World Postal Championships
By Al Myers
I’ve finally got all the results compiled for the IAWA World Postal Championships. I want to thank everyone who competed and a big congrats to all the winners!
MEET RESULTS – 2017 World Postal Results
By Al Myers
I’ve finally got all the results compiled for the IAWA World Postal Championships. I want to thank everyone who competed and a big congrats to all the winners!
MEET RESULTS – 2017 World Postal Results
By Eric Todd
2017 USAWA OLD TIME STRONGMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Another installment of USAWA’s Old strongman Championships has now passed, and what an event it was. This is the 7th annual championship event in one of the most recent additions in the USAWA. The first three constested were at the JWC training hall in Kirksville, with the last 4 being at my facility. In terms of competitors, this was the best turnout the organization has seen at this event with 12 competitors. We also has a certified judge who was not also a lifter in Thom VanVleck. We had many seasoned competitors ( I believe Denny was with the organization since around it’s inception) along with some relative newbies (John Douglas and Chris Todd are in the first year of competing in the USAWA-It is GREAT to get new blood into the organization).
The Contest started off with the Thor’s Hammer. I said it before, and I will say it again, this one is a fickle mistress. You saw a number of times where it appeared the lifter had stuck the lift only to have it start moving before they could get the down command. When this lift was first contested a number of years back it seemed like 40-45 was about the top number to hit. At this meet half the field was at that mark or better. Some lifters preferred the snatch and some the swing. In the end, just like last year it was Ben Edwards and I battling it out for the top spot, with both of us landing on about the same number we did last year. Like I said, a fickle mistress.
The second discipline contested was the Hackenschmidt Floor Press. Abe Smith impressed me the most in this lift by hitting 345 at a bodyweight of 180. As the lightest competor in the meet, this was the third highest mark hit on the press. Scott Tully also hit a big mark of 360.
Once the pressing was completed, we moved the bar to the 18” boxes for the Kennedy Lift. This is the lift where one should be able to lift the most weight. And there were a few lifters who did not disappoint! Heather Tully kept pace with many of the fellas by hitting a big 400. Chad Ullum hit a 725 in the meet, but then Greg Cook called for 755, which would break the all-time record, regardless of age or weight. After a herculean effort, and the weight was locked out and still, VanVleck gave the down call for a good lift and a new record! Chad came back to match it with a 4th attempt for record. Dean Ross and Chris Todd also hit records on their fourth.
The last event in the contest was the Dumbell to shoulder. Because you can basically get it to your shoulder by whatever means you can, we got to witness some interesting techniques, from just cleaning it, to swinging it, to excruciating series of movements in the form of a continental. John Douglas did kind of a combination swing/continental to result in a big 200# lift. I was pleased to surpass my old record with a 313# lift, though I am suffering for it now.
After the meet was over and we were tallying scores, lifters had the otion of trying out an exhibition lift, the Lurich Lift. It is basically a Hack Lift from 18”. This lift was the brain child of Lance Foster, so I kind of let him take the reigns on this one. Several lifters took part. I took one attempt that failed at an embarrassing weight due to form issues, anatomical difficultied, or a combination thereof. Denny hit 185, Dean Ross hit 205, and John Douglas hit 225. Lance hit 315 on his pet lift. Ben Edwards managed a 405 lift on it, but Chad ullum amazed and insulted everyone with a massive lift of 605. So I guess this lift is possible. At the end, here are my thoughts on the lift is this going forward. I did not enjoy this lift for obvious reasons. With that being said, I see no reason why this lift would not be considered a valid OTSM lift and be presented for inclusion in our rule book. Feel free to chime in on this in our forum.
Wow! I felt like this was the tightest, fiercest competition this Championship has seen. Watching the scores unfold, I could not have told you if I won or got 7th or last. There was some big hitters at this meet, hitting big weights. I was hard to tell how it would all fall. In the end, it fell like this:
MEET RESULTS
Meet Promoter: Eric Todd
Head Official (1-Official System): Thom VanVleck
Loaders: All competitors
OTSM Lifts: Thor’s Hammer, Hackenschmidt Floor Press, Kennedy Lift, Dumbbell to Shoulder
Meet shirts provided by Metabolic Technologies
Hostess and Sandwich deliverer: Jenny Todd
WOMENS DIVISION
LIFTER | AGE | BWT | Thor | HFP | Ken | DB | TOT | PTS |
Heather Tully | 38 | 213 | 25 | 175 | 400 | 100 | 700 | 603.5 |
MENS DIVISION
LIFTER | AGE | BWT | Tho | HFP | Ken | DB | TOT | PTS |
Greg Cook | 60 | 253 | 40 | 275 | 755 | 175 | 1245 | 1187.1 |
Eric Todd | 42 | 252 | 60 | 385 | 650 | 313 | 1408 | 1145.3 |
Chad Ullom | 45 | 245 | 40 | 315 | 725 | 250 | 1330 | 1128.8 |
Abe Smith | 36 | 180 | 30 | 345 | 600 | 200 | 1175 | 1114.5 |
Scott Tully | 40 | 354 | 45 | 360 | 660 | 200 | 1265 | 858.7 |
Ben Edwards | 42 | 234 | 55 | 250 | 525 | 150 | 980 | 827.6 |
John Douglas | 54 | 315 | 40 | 275 | 500 | 200 | 1015 | 827.4 |
Denny Habecker | 74 | 195 | 25 | 200 | 325 | 75 | 625 | 764.1 |
Dean Ross | 74 | 231 | 25 | 200 | 335 | 90 | 650 | 724.5 |
Chris Todd | 38 | 272 | 30 | 275 | 365 | 175 | 845 | 642.4 |
Lance Foster | 51 | 326 | 32.5 | 155 | 400 | 150 | 737.5 | 576.2 |
Notes: BWT in pounds. All lifts recorded in pounds. TOT is total pounds lifted. PTS are overall adjusted points corrected for age and bodyweight adjustments.
Lurich Lift – Exhibition Lift
Ben Edwards 405
Dean Ross 205
Denny Habecker 185
Lance Foster 315
Chad Ullum 605
John Douglas 225
Extra Attempts for Record
Hackenschmidt Floor Press
Dean Ross 210
Kennedy Lift
Dean Ross 365
Chris Todd 405
Chad Ullum 755
Heather Tully became the third women’s champion last year, and this year becomes the first two time champion. Greg Cook becomes the 6th Champion in seven years. What made this the most impressive was that he did it against all but one former champs. He bested Chad, myself, Denny and Abe, all former OTSM champs to achieve this goal. Thank you to all who came out and helped or competed. It was a great day to be an all-rounder!
By Dan Wagman, PhD, CSCS
THE 2017 IRON WARRIOR RECORD DAY
On August 27, Denver’s Iron Warrior Gym hosted another USAWA Record Day. This gym’s perfect for all-round as it’s spacious, has several platforms, and tons of weights. Still, it’s obvious that the people training and coaching there aren’t familiar with the diversity of strength tests all-round offers. This time three lifters attempted to rewrite the record book while RJ Jackson and Jarrod Fobes judged.
Daryl Jackson, a University of Colorado student, has a varied martial arts background and is relatively new to all-round, though he was named Lifter of the Month in April, 2017. Considering how demanding his studies are, he thought it best to only contest two of his favorite lifts, the pull-up and chin-up. He started with the pull-up where he was successful with a new record of 95 pounds and missed 105. He wasn’t happy with that because he was hoping for 110 but I suspect that the super strict nature of pulling required by USAWA impacted how much he could lift; he missed his first two tries at 95 pounds on technicalities. But he kept his spirits high, supinated his grip, and gave the chin-up all he had. He missed his first attempt with 90 pounds, got it on his second, and had just enough energy left to declare, “I’m smoked. I’m done.”
RJ tasked her co-meet director Jarrod with judging her lifts. Of the five lifts she chose, the one she was most psyched about was the deadlift—index-finger. An aspect of concern to her were the types of injuries seen in this lift, “I was worried about the potential of snapping a tendon or ligament in my finger,” she explained. A few years back she set the USAWA record in that lift to establish a high standard. Then she dug deep in to training science, finger anatomy and physiology, and developed a training approach that allowed her to increase her record by 25 pounds; “I’m just amazed at how much strength I was able to gain with just those two fingers,” she told Jarrod.
Another lift RJ was excited about was the dumbbell-to-shoulder. Al Myers wrote a recent blog entry about it, unfortunately only one female—and a 13-year old at that—has met this challenge. So RJ thought it time to test herself and she smoked 75 pounds on her first attempt. To my dismay she decided to leave it at that. I really would’ve enjoyed seeing her throw around 100+ pounds. Next time, right?!
As to me, I was fortunate in being able to rotate between RJ and Jarrod for judging. Since I rely exclusively on the latest scientific developments in training and competition, I enjoy a decided advantage over those who prefer myth and conjecture. And so I seek out challenges beyond other competitors or the record book. For this Record Day I decided to see if I could devise a science-based training regimen that would allow me to break the Open deadlift—index-finger and middle-finger records in the same meet and in so doing also exceed the Open IAWA records, all while remaining injury free. I was successful on both counts with my index-finger but failed within inches of lockout to unofficially break the world record with my middle-fingers.
But that Al Myers and his darn blogs….Well into my training for the finger-deadlift-challenge I read Al’s blog entry on the Kennedy Lift. This lift I had never done and so I reasoned that it would constitute a great personal challenge to crank out some big weight with only three weeks of training left. To meet the challenge of putting resistance training research to the test I had to figure out how to most effectively manipulate all training variables so that in a short period of time I could lift a maximal amountof weight while, again, remaining injury free—this latter point has become most important to me over the 30+ years I’ve been competing in various strength sports. Principles of physiology dictate that I needed to focus primarily on having my nervous system learn the new movement; strength development had to be secondary. To do so with maximum effect I trained the Kennedy eight times in three weeks and manipulated all remaining training variables in very specific ways. Very quickly, however, I realized that I just might have challenged myself beyond what’s reasonable…
Dan almost made 331 pounds with his middle fingers! He had it close to lockout when his fingers gave way!
Due to the high frequency of training the Kennedy it invariably fell a few times on the same day as my finger deadlift work. Since I trained the finger deadlifts first, the result was drastically reduced grip strength for the Kennedy. But based on the many biomechanics studies focused on grip strength and training studies about maximizing gains in the type of muscle contraction unique to the vast majority of grip-strength tests, I wasn’t deterred; I knew the approach would generate supercompensation. In addition, to aid in grip strength recovery between finger deadlifts and the Kennedy I decided to throw in the press-dumbbell as an “intermission” for my main challenges.
Upon warming up for the Kennedy it became apparent that I had made tremendous gains in strength; my opener and second attempt were smoke. So I decided to give 766 a ride to break Al’s (yes, THAT Al) all-time record. But what good are strong legs, a strong back, and perfect technique if you can’t hold on to the bar? Despite the awesome gains made, grip strength remained the weak link in the Kennedy chain. Nevertheless—Hail Science!
Meet Results:
Iron Warrior Record Day
Iron Warrior Gym
Denver, Colorado
Sunday, August 27th, 2017
Meet Directors: RJ Jackson & Jarrod Fobes
Lifts: Record Day
Officials:
RJ Jackson – 1 Official Jarrod Fobes
Daryl Jackson – 1 Official RJ Jackson
Dan Wagman – 2 Officials Jarrod Fobes & RJ Jackson
RJ Jackson – F, 55 years old, 105.8 lbs. BWT
Dumbbell to Shoulder: 75 lbs.
Seated Press, from Rack: 70 lbs.
Side Press – Dumbbell, Right: 40 lbs.
Deadlift – Index Fingers: 105 lbs.
Side Press – Dumbbell, Left: 35 lbs.
Daryl Jackson – M, 27 years old, 152 lbs. BWT
Pull Up: 95 lbs.
Chin Up: 90 lbs.
Dan Wagman – M, Open Class, 182.6 lbs. BWT
Deadlift – Index Fingers: 216 lbs.
Deadlift – Middle Fingers: 316 lbs.
Press – Dumbbell, Left: 101 lbs.
Press – Dumbbell, Right: 101 lbs.
Kennedy Lift: 726 lbs.
By Al Myers
2017 USAWA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
The USAWA has new TEAM CHAMPIONS! The Overall Best Team Lifters in the USAWA for the past 8 years have been myself and my buddy Chad (and Overall winners in 9/10 Team Championships). But that streak is over…. and the dynamic duo of the USAWA is now LaVerne Myers and Dean Ross! These two have been at Team Lifting for many years now and with all that practice, are in tune to each other’s dance steps. The were in perfect synch and picked their attempts with precision. They were the only team to not miss an attempt all day, and finished close to their max on each of their final attempts.
LaVerne Myers (left) and Dean Ross (right) – the OVERALL Best Team at the 2017 USAWA Team Championships.
I was very excited to have 4 teams participate. The young team of Cale Dunlap and Brandon Rein showed great promise. These two will continually improve. They have no idea of what they are capable of yet in the USAWA.
It was great to see John Douglas of the Ledaig Club here for his first Team Championships. He paired with Dino Gym lifter Zach Lucas (since Dave let him down by not making it) and these two put up big lifts, and ended up with the highest TOTAL of the day. They lifted 600 in the Fulton Bar Ciavattone Grip Deadlift, and took a shot at the gym record of 672# held by Chad and myself. It was ah, so close!
I have to thank fellow Dino Gym member Dan Mather for joining me at the last minute (since Chad let me down). This was our first time lifting together in the Team format. We had a great time, and again, I greatly appreciate Dan stepping in so I could lift and not end MY streak of competing in all of the Team Championships.
Meet Results:
2017 USAWA Team Championships
Dino Gym
Abilene, KS
August 26th, 2017
Meet Director: Al Myers
Meet Officials (1-official system): Al Myers and LaVerne Myers
Lifts: Team Bent Arm Pullover, Team Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Ciavattone Grip, Team Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip
Teams:
Al Myers (51 years, 229#) and Dan Mather (35 years, 183#) – 105K Class & Open Age Group
Cale Dunlap (22 years, 168#) and Brandon Rein (22 years, 154 pounds) – 80K Class and Open Age Group
John Douglas (53 years, 311#) and Zach Lucas (31 years, 260#) – 125+K Class and Open Age Group
LaVerne Myers (73 years, 240#) and Dean Ross (74 years, 219#) – 110K Class and 70+ Age Group
2-MAN DIVISION
LIFTERS | PULL | DLCBFB | DLNT | TOT | PTS |
Myers/Ross | 190 | 500 | 500 | 1190 | 1291.9 |
Douglas/Lucas | 275 | 600 | 650 | 1525 | 1088.4 |
Myers/Mather | 230 | 500 | 550 | 1280 | 1062.6 |
Dunlap/Rein | 170 | 360 | 400 | 930 | 921.6 |
Notes: All lifts recorded in pounds. TOT is total pounds lifted. PTS are overall points adjusted for age and bodyweight corrections.
RECORD DAY LIFTS
LaVerne Myers
Bent Arm Pullover 90#
Clean and Press – Middle Fingers 50#
Deadlift – Stiff Leg 210#
Pinch Grip Deadlift 325#
Deadlift – Dumbbell, Right Arm 195#
Al Myers
Bent Arm Pullover 120#
Clean and Press – Middle Fingers 95#
Deadlift – Stiff Leg 400#
Pinch Grip Deadlift 450#
Lateral Raise – Lying 90#
By Al Myers
MEET REPORT AND RESULTS –
2017 USAWA PRESIDENTIAL CUP
Group picture from the 2017 Presidential Cup (front Left to right): Barry Pensyl, Art Montini, Denny Habecker, Aidan Habecker, (Back Left to right): Cale Dunlap, Jenn Tibbenham, Al Myers, Collin Cortez
We just had another GREAT Presidential Cup last weekend! This is now the 6th year in a row this Championship Event has been held. It was hosted by the President of the USAWA, Denny Habecker and held at Habecker’s Gym.
We had a number of newcomers to this meet as well as several past PREZ CUP winners were present. The new lifters were Collin Cortez, Cale Dunlap, Jenn Tibbenham, and Barry Pensyl. The past winners who were present included Aidan Habecker, Art Montini, and myself.
It was great to have Jenn from England compete in the Presidential Cup! One of her lifts was the Reeves Deadlift.
The BIGGEST surprise of the meet was having an International lifter in attendance – Jenn Tibbenham. Jenn lives in England and lifts for the IAWA(UK), but was here on vacation with her husband Graham. She wanted to take part in a USAWA competition, and we were delighted to have her compete. I’ve seen Jenn lift before and she always really impresses me. She gives 110 PERCENT on the platform and puts up huge lifts. She came to break some World Records and that she did. Her 72.5 KG (and close miss at 82.5KG) with the 1 handed VB impressed me the most.
Also – it’s always nice to see new lifters in the organization. We had that at the Prez Cup when Collin Cortez, a lifter and Navy man from Norfolk, Virginia entered. This was the very first USAWA competition for Collin. It didn’t take him long and he fit right in with the USAWA crowd. He put up a great Cup lift in the Hackenschmidt Floor Press which won him the Presidential Cup! I sure hope we see more of Collin in the USAWA.
Newcomer Collin Cortez (right) won the 2017 Presidential Cup Award, presented by the USAWA President Denny Habecker (Left).
It’s always a pleasure seeing and lifting with Barry Pensyl. Barry has a long track record with the USAWA (close to 20 years), but due to injuries he is making his comeback in the organization over the past couple of years. He’s “knocking on the door” of the Century Club and I predict he will be one of the next members. His PC lift with the Abdominal Raise impressed me the most of his lifts, and unofficially I would say it was the Runner Up lift for the Presidential Cup Award. Maybe next year Barry the Cup will be yours?
Young Aidan Habecker came into this meet as last years Cup Winner. I think he had his sights on winning it again! However, he opened a little too heavy on his Cup Lift with the 2″ VBar, and had to fall back on his second lift, the 1″ V bar Lift for his Cup Lift. He then went on to set a couple more very impressive records.
The MAN OF STEEL Art Montini made yet again, another fantastic appearance on the platform. Art worked in the Steel Mill all his working life, and is a tough as nails. It won’t be long and he’ll be in the 90-94 Age Group and I’m betting he will still be setting records. I don’t see any signs that he is slowing up with the weights.
Denny, on top of hosting this fine event, still performed a couple of record lifts himself. He first filled his tank and got all “gassed up” with a big jug of chocolate milk, and then put up some fine lifting. I was BY FAR the most impressed with his Steinborn Lift of 75KG. It took all he had, and then afterwards realized it was loaded to 75KG instead of 55KG which he thought it was!
I want to really thank Denny and Judy for hosting the event. Judy prepared all of us a great breakfast after weigh-ins. You don’t find that kind of hospitality everywhere, but you DO in the USAWA.
Meet Results:
2017 USAWA Presidential Cup
Habecker’s Gym
Lebanon, PA
August 5th, 2017
Meet Director: Denny Habecker
Scorekeeper: Al Myers
Officials (3-Official System Used): Denny Habecker, Al Myers, Art Montini
Lifts – Record Day Lifts
Aidan Habecker – 14 years old & 146 pounds BWT
Vertical Bar Lift – 1 Bar, 1″, Right Hand: 57.5 KG
Continental to Chest: 52.5 KG
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 2 Bars, 2″: 105 KG
Cale Dunlap – 22 years old & 164 pounds BWT
French Press: 55 pounds
Collin Cortez – 29 years old & 217 pounds BWT
Hackenschmidt Floor Press: 157.5 KG
Snatch – Dumbbell, Left Arm: 117 pounds
Bench Press – Hands Together: 271 pounds
Jenn Tibbenham – 33 years old & 219 pounds BWT
Hack Lift – 2″ Bar: 105 KG
Reeves Deadlift: 223 pounds
Vertical Bar Deadlift – 1 Bar, 2″, Left Hand: 72.5 KG
Al Myers – 50 years old & 231 pounds BWT
Bench Press – Hands Together: 105 KG
Barry Pensyl – 69 years old & 151 pounds BWT
Abdominal Raise: 21 KG
Bench Press – Alternate Grip: 127 pounds
Curl – Strict: 27.5 KG
Denny Habecker – 74 years old & 192 pounds BWT
Curl – Cheat, Dumbell, Right Arm: 55 pounds
Steinborn Lift: 75 KG
Art Montini – 89 years old & 163 pounds BWT
Deadlift – Ciavattone Grip, Fulton Bar: 60 KG
Hack Lift – 50 KG
Deadlift – Fulton Bar: 70 KG