by Al Myers
USAWA Middle Atlantic Open Postal Meet
Dates: Between June 1st and June 30th, 2012
Entry form must be postmarked by July 5th, 2012
Must be a current USAWA member to be eligible for competition
Entry Fee: None
Official USAWA rules apply as outlined in the Rule Book
Lifts:
Clean and Push Press – 2 Dumbbells
Snatch – From Hang
Curl – 2 Dumbbells, Cheat
Entry Form (pdf) – 2012 Middle Atlantic Open Postal Meet Entry Form
by Al Myers
USAWA Eastern Open Postal Meet
Dates: Between March 1st and March 31st, 2012
Entry form must be postmarked by April 5th, 2012
Must be a current USAWA member to be eligible for competition
Entry Fee: None
Official USAWA rules apply as outlined in the Rule Book
Lifts:
Bench Press – Feet in Air
Squat – Front
Continental to Belt
Entry Form (pdf) – 2012 Eastern Open Postal Meet Entry Form
It doesn't get any more MANLY than Pro World Champion Dan McKim in his Kilt. Come to the Strength Weekend, put on a kilt and compete in the Games on Saturday, then the Old Time Strongman Championships on Sunday! Dan has competed in Kirksville before and I hope to have him back this year.
by Thom Van Vleck
MEET ANNOUNCEMENT:
OLD TIME STRONGMAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Last year we had our inaugural OTSM Championship at the JWC Training Hall (AKA “Modern Day Torture Chamber” or “My basement”). I thought it went pretty well and as a result I want to make this an annual event. The date will be October 14, 2012, with the start time being 10:00am (weigh in’s will happen at 12:00am the morning of the meet or between 9 and 10am before the meet). The location for the meet will again be the JWC Training Hall. However, there may be an exception. Last year we had 10 strongmen show up. This year if I get enough signed up before hand I plan on returning to the venue we used for the 2011 USAWA Nationals (the old Williard School Gymnasium). I would say anything over 15 competitors would cause me to have to make that call as my gym was pretty crammed with 10 lifters. That will be a nice problem to have!
Now, a quick history lesson. This event will be held the day after my Scottish Highland Games. In 1999 when I first started that event I had a strongman contest the next day. If you competed both days you won an “Iron Man Award”. I did that for several years and at one point hit 33 competitors for the strongman event! Then I had a sharp decline and then dropped it until Al Myers and I talked about me holding an OTSM event. I thought “PERFECT”! I can bring back the Iron Man weekend! So, that is why this event will be held on a Sunday and on that date as my Highland Games will be held on October 13th. Setting dates locally is a real challenge for me due to several big events in Kirksville around that time. If I held it any other weekend there would be almost NO WAY anyone could get a motel room. So, that’s why I was limited to that date.
Since this event is the day after my Highland Games it’s a chance to compete in both! You know you always wanted to dress up in a kilt! Now’s your chance! So sign up for both! Special Iron Man award for those who survive both days. This isn’t a “participation award” this is a SURVIVED IT award!
Now, for the meet information. I plan on having shirts and awards, plus water and drinks available to the lifters. I plan on the following events:
Anderson Squat
Cyr Press
Apollons Lift
Bob People’s Deadlift
Lifts will be finalized after Nationals in June after the USAWA Nationals and the annual meeting. Entry is $25, but if you enter both the Highland Games ($25) and the OTSM you get both entries for $40 (saving $10). Three attempts per event, total poundage will determine weight class winners. Overall best lifter will be determined by weight and age formula per USAWA rules.
OTSM entry form – 2012 Old Time Strongman Entry Form
Kirksville Games entry form – 2012 Kirksville Highland Games Entry Form
Contact Thom Van Vleck at tvanvleck@yahoo.com or 660 341 1755 for details.
by Al Myers
MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
THE 2012 IAWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chad Ullom (left) and Al Myers (right) will be the co-promoters of the 2012 IAWA World Championships. As you can tell by this photo, these two "jokers" know how to have a fun time so put this meet in your plans as it's FOR SURE going to be a GREAT TIME!
It seems just like the “other day” when Chad and I put in a bid for these World Championships at the 2010 Worlds in Pennsylvania, and now the meet is being OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED. I am very excited about this opportunity to bring the IAWA World Championships to my hometown. Initially, Chad and I thought we might have this big meet in Kansas City, but after more thought, we decided it would be more fun to have this meet in the place where we do our training – the DINO GYM & TRAINING CENTER. It’s no fancy Hilton ballroom, but I know it is a place where most all-round lifters would “feel right at home” lifting weights. After the great show the Australians put on in Perth this past year, we have a “tough act to follow”! I promise to everyone that we will do our best to make this an enjoyable Championships, and make your trip to Kansas worthwhile. We don’t have the pristine beaches to show off like Peter and Robin showed us in Perth, or any castles to show off like the English and Scots have, so please don’t get your expectations too high for any exotic vacation in Kansas! At least this meet is in October so we will avoid the hot, dry 100 Degree F days of the summer.
Chad and I tried to pick a broad selection of all-round lifts for this meet. I know it is hard to pick lifts that please everyone, and after hearing all the “moans and groans” when I read this list of lifts at this past years meeting, I hope at least SOMEONE likes them. The meet will be a 2-day meet. The lifts are:
Day 1: Saturday, October 6th
Reverse Curl (Curl -Reverse Grip)
One Hand Clean and Jerk (Clean and Jerk – One Arm)
Pullover and Press on Floor (Pullover and Press)
Steinborn (Steinborn Lift)
Day 2: Sunday, October 7th
Two Hands Snatch – 2 Inch Bar (Snatch – Fulton Bar)
One Hand Hacklift (Hack Lift – One Arm)
Straddle Deadlift (Jefferson Lift)
I included both the IAWA official name (the first one) and the USAWA official name (the name in parenthesis) of the lifts to minimize confusion. I plan for this meet to be a 2-platform, 2 session meet each day. I also want to mention that this World Championships will be a BIG ONE because it is the anniversary of the 25th IAWA World Championships. Several “special awards” will be given to recognize lifters that have made significant contributions to the IAWA throughout our history. So for that reason alone, this is a meet you DO NOT want to miss. More details will follow, but for now I just want to get the meet announced so everyone can make plans to join us at the Dino Gym the FIRST WEEKEND OF OCTOBER.
2012 IAWA Worlds Entry Form (pdf) – 2012 World Championship Entry Form
MEET ANNOUNCEMENT
by David Dellanave
The Movement is proud to host the first USAWA lifting meet in Minnesota, hosted by the first weightlifting club in Minnesota!
The USAWA was formed to continue the tradition of the old-time strongmen. There are over 150 recognized lifts in the rule book, so anyone can find a lift they find fun and exciting to train. Some records have been on the books for many decades, and others fall every year. The USAWA has a drug testing policy to encourage drug free lifters and considers that a point of pride. There has never been a weightlifting club in Minnesota, and we are very excited to continue this tradition and grow the weightlifting club.
The meet will be held at The Movement Minneapolis – Plymouth on March 3rd. Weigh-in at 9:30am, lifting begins at 10am.
Lifts to be contested:
Jefferson Deadlift – “This lift is also known as the Straddle Deadlift. The rules of the Deadlift apply except that the bar will be lifted between the legs, with a leg on each side of the bar. The lifter may face any direction and feet placement is optional. One hand will grip the bar in front of the lifter while the other hand will grip the bar behind the lifter. The bar may touch the insides of either leg during the lift. The heels are allowed to rise as the bar is lifted, but the feet must not change position. The bar is allowed to change directions or rotate during the lift.”
Dumbbell Snatch – “The rules of the Bar Snatch – One Arm apply except one evenly loaded dumbbell is used. The dumbbell may start at any position on the platform. The dumbbell is allowed to rotate during the lift and may finish in any degree of rotation.”
Axle Clean & Push Press – “The rules of the Clean and Press apply with these exceptions. The heels and toes may rise during the press. However, the feet must not move. The legs may bend during the press to initiate upward movement, but the legs must straighten simultaneously with the completion of the press. The rules of the Clean and Push Press apply except a Fulton (2″/Axle) Bar is used”
Bent Over Row – “The lift will start at the lifter’s discretion with the bar placed on the platform in front of the lifter. The lifter will grip the bar with an overhand grip with the palms of the hands facing the lifter. The width of grip spacing and feet placement is of the lifter’s choosing, but the feet must be in line with the bar. The body must be in a bent over position at the waist. The upper body must not straighten past 45 degrees parallel to the platform at any time during the lift or it is a disqualification. The legs may be bent during the lift and upon the completion of the lift. The bar is lifted to touch the abdomen or torso by bending the arms. The bar must touch the abdomen higher than the belt, or the navel if a belt is not worn”
Dinnie Lift – “Two weight loadable Vertical Bars with ring handles attached are used in this lift. The maximum height from the floor to the top of the lifting rings is 21 inches. One Vertical Bar’s weight MUST not exceed 75% of the other. Any style of lifting may be used. The lift ends when the lifter is upright and motionless. The lifter may have the Vertical Bars at the side, or may straddle them. A time limit of 1 minute is given to accomplish a legal lift. The weights may be dropped within this time limit, and the lifter may reset and try again. An official will give a command to end the lift. Lifting straps of any kind are NOT allowed!”
At the conclusion of the meet events, we will open the competition up to break any USAWA or IAWA (International) record you think you can break. There are very few events that we do not have the equipment for, so we will accomodate virtually any lift that you want to do.
The meet entry is completely FREE but you must be a USAWA member. The $25 membership fee can be paid the day of competition.
Lifting uniform: Shorts and shirt or one-piece lifting singlet. A belt may be worn and must not exceed 12 centimeters or 4-3/4 inches in width.
Exact rules and weight classes are in the rule book if you are curious, otherwise all rules will be explained the at the competition.