USAWA

By Eric Todd

We only had one meet in April this year; however, it was the Bench Press Decathlon put on by Clark’s Gym, and it was hotly contested.  While bench specialist David Beversdorf had the highest total, when the coefficient was applied, gym member Tony Hose had the most points and was declared champion.  This is Tony’s second win in the Bench Press Decathlon, and his second lifter of the month accolade.  Congrats Tony!  Job well done.

By Eric Todd

Behind again-This one was a bit tricky.  We had the first quarter postal in March, but also had the New England Grip Classic.  I typically lean toward in person meets when they are available, but there had been no official scoring done at the Grip Classic.  This meet had one of the more impressive line ups of junior lifters in a USAWA meet that I can recall seeing.  While all the junior lifters lifted magnificently, there was one that stood out to me in particular.  The title of Lifter of the Month goes out to Michael Marchand of Frank’s Barbell Club.  He had a total of 870 pounds and set some records along the way.  Congrats Michael!  Job well done.

By Bill Clark

This message is to the world of all-round (odd) lifting – and is the first time that our organization has the opportunity to utilize the new USAWA rule which allows both hybrid and remote competition in any sanctioned meet except the  USAWA National Championship – which must be competition on site.

DUAL MEMBERSHIP – Anyone who is registered in any country as an IAWA member is automatically eligible to compete in open competition in any other IAWA member nation, be it in person or remote.

THUS – Clark’s Gym is opening up the infamous Deadlift Dozen Plus One to the world – remote and hybrid – and, where registered officials are involved – records can be set.

The USAWA sanction thus opens the meet to the entire IAWA membership.

We will see what comes to pass.

My assumption is that any lifter in any nation can set a national record if the lift is adjudicated by three registered officials (one in the U.S.), but that is a rule to be at the discretion of each national governing body.

CLARK’S GYM GOAL:

Is to involve every IAWA-registered lifter in the world in this meet.

1 – First, we will rely on your honesty if you lift remote without officials in attendance.

2 – Second, there is no entry fee and the only awards will be certificates.

3 – If you plan to lift in person in Clark’s Gym, I need to know if you’re coming so we can make the best conditions in our small gym.

4 – A USAWA record day is set for those in the gym and can be done on either or both days. Previously, the record day applied only to the site of the meet director. According to the existing rules which allow officiating at remote sites, record day should be allowed at any such site. We’ll see if that will apply.

5 – The lifts must be done on no more than two consecutive days.

6 – The results must be reported in pounds, not kilos.

7– The results will require no official form, but must contain the same for each lifter, whether with or without an official.

The simple entry form for a remote lifter will be your name, your age – with birthdate, your bodyweight on each day (if a two-day meet), your club of registry, your national body, and the name(s) of the officials. I also need your mailing address in case you win a certificate.

Simply list your best lift in each of the 13 events – one event to a line, using the order below.

8 – Please make all reports via e-mail to yeoldclark@gmail.com and report within 48 hours. I must have your results not later than 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 25, Central Time, USA.

9 – The date of the competition, no matter where you live in the world is October 21-22, 2023.

10 – The lifts – to be done in any order, but reported in the order below, are:

Deadlift – heels together.

Deadlift – two bars.

Deadlift – Fingers – Index.

Deadlift – Fingers – Little.

Deadlift – Fingers – Middle

Deadlift – Fingers – Ring.

Deadlift – No thumbs – left.

Deadlift – No thumbs – right.

Deadlift – One arm – left.

Deadlift – One arm – right.

Deadlift – Reeves.

Hack Lift.Hack

 

Jefferson Lift (straddle lift).

11 – If you cannot perform any of the lifts, you are still in the competition. Your total weight is used.

12 – Once again, a reminder – we accept every entry, regardless of origin and either remote, with or without officials. If your national association allows you to set records with the proper officials in your country – that’s a plus.

All we need for this meet is your current membership in the IAWA and one of its branches such as the USAWA and the IAWA/UK.

FINALLY –

If 200 IAWA members worldwide get involved – the happier Clark’s Gym will be.

It is our hope for 2024 that you will be able to lift via video communication – but, until then – we’re happy to be making all of Clark’s Gym meets fully open to the world, hybrid – with or without officials – as well as the best way of all – in person in the grimy confines of Clark’s Gym.

Now – inundate me with results.

 

By Eric Todd

Another change that was made at the national meeting this year was the method by which the practical training sessions to complete the process of being an official may be conducted.  In the past, it has been required for an official in training to sit side by side with a fully certified official to complete three practical training sessions. That method is still an acceptable practice, but now you have the option of doing as few as one in person training sessions.  If a person chooses this method, they must complete a video test for each of the training sessions they did not sit in on.  Each video test has 15 videos of USAWA lifts.  The prospective official will decide if the lift passes or not, and then answers a couple questions about the lift.  The tests are on Google Forms.  Please reach out to me if you would like the video tests to supplement your practical training session(s) in order to complete your USAWA official’s certification process. You can reach me at SalGuimino@yahoo.com.  There are currently 3 officials in training who would be eligible to take advantage of this.