Author Archives: Al Myers

Poll on Knee Sleeves

by Steve Gardner,  IAWA International President                        

Dear IAWA member:

An issue will arise at the World Council meeting in October 2012 that will need to be decided.  We consider it serious enough to warrant a poll of all members to find the exact strength of opinion  to decide the matter, rather than it be left to a show of hands amongst those who happen to be  present in Salina Kansas USA in October.

The proposal that is submitted from members of USAWA, is that an elastic ‘non supportive’ knee sleeve should be allowed to be worn by lifters during IAWA competitions. (Note: this is not knee wraps, but rather described as a knee cover that is not supportive or aiding a lifters ability to lift more weight).

The proposer’ will put forward the case that it is a knee aide for joint comfort and keeping the knee warm.

A view of conflict with the previous stance taken by IAWA since its inception is that IAWA does not allow any form of lifting aide other than a belt and wrist wraps and knee wraps for front and back squat. And though proposed as a knee comfort or warming device, others might feel this is still a move towards more lifting aides.

If the motion is passed at the Council Meeting in October, then IAWA will announce exactly what the allowable ‘non supportive’ elastic knee sleeve will be, and there will be no allowable deviation from that example allowed.

We want your view please so that we can make an informed decision that reflects the wishes of the majority of our IAWA membership to conform to our democratic principle.

Please return this form with your vote to:

(Steve Gardner in the UK,  Al Myers in the USA, Robin Lukosius in Australia)  

ALL REPLIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE OF 1st SEPTEMBER 

Post This Form To: Steve Gardner  IAWA(UK) – 18 Holly Road, Barton, Staffs DE13 8LP

Name:  ______________________________________                          

(please tick one of the following)           

    Vote For:                                         Vote Against:

Any further comment on the matter you wish to make:

Macomb Record Setter

by Tim Piper

Brady Popkin, of the Salvation Army Gym, lifted 601 pounds in the Peoples Deadlift at the Macomb Record Setter.

July 21, 2012 –  Six lifters from the Salvation Army Gym in Macomb Illinois competed in the 2012 Macomb Record Setter meet establishing a total of 27 American records in the United States All-round Weightlifting Association.  The United States All-round Weightlifting Association (USAWA) is a lifting organization dedicated to drug free lifting in many forms, from exercises performed in old-time circus strongman acts to lesser known unorthodox exercises often referred to as “odd lifts”.  Many of the lifts are named after their originators or in honor of strongmen and women of the past.

The lifts of this meet included: Cyr Press, a one hand dumbbell overhead press; Peoples Deadlift, a deadlift starting 18” off the ground; Anderson Press, an overhead barbell press starting at forehead height; Apollon’s lift, a clean and press with a 2” barbell; Fulton Bar Jefferson Lift, a straddle deadlift with a  2” barbell; Cheat Curl, a barbell curl which allows preliminary fast lowering of the barbell and back arching during completion; Dumbbell Cheat Curl, similar to the cheat curl with dumbbells; Strict Curl, a barbell curl performed with the head and hips held motionless against a wall, heels no more than 3 inches from the wall and no form of body movement during the curl; Deadlift with heels at 12” spacing; Bench Press with hands together; Bench Press with feet in the air; Bench Press with mixed grip; Bench Press with reverse grip; 1 hand Bench Press; and the Piper Squat, a below parallel barbell squat with the barbell held upon the lower back.

The youngest of the lifters, 11 year old Whitney Piper, set 4 records in the 30k/66 pound category.  She set records of 15 pounds in the Cyr Press, 22 pounds in the Piper Squat, 38.58 pounds in the Anderson Press, and 88 pounds in the Peoples Deadlift. 

Dawn Piper, who already holds 9 records in the USAWA, set records of 30 pounds in the Cyr Press, 49.6 pounds in the Apollon’s Lift, 71.6 pounds in the Anderson press, and 176.37 pounds in the Peoples Deadlift.

17 year old, 164 pound Brian Jenkins set six records total, all in press exercises.  His lightest lift was a 104.72 pound 1 Right arm Bench Press.  He went on to set a very impressive 90 pound Cyr Press, followed by the 148.8 pounds in the Bench Press with hands together, 209.44 pounds in the Reverse Grip Bench Press, 220 pounds in the Alternating Grip Bench Press, and 233.69 pounds in the Bench Press with feet in the air. 

185 pound Jon Myres set four records total starting with an exciting 2 Dumbbell Cheat curl of 120 pounds.  He went on to set an impressive 80 pound left hand Cyr Press, a 90 pound right hand Cyr Press, and finished the day with a 275.58 pound Peoples Deadlift. 

165 pound Jay Allen had a big day setting 5 records.  Jay started with a 60 pound right hand Cyr Press followed by a 65 pound left hand Cyr Press. He went on to set a 132 pound Piper Squat, a grueling 385.8 pound Fulton Bar Jefferson Lift, completing the day with a 440 pound Peoples Deadlift.

Brady Popkin, weighing 239 pounds, had the biggest lifts of the day.  He began with a 148.8 pound Strict Curl, followed up with Cheat Curl of 242.5 pounds, then matching his curl weight with a 242.5 pound Bench Press with hands together.  He finished the day up with Deadlift with heels at 12” apart of 562.17 pounds, and then put up the second heaviest ever Peoples Deadlift of 600.7 pounds. 

The Salvation Army Gym lifters are now preparing for the upcoming International All-round Weightlifting Association World Championships, to be held in Kansas in October.  Anyone interested in drug free lifting sports is welcome to stop by the Salvation Army Gym weekdays between 3 and 5 p.m.  While competition is not required, many compete in the USAWA, the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation, and USA Weightlifting.  The gym is free and open to drug free lifters, and is coached by Roger Gedney, Judy Gedney, Tim Piper and Mike Chase. 

MEET RESULTS

Macomb Record Setter
Salvation Army Gym
Macomb, Illinois
July 21st, 2012

Meet Director:  Tim Piper

Official (1 official system used): Tim Piper

NAME age BW Class Lift BEST
Whitney Lee Piper 11 29.9 30 Cyr Press (right) 15
        Anderson Press 38.58
        Piper Squat 22.05
        People’s DL 88.18
Dawn Piper 41 64.3 65 Cyr Press (right) 30
        Anderson Press 71.65
        Apollons Lift 46.90
        People’s DL 176.37
Brian Jenkins 17 74.4 75 BP feet in air 233.69
        BP hands together 148.81
        BP mixed grip 220.46
        1 Hand BP (right) 49.60
        BP reverse grip 209.44
        Cyr Press (right) 90
Jonathan Myres 26 84.8 85 Cheat Curl-2 DB’s 120
        Cyr Press (right) 90
        Cyr Press (left) 80
        Peoples DL 275.58
Jay Allen 25 74.9 75 Cyr press (right) 60
        Cyr Press (left) 65
        Peoples DL 440.92
        Jefferson Lift Fulton Bar 385.81
Brady Popkin 26 108.5 110 Strict Curl 148.81
        Cheat Curl 242.51
        DL 12” heels 562.17
        Peoples DL 600.75
        BP Hands Together 242.51
           
           
           

Note: All Cyr Press attempts in case records are kept for each hand. All records are recorded in pounds, many of them have been converted from our calibrated kilo plates. BW is bodyweight in kilograms.

Middle Atlantic Postal

by Al Myers

The 2012 Middle Atlantic Postal Meet appeared to be a HUGE SUCCESS for the “second installment” of the USAWA quarterly postal series.  The meet had three women lifters and 13 men lifters entered.  All three women lifters were junior lifters, with my daughter Molly pulling out the victory over Brianna and Gabby, two girls from fine “lifting stock” I would have to say.  Congrats to all these young gals for their performances – and I hope to see more of it in the future.

The men’s division was “hotly contested”.  I officiated Chad Ullom with his lifts, and when he finished the postal meet I thought for sure that his efforts wouldn’t be topped.  But then again – I didn’t take into account the BIG YOUNG  BULL Bryan Benzel from the Jobe’s Steel Jungle.  Bryan edged Chad out by only 5 adjusted points!!

MEET RESULTS

Middle Atlantic Open Postal Meet
June 1-30, 2012

Meet Director:  John Wilmot

Lifts:  Clean and Push Press – 2 Dumbbells, Snatch – From Hang, Curl – 2 Dumbbells, Cheat

Lifters using 3 Certified Officals (or 2 that BOTH passed the lift):

Brianna Ullom – Officials Al Myers, Chad Ullom
Molly Myers – Officials Al Myers, Chad Ullom
Troy Goetsch – Officials Jesse Jobe, Bryan Benzel, Dan Bunch
Tim Songster Jr. – Officials Jesse Jobe, Bryan Benzel
Bryan Benzel – Officials Dan Bunch, Jesse Jobe
Scott Tully – Officials Darren Barnhart, Mark Mitchell, Al Myers
Darren Barnhart – Officials Scott Tully, Mark Mitchell, Al Myers

Lifters using only one Certified Official:

Gabby Jobe – Official Jesse Jobe
Denny Habecker – Official Judy Habecker
Jesse Jobe – Official Dan Bunch
Chad Ullom – Official Al Myers
Dan Bunch – Official Bryan Benzel

Lifters using a judge that is NOT a certified official:

Les Cramer – Judge Monica Cook
Samuel Rogers – Judge Orie Barnett
Orie Barnett – Judge Sam Rogers
John Wilmot – Judge Kay Wilmot

WOMENS DIVISION

LIFTER AGE BWT DB PP SNATCH DB CURL TOT PTS
Molly Myers 13 163 60 75 90 225 283.6
Brianna Ullom 14 136 50 45 70 165 225.5
Gabby Jobe 9 96 40 22 40 102 205.2

 

MENS DIVISION

LIFTER AGE BWT DB PP SNATCH DB CURL TOT PTS
Bryan Benzel 25 290 234 205 214 653 481.5
Chad Ullom 40 253 210 198 190 598 476.3
Les Cramer 70 182 120 132 130 382 470.9
Troy Goetsch 25 192 174 150 154 478 437.1
Orie Barnett 51 231 170 132 160 462 427.6
Jesse Jobe 35 234 164 155 164 483 396.4
Tim Songster 45 216 160 135 140 435 394.5
Denny Habecker 69 191 110 99 120 329 392.2
Samuel Rogers 49 205 150 110 140 400 387.8
Dan Bunch 47 328 174 145 174 493 378.5
Scott Tully 36 346 200 154 170 524 372.5
Darren Barnhart 44 313 170 154 170 494 368.7
John Wilmot 65 221 100 100 100 300 319.7

 NOTES:  BWT is bodyweight in pounds.  All lifts recorded in pounds.  TOT is total pounds lifted.  PTS is adjusted points, corrected for age and bodyweight.

Ledaig Record Breakers

BY DAVE GLASGOW 

THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT IN THE SPANKING NEW LEDAIG WEIGHT ROOM WAS WORKING HARD IN A FUTILE ATTEMPT TO COOL  THE 7 LIFTERS WHO WERE PRESENT TO BREAK RECORDS AND SHARE IN THE camaraderie OF THE IRON.  AGAIN, THIS YEAR, HEAT AND HUMIDITY WERE STIFLING BUT, UNDETERED, RECORDS FELL AND THE  NEW BORN WEIGHT ROOM HAD IT’S BAPTISM.

CHAD ULLOM CONTINUES TO AMAZE ME.  HAVING SPENT THE WHOLE DAY PRIOR IN 100 DEGREE TEMPS, NOT TO MENTION TRYING TO GIVE MOUTH TO MOUTH RESUSITATION TO A SCOTCH BOTTLE THAT EVENING PRIOR, HE CAME TO LIFT SOME SERIOUS NUMBERS.  510# ON A NO THUMBS DL WOULD MAKE A LOAD FOR MOST FOLKS IN THE NORMAL GRIP!!  CHAD PULLED IT WITH NO PROBLEM.  ANOTHER OUTSTANDING LIFT WAS THE 95# FULL GARDENER.  THIS LIFT TAKES SO MANY ATTRIBUTES THAT, IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE BEST GAUGE OF STRENGTH, ENDURANCE AND ATHLETIC ABILITY THERE IS.

HAVING DRIVEN ALMOST THREE HOURS THAT MORNING TO GET THERE, BEN EDWARDS SHOWED HIS MASTERY OF THE GRIP LIFTS.  TAKING 312# IN THE DEADLIFT, FULTON BAR, CIAVATTONE GRIP, HE FAIRLY RIPPED IT FROM THE FLOOR AND COULD HAVE DONE MUCH MORE.  HIS V-BAR LIFTS HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED.

MIKE MURDOCK, ANOTHER SURVIVOR FROM THE PRIOR DAYS ACTIVITIES, WAS PRESENT AND READY TO GO.  PRESSING 117# ON THE MAXEY PRESS GAVE HIM ALL THE CREDIBILITY HE NEEDED.  HAVING BEEN INFORMED THAT THE BAR WAS, INDEED, 117#, INSTEAD OF 105#, HE BROKE OUT INTO A BIG SMILE.  HOWEVER, AS IS HIS STYLE, HE MADE NO BIG SHOW OF IT.  MIKE IS A TRUE, HUMBLE SPORTSMAN…….AND A VERY STRICT JUDGE!!

LOOKING FOR ENOUGH RECORDS TO BREAK THAT COVETED CENTURY MARK, DEAN ROSS WAS NOT AWARE, UNTIL AFTER WE HAD FINISHED, THAT HE HAD ALREADY SURPASSED THAT NUMBER.  WITH THE VERY RECENT CHANGES IN THE CRITERIA OF ELEGIBILITY FOR A RECORD TO ‘COUNT’, DEAN WAS ALREADY THERE!  REGARDLESS, DEAN CAME LOADED FOR BEAR AND PUT UP THIRTEEN NEW RECORDS!!

THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE LEDAIG TEAM AND THE USAWA, IS MY UNCLE KENNY ‘UNC’ GLASGOW.  HE CAME TO ME ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO INQUIRING IF HE COULD JOIN ME IN MY LIFTING!!  HE HAS NOT MISSED A WORKOUT SINCE AND HAS PROVED TO BE A GREAT TRAINING PARTNER.  SEVENTY FIVE YEARS OF AGE IS NOT A ‘NORMAL ‘ AGE TO START A LIFTING CAREER, BUT, HERE HE IS.  WE HAVE TRAINED SEVERAL LIFTS IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS WEEKEND AND HE HIT EVERY ONE OF THE GOALS WE SET!!!  OF PARTICULAR INTEREST WAS HIS DEADLIFT, ONE HAND, LEFT.  MY RECORD LIST POSTED ONE NUMBER AND, COME TO FIND OUT, THE RECORD WAS 10# MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.  A SHORT CONVERSATION FOLLOWED, ENDING WITH HIM SAYING, “LET’S GO GET IT!”  SO, HE DID!!!  WITH EASE!!  THEN TURNED AROUND TO PULL 10 MORE POUNDS THAN THE POSTED RECORD!!!  GREAT EFFORT, UNC!!!

HAVING GONE FULL THROTTLE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK BUILDING THE WEIGHT ROOM, PREPARATIONS FOR THE GAMES AND THEN ALL THE GENERAL ‘RUNNING AROUND’ ASSOCIATED IN MANAGING THINGS, I WAS NOT ANXIOUS TO DO ANY LIFTING.  MY BUTT WAS DRAGGING AS AN OLD, TIRED COON DOG WHO HAD BEEN RUN ALL NIGHT.  HOWEVER, WHEN THE INCH BAR WAS PULLED OUT, I KNEW I HAD TO DO A COUPLE RECORDS JUST SO I COULD SAY I DID IT IN RECOGNITION OF THE VIRGIN FACILITY.

FINALLY,  WHILE LARRY ‘FLOYD’ TRAUB DID NOT LIFT, I NEED TO MENTION THAT IT WAS DUE TO HIS HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND FRIENDSHIP THAT WE HAD A FACILITY AT ALL.  IT IS NOT MANY FOLKS WHO WOULD WORK IN 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES, 14 TO 16 HOUR DAYS, FOR A WEEK TO HELP OUT A FRIEND. AS HE HAD TO LEAVE THE DAY OF THE RECORD BREAKERS, HE WAS MAKING A ‘TO DO LIST’ FOR ME TO FINISH THE PROJECT.  I AM TRULY BLESSED AND HUMBLED THAT HE WOULD DO THIS FOR ME.  WORDS CAN NOT  CONVEY MY APPRECIATION.  TO QUOTE FORREST GUMP, “EVEN I KNOW THAT FRIENDSHIP LIKE THAT DOES’NT COME AROUND EVERY DAY.”  ENOUGH SAID……

WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE TURN OUT NEXT YEAR.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

MEET RESULTS

Ledaig Record Breakers
Rainbow Bend, Kansas
July 15th, 2012

Meet Director:  Dave Glasgow

Officials:  Dave Glasgow,  Chad Ullom, Mike Murdock

Lifts:

Chad Ullom – 40 years, 253# BWT

Curl – Reverse Grip: 115#
Deadlift – No Thumbs: 510#
Gardner – Full: 95#
Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, Right: 129#
Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, Left: 129#
Clean and Jerk – Behind Neck: 225#

Ben Edwards – 37 years, 205# BWT

Deadlift – No Thumb, Right: 220#
Deadlift – No Thumb, Left: 220#
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar, 2″, Right: 254#
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar, 2″, Left: 242#
Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Ciavattone Grip: 312#

Dean Ross – 69 years, 272# BWT

Rectangular Fix: 65#
Curl – Reverse Grip: 75#
Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip, Right Arm: 175#
Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip, Left Arm: 165#
Deadlift – No Thumbs: 315#
Squat – 12″ Base: 145#
Squat – Front: 145#
Bench Press – Hands Together: 145#
Maxey Press: 112#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, right: 127#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, left: 127#
Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, left: 59#
Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, right: 59#

Dave Glasgow – 59 years, 249# BWT

Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, Right: 129#
Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, Left: 109#

Mike Murdock – 72 years, 224# BWT

Curl – Reverse Grip: 75#
Deadlift – Trap Bar: 270#
Squat – Front: 170#
Maxey Press: 117#
Deadlift – Fingers, Index: 95#

Ken Glasgow – 75 years, 219# BWT

Deadlift – One Arm, Right: 175#
Deadlift – Trap Bar: 280#
Squat – 12″ Base: 145#
Bench Press – Feet in Air: 105#

Century Club Gets a New Member

by Al Myers

This may have been the record-setting lift that put Dean Ross into the Century Club at the 2012 USAWA National Championships in Las Vegas.

The BIG NEWS with the recent record-setting activity has been that the CENTURY CLUB now has a new member.  Just like I predicted in a blog a couple of months ago, Dean Ross has  joined this group of elite record breakers in the USAWA.  This is a big deal, and Dean has worked hard to accomplish this.  His lifting efforts at the 2012 USAWA National Championships “put him over the hill” in going over 100 USAWA records.  There is not a better place to accomplish something like this to make it a memorable event.  Congrats Dean – the next time I see ya in the gym I’m going to give you a big pat on the back!  Dean becomes the FOURTH Dino Gym member to make the Century Club.  

The Records List has received a “shake up” with the addition of National Records.  I thought about this for a while, should I include these new records in a lifters record count?  But it didn’t take me long to decide.   OF COURSE!  Setting a National Record is probably MORE IMPORTANT than others, and SHOULD be included.  If someone complains about this, I’ll tell them to show up at Nationals and set a few National Records for themselves, and then they’ll see that is no easy feat.   The addition of National Records got John Vernacchio back “in the club”.  John had recently “fell out” of the Century Club, but now he’s back.  With the addition of Dean and John, the Century Club now stands at 22 members. 

There weren’t  any change in the top rankers.  Denny still holds a comfortably lead over Art, 428 to 403.   I’m narrowing the gap on them very slowly, and now my count stands at 399.  Maybe I’ll make these two wily veterans of odd-lifting a little nervous so they’ll “kick up the pace”????  The addition of adding in National Records really helped Frank Ciavattone, Noi Phumchona, Bob Hirsh, myself, and Chad Ullom.  Chad “jumped past” Dale and Scott.  Now don’t you feel bad Chad for not letting Dale do another finger lift record at Nationals??? You must have known the record count and realized you were one ahead of him at the time!  Frank owns the most National Records, and it really upped his overall count, as it moved him from 8th to 6th, passing Dennis and Joe.  John McKean was holding around a 30 count lead last time sitting in fourth, but now there are several lifters “on his heels”.   John – it’s time for you to lay the fishing pole to the side and spend a little more time in the weight room getting ready for your next USAWA competition.

Who’s going to be the NEXT lifter to make the Century Club???  My guess is still on Mike Murdock.  If he gets a few this weekend at the Ledaig Record Breakers,  then he will be “set up” to make history at my record day in August.  I’m also “keeping my eye” on Dave Glasgow.  After his recent outstanding showing at the Nationals in which he broke several records, I’m putting him as an “outside  chance” of being the next to make the club. 

I also want to make a few comments about my opinion on breaking records.  If you are going to SET RECORDS – go all out doing it.  I don’t think it is very sporting just to take token efforts to set a large quantity of records at a USAWA record day. After all, anyone can find “blank spots” in the record list to fill with a record, just to add to their “record count”.   That’s chickenshit. If you do that you deserve a boot in the ***!   Be a real lifter and show the record list the respect it deserves!  Anytime I see a lifter set/break more than 10 records at a record day, I question their efforts in the records they set.  Any lifter who gives max effort on 10 lifts in a day should be spent.  Anymore than that and I start to wonder if  they are “sandbaggin” their efforts on their record attempts.  It’s not against the rules or anything, but I will tell you that I will be “talking behind your back” if I see this going on.  And words like sissy lifter, girly boy, etc will be in the conversation!!!!!

CENTURY CLUB (as of 7/14/2012)

RANK LIFTER RECORD COUNT
1 Denny Habecker 428
2 Art Montini 403
3 Al Myers 399
4 John McKean 279
5 Noi Phumchona 268
6 Frank Ciavattone 256
7 Dennis Mitchell 254
8 Joe Garcia 248
9 Bob Hirsh 229
10 Bill Clark 203
11 Howard Prechtel 175
12 Chad Ullom 160
13 Dale Friesz 159
14 Jim Malloy 149
15 John Monk 148
16 Scott Schmidt 146
17 Ed Schock 142
18 Chris Waterman 137
19 Rudy Bletscher 128
20 Mary McConnaughey 117
21 John Vernacchio 106
22 Dean Ross 105
1 … 188 189 190 191 192 … 321