Author Archives: Al Myers

New Proposed Lifts

By Al Myers

Recently in the USAWA Discussion Forum there’s been talk of new lifts.  That’s what inspired me to write the blog the other day on the rules involving new lift approval. We have rules into place that make sure any new lift in the USAWA is considered a “good lift”, with proper written rules in place BEFORE it is proposed.  Which has not been the policy in the old days – thus why there are so many strange official rules and lifts in our Rulebook.

I’m in the mood to do a little rambling today about my opinion on all this. Of course, these are just my opinions and may not represent the viewpoints of others on the Executive Board.  The USAWA has MANY more official lifts than the IAWA(UK). What’s considered official IAWA lifts is generally what is in the IAWA(UK) Rulebook. I tend to agree with this, because unlike the USAWA, the IAWA(UK) only considers “new lifts” as those passed at the AGM of the IAWA while the USAWA proposes and accepts new lifts at our USAWA meeting which only represents the USAWA.  The IAWA(UK) does not accept new lifts at their IAWA(UK) annual meeting.  The ARWLWA primarly uses the IAWA(UK) Rulebook as their official rulebook, but does use the USAWA Rulebook for the OTSM lifts.  So to sum it up, the USAWA has official lifts that the IAWA(UK) does not.

What do I consider in voting on a new proposed lift?  Simply put I look at THREE THINGS before casting my vote.

1. Is it a new, novel lift?

What’s the point of passing a new lift that is just a knockoff of a lift we already have.  Here’s an example of a lift I wouldn’t be in favor of – say – the heels together Ciavattone Grip Deadlift.  We already have the Ciavattone Grip Deadlift, and we already have the heels together deadlift.  I just don’t see the point of combining these. After all, anytime a Ciavattone Grip is used it comes down to grip strength anyways. I don’t have a problem with a “one deviation” difference from a traditional lift, but after that it just becomes confusing and redundant.  I won’t even get started venting about the Lano Lift.  That’s a story in itself how that lift got passed!

2. Does it represent an old time All Round Weightlifting movement or lift?

Our mission statement has always stated that the USAWA “strives to preserve the history of the original forms of weightlifting”.  I hope we never forget this, as I feel that is the purpose of our organization.  If you’re interested in the “new age” strength lifts, go compete in cross fit. That’s not what we are about.

3. Is it a lift that can be performed properly by the majority of our members?

We already have enough “trick lifts” and “pet lifts” in our Rulebook. We don’t need more.  I understand that the USAWA gives opportunity to express hidden strengths in obscure lifts, but enough is enough.  I understand why the Van Dam Lift got approved (it was for a personal publicity stunt which we agreed to participate in, hoping it would give us some exposure), but come on, that’s a ridiculous lift to have in our Rulebook.  I can think of over  50 new lifts that we could have that would be better than that one! I feel any new USAWA official lift should be one that at least over 50 percent of lifters can perform.

On the IAWA front the USAWA has always been very open to new lifts, more so than the rest of the IAWA crowd.  I could state my reasons why I think that is so – but won’t publically as I know I would offend some people.  I do know some think we have enough All Round lifts in “the books” now, but if a new lift is proposed that is good I am all for it.  Maybe we should get rid of some official USAWA lifts? Again that is a story for another day!

 

Spec Equipment – 2″ VB

By Al Myers

Official USAWA 2" Vertical Bar

Official USAWA 2″ Vertical Bar

I’ve made an addition to the USAWA Online Store today.  In addition to the USAWA Merchandise section I’ve added a USAWA Spec Equipment section. This section will contain equipment specially needed for the various odd USAWA lifts that require special equipment.  I’ve found often the limitation of people being able to perform several of the USAWA lifts is that they don’t have the special equipment to do them! All of the equipment that will be listed conforms to the rules and standards set forth in the USAWA Rulebook.

Also, all of the equipment listed has been donated to the USAWA so the proceeds from this will be 100 percent PROFIT to the USAWA!

The first USAWA Spec Equipment item has been listed, and it is the 2″ Vertical Bar.  For those of you that have used the 2″ VB in the Dino Gym, these are identical.  With time, more USAWA Spec Equipment items will be added to the USAWA Online Store.

Lurich Lift Passes EB

By Al Myers

It’s always exciting to see new lifts make their way into our USAWA Rulebook!  Today a new proposed USAWA lift, the Lurich Lift, passed by majority vote of the USAWA Executive Board so it will be on the agenda at our National Meeting for membership vote. However, this is just one step in becoming a new official USAWA Lift. Today I’m going to go over exactly how new USAWA lifts are approved.  The days of before, where a lifter could just shout out a new lift at the National Meeting with no idea of what rules are needed to be in place and no in depth review of the technical aspects of the lift, are a thing of the past.  Many of our USAWA lifts in the past were put into the rulebook with that flim-flam method. I’m glad we have advanced past that and actually now put a thought process into approving new lifts .

Things are very laid out in the USAWA Rulebook how a new proposed lift becomes an official USAWA lift in the very first section:

  1. Rules of Lift Approval
  1. The USAWA recognizes the various lifts not currently governed by other international weightlifting or powerlifting organizations. 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. A USAWA representative of the IAWA Technical Committee will be the person responsible for presenting lifts to the IAWA.

The USAWA rules of lift approval ensures that all new proposed lifts have been properly reviewed before becoming official lifts. The Executive Board encourages new proposed lifts to be “tried out” as exhibition lifts before proposal.  The Lurich Lift was tested at the USAWA Old Time Strongman Championships as an exhibition lift after the meet to get lifter feedback.  All that tried it thought it would make a great new USAWA Lift!

Lifter of the Month – James Fuller

By Al Myers

James Fuller performing a Self-Loaded Leg Press at the 2017 IAWA Gold Cup.

James Fuller performing a Self-Loaded Leg Press at the 2017 IAWA Gold Cup.

The USAWA LIFTER OF THE MONTH for November 2017 goes to James Fuller!  There were very limited events in November, but it did hold the IAWA GOLD CUP, one of the two big yearly IAWA competitions.  It was held in Glasgow, Scotland on November 4th at the new Castlemilk Gym facility.  James participated in his first IAWA event on international soil, and – WOW –  as he represented the USAWA in excellent fashion! His lifting really had a “leg up” on the competition. (had to throw that in as I know James enjoys puns!)

He chose a very difficult lift for his Gold Cup lift – the Self-Loaded Leg Press. I’ve only seen this lift in action a couple of times.  Most lifters do not have the flexibility to perform it.  James put on a clinic with this lift for several successful lifts, finishing with a new IAWA World Record of 135 kilograms.

Congrats James on being selected as this months LIFTER OF THE MONTH! You deserved it!

HOF BIO – JOHN MCKEAN

By Al Myers

(Webmasters Note: Over the next month I will be running a series of biography blogs covering all past USAWA Hall of Fame members.  These bios will be added to the history section, under Hall of Fame.)

HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHY

JOHN MCKEAN  – CLASS OF 1999

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McKean-DL

John was born on December 15th, 1945 and has been competing in weightlifting for over 45 years, starting in 1962. He started as a lifter primarily as a powerlifter, but also has competed in master’s olympic lifting, having won two US National titles. However, all-round weightlifting soon captivated his attention and he has devoted all of his efforts toward all-round training and competition since its inception. John is a retired teacher (32 years in Jr. High math), a retired martial arts instructor (American Combatives for individuals and airline crews), and a retired weightlifter. John has won so many National and World Meets that he has lost count!!! One accomplishment that he has done that is hard to top is that he went for over 20 years never losing a meet in his age and weight division! He presently has over 200 USAWA and IAWA records on the books. His earliest all-round weightlifting inspirations came from the great National and World Meets that John Vernacchio promoted, followed by the tremendous atmosphere that Frank Ciavattone created in his National and World Meets. John said, “These guys worked so hard to insure that everyone enjoyed themselves and they provided the absolute best conditions to do top notch lifting!! Their meets were more like great workouts with good friends than the usual cut and dry weightlifting competitions. Just big parties, really!!!”. John has served as an official at many meets, and served a term as the IAWA international secretary. He has wrote extensively about all-round weightlifting training methods in Hardgainer magazine and MILO.

McKean-DL2barHe has been involved in the promotion of several National Meets which includes being the meet director at two National Championships in Ambridge with Art Montini, and being the co-director at the two National Meets at Jumpstretch Fitness in Youngstown, Ohio. John has received much personal satisfaction from the great time he has had getting his two sons, Sean and Rob, involved in the USAWA along with many of his school students. One of his biggest thrills in lifting was being probably the only teacher to establish an official class for all-round weightlifting in the public school system. For four years he was given the state’s mandate (IEP) to take over the complete physical education of a legally blind student by the name of Matt Van Fossan. Matt, under John’s coaching, really took to lifting and established several teen National and World Records and even won a National Championship!!! These days John trains at home, still writes a bit, and lives near Pittsburgh with his wife of 40 years, Marilyn. He is still very involved in the lives of his two grown sons, Rob and Sean.

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