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thanks for clarifying that up. I’m looking forward to meeting you and all the rest. See you then.

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Never having competed in a USAWA meet, I don’t know what record day 2-6pm is all about. What equipment do I need to bring?? Thanks

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Tom, did you read ‘Muscletown, USA’ written by John D. Fair? What a good read!! Helped a youngster like myself(40 in November) get caught up on some history of York Barbell and Hoffman.
I’ve loaned it to folks who don’t workout and it’s been thoroughly enjoyed.

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Yep, Al, the Deadlift IS the way to go. I’d like to add to what you said. The mental benefit coming from manhandling a big dead is priceless. Most of us can master a big deadlift long before a big squat. Deading a big weight is a huge mental boost.
For myself, I switch up my dead workouts. Sometimes I warmup with snatches or cleans. Just get a good groove going then jump into deads. I notice my dead technique is a little sharper form the high skill snatches/cleans. Other times, I go heavy on the deads first then hit snatches or cleans. Either of which I’m able to go relatively heavy on because of the heavy deads. I also pull sumo, Jefferson, Hack, Untrapt bar.
I’m sure you know this was coming… SIDE BENDS!! Most of us are either left or right handed. We are ALWAYS going to favor one side when the going gets tough…WHETHER YOU FEEL IT OR NOT…WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT. I try to minimize leaning more to one side at all times in my training. I think the best thing you can do for your low back health/balance is heavy side bends. I believe it is the BEST injury preventitive exercise you can do.
Lastly, its alot easier to bail out on a deadlift than a squat or a clean…just drop the damn weight.

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Now we’re down to two Olympic lifts. Sure is a shame that the press bit the dust in 72′. I believe that the press going from a strength/low gear lift to a quick lift gave lower geared athletes motivation to head towards Powerlifting. The 64′ rule change allowing thigh contact with the bar also downplayed the need for upper body strength.
Watching a Paul Anderson press is much more impressive than an Alexeev press. No disrespect to Vasily but can you imagine how much Anderson would’ve done in that style. HECK, his Jerks weren’t even Jerks, they were push presses.
Hoisting a big weight overhead with your hands is always outdone by doing it with ONE. I’m glad the USAWA gives folks a place to contest so many old-school productive lifts.
Maybe I’ll put on an old-school 5 lift Olympic meet here in Maine.

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Which is interesting seeing by the 1928 Olympics, they had it down to 3 lifts. Contesting the other 2 for 7 more years is NOT something they’d do today.

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I’ll guess that it was 1928.

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That is VERY cool. I’ve always been impressed with the lifters of the past. Even with the drugs, latest supplements, equipment, many of the records still remain. I’m sure many of the past greats have forgotten more than I’ll ever know but it sure is a hell of a good time learning.
Thanks for the quiz. Unbelievable that Mr. Batchell could lift what he did. How much did he weigh?? I’m most impressed by how much weight is lifted vs bodyweight. Kinda like high jumpers that jump way higher than they are tall. I think its a sign of superior mental strength. Inspirational indeed!!

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Probably just a POWERful way to SPLIT the difference. Just had to SNATCH the opportunity.

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Al, I like working up weakest version to strongest version of a lift as well. Nothing like Overhead Squat followed by Front Squat followed by SSB Squat followed by Olympic Squat. Some times the opposite is interesting as well: Strongest to weakest.

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Jarrod, I didn’t realize that was you that sent the message.
I erased part of what I wrote to you but now that I know it’s you, I’ll rewrite it here for all to see.
Knowing we are(mostly)dominant on one side, I believe our left and right sides are playing tug of war with our Quadratus Lumborum(QL). That goes for when we sleep as well.
I also believe that with two arms pulling back and forth(dominant one actively the other isometrically)ie:dominant arm lifts while the other arm braces/supports, we get out of whack in the upper back as well. The dominant side is too short while the bracing side is too long. Add in a 20 something lb head on top and as Scooby-Doo would say,”RUT RO RAGGY!!” Though a Scooby Snack would taste good, you’d still hurt.
Many moons ago I came up with a Reverse Deadlift. The best part of this exercise happens BEFORE I start. The set up is the key.
I have a Power Rack with a built in Pullup bar. I set up a bar on the hooks in my rack so that when I support myself on my hands alone, my head rest against the pullup bar for balance. That knob on the back of the skull is just over the top of the pullup bar. FEET ARE NOT ON THE FLOOR!! I have a shoulder width overhand grip on the bar. As soon as my head rest against the pullup bar, I’ll feel my upper back/neck release. Sometimes I hear one pop, other times, I hear several. Curiously, they are always on my right side and I’m right handed. Coincidence? Maybe, but I don’t think so. Think vertical traction.
Now for the exercise itself. Let the shoulders come up without bending the arms. Now push the shoulders down(reverse shrug) as you pull your knees up over the bar into the starting postion of a normal Deadlift. The head can move but keep it pushing back somewhat into the bar. Add weight/bands etc as needed. Definitely makes you more aware of how you deadlift.
Just getting into postion alone has done wonders for my upper back/neck. Sometimes it’ll shift down into my SACRUM!!! Yes that area BELOW the Lumbars!! This and Side Bend work have done alot to keep me centered.
Do what you Chiropractor tells you, I just try to share this when I can. I hope it can help any and all on this site. If there’s enough interest, I’ll make a video for it. Good Luck!!

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[b]Quote from joegarcia on April 11, 2011, 13:03[/b]
I on the other hand think the USAWA is a unique organization. You have all the other letter orgs, with raw, geared, tested, non-tested, etc already. The English added powerlifting because the main drivers over there are big into that venue, not that it is something that everyone wanted. Also, since the IAWA seems to allow for the records, you can already have a meet with those lifts in there. I don’t want to see us become just another powerlifting org.

No matter WHICH way we go with this, the USAWA will ALWAYS be a unique orginazation. Even if we do include Powerlifting, there is NO way we’d become just another Powerlifting orginazation.
As someone with Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting, Strongman memberships(soon to be USAWA as well), I’d like a chance to compete under one roof so to speak.
When Bill Clark set the USAWA up originally, Powerlifting was NOT in the out of control situation it finds itself now. Being in the USAWA would give Powerlifting some dignity again. Who’s more qualified than the USAWA to give Powerlifting some credibility again??

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For the same reasons that there is a USAWA/IAWA Strongman format already, adding Powerlifting would make sense.
I’ve always considered myself a Physical Culturist. The USAWA seems to do so as well. ANY type of training with a focus on common sense, good sportsmanship and a ton of hard work does a body good and makes you a better person. Getting more folks involved with this lifestyle via a USAWA styled Powerlifting meet seems like a good idea to me.

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[b]Quote from memck487@aol.com on April 10, 2011, 07:24[/b]
Actually there need not be reason to worry about the various powerlift organizations, as the bench press, squat, and deadlift are legitimate events in the IAWA . It’s never been clear to me why these lifts aren’t standard in the USAWA as well ,but our membership fee automatically puts us into the IAWA, and records set on the powerlifts at a USAWA sanctioned meet will certainly be registered!(Over in England they just completed the IAWA Powerlift championships).For instance in Larry Traub’s upcoming meet, many of his alumni lifters don’t have to settle for “exhibition” status, when they can shoot for possible world records!

THAT is very interesting!! I compete in Powerlifting. I would FULLY support a USAWA Power meet. I’ll load my own attempts if need be(NOT a big sacrifice seeing I won’t need alot of weight on the bar)!! I’ve been in AAU & APF meets. Treated great by both. The spirit of the lifting I’m about is USAWA. I’ve ALWAYS competed RAW,even in geared meets. I don’t even use a belt. Yep, as Victor Hugo said, “An army of thousands can be resisted but not an idea whose time has come!!”

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A performance pointer that I now realize. Step back away from the bar and lean your bodyweight into the arms. Think doing a stiff arm pullDOWN against the bar as you do this exercise. I’m curious what this will be like with a longer bar.

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