Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, One Arm

by Al Myers

The Inch Dumbbell Replica that will be used at the 2016 USAWA Grip Championships.

The Inch Dumbbell Replica that will be used at the 2016 USAWA Grip Championships.

The USAWA Grip Championships will be here soon. The meet date is Saturday, February 13th, at the Dino Gym. I’m going to take this week to highlight the lifts in the meet.  A couple of the meet lift are ones that are not contested often so a little refresher on the lift rules might be beneficial as you train the lifts.

The first lift contested in the Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, One Arm. The USAWA has tried to name lifts so the are self-descriptive in their name.  This is one that could be confusing if you were not familiar with the famous old time strongman Thomas Inch.  This lift is named after him because it simulates a lift based on his challenge dumbbell that he used in his old time strength shows. The handle of the dumbbell is 2.5″ in diameter, not 1″!

RULE FOR DEADLIFT – INCH DUMBBELL, ONE ARM:

 I8. Deadlift – Inch Dumbbell, One Arm

The rules of the Deadlift – One Arm apply except the dumbbell used must have a handle of 2 1/2” in diameter. No knurling is allowed on the handle. The plates must be firmly attached by collars so no rotation of the plates will occur during the lift. The maximum diameter of the plates used is 11 inches.

As you can see the rules of the One Arm Deadlift apply.  This means the legs must be straight upon completion, dumbbell motionless, and non-lifting hand removed from body contact before a down command is given.  Upon finish the dumbbell can not be supported by the body.  This is very much a grip lift! An increase of 5 pounds is the difference between an “easy lift” and a miss.

Sandow

by Steve Gardner

Eugen Sandow

Eugen Sandow

Eugen Sandow (April 2, 1867 – October 14, 1925), born Friedrich Wilhelm Müller, was a German Strongman and pioneering bodybuilder known as the “father of modern bodybuilding”.

Sandow was born in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia) on April 2, 1867, to a German father and a Russian mother. His family were Lutherans and wanted him to become a Lutheran minister. He left Prussia in 1885 to avoid military service and traveled throughout Europe, becoming a circus athlete …and adopting Eugen Sandow as his stage name.

In Brussels he visited the gym of a fellow strongman, Ludwig Durlacher, better known under his stage name “Professor Attila”. Durlacher recognized Sandow’s potential, mentored and in 1889 encouraged him to travel to London and take part in a strongmen competition. Sandow handily beat the reigning champion and won instant fame and recognition for his strength. This impetus launched him on his career as an athletic superstar. Soon he was receiving requests from all over Britain for performances. For the next four years, Sandow refined his technique and crafted it into popular entertainment with posing and incredible feats of strength.

Heavy Lift Championships

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT

2016 USAWA HEAVY LIFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Eric Todd performing a Hand and Thigh Lift at the 2014 Heavy Lift Championships.

Eric Todd performing a Hand and Thigh Lift at the 2014 Heavy Lift Championships.

The Heavy Lift Championships is the longest running championship event in the USAWA behind the National Championships.  The USAWA has been trying to rotate this championship between different areas of the country every year to give all lifters the opportunity to compete in it. Last year it was hosted in the midwest by Eric Todd.  This year it will be held in Pennsylvania – at Denny Habecker’s Gym.  Denny has promoted the Heavy Lift Championships before, and has more than enough 100 pound plates to make it happen!

Three heavy lifts have been the mainstay of this event – the Neck Lift, the Hand and Thigh Lift, and the Hip Lift.  Harness’s and belts for the lifting will be available, but most lifter’s bring their own heavy lift equipment.

It’s important that you get your entry in by the deadline. The deadline date is April 9th, 2016.

ENTRY FORM (PDF) – 2016 Heavy Lift Championships Entry Form

National Championships

by Al Myers

MEET ANNOUNCEMENT

2016 USAWA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

My wife Leslie and I enjoyed walking the Freedom Trail the last time we were in Boston.

My wife Leslie and I enjoyed walking the Freedom Trail the last time we were in Boston.

It’s always exciting to announce the National Championships each year.  This meet is the “big daddy” of the meets in the USAWA. Our Nationals has had a continuous run of competitions since the beginning – with the first one being held in 1988.  So this year will make year number 29!

Frank Ciavattone is the meet director this year.  Frank is one of the most seasoned promoters in the USAWA and has previously hosted a couple of Nationals (1996 & 1998).  He is holding the meet in Norwood, which is a suburb of Boston. It will be a one day meet this year.   We will have our annual USAWA meeting following the meet so come prepared for a long day.

I would really encourage everyone in the organization to go to Boston and compete in our National Championships.  There are so many things to see in this area – so it provides the perfect opportunity to combine a vacation along with competing in our most important competition of the year.

INFO SHEET & ENTRY FORM (PDF) – 2016 Nationals Entry Form

 

Mary McConnaughey New Official

by Al Myers

Mary McConnaughey lifted at the Dino Gym Challenge and also became certified as a new USAWA official.

Mary McConnaughey lifted at the Dino Gym Challenge and also became certified as a new USAWA official.

This past weekend at the Dino Gym Challenge Mary McConnaughey completed her third practical official’s exam and became a certified official in the USAWA.  She is now a Level 1 USAWA certified official.  Mary is a great addition to our official’s crew!  Congrats Mary!!

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