USAWA

I am going to propose that at the next meeting…I know it’s an obscure lift…but it does have a family history with my family! Thanks for the advice Chad.

Thom,

Obviously you didn’t “stir up controversy” with your Shoulder Drop Blog story. I’ve been waiting to see if there was going to be any big discussion on this and it seems as if NO ONE really cares much for the Shoulder Drop!!!

I want to take a little time and remind everyone about the proper protocol for lift submissions, as it’s not like Thom stated in his blog that he’s just going to submit it for a new lift at the next meeting. That is a violation of our rules, and something I feel very strongly about. The reason we have several of the BS lifts in our current rulebook happened as a result of someone just proposing a lift at a prior meeting, which seemed good to the membership at the time, and it was passed by a vote only to find out afterwards there were flaws in the description or proposed rule, or it was a lift that was a cheap “knockoff” of another lift and not a good addition as a new USAWA lift. But the damage was already done.

The USAWA does not function in that “flim flam” manner anymore. A protocol has been established to insure that all new lifts are evaluated fully before being presented for new lift approval. This is well described in the rulebook:

I. Rules of Lift Approval
1. The USAWA recognizes the various lifts not currently governed by other international weightlifting or powerlifting organizations, such as the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) or the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). This includes the Snatch, Clean and Jerk, Squat, Bench Press, and the Deadlift.
2. New USAWA lifts may be added to the current list of approved lifts by submitting a description of the lift and rules of the lift to the executive board for review 30 days prior to the Annual National Meeting. The executive board may ask for more description or added content to the submitted written rule before a vote is taken. Upon the board’s approval by majority vote, the submitted lift will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting and voted on by the membership. The lift must receive majority vote by the membership present to be approved. No amendments or changes to the submitted lift may be made at the Annual National Meeting. If the lift fails membership vote, it may be resubmitted at future meetings following this same protocol.
3. New approved USAWA lifts or any other approved lift of the USAWA may be presented to the IAWA for IAWA approval if membership deems so by majority vote. At the Annual National Meeting a call to the membership by the President will be made to initiate this process. Only lifts following this protocol will be presented to the IAWA for IAWA approval. The USAWA representative of the IAWA Technical Committee will be the person responsible for presenting lifts to the IAWA.

This allows the necessary time to critique new potential lifts for approval, without “just approving” a lift without any prior thought put into it. I KNOW lifts have been voted on and approved before this rule was in place without a written rule even being in place!!! Al

Gee, Al…I didn’t realize I was using a flim flam method….I think when I said I was going to bring it up at the next meeting I meant in accordance with the rules. I would never want to be a flim flammer…..HAHAHAHAHA

sorry Thom, I realize now I should have never used such harsh words towards you……especially after you shared that exquisite fine Talisker Storm Scotch with me last weekend. haha

HAHAHA The shoulder drop is serious business…considering it has so many on here debating it!

I will weigh in on this clearly controversial issue. First, I appreciate Thom and Al’s investment in this. Al’s research makes it clear that the best evidence of the way any old timer who performed it that we have is from Thom’s uncle. That coupled with the original way it was proposed by the guy who proposed it. Anyhoo, that being the case, I say we get back to the way it was originally done for any of those who are chomping at the bit to try this lift. I just hope Thom goes through the proper channels to propose this change…

I HAVE BEEN REDEEMED! HAHAHAH

My grandfather was doing that lift as far back as we can remember, which I just called my Uncle Wayne and he said the 50s. I recall my grandfather saying it was an Arthur Saxon lift as part of a combo as described in my story.

At any rate, I know this lift is pretty dang obscure, and I appreciate Al’s work on this, but I have submitted, thru the proper channels, a proposal to return this lift to it’s former glory…or at least make it the way it was originally intended. So I’m awaiting feedback from the rules committee. So far, so good.

Obviously, I have cabin fever when I spend this much time on the shoulder drop!

DEAR THOM…………I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.