Is USAWA holding OTSM Back?

[Sanjiv Gupta]

There have been 53 sanctioned events completed or planned for 2024 and the most significant growth have been in the Old Time Strongman (OTSM) space. Since their introduction in 2011, these have been very exciting in terms of promotion, participants and results.

The Hackendinne Classic II had participation numbers that rivaled the National Championship. Many new events this year included at least one OTSM lift including Iron Palace Trial of Kings and True North Open. Both events expanded USAWA into new geographical areas.

Meanwhile, the classic all-round competitions like the Zercher Strength Classic, Heavy Lift Championship and New England Heavy Lift Classic have continued to see low but stable number of participants.

At the National Meeting quite a few discussion items surrounded OTSM
•Knee Sleeves – failed
•Deadlift – Inch Dumbbells – passed
•Bavarian Deadlift – passed
•Saxon Deadlift – passed

OTSM has been so influential is all-round competition that IAWA decided that world records will now be allowed to be registered. Although the lifts are still not sanctioned for international competition.

Finally for the first time in USAWA history, the National Champion in 2025 will be crowned using (4) OTSM lifts.

If OTSM (OTSM and Special Equipment) and Traditional All-Round (cleans, snatches, presses, deadlifts, squats, dumbbell, Fulton, Heavy Lift) were to start a modest divide, both organizations could have a more focused mission.

Supportive equipment like knee sleeves and elbow sleeves could be used in OTSM. The organization could start establishing records with blobs, loadable kegs and loadable Husafell implements. The memory of old time strongmen could be embraced without the baggage of lifts that have been approved, but rarely contested.

Meanwhile traditional All-Round could maintain the hard line on uniform standards. Cleans, Snatches and Press variations can be celebrated. The Crucifix Lift and Bent Press could once again take center stage. The organization could also continue to hold records for esoteric lifts like the Lano Lift and the Self Loaded Leg Press.

These are my personal opinions, and I would love to hear other members thoughts on OTSM lifts.

[Denny Habecker]

I like a lot of the OTSM lifts but I do not think they should be contested in meet like our National Championships, Because many of the lifts take too long to set up. We used to have a rule that we had to have at least one heavylift in the National Championships. That rule was changed because someone that was exceptional on the heavylifts could win the meet on the strength of one lift. I can see the same thing happening with the OTSM lifts. We have an OTSM Championship every year and the OTSM lifts can be done on Record days or meets like the Hackendinnie.

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