Why Does the USAWA have a separate Rulebook

IAWA.UK and the All-Round Weightlifting Federation of Australia (AWFA) have both adopted the IAWA Rulebook. USAWA maintains a separate rulebook. I decided to do some investigating and now understand why.

USAWA rulebook has 196 lifts (154 of which are common to the IAWA rulebook).

USAWA unique lifts

  1. Clean & Press, 12” Base
  2. Two Hand Clean & Press, Heels Together
  3. Jackson Press
  4. James Lift
  5. Press – From Rack
  6. Reflex Bench Press
  7. Reg Park Bench Press
  8. Seated Press – From Rack
  9. Deadlift – 12” Base
  10. Deadlift – Heels Together
  11. Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip
  12. Deadlift – Reeves
  13. Squat – 12” Base
  14. Piper Squat
  15. Curl – Cheat, Reverse Grip
  16. Lano Lift
  17. Pullover – Bent Arm
  18. Scott Lift
  19. Clean and Press – 2 Dumbbells, Heels Together
  20. Clean and Push Press – 2 Dumbbells
  21. Clean and Seated Press – 2 Dumbbells
  22. Curl – 2 Dumbbells, Cheat
  23. Side Press – Dumbbell
  24. Van Dam Lift
  25. Bench Press – 2 Dumbbells
  26. Bench Press – Fulton Bar
  27. Continental to Chest – Fulton Bar
  28. Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Ciavattone Grip
  29. Maxey Press
  30. Rectangular Fix, Fulton Bar
  31. Bearhug
  32. Carter Lift
  33. Chin Up
  34. Deadlift – 3” Bar
  35. Deadlift – Two Inch Dumbbells
  36. Deana Lift
  37. Foot Press
  38. Phumchaona Lift
  39. Pinch Grip – Strict
  40. Pinch Grip – Strict, One Hand
  41. Pull-Up
  42. Weaver Stick Backwards

IAWA Has Some Unique Lifts that USAWA Does NOT Contest

  1. One Hand Bent Press (specification on how to get bar to starting position)
  2. Middle Fingers Hacklift
  3. Index Fingers Hacklift
  4. Little Fingers Hacklift
  5. Ring Fingers Hacklift
  6. Bent Arm Pullover (Bench)
  7. Reverse Rim Lift
  8. Domaal Squat
  9. One Hand Deadlift – Cambered Bar
  10. One Hand Pinch Grip Clean and Press
  11. Duck Walk
  12. Seated Dumbbells Press
  13. Two Hands Anyhow with Dumbbells
  14. One Hand Dumbbell Strict Curl
  15. Inch Dumbbell Press
  16. Patterson Deadlift – Peoples Deadlift with 2 Inch Bar
  17. Deadlift
  18. Squat
  19. Bench Press
  20. Snatch
  21. Clean & Jerk
  22. One Hand Wrist Curl

Among Common Lifts There are some slight rule differences

  1. Continental Snatch – in UK, from belt, must be proper snatch
  2. Continental Clean and Jerk – UK allows multiple attempts on jerk
  3. Snatch From Hang – USAWA requires bar to go below knees
  4. Deadlift, No Thumbs, One Arm – UK says thumb cannot touch bar at all
  5. Strict Curl – UK still requires piece of paper
  6. Vertical Bars – UK allows a maximum 30 inch length
  7. Weaver Stick – UK has different specification for stick

USAWA  allows any lift to be done for reps or as a team lift.  IAWA only allows (12) lifts for repetitions and (11) lifts for team lifts.

IAWA Repetition Lifts

  1. Cleans with Bodyweight
  2. Snatches with Bodyweight
  3. Presses with Bodyweight
  4. Clean & Jerk with Bodyweight
  5. Jerks with Bodyweight
  6. Bodyweight Deadlifts
  7. Abdominal Raises
  8. Leg Press – Unsupported
  9. Roman Chair Sit Up
  10. Back Lift
  11. Hip Lift
  12. Harness Lift

IAWA Team Lifts

  1. Two Person Clean and Snatch
  2. Team Press
  3. Team Snatch
  4. Team Clean & Jerk
  5. Team Hacklift
  6. Team Straddle Deadlift
  7. Team Deadlift
  8. Team One Hand Deadlift
  9. Team Curl
  10. Team Cheat Curl
  11. Team Turkish Get Up

Further IAWA specifies Seated Disabled Class Lifts and Standing Disabled Class Lifts

Beyond the Lifts, there are other rules in IAWA.UK that are not in USAWA:

  • Drug Testing and lifetime ban
  • Rule 4.6, IAWA  UK also recognizes the MX division for lifters not identifying as Male or Female
  • Rule 4.10, Longer process for new lifts
  • Rule 5.1, Knee wraps for Back Squat and Front Squat
  • Rule 5.10.A, IAWA UK only allows 20 kg (44 lbs) bar
  • Rule 5.10.F, IAWA UK knurling required at center for one hand lifts
  • Rule 5.12, Plastic or Spring collar can be used, but will not have weight recognition
  • Rule 5.13, Minimum hand spacing called out for dumbbell
  • Rule 5.14, Allows 4 inch raised platform
  • Rule 5.17, Scale Certification
  • Rule 6.2, Three Officials for all competition
  • Rule 6.2.B, Protest board for rules interpretation
  • Rule 6.6.A, One year probationary period for officials
  • Rule 6.6B, Fully qualified must demonstrate competency every 2 years
  • Rule 6.8, Weigh In begins 2 hours prior and lasts for 1.5 hours
  • Rule 9.A, Females can weigh in with undergarments and suit and subtract 1 pound
  • Rule 13.L, Demonstration of lockout
  • Rule 8.G, The Blindt Formula
  • Rule 9, Pool of Lifts for International Competition plus Chain Lift Challenge

Finally IAWA rulebook has to specify rules for International Competition

  • World Championship
  • Gold Cup
  • World ‘Postal’ Championship
  • Old Time Strongman’ World Championships – One venue per nation

USAWA rulebook spends a lot of time on the rules for the National Championship and has a different process for approving new lifts.

IAWA.UK, AWFA and USAWA all have unique processes and criteria for certifying officials for competition.

USAWA allows one official for USAWA records.

Please share your thoughts on the Forum. Should USAWA adopt the IAWA Rulebook? Are the (42) unique USAWA lifts aligned with our mission statement? Are the (22) unique IAWA lifts contrary to our mission statement?

2027 Two Fisted Challenge IV and Record Day

SEPTEMBER 25 – 26, 2027

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE

ENTRY FEE – None.

WEIGH-INS – 8 A.M. both days.

AWARDS –   Certificates for male and female.

LIFTS –

  • All four fingers and thumb, on each hand; 
  • deadlifts by pairs of fingers, Index, middle, ring, and little.

OPEN TO THE WORLD – All competition in Clark’s Gym is hybrid. You may compete in your local gym or in the friendly confines of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, Mo. To compete remotely, you must enter by 10 p.m. on 21 September 2027 or your results will not be accepted. You must send all results to Bill Clark via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. 28 September 2027.

Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved. DO NOT send your remote results to the USAWA. They must be approved by the meet director first. If you have no officials, your results will be included in the final tabulation of the competition and be eligible for meet awards – but not records. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.

OFFICIALS – Must accompany remote results to be eligible for records.

RESULTS OF THE USAWA SECOND ONE TON CHALLENGE AND RECORD DAY

The results of the Second One Ton Challenge are now available. Let’s just say ‘challenge met’ as 15 lifters from five gyms across the nation took part and lifted nearly 11 tons of iron during the competition on the weekend of 10 – 11 October 2026. The lifting took place in person in Columbia, MO and remotely elsewhere. The meet was meant to produce big numbers and this year did not disappoint.

On the Women’s side, Clark’s Gym welcomed a new lifter, Brittany Kreisler, who works with Jeff Wenzel by day with the State of Missouri. Brittany set four records in her first meet and lifted over 1200 pounds to take the title on the Women’s side. She was quite impressive for a rookie with the USAWA, but she is no stranger to competitive weightlifting. Janet Thompson set records in all five events, hoisting more than 850 lb and finishing about 47 Lynch and Age points behind Brittany. Jessica Hopps from Frank’s Barbell Club finished third but was the second lifter on the Women’s side to throw up over 1000 lb in raw poundage and set four records of her own. Lisa Gore finished fourth needing only 23 lb to hit the 1000 pound mark, but she did set five records as well. Combined with a very impressive record day, the meet leaves her just four records short of being the first female lifter to post 400 records. Not to be outdone, RJ Jackson lifted more than 700 lb in spite of not having the equipment to do the Kennedy Lift. All the competitors in the Women’s Division did extremely well, but last year’s Champion, Allison Lupo, did not compete due to having to share her husband’s germs.

On the Men’s side, the competition was fierce as Jeff Wenzel added nearly 300 lb to last year’s total which was enough to hold off team mate Toby Ortega by just under nine Lynch and Age points. In spite of lifting more than 1.2 tons, Jeff only set two new records since he’s competing against himself generally for those. But, his record day lifts took him over the 400 lift mark all-time, only the 6th male to do so. Toby Ortega made his debut in this event and pushed up more than one ton himself. At a body weight of about 72 kg, this was mighty impressive as he set records in all five lifts. Jeff and Toby made some eyes pop out with a 755 lb and 655 lb Anderson Squat and Kennedy Lift, respectively. Riley Wenzel and Philip Marlin battled for third and fourth. Riley edged Phillip by lifting more than 1900 lbs, which was the same as last year in both poundage moved and final position. Philip was the most impressive on the day lifting more than 1.3 tons!! In spite of a 4th place finish, Philip was over the 700 lb mark on both the Anderson Squat and the Kennedy Lift. The battle for fifth and sixth was fought between Tony Lupo and Wade Marchand. Tony edged Wade this time but only by 34 Lynch and Age points. Wade pushed up nearly 1400 lb and set five records while Tony set four age and weight records. Dan Jones was only eight Lynch and Age points behind his team mate, and set three new records including a lift of 606 lbs in the Anderson Squat. Nils Larson and Sanjiv Gupta were close after Lynch and Age points were counted and both had a great day with four new records put into the books. Jerome Licini also competed, but with no referee, he was not able to put a few records in the books. But, with more than a half ton in weight lifted, it was another strong performance for him and like RJ Jackson probably lifted much more as their own loaders!

All in all, it was a great competition but we can’t finish this without a tip of the cap to Frank Ciavattone. While he did not compete, he did the Record Day portion and became only the third lifter in USAWA history to pass 500 records all-time. He joins fellow USAWA legends, Denny Habecker and Al Myers as members of elite 500 record club. Congratulations!

2nd One Ton Challenge Results

Bench Press Heptathlon VI and Record Day, Columbia MO

APRIL 10-11, 2027

CLARK’S GYM AND REMOTE

ENTRY FEE: None.

WEIGH-INS – 8 A.M. EACH DAY.

AWARDS – Certificates (Male and female divisions)

LIFTS:

  • Bench press – Feet on floor (non USAWA lift)
  • Bench press – feet in air
  • Bench press – reverse grip
  • Bench press – alternate grip
  • Bench press – hands together
  • Bench press – right hand
  • Bench press – left hand

SPECIAL EVENTS: Certificates also for Rampage, Reg Park, and for Roman Chair Bench.

OPEN TO THE WORLD – All competition in Clark’s Gym is hybrid. You may compete in your local gym or in the friendly confines of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, Mo. To compete remotely, you must enter by 10 p.m. on Tuesday 6 April 2027 your results will not be accepted. You must send all results to Bill Clark via e-mail only at yeoldclark@gmail.com not later than 10 p.m. on the Tuesday 13 April 2027.

Included on the reporting form must be the name of the official(s) involved. DO NOT send your remote results to the USAWA. They must be approved by the meet director first. If you have no officials, your results will be included in the final tabulation of the competition and be eligible for meet awards – but not records. Your honesty is the key to all competitions.

OFFICIALS – Must accompany remote results to be eligible for records.

USAWA CLASS OF 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE: DAVE GLASGOW

Our next honoree to be admitted to the USAWA Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class is David Glasgow. He joins Abe Smith and David DeForest. Dave is a lifelong athlete who holds more than 100 USAWA records, many of which are pretty impressive and hard to break! As a lifelong athlete, he wrestled and played baseball in high school, and in college wrestled and played soccer. Outside of these sports, Dave gained recognition as a world class athlete in the Highland Games. The atmosphere around these games is so much like the USAWA in that competitors encourage and coach each other while at the same time trying to compete with their colleagues and themselves. The camaraderie is what makes our sport so attractive. Dave is a person who embodies this spirit at meets. His teammates at Ledaig Heavy Athletics Club value his presence for these reasons.  Dave’s nomination for the HOF highlights that he has competed in National Championships, IAWA World Championships, and the many meets hosted by the USAWA. His National and World Championships feature some top five finishes!

 Dave has been a valued member of the USAWA for many years (well we won’t say how many) and, like all our hall of famers, there is more to him than his athletic contributions. Dave is the founder of the Ledaig Heavy Athletics Club. He’s been a meet director for the Club Championships and record breaker meets, served the USAWA as a board member, and a certified referee. You can count on him refereeing and helping with the loading at meets I’ve attended with him, and he always has an encouraging word for lifters. He’s even stepped forward to host the 2027 USAWA National Championship meet.

In his life outside the gym Dave was a paramedic and an ER nurse for over 20 years and should be proud to have been part of a profession that saves lives. The 2026 USAWA class welcomes David Glasgow on his induction to the Hall of Fame! Congratulations.   

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