Category Archives: USAWA Daily News

Rulebook available on Amazon

8.5x11" rulebook, open to the page with the hang snatch, Kelly snatch, and snatch on knees

To those who enjoy having a physical copy of their books, I am pleased to announce that the 13th (current) edition of the USAWA Rulebook is now available for purchase on Amazon. If you search “USAWA Rulebook” it will pop right up, and you can order a copy for $9.99.

The Amazon version of the rulebook is print-on-demand, meaning that USAWA did not have to front money for a print run, nor will anybody have to store copies of the book or take the time to ship orders. The purchase price is cheaper than we have been able to offer previous printed rulebooks, and as a bonus the USAWA bank account nets $2.78 per copy. The photos included here are of the proof copy; the final copy will not include the “not for resale” banner that you can see across the cover.

The Rulebook is still available in PDF format on our Rulebook page for free, and if you prefer to print your own copy, you are still welcome to do so. I am working on formatting an ebook version that can be purchased on Kindle or loaded onto the e-reader of your choice.

So tell your friends, and order a copy for yourself if you would like. I’m told that reviews on the Amazon website are helpful in keeping books available and easy to find, so consider giving it an honest review (it deserves five stars, right?) if you’re so inclined.

Records updated through 8/16/2024

Dear USAWA members:

       Our records team is moving on getting caught up. As of this update, we are halfway through August 2024. This includes up to the Two-Fisted Challenge Meet of 10 – 11 August 2024. We have three more to do from August including the IAWAs. We have two in September not including the 3rd Quarterlies. We hope to be current by this time next week.

Current records are here.

Tony Lupo
Records Director

National Championship Records

by Sanjiv Gupta

Al Myers penned a piece on National Records published June 21,2012.  He laid out a case for recognizing special National Records that met a few criteria:

  • Set on the stage of the National Championships – Harder than setting a record at home.
  • Is an ALL age record for the weight class – Age group records are not recognized.

The piece did not consider that the National Record (NAT) set for a given weight class and lift could be exceeded in future competition.  To break the NAT, an athlete would have to exceed not only the NAT but also the current ALL age weight class record.

The 2024 National Championship was certainly amazing and much has been written on the results and overall National Champions Beth Skwarecki and Abe Smith.

I wanted to add my observations on new NAT.  (15) new NAT were set.  (9) on the women’s side and (6) on the men’s side.  Your National Champions, Beth and Abe set (3) NAT each.  Lisa and Stacy both set (2) NAT.  David, Leroy, Lillian, Phoebe and Everett each set one.  As a side note, I was confused as to whether Junior Records count towards ALL records and NAT records.  The historic record list seems inconsistent, but it is also harder to get a snapshot in time of what the ALL record was during that year’s National Championship.

Clean & Press, Fulton Bar (1st time at Nationals)

  • Abe Smith (85kg) – 215 pounds
  • David DeForest (80kg) – 105 pounds
  • Beth Skwarecki (70kg) – 100 pounds
  • Lisa Gore (100kg) – 75 pounds
  • Leroy Todd (60kg) – 50 pounds
  • Lillian Todd (75kg) – 60 pounds
  • Phoebe Todd (65kg) – 50 pounds

Pullover & Press (8th time at Nationals)

  • Abe Smith (85kg) – 295 pounds

Hack Lift (4th time at Nationals)

  • Beth Skwarecki (70kg) – 295 pounds
  • Stacy Todd (90kg) – 200 pounds
  • Everett Todd (50kg) – 125 pounds

Deadlift, Fulton, Ciavattone Grip (2nd time at Nationals)

  • None

Snatch, One Arm, Left/Right (14th time at Nationals)

  • Abe Smith (85kg) – 130 pounds (Left)
  • Stacy Todd (90kg) – 50 pounds (Left)

Zercher Lift (18th time at Nationals)

  • Beth Skwarecki (70kg) – 225 pounds
  • Lisa Gore (100kg) – 90 pounds

As there were only (6) official lifts, only (6) National Records had a chance of being set.  Record Session lifts and Exhibition lifts do not count.  It also gets progressively more difficult to set a National Record as the ALL (age) weight class record tends to be set and bested more frequently.

To date (61) different lifts have been contested at the National Championships.  With left/right designation on the one arm lifts, (72) of (219) lifts in the records list have recognized National Records.

In the early days of the USAWA it was not uncommon to contest (10) different lifts to crown National Champions.  During the last decade (5) or (6) lifts seem to be the norm.

Good luck to all of the rising stars who want to set a National Record.

What to wear at a USAWA meet

In this installment of the “USAWA 101” series, I’d like to talk about what we wear at competitions—our clothing and our equipment. If you’ve competed in weightlifting, powerlifting, or strongman, some of this may be familiar, but a few of our rules might be a bit different from what you’re used to.

The “lifting uniform”

6 year old Daphne Lansdown demonstrates proper use of a singlet, athletic shoes, and no wraps or other supportive equipment. Her socks do not extend above the knee, she is not wearing any headgear, and she has no tape on her hands.

You have two options for what to wear on your body. Either a singlet, or a shirt and shorts. 

A singlet, if you’re not familiar, is a one-piece garment, usually form-fitting, that is shaped like shorts on the bottom, and continues up the torso, where it has straps that go over the shoulders. It looks like an old-timey swimsuit, or a wrestling outfit. In fact, if you need a cheap singlet quick, search for “wrestling singlet.” You can get one off Amazon for under $20. (The nice ones, from a company like Virus or SBD, cost more and may fit better. But they’re the same basic thing.) You may wear a shirt under your singlet if you like, but it’s not required.

Your other option is to wear a shirt and shorts. The shirt can be a T-shirt or a tank top. (We used to have a rule forbidding tank tops, but that was repealed at the 2024 national meeting.) 

Whether it’s one piece or two, your lifting uniform must leave your knees and elbows exposed. That means no long sleeves, and no leggings under the singlet. 

If you’re thinking “Can I wear ANYTHING that complies with these rules?” the answer is almost yes. There is a rule that states: 

Lifting attire which contains inappropriate language or images, is too revealing, sloppy in appearance, or deemed otherwise inappropriate by the weigh-in official or Meet Director is a violation of the USAWA dress code.

I’ve never seen anyone get dress-coded for sloppy, revealing, or offensive clothing. But in theory, it could happen. 

You must also wear “suitable” shoes. Most people wear sneakers of some sort, or weightlifting shoes. Deadlift slippers are also OK. You can’t lift barefoot, sorry.

Allowable equipment

Before we get into what you can’t use, I’ll just say what you can: 

  • A belt, any kind, up to 12 cm (4.75 inches) in width. 
  • Wrist wraps, not to exceed 1 meter in length. (They may be a maximum of 10 cm/4 inches wide, and 1 millimeter thick.) 
  • Dry chalk on your hands

On three specific lifts, knee sleeves or knee wraps may be worn, up to 2 meters in length. These lifts are the Front Squat, 12” Base Squat, and Anderson Squat. You may wear knee sleeves on these lifts instead, if you like. No other lifts allow knee wraps or sleeves. 

What you cannot wear or use

I’m very sorry to anyone who is used to using these items, but they are not allowed: 

  • Wraps on any other part of the body (elbows, etc) except as mentioned above.
  • Headgear such as hats or headbands, unless it is for religious purposes. (Your hijab or yarmulke is fine.)
  • Gloves
  • Straps
  • Braces or supports, including knee and elbow sleeves (except as noted above for knee sleeves). If you have a doctor’s note stating that an item is medically necessary, the officials can make an exception.
  • Over-the-knee socks
  • Chalk or any substances on any part of the body other than the hands (no baby powder on the thighs)
  • On the hands, any substances other than chalk. No tacky, rosin, chewing gum, etc.
  • Tape, unless it’s covering an open wound or an injury (in which case it needs to be OK’d by the officials.) So, no, you cannot tape your thumbs for hook grip lifts. 

Where to learn more

The full language of the rules about clothing and equipment is in the section of the Rulebook labeled VI. Equipment

For any specific meet, if you want to know if your T-shirt is inappropriate or if your medically-necessary knee brace will be accepted, get in touch with the meet organizer and/or ask the head official. 

For example, I recently refereed a meet where I was asked, ahead of time, whether a lifter would be able to use their doctor-prescribed compression stockings. My answer was yes. On the other hand, when I compete in USA Weightlifting events, I like to wear leggings and knee sleeves. But when I compete with USAWA I leave those items at home. 

Ultimately we want everybody to be safe and healthy and have fun lifting more or less like the old-timers did. 

A note on knee sleeves

The question of knee sleeves comes up from time to time—why doesn’t the USAWA allow them? The membership appears to be divided on the question, according to several votes and surveys over the years. 

One side argues that knee sleeves don’t seem to give much if any mechanical advantage, and most strength sports allow them, so we should allow them too. On the other hand, some members see them as too modern for an organization that is trying to respect historical tradition, and the possibility that they may aid in lifting is enough reason to be cautious. 

There was a lively debate on the topic at the 2024 National Meeting, and in the end knee sleeves remained banned (except for the three lifts that also allow knee wraps). 

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