[Al Myers]

We do alot of side pulling in the gym. Alot of the guys compete in strongman and there always seems to be some type of event that requires this type of pulling strength (ie car deadlift, frame carry, farmers walk). We have several different type of “trap” bars that we train with. I wrote a blog a while back on some of these bars. One of our favorites is the Baier Bar, which is built like a frame but has three rotating handles – 1″, 1.5″ and 2″. This trap bar gives a slightly higher pick than a conventional trap bar, and is wider to accomodate the “big guys”. Often we will start with the 2″ handle, and then switch to the smaller handles as we increase our weights on our sets. Al

[Al Myers]

James, I have seen that done in strongman competitions. As part of a “deadlift medley” there will different size bars to lift. Everything is preset, and it is done for time. Often, there are four different “set ups”. Included in this might be a trap bar or farmers deadlift as well. This medley is always very exciting to watch.

I was interested in those percentages you listed in comparing bars. I bet they are very much diffeent for everyone. I would be interested in what others %’s are, that is for max effort compared to a regular bar. Mine are:

3″ bar compared to 1″ bar: 85%
2″ bar compared to 1″ bar: 90%

[Al Myers]

I absolutely agree!!

Try this the next time you train the deadlift:

Do Fulton Bar,Ciavattone Grip DL’s till you hit max
Then follow with Ciavattone Grip Deadlifts on a regular bar
Finished with regular deadlifts

You just keep adding wt to the bar as you switch lifts. You get to train three different all round lifts in the time it would normally take you to just deadlift. Al

[Al Myers]

That does need to be specified in the rules before the competition. My opinion is NO on the sumo stance. It is a partial lift and using the sumo only decreases the lifting range even more. Plus it just looks goofy.

But we’ll do this in a democratic fashion – so cast your vote here. So far the vote is 2 NO (ET and me) and 0 YES

[Al Myers]

Now Joe you can do the Crucifix in competition in back-to-back meets (since it’s also in the Deanna) – what fun!!!

I’m waiting to see when ET is going to put his name on the list – cause we all know he LOVES THE CRUCIFIX.

[Al Myers]

Thom – haha, I don’t remember that.

Most lifers know Steve Schmidt the heavy lifter, because that has been his speciality the last few years. But Steve was one heck of an all round lifter when he was younger. You look back in the ole Mo Valley record list you see his name with all kinds of lifts. He was the total lifter. Also, I have heard the stories from Bob Burtzloff of the meet battles between the two of them in the 80s.

Joe – was this strongman demo the first time you meant Steve?? Al

[Al Myers]

There was some blood spilt.

[Al Myers]

I agree – great story!

I remember reading once that Bert Goodrich has also been reported as the first Mr. America, but I know there was controversy over this. Something about the competition not being “properly sanctioned”. Does anyone else know the facts behind this? Al

[Al Myers]

I don’t remember.

[Al Myers]

haha I see now why Art has always imposed the “5 record limit” on lifters at his record day!!! For a few hours it was “wild and crazy” in the Dino Gym!!!! Al

[Al Myers]

Ben, I knew you were not going to make it after hearing about your dad. You’ve been in my prayers. Al PS I have not received your dues yet.

[Al Myers]

I wish I was around to see Wilbur put up all those big lifts of his when he was younger, but getting to watch the LEGEND in action in the Dino Gym on Sunday topped anything I have ever seen. Wilbur is still outlifting guys half his age, and at age 79 is still putting up lifts that don’t even seem believable. I won’t say more now – it will all be in tomorrows meet report. Al

[Al Myers]

Tom, Sorry for the slow response on this but I have been tied up with the grip champs & record day at the gym this weekend. I see from the lack of other comments that you and I may be the only ones who really have a care about this “Weaver Stick controversy”! haha

I will add this. I corresponded with Joe Roark on this as I was writing the story to see what his imput was as I consider him one of the top strength historians around. Joe knew Weaver and commented that Weaver once told him that “Grimek didn’t perform the Weaver Stick in the way it was intended”. Joe also said he didn’t really understand what Weaver meant by this comment. I bet it was the underhanded cup method used, or possibly the bending of the arm. But who knows for sure?

I KNOW at one time I have seen a picture of Grimek performing the Weaver Stick with a BENT ARM, and wanted to include it with this story, but I couldn’t find it anywhere now. Also, this entire controversy may have been started with the drawing of Grimek in Willoughbys book. That might have been just the ARTISTS interpretation of the lift and not anyone elses at the time. Dinoman

[Al Myers]

Grip is a funny thing. I don’t consider myself a “grip guy” by any means, but certain types of grip strength I am better at than others. We often do grip type lifts at the end of our training sessions in the Dino Gym to just mess around – and most of the time Scott & Mark dominate things. Both have unbelieveable pinch grips. But OCCASSIONALLY in certain grip lifts I can give them a little competition!!!

I guess the point I’m trying to make is that you can’t say you have a “bad grip”, because I’m sure there is some type of grip lift you would excel at. Al

[Al Myers]

I have taken time to decide how to respond to James’ comments. I do understand how he feels about this – as this website should not be a “commercial website” like most other websites are. This website should be about providing new unbiased information to help a lifter with all round weightlifting, not “clouded” with sales pitches and such. That is how we stand apart from other websites that run blogs that only pertain to helping with a sale.

Now onto my dilemma. I hardly ever turn down a submitted story. My goal is to provide a new story everyday, thus the USAWA Daily News. I don’t always succeed with this, and at times feel like I’m letting you guys down. My priorities are this: 1. meet announcements/meet results, 2. technical or historical pieces that pertain to the USAWA, and 3. “fluff pieces” that are interesting stories, but might not pertain directly to the USAWA, and finally 4. any thing that will fill the page for the day.

I have really appreciated Rogers stories as they have contained some very useful information, and I hope he keeps submitting them. Also, I’m going to take this opportunity to make another CALL from me to everyone who reads this to please send me YOUR STORIES for the website. Al

[Author]

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