[Al Myers]

It’s good to see that Thom will be lifting in this meet – as I know there are those in the organization who wonder if he even lifts as most have never seen him on the platform.

And Dan, even though I know it would give you perverse pleasure in giving me the “old double finger flip” – let me give you the recommendation that instead of using emotion to dictate how to perform this lift you apply scientific principles of angular momentum. Al

[Al Myers]

I’m in full agreement with what Thom just said.

I always try to follow the bar to the platform with my hands (but maybe not in a full grip). I do this because I would hate to lose a lift because of a drop when the “hard work” was already done. The problem with overhead lifts is that with bumpers the bar tends to bounce and can cause impact issues to the hands and fingers. This has happened to me many times – as I’m sure others as well.

At one time the zercher was required to be set back on the knees and then lifted to the platform. Thank goodness that isn’t required anymore!

I do agree with ET that it is unsportsmanlike to drop the bar with intention (even though it might not be called). Also – I’ll repeat that the rules are written to say that “Dropping the bar is a disqualification. The bar must be under control by the lifter in the return to the platform”. An official has full rule authority to red light any lift they feel are in violation of this.

[Al Myers]

Doug and Logan are planning on it as well. Looking like it’s gonna be a good little meet – whereas my expectations were low on the turnout for this one considering the lifts.

[Al Myers]

Thanks Thom.

I think our “6 week notice” is a very minimal requirement. Meets really should be sanctioned at least 3 months in advance. This gives everyone ample notice to be able to make an attempt to make it to the meet if they wish – getting off work, rearranging other personal plans, giving the spouse enough notice (haha), etc.

I also do not like to be under a deadline to getting the announcement on the website within this 6 week time slot up. Several times promoters have pushed this notice down to the last few days getting their sanction requests in, and in turn I felt the urgency to put it up IMMEDIATELY which sometimes interfered with my other commitments. I’m under enough deadlines with my business (and I get paid for those!!), and I don’t need that with my secretarial duties here. At least give me a few days in advance of the 6 weeks notice!!!! Al

[Al Myers]

Good discussion.

Every NFL game I watch I see penalties which I feel should/should not be called. And they have instant replay! These guys are professional officials (unlike us!) and still officiating mistakes happen. I told my daughters years ago when participating in youth sports to NOT get upset by an officials call, even if it was obviously wrong. You have to assume they are doing their very best to call a good game, and like the athletes, sometimes don’t always perform perfectly.

Another thing the USAWA rulebook is FAR FROM PERFECT. Over the past few years it has been dramatically improved however, and hopefully will continue so. We have a great system now of addressing issues as they occur and updating the rulebook EVERY YEAR when problems are found. Practically every meet I see something that needs addressed and/or better clarified in the rulebook. These issues are then presented to the EB for discussion, and a plan is made to correct the situation.

As for the lift in question, I was at that meet and didn’t think anything of it at the time. The lift was followed to the knees before dropping (like in MOST deadlift type lifts). Yet our general rules state,XI.14. “Dropping the bar is a disqualification. The bar must be under control by the lifter in the return to the platform.” At one time (before bumper plates) this meant having the hands on the bar the entire time, but now leniency is given here. Everyone reading this has been guilty of this (not keeping hands on the bar till platform) at some time or another, but yet received a passing lift! Maybe it’s time that rule becomes modified to better represent the actual rule?

Another point – things look different in videos than live. Now with YouTube and every lift being critiqued by video coverage, it is easy to be critical watching. Yet an angle change can affect the entire perspective. How many times you watch an NFL replay from a different angle and things look completely different??? All the time!

Good discussion. Al

[Al Myers]

Dan,

I do agree with you that it would SEEM likely that Vince A would have deadlifted a higher max with his heels just a “little bit” apart, and that’s why I wonder why he seemed to prefer his heels together? Obviously he pulled with his heels apart at time, so he should have realized which style gave him better leverages for a max. Who knows – maybe he just “liked” the heels together to be different than most others.

I’m not disagreeing with you on the age thing. I’ve definitely haven’t take care of myself in the weight room, and have competed way too often (over 200 highland games, over 200 lifting competitions, and many strongman comps) in my life. I have literally done over a lifetime of competitions and I would like to think that my life is at the halfway point! haha So is it too late for me now to start following scientific training programs???? Or am I just like an old dog who has bad habits that can’t be changed?? Al

[Al Myers]

My thoughts Dan? mission accomplished! haha Al

Vince A is not the only lifter that I can think of that has outlifted my best deadlift in the HT, and who weighs less than myself. But my question has always been WHY do great deadlifters like Vince prefer to have their heels together in a PL competition where that is not required? Obviously it was because that position allowed greater poundages to be lifted FOR THEM. Every body has different leverages, and thus what is called “good technique” for one lifter might not be the “best technique” for another. I do agree with most of what you said though. I just know having my heels together does not feel near as good as having them positioned apart and feels more like a SL deadlift than a regular deadlift!!!! Al PS And like you Dan I’m old and have nothing to prove anymore. (ouch!!! that ought to get another reply. LOL)

[Al Myers]

haha Dan – I knew that comment of mine would get a response!

It was probably a poor attempt at satire on my part. Truthfully, for lots of the same reasons you don’t like the SL, how can you approve of the heels together DL? The nature of the heels being together throughout the lift prevents a normal anatomical lineup of leverages. It also prevents the hips from flexing and extending to their capabilities, putting much more pressure on the lower back.

However, I can think of several great deadlifters in history who liked their heels together (or very close together) when powerlifting. Most were “little guys” under 200 pounds though. (LOL – that comment ought to get another reply from ya!!!) Al

[Al Myers]

Dan –

By far the best accessory exercise to help your heels together deadlift is the stiff legged deadlift. Lots of carry over. Al

[Al Myers]

Dan – It sounds like you had a good time – and that’s the important thing!!! Hope Ruth gets feeling better soon.

Chad and I did the postal on Saturday and had a good time. We ended up telling stories most of the time so it took us over 3 hours to get the lifts completed!

And I really like the picture. You know when you give me a picture like that I’m putting it in “my files”. It may be the feature website picture when the meet results are posted. haha Al

[Al Myers]

Great article Thom, and I really enjoyed the pictures of your Uncle Wayne. Al

[Al Myers]

haha

I know it seems like MILO is an expensive subscription, and at $80 for four quarterly issues it could seem that way at first glance. But it contains a wealth of good information by several extremely talented writers that is factual and reviewed. MILO is more than just a mag, as I consider it a Journal. That only comes out to $20 per issue, and each issue is practically a BOOK (up to 100 pages) that you will keep and reference for years to come. It has minimal advertisements (only IronMind ads). For the information per issue at $20, you would never think that was too much for a book of equivalent comparison.

I can’t imagine that Randy is making a large amount of money off this at those rates – time you add up printing costs (and is MUCH higher when you have color pictures), quality of paper that he uses (it’s not the cheap magazine paper), editing and publication expenses, payments to the writers (LOL – I’m sure Thom is smiling with this comment!), and shipping expenses (which is several dollars per issue). And without the paid ads he’s not getting advertising dollars to offset expenses to give a cheap subscription rate.

[Al Myers]

sorry Thom, I realize now I should have never used such harsh words towards you……especially after you shared that exquisite fine Talisker Storm Scotch with me last weekend. haha

[Al Myers]

haha Thanks guys. You are right Thom about me being at a disadvantage in stature when throwing with the top pros. I remember looking up(literally!!!)at Ben Plucknett (the great American discus thrower) when competing with him at a past pro games, and figured I must be giving up 3 feet in arm leverages!!!!

Now a little more about this “finger grip”…..

At Worlds Peter Phillips of Australia introduced a potential new lift he called the “Phillips Grip Deadlift”. The idea was that it would be pretty much like the overhand thumbless grip deadlift, except the bar could not touch the palm or thumb. It was to be held in “hook” of the fingers. It got referred to the IAWA tech committee for review (wonder if there’s been any notice for that to occur yet??? hmm… not that I’ve heard and I’m on the IAWA tech committee now!!)

So I decided the other night in the gym to test this Phillips Grip DL out to “see for myself” if I thought it would make a good new lift. Guess what? I did EXACTLY THE SAME WEIGHT as I can do in the overhand thumbless deadlift!!! I’m sure the intention is that it is harder, but it didn’t seem that way to me. I would like others to do this comparison as well as that is the only way to see if it “is a good lift”. It is possible my grip strength in this may be the exception.

It doesn’t make sense to me to introduce a new lift that is so much like another similar lift that the weight lifted is the same. Al

[Al Myers]

Randy, You gonna risk losing your teeth with the teeth lift and you’re worried about a little dried epoxy resin????? haha Al

[Author]

Posts