Meeting the USAWA membership voted to accept a new lift put forth by the executive board for approval. The Rim Lift was presented to the EB for new lift status back in 2020 before the COVID pandemic by LaVerne Myers.  LaVerne had “tested out” the Rim Lift at the 2020 Grip Championships he promoted as an exhibition lift.  Several lifters took part after the meet in trying out the Rim Lift, in which all seemed to really enjoy it.  A few lifters went over 300 pounds in this trial – Jason Payne did 340, and Dave Glasgow, Eric Todd, and Chad Ullom did 300 pounds.  LaVerne, at 75 years of age, did 280.

The Rim Lift is an official lift in the IAWA-UK, and has been for a long time.  The USAWA rule for it is the same as the IAWA-UK rule, which is as follows:

Rim Lift

The lift may be performed under the official rules of the Deadlift, Hacklift, or Jefferson Lift while only holding onto the rims of the gripping plates with the thumbs on the inside and the fingers over the rims of the plates.  The maximum plate diameter is 18 inches. If smaller plates are used for the gripping plates larger (18″ max diameter) plates may be added to the outside. The gripping plates must be flat and smooth on the inside surface, and the rim cannot be deeper than 1 inch.  It is an infraction to grab any handles, holes, or specially prepared areas on the plates to aid in gripping.  Any length of bar may be used as the distance between collars is optional. The lifter must finish the lift in an upright position and under control.  Once motionless, the head official will give a command to lower the bar.

At the meeting I made an amendment to the lift proposal to accept the prior lifts done at the Grip Champs to count retroactively and be the first Rim Lift records in the record book.  The Rim Lift will be added to the updated USAWA Rule Book.

Team Championships

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
2021 USAWA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

The date for the USAWA Team Championships has been set – September 12th (Sunday).  I started promoting the Team Championships in 2007, which features “team lifting”, a combination of 2 lifters on a bar lifting the weight together. This makes for a very exciting event as the 2 lifters must be in coordination with each other to make a successful lift!

MEET DETAILS:

Meet Director: Al Myers

Meet Date: Sunday Afternoon, September 12th

Meet Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Dino Gym, 1126 Eden Road, Abilene, KS 67410

Sanction: USAWA Membership required

Weigh-Ins: Noon the day of the meet

Divisions: 2-Man, 2-Person (man & woman), and 2-Women

Entry Fee: None

Lifts:

Rectangular Fix

Deadlift – No Thumbs, One Arm

Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip, Fulton Bar

Registration:  There is no entry form or entry deadline, but please let me know ahead of time if you plan to attend so I can make the proper preparations. I can be reached at amyers@usawa.com

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