Category Archives: USAWA History

A Look Back in USAWA History

August 15, 2010 Al Myers

by Al Myers

5 Years ago (June-August 2005)

* Frank Ciavattone won the USAWA/World Heavy Lift Championships in Walpole, Massachusetts on August 27, 2005. Twelve competitors were in the competition.

* Steve Schmidt had a busy summer putting on strongman shows. In North Judson, Indiana on June 18th, 2005 he pulled a 58,200# caboose 90 feet with his teeth. On August 27th, 2005 in Knox, Indiana he pulled with his teeth a 18-Wheeler weighing 32,200 pounds.

* Mike McBride wins Best Lifter at the USAWA National Championships on June 25-26, 2005 in Youngstown, Ohio. The meet was hosted by Dick Hartzell and Carl LaRosa of the Jump Stretch Training Facility.

* The United States was the winner of the IAWA World Postal Championships promoted by the West Australian All-Round Association. The six-man USAWA team members included: Ed Schock, Eric Todd, Abe Smith, Al Myers, Lon Beffort, and Mike McBride.

* Frank Ciavattone, on June 11th 2005, performed a 800# Neck Lift at the New England Championships.

10 Years ago (June-August 2000)

* On September 2-3, 2000, the IAWA World Championships was held in Mansfield, Massachusetts, hosted by meet director Frank Ciavattone. A total of 39 lifters entered.

* Art Montini received the Ciavattone Award at the IAWA Awards Banquet. This award was given annually by the Ciavattone Family in remembrance of Frank Ciavattone, Sr.

* Howard Prechtel, the President of the USAWA and the IAWA at the time, broke a harness lifting record set by Warren Lincoln Travis in 1906. To accomplish this record, Howard lifted 510 pounds for 3120 repetitions in 62 minutes, for a total poundage of 1,591,200 pounds.

* Three USAWA Clubs participated in the Postal League. These clubs were the Powerzone Club, Ambridge BBC, and Clark’s Gym.

* The 2000 USAWA National Championship’s Best Lifter was Ed Schock. Schock just edged out Frank Ciavattone, John Monk and John McKean. This championship was hosted by Denny Habecker on July 1st and 2nd.

* Bob Hirsh was inducted into the USAWA Hall of Fame.

15 Years ago (June-August 1995)

* Clark’s Gym was the host for the 1995 USAWA National Championships held in Columbia, Missouri on June 3-4. Kerry Clark was the Female Best Lifter and Art Montini was the Male Best Lifter.

* Howard Prechtel broke a long standing record set by Warren Lincoln Travis in 1927. Travis had lifted 5,500,000 pounds using 1000 pounds for 5,500 repetitions in the Back Lift in 3 hours, 9 minutes. Prechtel did 1,111 pounds for 5,460 repetitions for a “total poundage” of 6,066,060 pounds. Howard was 57 years old when he accomplished this amazing record.

* Howard Prechtel hosted the 1995 IAWA World Championships in Eastlake, Ohio on August 12-13, 1995. Bob Hirsh was the men’s Best Lifter and Noi Phumchaona was the women’s Best Lifter.

20 Years age (June-August 1990)

* The third annual IAWA World Championships was held in Glasgow, Scotland. The best USAWA performances were by Noi Phumchona (2nd among women), Art Montini (second among the masters) and Barry Bryan (third among the men).

* Barry Bryan was the top Open Male Lifter at the USAWA National Championships, hosted by Attilio Alacchi on July15-16. Art Montini was the top Masters Lifter. Jeanne Burchett was the top women’s lifter.

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(Credit is given to The Strength Journal, written and published by Bill Clark, for which all of the preceding information was found for this historical review.)

History of Formulas used in the USAWA

July 13, 2010 Al Myers

by Al Myers

When you KNOW it's time to blame the formula!

This past week on the USAWA Discussion Forum a lively debate got started on the fairness of using Formulas in comparing athletes for overall placings. The USAWA is unique in doing this compared to other lifting organizations which prefer to just give awards for different divisions or classes. Sure these other organizations might use a Formula to award a Best Lifter, but the USAWA uses a formula to determine the overall ranking of every athlete in the competition, from the top to the bottom. No OTHER organization does this!! We now use the Lynch Formula to make the “handicap” adjustment for bodyweight differences and use a Age Allowance Percentage for Junior Lifters and Lifters age 40 and above. I am NOT going to give my viewpoint and opinion on the fairness of using formulas in this article, as that is better left for the Discussion Forum. Instead, I would like to review the history of formulas used in the USAWA, and give insight to how these different formulas were derived.

The main All-Round competitions that occurred prior to the USAWA (1987) were “odd lift” meets promoted by Bill Clark out of Missouri. These meets were contested under the direction of the Missouri Valley Weightlifting Federation, the Region IV division of the USWF. The formula used at that time to determine rankings was the Schwartz Formula. Numerous old Zercher Meet results verified this. The USAWA really began in the summer of 1987, with the first official records recorded for the USAWA in the fall of 1987. At this point the USAWA adopted the use of the O’Carroll Formula for bodyweight adjustment and it was used extensively in the USAWA in 1988. The Zercher Meet in 1988 used the O’Carroll Formula. The National Masters Weightlifting Program started using the Sinclair Formula at this time, and even used a unique formula developed by Joe McCoy that adjusts for bodyweight AND age at the 1987 National Masters Olympic Lifting Championships directed by USAWA Hall of Famer John Vernacchio. It was called the Sinclair-McCoy Formula and ONLY applied to Olympic Lifting totals. The FIRST USAWA National Championships directed by John Vernacchio in 1988 used the O’Carroll Formula. I did find a few old USAWA meet results from the late 80’s where the Sinclair Formula was used for All-Round Meets. The Sinclair Formula was developed by Canadian mathematician/weightlifting enthusiast Roy Sinclair. He used the weightlifting results from the Olympics as his data base to determine the coefficients for his formula. Another interesting formula brought forth from the IAWA in the early 90’s was the Blindt Formula, developed by British lifter Adrian Blindt. It didn’t correct for bodyweight, but for the lifts involved. Each lift had its own factor. The idea was this would make it more fair, in example, to compare a lift where lots of weight can be lifted, like a Hip Lift to a lift where much less weight is lifted, like a Press. This formula was never used in the USAWA, but was used in some IAWA competitions. I remember it was used in the IAWA World Postal Meets promoted by the Australians a few years back.

However, by the early 1990’s most all USAWA results started using the Lynch Formula, which we still use today. The Lynch Formula was developed in 1988 by Ian Lynch, a lifter from England. The Lynch Factors (or coefficients) have not changed since its inception. I know this because I found an old Lynch Chart from the early 90’s and compared it to today’s Lynch Chart and it’s the same. No updates and no modifications. Recently, we have been faced with a problem using the Lynch Formula, and that problem is the highest bodyweight factor on the Lynch Chart is 150 kilograms. It is not uncommon nowadays to get a lifter that weighs over 330 pounds, and we have no way to correct for them! In the past when this happened the meet director would either “estimate” a Lynch Factor for them or just give the athlete the highest bodyweight correction on the chart. I don’t think EITHER of those solutions are acceptable – and thus I began to try to find the “original Lynch Formula” so the chart could be extended for higher bodyweights. I inquired several places and couldn’t find any leads. Finally, thanks to Tom Ryan and our IAWA President Steve Gardner, Ian Lynch was located and I could go right to the source of the Lynch Formula! Unfortunately, the exact formula and method of reproducing it has been lost. However, Ian Lynch was very helpful in sharing some details and information on why the Lynch Formula was developed and used in All-Round Weightlifting. The Lynch Formula is very similar to the O’Carroll Formula with the differences being that the Lynch Formula is slightly more favorable for lighter lifters. In a sense, it “leveled out the curve” on the light end of the O’Carroll Formula. Both the Lynch and O’Carroll Formulas were derived using body factors whereas the Schwartz and Sinclair Formulas are based on Olympic lifting performances or World Records for Olympic Lifting. I think this makes the Lynch Formula more applicable to All-Round Weightlifting. It sure doesn’t make sense to me to use a formula based on the two Olympic Lifts, and then expect it to correlate to over the 200 lifts we do in All-Round Weightlifting! Ian Lynch had this to say about the development of the Lynch Formula from the O’Carroll Formula considering body factors , ” The O’Carroll Formula assumed all lifters non-muscular weight was constant, ie bones etc. That didn’t work well particularly for lighter lifters.” That must have been the reason for the points being adjusted slightly in favor of lighter lifters.

Just out of curiosity I “recalculated” the results of last year’s World Championships using the Sinclair and O’Carroll Formulas. This is how it would change “the top ten”:

Lifter	BWT	Lynch Pts.	Sinclair Pts.	O’Carroll Pts.
Mark Haydock	122.9	764.3	1005.2	771.1
Al Myers	114.7	763.1	978.5	768.6
Chad Ullom	104.3	749.8	936.2	758.9
Roger Davis	81.6	736.6	896.9	737.0
Denny Habecker	86.1	661.1	805.3	661.9
John Monk	79.8	658.3	802.1	658.4
Bill Spayd	107.9	655.3	825.0	659.1
Scott Schmidt	119.7	598.6	779.3	603.6
Art Montini	78.2	588.9	718.3	589.1
Josh Haydock	66.9	582.2	724.6	565.7

This group of lifters make up an interesting data base for this comparison, because lifters of different body weights are represented (from 66.9 kgs to 122.9 kgs). Not much changes in the placings between the three formulas being applied except for Bill Spayd. He placed 7th overall using the Lynch Formula, but would have been 5th using the Sinclair Formula. You can really see how the Lynch Formula favors lighter lifters compared to the O’Carroll Formula. Just compare Mark Haydock (at 122.9 kgs) to Josh Haydock (at 66.9 kgs). Mark’s Lynch Points are LOWER than his O’Carroll Points while Josh’s Lynch Points are MORE than his O’Carroll Points. John Monk, at 80 kilograms, has the bodyweight that gives the same points using both the Lynch Formula and the O’Carroll Formula. The Sinclair Formula MUCH favors heavier lifters. Just look at the top four placings where the bodyweights of the lifters decrease with each placing. It is pretty close using the Lynch Formula, but with the Sinclair Formula the point gap widens much more with each subsequent placing.

This doesn’t answer the long debated notion that “formulas are not fair”, but I hope that it provides some insight to how the formulas work and why we use them in the USAWA.

Summary of Heavy Lift Competitions

June 27, 2010 Dale Friesz

by Dale E. Friesz

Men’s Division

Event	Winner	Harness	Hip	H&T	Neck	Back	Total
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2009-5/16 Lebanon, PA	Al Myers Age 42 BWT 254	NC	1845	1204	405	NC	3454
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2008-11/15 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 53 BWT 224	3000	2020	1300	355	2750	9425
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2007-11/09 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 52 BWT 224	2885	2000	1300	315	2705	9345
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2006-11/12 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 51 BWT 223	2700	2100	1200	355	2805	9160
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 2005-11/13 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 50 BWT 218	3010	1900	1300	400	2705	9315
USAWA National Heavy Lift Championships 2005-8/27 Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone Age 50 BWT 270	2200	1900	1200	702	1800	7802
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 2004-11/14 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 49 BWT 220	3110	2105	1400	415	2615	9645
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2004-8/28 Lebanon, PA	Frank Ciavattone Age 49 BWT 267	NC	1902	1203	653	NC	3758
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon & USAWA Heavy Lift Meet 2003-11/09 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 48 BWT 208	2900	2000	1300	405	2700	9305
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 2002-11/10 Columbia, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 47 BWT 209	3005	2050	1000	400	2600	9055
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2002-10/19 Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone Age 47 BWT 263	2000	2005	1450	650	2000	8105
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2001-11/10 Columbia, MO	Dale Spry Age 41 BWT 196	2005	1400	625	335	1000	5365
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2000-11/05 Columbia, MO	John Monk Age 35 BWT 152	1685	1325	1005	555	1305	5875
Steve Schmidt’s Backbreaker 1999-10/31 Columbia, MO	James Foster Age 30 BWT 204	1400	1200	1005	505	1500	5610
USAWA National Heavy Lift Championships 1999-9/11 Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone Age 44 BWT 278	2400	1750	1400	650	NC	6200
USAWA National Heavy Lift Championships 1998-12/05 Walpole, MA	Frank Ciavattone Age 43 BWT 273	2350	1800	1200	550	NC	5900
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1998-11/01 Columbia, MO	Joe Garcia Age 45 BWT 222	1680	1475	1275	475	1670	6575
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1997-11/01 Columbia, MO	John Carter Age 39 BWT 229	3405	2305	1275	400	2000	9385
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1996-10/27 Columbia, MO	John Carter Age 38 BWT 226	3015	2335	1205	400	2300	9255
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1995-10/29 Columbia, MO	John Carter Age 37 BWT 222	2905	2305	1105	400	2600	9315
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1994-10/30 Columbia, MO	John Carter Age 36 BWT 215	2500	2525	910	400	2300	8635
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1993-10/24 Columbia, MO	John Carter Age 35 BWT 208	2505	2310	900	400	2205	8320
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1992-10/25 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 37 BWT 209	3315	2390	1100	502	2912	10219
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1991-10/20 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 36 BWT 220	3515	2420	1013	547	2902	10377
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1990-10/21 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 35 BWT 219	2867	2350	1124	506	2800	9647
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1989-10/22 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 34 BWT 220	3505	2200	1005	505	2822	10037
Strongman Pentathlon 1988-10/16 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 33 BWT 223	3500	2200	1200	475	2850	10231
Schmidt’s Pentathlon 1987-10/11 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 32 BWT 218	3300	2400	1225	470	2805	10200
Strongman Pentathlon 1986-10/25 Sullivan, MO	Steve Schmidt Age 31 BWT 224	3000	2135	1150	435	2610	9330

Women’s Division

Event	Winner	Harness	Hip	H&T	Neck	Back	Total
USAWA National Heavy Lift Championships 2005-8/27 Walpole, MA	Cara Collins Age 33 BWT 205	920	900	390	250	378	2788
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 2002-10/19 Walpole, MA	Cara Collins Age 30 BWT 240	800	880	600	250	1000	3530
USAWA National Heavy Lift Championships 1998-12/05 Walpole, MA	Cara Collins Age 26 BWT 187	1000	600	600	250	NC	2450
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1997-11/01 Columbia, MO	Amy Burks Age 19 BWT 125	1085	885	465	175	850	3470
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1995-10/29 Columbia, MO	Emily Gordon Age 12 BWT 77	450	300	165	85	250	1250
USAWA Heavy Lift Championships 1994-10/30 Columbia, MO	Kerry Clark Age 30 BWT 165	1075	1055	450	345	1360	4285
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1993-10/24 Columbia, MO	Kerry Clark Age 29 BWT 163	1305	1125	525	325	1210	4490
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1992-10/25 Sullivan, MO	Deanne Hartwig Age 43 BWT 135	900	701	352	167	706	2826
Schmidt’s Backbreaker Pentathlon 1989-10/22 Sullivan, MO	Cindy Garcia Age 36 BWT 152	850	700	450	185	1000	3185
Strongman Pentathlon 1988-10/16 Sullivan, MO	Ruth Thrasher Age 24 BWT 113	860	700	280	215	750	2805

BWT – bodyweight

NC – Lift Not Contested at Meet

Lifts: Harness Lift, Hip Lift, Hand and Thigh Lift, Neck Lift, Back Lift

The One and Only Steve Schmidt

June 26, 2010 Dale Friesz

There is only one SUPER HEAVY LIFT LIFTER:

THE ONE and ONLY STEVE SCHMIDT

by Dale E. Friesz

Steve Schmidt set many Back Lift records using his custom-built Back Lift Apparatus.

What follows is a history of the male and female winners of what has progressed, in name only, from the STRONGMAN PENTATHLON, to the SCHMIDT’S PENTATHLON, to the SCHMIDT’S BACKBREAKER PENTATHLON, to the USAWA NATIONAL HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS, to the STEVE SCHMIDT’S BACKBREAKER, and to the USAWA HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS. The data source is our former organization’s newsletter written by Bill Clark, the STRENGTH JOURNAL. I believe it is safe to assume that Bill Clark was involved in the meet name changes. The same five lifts have been contested since the first meet on 11/25-1986 – the lifts are the NECK LIFT, the HAND & THIGH, the HIP LIFT, the HARNESS LIFT, and the BACKLIFT. It seems that Steve Schmidt, together with Bill Clark, conceived of the meet as it contains the four chain lifts and the biggest lift of all the USAWA – the BACKLIFT. Steve has competed in 14 of these meets since the first in 1986 in his yard and barn in Sullivan, Missouri. He is UNDEFEATED! The small table that follows shows how Steve has managed to cheat father time:

TOTAL	YEAR	LOCATION	BWT	AGE
10377	1991	Sullivan	220	36
10231	1988	Sullivan	223	33
10219	1992	Sullivan	209	37
10200	1987	Sullivan	218	32
10037	1989	Sullivan	220	34
9647	1990	Sullivan	219	35
9645	2004	Columbia	220	49
9415	2008	Columbia	224	53
9345	2007	Columbia	224	52
9330	1986	Sullivan	224	31
9315	2005	Columbia	218	50
9305	2003	Columbia	208	48
9160	2006	Columbia	223	51
9055	2002	Columbia	209	47

I have enjoyed the recent forum discussions that Steve’s apparatus and large diameter heavy bar made it possible for him to lift such “unreal” poundages. Also, as he aged he was not able to lift as much weight. I point out that no one has been able to beat him regardless of the equipment used. Also, that after nearly a quarter century of training he cracked the 3000 pound backlift ceiling twice in one meet, maxing at 3050 pounds. Big Al was very much present when it was done as it took place in his gym, using his state of the art backlift equipment.

Best Crucifix Lifts of All-Time

June 18, 2010 Al Myers

by Al Myers

Eric Todd and his USAWA record performance in the Crucifix, with a lift of 140 pounds at the 2005 Deanna Springs Memorial Meet.

I think it is only appropriate to HIGHLIGHT the best lifts ever in the Crucifix since it is our signature lift, as demonstrated by the USAWA logo. The rules of the Crucifix are often misunderstood. People will assume it is the same as other similar lifts like the Iron Cross, Muscle Out or Side Lateral, but the Crucifix Lift is much different. The USAWA Rules of the Crucifix Lift is as follows:

Two evenly loaded dumbbells or kettlebells are used for this lift. The lift begins at the lifter’s discretion. The dumbbells are taken to arms’ length overhead with the palms of the hands facing each other and dumbbells touching. The lifter must bring the feet together so the heels are together and touching. The body must be upright at the start of the lift. Once in this position, an official will give the command to start the lift. The lifter will then lower the dumbbells to the side with arms’ straight and palms up. Elbows must be fully locked. The lifter may lean back to any extent when lowering the dumbbells. The wrists do not need to be held straight. The legs must remain straight and knees locked throughout the lift. The heels must remain together and the heels and toes must not rise during the lift. Once the arms are parallel to the platform, and the dumbbells motionless, an official will give a command to end the lift.

The best All-Time USAWA lift in the Crucifix is held by Eric Todd, with a lift of 140 pounds performed at the 2005 Deanna Springs Memorial Meet in the 110K Class. This lift was judged under the strict judging of Bill Clark. Eric holds a couple of other weight group records with lifts of 130 pounds and 120 pounds, so he is the REAL DEAL when it comes to the Crucifix Lift. I have competed several times in meets with Eric when the Crucifix was being contested, and I am always amazed at what he does. Only four other USAWA lifters have ever done over 100 pounds – these being Sam Huff, Mike McBride, Bill Spayd, and Ed Schock (who has the top Master Lift in the Crucifix at 100 pounds). The top teenager in the Crucifix is Abe Smith, who did 70 pounds. Amokor Ollennuking has the top female lift in the USAWA with a lift of 60 pounds.

The famous picture of Joe Southard, performing a Crucifix Lift of 130 pounds in 1963.

What is the best Crucifix in history? I did some research and their are several “claims” but most seem to have not been verified. I consider Louis Cyr to be the best in history. Cyr did a Crucifix with 94 pounds in the right hand, and 88 pounds in the left, for a total weight of 182 pounds. Marvin Eder and Doug Hepburn both were credited with a “Crucifix- like lift” of 100 pounds per hand, but were judged “less than strict”. Among Old-Time Strongmen, George Hackenschmidt did a Crucifix 0f 180 pounds in 1902. But even Hackenschmidt said in his own words that it was performed “in a less strictly correct style”.

One thing is certain – the description and rules of the Crucifix has been different throughout history, and not always conforming with today’s set USAWA rules. Actually, the USAWA rules make the Crucifix as difficult as possible with these criteria: heels being together throughout, elbows fully locked at finish, and the lift being completed upon official’s command, thus requiring the weight to be momentarily paused. Joe Southard, the great Illinois All-Rounder, did 130# in the Crucifix at 165# bodyweight in 1963. This was considered the World Record for quite some time for a competitive Crucifix Lift. The picture of Joe Southard doing this record became well known to USAWA lifters, as it graced the cover of our Rule Book for several years. But look at the picture closely – and you will notice the dumbbells Southard was using were not loaded evenly on both ends, which would not comply with today’s USAWA Rules. How much that would help I have no idea. Another couple of lifters who excelled at the Crucifix in the Mo-Valley All-Rounds (before the USAWA was formed) was Steve Schmidt (110# Crucifix at 220# BW in 1985) and Bob Burtzloff (100# Crucifix at HWT in 1982). Both of these lifts were officiated under the same rules as we use today.

The Crucifix has only been performed in one meet in the USAWA these past few years, and that is the Deanna Springs Memorial Meet, hosted by Bill Clark. It is in the Deanna Meet EVERY year, as the events in that meet don’t change. The Crucifix Lift is the perfect example of a true “odd lift”, and for this reason makes a great “poster lift” for the USAWA .

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