Sam Byrd Squats 765 Raw at Exhibition

Awesome lifting, Sam is crazy strong as always.

I also particularly enjoy the fact that this was almost 100 lbs more than the biggest raw squat in the USAPL CON-CRET Raw Challenge lol. And that was done by a guy weighing almost 100 lb more than him!

-Abe Harrod

sam's a hell of a lifter and it's a great squat, but why try to use his accomplishment to run down the other lifters at the arnold? negativity for the sake of negativity should have no place here.

congrats byrd.

HAHAHAHA.... settle down

i don't lift in that fed so i'm not upset about it, i just don't understand why he can't congratulate byrd without taking a shot at a bunch of other people.

That guy is a freak

who was that in the red dress/outfit at the end ? Id let her suplex me all damn day!

Byrd is tha man.

No disrespect intended, just thought it was funny to have this going on a few feet from the "big event"... shouldn't one of the biggest strength shows on earth try and accommodate some of the biggest lifts?

Was there anything stopping him lifting if he wanted to?

that's okay, and i'm sorry if i jumped on you over this. but i think this is exactly the sort of thing a lot of the usapl guys resent about the rest of us, and it contributes to a lot of the hostility you see coming from them.

byrd's squat is great but it's apples and oranges to what the usapl lifters had to do in terms of excessive depth (juxt look at bridges squats), drug testing, and short weigh ins. to bring up the difference in weight moved while making the rest seem equal ie. a squat is a squat is a squat. doesn't present the full story here.

There you go gear bashers, a couple of huge "raw"lifts from multi-ply gear lifter.
Hum, I guess some of those "gear" guys can lift heavy "raw" after all.

The scary thing about this is I'm pretty sure Sam has trained squat only 2 or 3 times in the past several months.

Congrats Sam, great job. I got to see Sam squat up close in warm up room in the NERB. Funny thing was, the heavier the weight got the easier Sam made the squats look.

Gear squatting & raw squatting are two totally different lifts. Ask the guys that compete successfully in both if they train the same way. Odds are they do NOT train the same way.

I enjoy my gear squatting & so do my 45 year old hips. Knock me for it, but the fact is I compete for me and only me and I enjoy it.

If you've ever read any of Sam's posts about his training or talked to him, you'd know he wasn't and isn't a big fan of gear. He does the majority of his training raw. If I remember correctly, he only gets into gear a week or two before meets. Crazy, I know.

Sick squatting Sam! He is one of the greatest squatters.

that was sick congrats byrdman!!!!!!!

Train like a Contender/And live like a Champion!

Looked very low.

Why didn't he compete in the actual Raw competition they had at the Arnold. He was there.

Nice lift, the guys bull strong.

But to compare this lift to one that is done under the criteria required by the USAPL is pointless.

There are reasons why some choose not to compete under the scrutiny of the USAPL rules.

That's their choice.

But please do not assume that this or any other lift posted on the Internet can be duplicated under contest scrutiny for such reasoning is feckless.

Just ask some of the guys who bombed at the recent Arnold what their gym lifts were and they'll be hard pressed to disagree with this assertion.

Isn't it even better to train like a Champion as well?

I looked at the squat and expected it to be the usual high squat stuff coming from "the multiply guys".

But I stand corrected.

This was a very impressive squat, and while perhaps it may not have been to full depth, it was clearly at least a close call.

And would have gotten the white light from the front judge in any federation.

The speed he went down with it is also very mindboggling.

I have to say that Sam Byrd shows that he can lift under any circumstances.

It would be awesome to see a matchup between him and Belyaev for who's the best in 220 lbs.

I have no federation affiliation whatsoever. What does it matter what federation he was in or whether he was in the competition or not. That was a nice looking squat. If I could do that I'd probably show those people. That's why they are there. What's with all the jealousy. If he squatted 500 everybody would offer advice. He squats 700 and everybody cuts him down. Grow up. Good job Sam Byrd !!

good job way to get after it

beau moore

Another reason that he probably didn't compete in the USAPL Raw meet... They drug test.

Great lifting Byrd, I've always heard your were a very nice guy and I know you are a great lifter. Too bad some of the "internet superstars" posting here who would love to emulate your lifting fail to emulate your character. I would love to have some of them attempt to qualify and come lift at the Arnold with some of us "clowns". And for the record, I'm well over a 100 pounds heavier than Byrd. Great job Sam, I hope to meet you sometime, I wish I had seen your lift at the Arnold. Congratulations.

Haha Byrdman thats a cool nick name next time sam lifts he should come out to a manny fresh track lol.Congrats Sam heck of a squat wish i was there to see it but maybe next year.Again Congrats Lifts were awesome.

scrutiny? let me see, excessive dept equals bombs after 8 weeks of hard training, strained quads and blown out knees. with that being said sam was doing an exhibition as evidenced by the spotters hands on the weight, but don't discount sams incredible squat power. the record is his when he wants it!

Never for a minute did I say this guy wasn't strong. He's obviously a beast. However, some of the posts here seem to suggest exibition lifts are somehow more legit than a lift done under legitimate contest conditions. It's these contests that at least make it a sport. Without it it's just a bunch of guys working out, be it in a cage at the Arnold or thier garage at home, regardless of what is lifted.

LoL You guys crack me up. Byrd is one of the best squatters around, PERIOD. Regardless of federation, etc. And you jackasses are all worried about whether some dude playing around in the "Animal Cage" was "parallel" or not. What, was he competing for a gold medal or something? LMFAO!

Strong lift as always Byrd.

First off GOOD JOB SAM!

Second, this whole thread pretty much once again proves the problem with Powerlifting Watch. Take a second to look at the number of people bitching and moaning about squat depth from AN EXIBITION LIFT at the F'n Arnold Classic. At no point was this claimed to be to powerlifting meet standards, at no point was it supposed to be something judged. Yet there is post after post from internet..... . whatever you are's harping on the depth of this EXIBITION lift.

You all need to grow the fuck up. You know the point of the Cage? TO SELL ANIMAL PACK PRODUCTS.... You all know Sam's squat in the cage did? IT SOLD ANIMAL PACK PRODUCTS!

All of you bitching about this squat have lost credibility to me.

Thats funny, I just talked with Sam the other day,and he said he would rather train in gear. It helps out with his hip,knee,and back pain.

FYI, I have read multiple times that he doesn't train in gear. Coming from a body building background (pretty sure) prolly has something to do with this. Haven't talked to him, don't know, may have changed, doesn't matter. I'm going to bed, not sure why I feel the need to say all this lol...

THANK YOU!

well if you put usapl lifters on aggressive injecttions of decca, tren, susenal 250, etc, and add orals like winstrol, dbol, etc this would be a modest raw squat for guys like tuscherer, neal, siders, madvig, weite, mastrean, theil, and myself (john grosulak), but as it stands we are strong all year and anytime not just after four weeks of injections and oral anabolic consumption.
not to discredit his strenght, cause he is gentlemen and a competitor but you are missing info.

Awesome squat Sam.

Good to see one of the best geared lifters ever take on a massive raw squat. Sam proved once again he is an allround powerlifter, raw or geared. Hopefully he will compete raw one day as well and show us what he is capable of.

Strange that there is always discussion as to what the big lifters of geared lifting do raw and now we have one on the best lifting raw and somehow people on this thread find something to whine about.

Again, props to Sam for promoting the sport. A lot of people could learn from this.

Respect from Holland.

I would like to point out that the first comment on this thread made light of the fact that this lift was much bigger than anything done at the actual raw competition at the Arnold. With a comment like that, I believe you are opening up the floor for people to say yes, big squat but.....At this point some of the issues that are brought forth in this thread have come up. In terms of depth this squat is actually not bad, but if it had to be dipped into below parrel territory, it changes things completly. That's a fact. All Con Cret competitors were subject to drug testing also. I am not comenting on Mr. Byrd's use of drugs because I do not know him and have no knowledge either way. However, he did not have to face drug testing. It's simply not the same conditions, so the comparison we saw in this first thread is where any anger should be pointed. This is still a big lift.

That was an insane squat, inspiring to say the least. Another geat video for me to watch before training Sam is a nice guy and humble with it, be nice to compete on the same platform as him and the res of the 220's this year.

Geez, if it's not depth, it's gear. If it's not gear, it's drugs. If it's not drugs, it's genetics! That's cognitive disonance... Google it.

Great job Sam!

I'm sorry but the statements are just insulting on here. It would be a modest squat for USAPL guys if they took drugs. WTF! Are you kidding me?! First, that is a drug tested, not drug free meet. MLB, NFL and all the others are tested too. They are all drug free....rrriiiigghht! And the guys mentioned are way heavier then Sam. That squat he did is amongst the strrongest at that bodyweight there is. People need to get over their federation already. I respect the guys in all big feds. This is a great squat, I know it's exhibition...oh well, it's a feat of strength. This also should not be a thread about what geared guys can do out of their gear. Sam is a freak and yes he trains raw most of the time.

Again, sick squatting Sam.

you know nothing and i mean nothing about drugs, so dont speculate what you think you could do, focus on what you actually have done, which is nothing. even with all the drugs in the world, you wouldnt squat that weight at 220 raw.

From the limited view afforded by the video, there isn't a chance that would have passed USAPL judging such as it was at the Arnold this year (and I mean 3 reds, not 2-1). It was an impressive strength demonstration, but that's really all it was.

Sam, Glad to you your still killin it! I haven't talk to you for a long time bro. That was awesome.

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What a sanctimonious load of crap...Why is it that people can't just say, DAMN! that was impressive and not throw in if I were on this or that or wearing this or that or if my mother had loved me better or the stock market was in better f'n shape, I too, could do that and more...Trust me, if you could, you would. Stop hiding behind excuses and go and do it. If you can't then just give credit where credit is due. I can't come close and Sam is strong as Hell.

because people in this thread have, instead of just congratulating byrd, insisted on comparing byrd's lifting to the usapl raw meet at the arnold. they talk about how much better byrd is than the others without mentioning the differences such as drug testing, 2 hr. weigh ins, and squat depth. if you don't think those differences matter i don't know what to tell you.

byrd does deserve congratulations for his squat, but the blame for the comparisons goes to sam's supporters who couldn't just congratulate him and leave it at that.

what an awesome squat. But of course the first person just has to use it as a way to poke fun at the people who competed at the Arnold. You guys are like crabs in a barrel sometimes. It really is sad to watch.

Great job Sam

www.biolayne.com

This thread has seriously degenerated..... WTF people? Now its an argument on anabolics and drug testing?

For God's sake, he was lifting in the Cage at the Arnold. Wait, lets criticize the hell out of that too because there may have been some judge somewhere. You just can't filter out the stupid with the internet.

Well, I'm not focusing on the dumb shit like you other idiots......

Good job Sam. Impressive squatting as always.

Thass what i am talkin about!!! Outstanding lifting Jar Head!!! OORRAHHHH!!!!

Michael Green
MSGT USMC
"I am not perfect. Just forgiven."
Semper Fi
www.AndersonPowerlifting.com

first i am not dircrediting Byrd's squat if you read my intial post i call him a competitor. I am simply standing up for my federation after that harrod character attacked it.
lastly i do know some about anabolic steroid use as i have known plenty of people who use them. And it is possible to for people of average strength to make freaky gains on the substance tren. I personally witnessed a person go from 365x3 to 540x3 on the bench in five weeks with little body weight gain as that is the functional purpose of tren. So if you can't see a difference there then you are blind. Just for the record i am not bad mouthing anabolics or people who use them, but i am rather comparing the differances so people like Abe Harrod will think before they speak.

Sorry but you're full of shit!! Nobody can put 175 lbs on any lift in five weeks on any amount of drugs!

I wasn't knocking the USAPL, I know the differences between lifters. I simply think it is funny that the Arnold has a RAW competition but around the corner there are lifters moving more weight.

As for the drugs, they are an excuse weak people use to justify losing to other lifters. I compete drug free and almost always against drugged lifters. Do I complain? No, I get better and beat them. Perhaps you should spend less time saying you could lift more on drugs and actually lift more, crazy thought I know!

she came up with a body building belt and asked sam to use it on that squat. of course sam said no but she still hung around and almost got beat up by Mrs. Byrd. Great lift Sammy glad i could be a part of it

True, you should have saw him on friday he looked like a zombie. This guy is in law school and has been swamped with papers and exams all semester and for him to not really train for the squat and come out and put a show on like he did, just shows what kind of a lifter he is.

I compete drug free and I keep my mouth shut, cause i dont knock anyone for using. That being said I still dont think I can beat a drugged lifter, maybe I dont know what the hell im talking about.

Maybe you can't but there are many who do, Eric Talmant, Tony Conyers, Jamie McDougal, Joe Morrow, Hennis Washington, Mike Tuchscherer, Jimi Aikey are just a few drug free athletes at the top of the lifter rankings.

That being said, the drugs do help some more than others, but for some people to actually be naive enough to believe that by simply taking them someone can increase their lifts by 150 + lbs in just a couple of months? If it where simply as easy as that we would have thousands of guys across the country squatting in the 700's raw and benching in the 600's!

Point Taken and I strive to be like the guys you mentioned.

I get so tired of hearing about Sam Byrd. Just kidding. Good to see you back and lifting again. Was a little worried when I heard about your injury awhile back. I see that you have recovered well. My problem is that I wish I knew what Sam Byrd could really squat. It almost seems that his potential is endless. Ready to see you get the 242 record back from chuck but I know you have other priorties right now. Say hello to the family from me and give me a yell when your coming back chattanooga.

Big James Williams
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Maybe, just maybe, the drug free lifters don't want to artificially inflate their lifts.

It's just as invalid to say a lifter can't simply increase their lifts by 150lbs by taking drugs as saying they can.

Until a lifter tries there is no way to know how much they will get from drugs.

Yeah, but you squat high and your mama dresses you funny. :op

What are your best lifts?

David, my comment was directed at johngrosulak who claimed the he knew a lifter that went for a 365 x 3 bench to 540 x 3 in only 5 weeks! Plain and simple that bull! An over 30% increase in strength in 5 weeks? But I do believe that significant gains can be achieved over time.

He's #9 in the 198 and #23 in the PLW Multi-ply rankings for 2009.

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Awesome Sam! We were just talking the other day about not hearing much lately about you. Glad you're back with a BANG!

Buddy McKee

Congrats Sam....No words need to be said about that squat....