[John McKean]

Al, A great story!! BUT, with your educated and refined strong men, your place is only a PSEUDO-lunk gym :come to the Ambridge VFW barbell club for the real crude,uneducated, grunting mass of totally unrefined strength-slobs !!

[John McKean]

I was always impressed with the workouts of Bill March and Lou Riecke ,who seemed to make the most amazing progress in lifting history -each of them had a WEEKLY training time (actual lifting time) of around 2 MINUTES! Not many REPS in those workouts! March often stated that over 3 reps was bodybuilding, usually just used a single HOLD in the rack on a few lifts, did no bodybuilding, yet still won a Mr. Universe title (held in conjunction with a world weightlifting championship, where Bob Hoffman goaded him into posing!)!

[John McKean]

Chad, Dick Hartzell at Jumpstretch has an amazing “hanging traction” with bands that REALLY helps a lower back into usability quickly! I think a vid of this is on the Jumpstretch site. If not,call Dick or Carl, they’ll be glad to describe this unique exercise/warup/rehab for you!

[John McKean]

I was at the Columbus meet when Alexeev jerked that 500 (what a thrill!!) but I don’t recognise any of the other guys in the photo (and I’m not in the pic)! One of the guys up front looks a bit like a young Scott Schmidt, but that’s not possible, as Scott is way older than me!

[John McKean]

Hi Jeff, Thanks for the update & great news!! Tell the ole man to run downstairs and get in a workout,now!! Happy Easter! JOHN

[John McKean]

Might as well jump into the deadlift vs power/clean-press discussion!! As a famous Bulgarian weightlifting coach stated “the shoulders only have so many overhead lifts in them”, and had his very young world class lifters do mostly heavy singles. Now, speaking as a long time master’s age lifter, the press just doesn’t allow much poundage much past 55 (compared to younger days) due to injuries & pains. So as a longevity exercise it becomes rather insignificant, and the clean required to do these lightweight presses is basically effortless & worthless for promoting strength!On the other hand, deadlifts are always good to go, and if the regular version creates back stress, just shift to all-round deadlifts such as Jeffersons or Trap Bars.

From my experiences it’s usually the retired (due to blown out delts,knees, or backs!) Olympic lifters who yell about deadlifts, or other heavy all-round movements! I well remember one retired olympic lifter who complained about my sons,Frank’s,Art’s, and a couple of other families lifting in the all-rounds while under 16 years of age. This official petitioned to disallow teen all-rounds ,citing his own personal injury ,of some sort (probably an olympic lift movement, as he never actually competed in USAWA events) when he was 49 years of age (hmmm, maybe by then not quite as spry as a teen?!!!).

Another interesting story, since Bob Hoffman was brought up as favoring the clean & press. While giving Bob a car ride from the Erie airport to a meet, Bob himself told me in his younger days while competing in local meets or “picnic events” that he was always relegated to pressing on the” chicken—- platform”, which they apparently reserved for very low weight pressers (Bob claimed he made up for it in the jerk!)!! His articles on clean & press were mostly about trying to sell his 110# barbell sets, and doing his “daily dozen” with low weight!

[John McKean]

Al, Got mine too -thanks so much!! Already have tried a few dumbbell walks in my gameroom -definately need to seek progress,but a fun challenge! Hey, do the rules allow for a hook grip??!!!

[John McKean]

A very sensible workout Murdo! I agree with your points on variants of form & how strength builds better with variety of the all-rounds!! Hmmm, someone else used to train this way -ole Herman Goerner (SP?), who has some(unofficial) records that are about 90 yrs old ! Your training & mine look a lot alike!

[John McKean]

Thanks,Steve. That is great news that the procedure went so well. I knew Big Frank was having some problems, but didn’t learn of the surgery until this morning. Ole Frank is tough & a fighter, as proven once again! My prayers continue to be with him!

[John McKean]

I just got a note in from Steve Gardner- he well remembers the proposal to accept powerlifts into the IAWA . It came at a World Council meeting in the USA at one of our world meets during the early to mid 90s. And the proposal to accept not only came from US lifters, but the vote was unanimous in favor ( tho one prominent official then stormed out of the meeting!).So, again, I have to question why the powerlifts weren’t installed into the USAWA format?

[John McKean]

Heck, as long as the three powerlifts have positions in the IAWA world record list, we already have reason & verification to do them(those,at least, young enough to still have knees & shoulders!!)without changing their status at all in the U.S.!In Larry’s upcoming meet they are completely legit internationally.

Now originally the “odd lifts”, well before the many subsequent PL organizations, did include the bench ,squat, and deadlift (as well as sometimes press behind neck, curls, and chins-for-reps), at least as recorded in Odd Lift results in early MD magazines, and as we contested them in the early 60s here in Western PA. I don’t recall the Clean as an odd lift, but it certainly would be a good lift for our competitions ( I always wanted a one arm clean to be included!). OK, off to pump the biceps for the upcoming all-round pose off!!

[John McKean]

Since we are part of the IAWA, we can already contest the powerlifts, particularly for world record purposes. As Jarrod,wisely mentioned, we ARE differant in our performance & judging of the “old Time (AAU)” squat,bp, and deadlift without supportive gear,drugs, or suits (even the “natural” or “raw” organizations ,from reports I’ve heard frequently through the years, have many that are less than honest!).
Another HUGE factor is the ability to hold USAWA powerlift contests (if approved ;otherwise in this country, just as easy to conduct IAWA powerlift meets!) for teen /high school lifters to get involved with the overall USAWA format, without costing the youngsters a fortune in meet fees or being exposed to the undesirable elements of standard PL. A few years back, Jumpstretch conducted one of these IAWA bench press meets, Art & I judged, and the kids were thrilled to be shooting for records! Just think how we could increase our membership base with this inclusion!

[John McKean]

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!

[John McKean]

Yep, Dave, congrats!! I’m glad someone did a “real-life” hammer story, and your history was fascinating!!

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