[Al Myers]

I can’t believe it!! It can be done!!! Thanks for sharing those videos. Al

[Al Myers]

It will be announced in the next couple of days!!! Al

[Al Myers]

Dan – I suspect you are right in your assumption that the weight was picked off a rack or similiar structure to perform a Hocke Lift. Especially since most of the reported feats where done for reps instead of a max single, and in light of our dismal efforts last night of trying to do them from the platform. But the thought of this has caused me disillusion, and due to this suggestion from you has turned the Hocke Lift into some sort of mis-guided Cross Fit exercise in my mind. I doubt if I ever want to talk about it again….ever! haha

And ET, I agree wholeheartly with you on your latest post. I trained with weights for years purely trying to increase my performance in the Highland Games. My goals were to increase my strength athleticism so I could throw farther. This train of thought was how the old-timers approached their training as they were often involved in other athletic pursuits, like wrestling or boxing.

Great discussion here guys!!! Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Well, I have to give the report of last night’s experiment in the gym trying to do the REAL Hack Lift. First of all, I could not get the professor to wear the loin cloth for the picture. It was all I could do to get him to take his knee sleeves off. Then he made a miserable attempt at it as he could not even bend down far enough with his hands together behind his back to really even grab the bar. After having a good laugh at him for his comical attempt, I gave it a try and was equally humiliated. I was able to get it to my buttocks, and then it got caught in one of Hack’s notorious Buttock-holds and would go no higher. I was hoping to get a good picture of the real hack lift for todays story, but it was a no-go.

I wonder if anyone could really do this lift as described? It seems near impossible to us from our experience in the gym last night. Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Yes, Chad, that is the lift of his I was thinking about. That is also an official lift of the USAWA – its called the Pullover and Press with wrestlers bridge. But rules of the Pullover and Press apply, but the lifter must have only THREE contact points with the platform throughout the lift – head and both feet. This forces the pullover to be a true pullover. 311 pounds seems near impossible to me. Al

[Al Myers]

I agree that is an impressive one arm snatch – but NOT his most impressive lift he did (in my opinion).

What he did I would question if ANYONE could do now.

[Al Myers]

The fight between Hack and Gotch was classic. I have read several different accounts of it over the years, some of which bordered on describing a todays pro wrasslin match. But to give a little credit to Hack in the first match – as he kept things “above board”. It was said that Gotch engaged in such unethical practices as oiling his body, rubbing oil in Hacks eyes, scratching, gouging, and once punched Hack in the nose!!! All of this was apparently ignored by the referee!!! haha Somebody ought to write a Daily News story on this fight since we are discussing Hackenschmidt.

I’m still waiting to see if anyone knows the exercise that I think is Hack’s greatest strength feat.

I’ve made a loin cloth out of one of my old white tshirts that I’m hoping that I can get the professor to wear tonight for the picture of the “real” Hack Lift. Dinoman

[Al Myers]

HA ET – that trivia question is too easy so I’ll leave it for someone else.

I have another trivia question about ole Hack. We are giving him all kinds of credit for these two lifts, but what was the lift he SHOULD be remembered for??? It is by far his most remarkable strength feat. Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Dan, Thanks for that info! That answered alot of questions that I had.

Willoughy in his book also used this word (Hocke) for the Hack Lift. Is that German as well, and does it have a different meaning?

I’m going to write a story for tomorrow that fully described how Hackenschmidt performed the “hack lift”. He did it much different than how we do it now. I’ll also try to find someone in the gym tonight that can properly demonstrate his technique for a picture – which might be hard as it requires tremendous flexibility! Al

[Al Myers]

I mean in QUANTITY not QUALITY! ha

[Al Myers]

I’m been just waiting on the month for Denny to win the Lifter of the Month, and he showed his true lifting character at the Gold Cup to win this one. I was surprised how well he lifted when I know how bad he must have been feeling. Most of the day he sit in the corner with his head down. I don’t think we said more than a couple of words to each other which is really odd because most of the time we have several lengthy discussions at meets. Ok – truth is he looked so bad I stayed away from him cuz I was afraid I was going to catch what he had! Al

[Al Myers]

That is correct. Al

[Al Myers]

Dan, I agree with you on that having a different bar height for each lifter would make it difficult for a meet promoter to have this lift in a meet. At the OTSM Champs with the Anderson SQ in it, we had a few lifters with the same bar height, but Thom had to have several pieces of plywood there to get the right height for each lifter that had to be constantly changed, and took alot of time. Having the bar height at a set height (say 15 inches) for everyone would make things simple.

Now back to the 1/2 inch error potential –
I know at times I wish I had another half inch (hic, hic), and have missed lifts by that much (BP lockouts, pressouts on overhead lifts, etc). One mans half inch becomes another mans full inch. Not exact and too subjective. haha

Again I want to thank everyone for the input on this topic. Al

[Al Myers]

Dan, Forearm length is only objective if the rules state something like this, “the length of the forearm is determined by measuring the distance from the point of the Olecranon Process of the ulna to the Styloid process of the radius”. It becomes subjective when no one has any idea what I’m saying (besides anatomy geeks like you and me LOL). The difference with the Anderson Squat is that it based on a person’s height, and everyone knows how to measure that (and in a World where everyone likes to “stretch” their height, it came as no surprise that the lifters left their shoes on when we measured height at the OTSM Championships to get their bar height higher).

My point with these OTSM lifts is that I want them to be of the type that most all lifters can do well with, and not discourage lifters from entering OTSM meets because there’s a “bad one” in it (like many of the traditional all round comps). Al

[Al Myers]

First of all – I want to THANK everyone who has responded on this topic with their input. I’m going to “hold off” a few days before i propose a written rule on this new OTSM, as I’m taking all of this discussion into account.

Second – these OTSM lifts should NOT be difficult technique-type lifts for anyone to do. They should be of the type that pretty much anyone can do them without having the “perfect” body type for them. We already have enough of those difficult type lifts with the traditional all round lifts already in place.

Also in holding with the philosophy that these lifts be based around a lifting movement that an old time strongman performed is very important. Hack did this type of floor press using oversized plates, thus removing the pullover portion of the lift. Much of the difficulty in the pullover and press is the pullover. I must have the perfect body type and leverages for this, and incorrectly assumed that others would be the same. I often train the floor press with the plates supported on blocks (4 -3/4″ high) with the bottom of the bar at 13″ to strengthen my press in the P&P. In this postition my chest touches the bar with my elbows in perfect press position underneath. I’m even able to get a slight chest heave in this position. But obviously, I’m different than most.

I don’t like the idea of measuring forearm lengths to set the bar height as that’s too complicated and leads to subjectivity. I also hate the idea of lowering the bar as that differs too much from what Hackenschmidt did (as well as leading to a press command).

I would like to know what would be a good height? Is 15″ acceptable (to bottom of bar) for most? I would like everyone to try that height and give me your feedback. Al

[Author]

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