[Al Myers]

My best is 95 pounds with my right hand. It seems just a little added weight and it becomes impossible. Al

[Al Myers]

Every year I go to Southern Missouri to snag for spoonbills for a few days. It is great redneck fun!!! haha Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks Denny!!!

[Al Myers]

Thanks Tom – I agree with 61, that is not something that would happen today. I wonder if the Americans at the time didn’t want the official Olympic lifts to be reduced to 3? Olympic lifting sure would be more interesting today if the 5 original lifts were still contested. Al

[Al Myers]

Tom, What year did they quit doing the one arm lifts at Nationals?? Al

[Al Myers]

Tom, First of all THANK YOU for your thought provoking response to this story, and the information you provided. (I printed it off and added it to my research file for future reference). I wish I could give you a “guess” to your quiz question but I don’t even have any good guesses. I would find it hard for anyone to have had a higher percentage than Rigoulot (his best one arm snatch was 253# compared to his two arm snatch of 315#, for a percentage slightly over 80%) But he wasn’t an American lifter so he wouldn’t be a choice.

Now for the One Arm Snatch versus the One Hand Snatch debate –

This was a change made in terminology in the “updated” USAWA Rulebook of 2009. I did the re-write and was the one responsible for making this big change so I should at least give my reasoning behind it. (whether you agree that is another issue). One at first would just think it was a play on semantics – after all, you can have only one hand on one arm. But my thoughts on this was deeper when I made this name change on several of the lifts. The terms “two hands” and “one hands” have been used for years describing lifts instead of “one arm”. But I think the names of our all-round lifts should describe them as accurately as possible, thus leaving the least chance of confusion. If you think about it – it is possible to do several of our “one arm” lifts without a hand, but with only an arm. You may have to wear a prosthetic or have a partial gripping surface on the end of a long bone to allow support of the lift. I have a very good friend who I hunt and fish with that is missing one of his hands and he can do surprising tasks with his disabled arm. (including shooting better than me and handling a fishing pole better). I would no doubt predict he could do several of the “one arm” lifts, especially the pressing lifts. It would be insulting to call a lift a one handed lift when someone without a hand could do them!! I’m all for keeping it real!!!

Also Tom, remember I picked the smartest man I know to do the editing of the Rulebook before I submitted it to the membership for vote and I don’t recall this being mentioned at the time. LOL

Roger – In the all-rounds I have always considered the English lifters more technical in their lifting technique than the American lifters, and thus I think this is the reason the English lifters usually split with the One Arm Snatch while the American lifters power snatch it. We (the Americans) rely on brute strength and exposiveness while the English lifters rely more on proper technique and leverages. Several of the other all-round lifts also fit this example. Al

[Al Myers]

The Power Clean and Press is indeed a very fine lift. It works pretty much every muscle in the body. Tom – I will give you “the point” that this lift works the shoulders whereas the deadlift does not, but I totally disagree with you that the deadlift is a more dangerous lift than the Clean and Press, especially among older lifters. Now I’m not one to pick only “safe exercises” to train (because we as all-rounders do MANY lifts that others would think were very dangerous), but if the deadlift is trained with correct technique there is not really any way to sustain an injury due to sudden body movement or twisting (feet movement), or impact (bar coming to chest) like with the clean and press. Al

[Al Myers]

One thing I like about that picture was that my training partners at the time were behind me cheering me on – Mark and Bob, and barely visible behind these two big guys Chuck!

[Al Myers]

Thanks John!! Your complement means alot to me – because I consider you one of the few experts on weightlifting.

And Thom – this article was for you after our discussion a few weeks ago concerning the deadlift. Like I said, my answer was too long to answer in an email so I wrote a story for you!!

And one more thing John – it about time for me to go on my annual “snaggin trip” and I’ll need all the back strength possible because this year I’m hoping to haul in an 80 pounder!!!! haha Al

[Al Myers]

I just thought of another interesting story concerning Frank.

Last fall at the Gold Cup which Frank promoted Chad and I did a 2-man one-arm deadlift to honor Frank for his contribution to the one-arm deadlift and everything he has done to support and promote the sport of All-Round Weightlifting. We made this known to Frank and just a few others. I knew Chad and I had 700# in the bank, but when we got to 800# I was a little concerned. I had ABSOLUTE confidence that Chad would hold up his end of the bargain (or his end of the bar in this case) but my share at 400 pounds was going to push me to my limit. My best one-arm deadlift up to that point was only 375 pounds. Right before we got ready to go Frank commented to me that he had confidence that we would get the lift, and gave us a final bit of encouragement. That was pressure I didn’t need to be burdened with at that point!!! I just thought to myself – I can’t let Frank, the one-arm deadlift LEGEND down now!! Thankfully, we got the lift!!! But this sums up how Frank is at meets – always supportive of the other athletes and always helps ANYONE who needs help. Al

[Al Myers]

Chad, Last summer at Nationals when you,myself and Frank all lifted over 350 pounds in the one arm deadlift was a memory I will never forget. We will look back at that with fond memories – especially getting to share the platform with THE MAN in the one arm deadlift – Frank Ciavattone! The best of ALL-TIME!!!! Al

[Al Myers]

Mike – I agree again!!!

Sometimes when I’m training my pull, I will work up to max weight in different types of exercises and just “continue on” with the next exercise after I have reached a max in the one before, and never lower the bar weight. Example: start with deadlift – Ciavattone Grip Fulton Bar, and work up to your max. Then change to an alternate grip with the Fulton Bar and continue on, and after reaching your max with this lift, switch to a regular bar and just keep “adding more weight”. In a sense, the early exercises are warm-ups for the latter exercises. Your time committment is about the same as if you were working up on a regular bar but you get the variation and excitement of training other All-Round lifts!!!

This type of training is fun!! And I believe if you have fun in the gym you will WANT to keep going back. Today is a rest day for me (yesterday was my heavy back/leg day) and one of the most depressing days of my week. But maybe I should take John’s advice and just go fishing!!! Al

[Al Myers]

When Steve said Frank was “a true ambassador for all that is good in weightlifting” – that sums Frank up to a tee. As most of you know Frank promoted the Gold Cup last fall. Afterwards, he held the banquet at HIS HOUSE!! His family prepared the most wonderful meal you could imagine, and Frank was an exemplary host. Everyone had a great time. I left this event proud to be part of the USAWA and getting the privilege of becoming friends with outstanding individuals like Frank Ciavattone. Al

[Al Myers]

Thanks Steve for giving us that information about Frank. I knew there were concerns but I had no idea he was having surgery. I will be praying for his speedy recovery. Al

[Al Myers]

Mike – Those are words spoken like a TRUE All-Rounder!!! I gotta agree with everything you said. I especially like your first comments regarding the powerlifts. An All-Round lifter should look at a couple of lifts like the deadlift and Jefferson Lift as just a couple of different pulling movements, each working similiar muscles, but one not more special than the other. Al

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