Are Powerlifting's Stars Relateable

boy, thats a good one. i can see how a raw lifter is inspired more by a multi ply lifter because there is more weight involved. i would find it hard to believe that a multi ply guy would be inspired by a raw lifter due to the fact that there is normally less weight involved. i believe a good powerlifter would respect both aspects (gear and raw) of the sport because the both take a different skill. i personally lift raw, but nothin gets me fired up more than watchin the video of benni magnesson deadliftin 426kg and him pointin at the bar and knockin over the chalk. i beleive the lifter is the inspiration not the lift. i hate how there is such a huge debate between the two.

It sounds almost like an elitism coming from this guy, it is like their lifts aren't real so I can't respect it. As a multi-ply lifter I am always amazed by raw feats of strength as with most geared lifters we do train raw as a style of training or as a mini-cycle.

If you are a true lifter then any type of strength, even by those who don't compete where you prefer, should motivate you. I am not a strongman competitor, but that stuff can be motivating.

As for making any lifters your your personal idol, that is something no-one should do. What we do is not healthy even if you are clean. Everyone pushes themselves to bad health issues as we push to do things that would kill a normal person. We are a cult sport, enjoy the hobby and have as much fun as you can or you will not last nor be healthy.

If you say you can't relate because of the weight lifted, thats one thing, but sayings its because of the gear then it's like thinking Ed Coan doean't exist because of his use of single-ply gear. Draw inspiration from where you can and try to improve your own lifts but don't get caught up in the stupid debates over raw and gear as I have in the past.

Glenn Baggett
NGBB Elite

Well it is hard to relate to geared lifts if you haven't done them yourself.
Why don't people just do the geared lifts so they can compare themselves?

Because it is Hard difficult and dangerous work!

This is why I have more respect for heavy lifts done in gear, no matter if I have a similar experience or not (never tried multiply).

Assuming I am not the only one that cannot bench over 400 (yet) with gear. I'd have to say that, for me, there is ample respect on both sides.

This is more about character than anything else, IMHO. There are a ton of multi-ply lifters that can lift small buildings and never lose sensitivity to the guy or girl who is trying to get their first 300/400.

Same with raw lifters. None of them started with heavy weights and most started by struggling to get 225 for reps.

Respect shouldn't have bias one way or the other.

"Respect is one of the most (if not the most) important attributes for society to maintain, yet it is hard to define. On its broadest level respect is the acknowledgment that someone has value."

Jamey

I'm a raw lifter, but I can not relate to what the equiped lifters are lifting. I respect equipped lifters, I just can't relate to what they are doing.

First I can't figure out if the shirt is giving them 100, 200, 0r 300 lbs over what a raw lifter can do.
Second, each Federation seems to interpret how long the bar must be held motionless, or how deep a squat must go differently. These comments are based on viewing u-tube videos of "records".

The basics of the lifts are the same but how the lifts need to be performed is much different. So NO I can not relate to what is allowed in my federations raw contests to what I see being done in the videos of equipped record attempts.

I respect the athlets that set the equipped records, but they appear to be performing in a different sport than I do.

Raw is like organics and their beliefs. Old ways are the best ways and the new methods are an wrong and invalid in anyway shape or form. Can raw lifters draw insperation from gear your god damn right because it takes the same determination to get under the bar and push your body beyond its limits. It takes the same amount of commitment to the iron to build your life around gaining just a few more pounds on your total. The only thing difference that I have consistantly seen is that like the organics they feel the need to constantly try to invalidate what the geared lifters are doing by using arugements that hold no ground or water. So to the raw lifters maybe the new breed of elite powerlifters are using external gear but never forget that all your raw heroes were most likely not doing it naturally. Your raw heroes had the same determination and drive that the new breed has and if given the chance I bet your bottom dollar that the old generation would love to have had the same gear we had.
So unless you lift with out any gear including wrist wraps, belts, knee sleeves, and CHALK(which gives me more pounds than any piece of material around) then shut the hell up and get motivated to lift some god damn heavy weight. Because you know what while you are bitching about the geared lifters they are in the gym not giving two shits what the fuck you are doing.
Lift big, train hard and stop at nothing to become something.

Another lame thread. I draw inspiration from all types of strength athletes including multi ply lifters, raw lifters, strongmen, shot putters, etc. Strong is strong.

Word up Vdizzle (I have been wanting to call you that forever!), all sorts of strength interests me, I love watching olympic lifting (but hate doing it!), strongmen, both geared and raw lifting, etc. While raw lifting is more about pure strength, gear takes MUCH more skill, but ultimately both have their place; I compete both ways and take inspiration from both sides!

I think it’s safe to say that with proper training the very elite lifters raw or geared would still be in an elite class either way. Strong is strong.

if you can't draw inspiration from multi-ply lifting then you really need to give it a shot. Unlike some RAW lifters would like to believe bench shirts/squat suits aren't magic pieces of cloth that make you lift huge weight.

Been lifting almost 50 years.Was very strong raw in my teens and started lifting in gear in my mid 50's and am also getting quite good[bragging] I would suggest that the real advantage of geared lifting is for older lifters to allow them to keep at it.Best example is Mike Bridges who was great raw when he was young and today is great in gear as a master lifter.If you have had any kind of serious injuries raw lifting is not the way to go.When I watch someone grinding out a raw lift I appreciate the effort.When I watch someone grind out a geared lift I do the same but recognize they are different.Are either one a source of inspiration[the point of the original comment]no
The biggest inspiration I have ever seen is watching handicapped lifters trying to do pb's regardless of the gear or weight involved.

Let's stay on track.

Isn't this on track? This is some positive stuff.

yes they are relateable. i compete in single-ply gear, but will do my next few comps raw, just a choice i have made. seeing guys in gear doing big weight is almost always inspiring,...i say almost because i believe it is more the judging and interpretation of the rules that can seem to invalidate lifts. for example, you are gonna tell me seeing hooper squat 815 at 181 in single ply isnt awe inspiring...or siders playing with 1003 in single ply, or belyaev and zaugolova and the other ruskies using perfect form doesnt make you want to be better.
i believe the judging comes into it when you see some multiply guys today half squat 1000+ lbs, then you see old vids of garry frank taking 1003 to parallel and below, why????...because the judging wouldnt allow him to be higher at the time. seeing him lift in multi ply gear is inspiring. watching kennelly bench 1100 in a shirt, then watching him hit 700+ raw is just as inspiring.
so when it comes to personal inspiration and goals, these stars are relateable, when it comes to direct competition with each other, no they arent relateable until they compete against each other, same fed, same rules.

I can admire the work of ed coan and others in the single ply/old school belt and wraps crowd far more than the triple ply 1000 "bench" crowd. Even the squat is now a matter of extra duty suitlifts. I've nothing in common with that crowd, they call them high and say it's a record, and call that bs with the shirts strength. the comment about cross over strength is the one i agree with, even though i wouldn't drug test mariusz, he's freakin strong. shot putters are strong. what i believe helps me get stronger isn't a shirt or a drug, but a style of getting stronger. i use some strongman in my training now and read the raw people and their training too. it's not that i'm wearing some loose single ply, i'm strong raw too. it's the joints over time, sometimes you can't squat deep enough anymore without a brace or a wrap. some people over time have been strong and they aren't relying on some super shirt crap, that'd be people like mike bridges, brad gillingham. those guys are consistent no matter what new "improvement" the shirt makers have. they do all three lifts too. i have nothing in common with the "pro benchers". wouldn't give a dime or drive to see one either. as for heroes, be your own. defeat the bar yourself.

You cannot be strong in gear and be weak raw. I do 900+squat in gear and 675raw easy(compared to the geared lift) Strong is strong, the best in gear today would be the best raw today if they choose, just look at Scotty weech jr., 1100 squat in gear and 826 raw world record.

If you think gear does the lifting then you don't understand how strong technical you must be to get a good lift in. Judging is a different story all together(stay on topic).

Strong is strong!

unracking the weight has very little, if any, to do with gear right? try unracking 1250, monolift or not. that deserves props regardless of fed.

I can't relate to anyone in gear honestly.

It is a completely different type of lifting and a completely different sport.

It is kind of like olypmic lifting to me. Yes, when I see someone do an outrageous snatch it is impressive, just like its impressive when someone squat 1200 in the IPA for example. But I really don't know what that number means because I don't do olympic lifts and I have never and will never lift in gear. I just can't relate at all.

When I see someone squat 700 with wraps or raw... I can relate because I have squatted raw or with wraps too. I know 700 is more than I can do and its more motivating to see.

"I don't relate to it ,so I'll rubbish it".Instead take the time to find out and have an understanding.It's branches of the same sport so you should realate to it and respect it.

Through passion,I gain strength.

I lift raw, and my powerlifting idols are multiply huge-weight movers. I'd disagree with him on this one.

I honestly don't see the big deal. Where is everybody coming from? Reding this article, I can tell this guy feels similarly to myself, but not exact. My bench press idol is Kennelly even though I am a RAW bencher myself. Who cares if he only holds the "geared" record. He's still one of the strongest RAW benchers in the entire world (right next to Mendelson). Also, shirted bench takes a specific type of strength. I've met a guy that can bench 500 RAW, but not 550 shirted. I've met another guy who maxes 500 RAW and works out with 600 for 8 sets of triples. It all depends how much time you're willing to devote to the shirt.

I don't understand why this always turns into a raw vs gear vs natural vs juiced. I am a better raw lifter then shirted yet I enjoy both. I have always been impressed with strength whether it was lifting weights, picking up cars , beer kegs , logs etc. Obviously there is a difference betwwen shirted benches and raw, but everyone starts off raw before the shirt goes on. I am equally impressed with huge raw lifts as I am equipped. I also realize that drugs don't make a weak person strong. Sure they make a difference , but probably alot less then the lifetime naturals would like to believe. The problem is people are so insecure about their own accomplishments that they need an excuse to explain why someone else is better instead of giving credit where it is due. Probably once a week I hear someone say they used to be my size back in high school or I used to rep 405 raw , but that was back when I was 18 and only weighed 170. I had someone just the other day explain to a group over lunch , how he squatted 700 to 800 for reps ass to the ground. This guy is 5'5 200 lbs at about 30% bf. I called BS and he proceded with the standard "well that was back in high school during football"! Things never change .. How about the idiot watching someone like Kaz , Mendy or Kennely repping 600 raw say "that's nothing because their all juiced up on those roids" Most people are clueless and worry way to much about everyone else.

I don't really think that it is a debate whether gear vs raw vs gear vs natural. It is about lifting weights and getting stronger whether you lift kegs, cars,bars, stones, sand, women it dont matter. Seeing some one stronger than myself motivates me regardless of how they got there I want to be just as good and I will stop at nothing to push myself in the gym because they are. I see the greats from yesteryear and I cant contain myself from waiting to lift. The samething ocurs to me when I see geared, raw, strongman, oly lifters, highland gamers, etc. because I idolize strength. It saddens me to see the raw people talk so negatively about the geared lifters because they seem to forget that in the end it takes hard work and determination to get anywhere in the strength game. My opinion is that if all the effort people put in to the internet board drama was redirected to learning more about how to get strong and then more importantly go and do it. Draw you insperation from your own goals at making yourself the best goddamn lifter you could possibly be.

I think its much easier for the average Joe to relate to raw lifting, have you ever tried to explain a bench sirt to someone who was clueless what a pain in the ass Personally i can relate to either side arent we all trying to get Pr's shirt or no shirt Fuck It 'just do you'

Ya know i draw inspiration from all types of lifts. I myself a raw lifter loves to see guys go at it. Squatting with just a belt or benching in just a t-shirt. For me its the determination that the lifter has. The time and effort they put in to do what they love. Seeing guys like kennelly throwing around 600 or near 700 pounds raw or getting under 1100 pounds geared. Its about what you have in you. So yes. I can draw inspiration and relate both. Because for me, its about what the lifter is willing to put on the line. Not about the choice of geared or equipped.

I think it's stupid that a serious raw lifter wouldn't be able to find inspiration from an elite geared lifter moving half a ton on on any of the three lifts. Obviously it's difficult for the PUBLIC to relate to geared lifting because they don't understand the mechanics of it and they don't understand "why that guy's arms stick out in front of him like that". But a competitive raw powerlifter who doesn't have a good enough understanding of geared lifting to appreciate that 1074 pounds is a buttload of weight to bench regardless of the type of shirt he's wearing or that squatting 1200+ pounds and deadlifting 1003 pounds is massive weight even with all the equipment you could buy, should be ashamed of himself. The public has an excuse for not understanding gear, but this guy does not. I've never even tried on a bench shirt, but I've learned as much as I can about it just keeping up with powerlifting news and articles, and I fully respect all clean lifts that follow the rules of the meet in which they've been performed regardless of the equipment being worn. Besides, look how many lifters on here say that they respect all heavy lifts? I think it's pretty universal that serious lifters respect serious lifts regardless of equipment. The public, now that's a different story.

I agree some what with Multi Ply "man i hope thjat isnt your real name" strong is strong but there are several exceptions I know im not the only one who has seen guys shaking and strugling with 405 in the warm up room only to go on to bench 700+ in the meet to me that is fucking redicoulous and is one of the main reasons I switched to raw less technical yes but no bullshit> That is simply my opinion and I have the utmost respect for all who have the balls to compeet raw or geared i just think those types of things do a lot to undermine the legitimacy of this sport we all love, hence making some lifters un relateable

Isn't the whole idea of "pro athletes" that they do things normal people just can't. I wouldn't expect to hit a golf ball like Tiger Woods, play basketball like Lebron James, etc, etc. Pros are pros for a reason. They are the best in the world.

I can agree with glen.
I lift equipped also but I can certainly respect a lot of raw strength.

I dont get sucked up into the raw vs gear debate much.

I wrote the original post and wanted to add some clarity on the point I was making...

I don't think many will argue that the sport started primarily raw or with minimal assistance and continues to evolve with better asssistance. It is also my opinion that the majority of guys who would have been great in both followed this trend, leaving far less great raw performances over the past ten years or more.

That being said, I know the names of almost every top ten lifter in the 220/242/275 classes in both multi-ply and single ply. Having competed in the APF, I will also admit these guys are absolute beasts and I did compare myself as a beginner to what they were putting up...gaging the kind of performance I would need to win meets like APF seniors, or at the time compete in the Arnold and other elite meets. The squat in the 242's was moving beyond the 1000lb mark, and I was closing in on an 800 at the time. This gave me motivation and something to shoot for, and likewise made me follow the things the above named were doing very closely. I would love to watch these greats do a full raw power meet sometime so I can do the same now, guage where I stand. The trend in gear made it this way for a while.

The point of the post is me saying that for us raw guys, you have to look back quite a few years to find numbers closer to our style when the trend of top guys centered around less gear. Thats were the "idol" came into play. I had tons of gear guys to read about, learn from, etc. and watch bang heads in big events.

This ties into the original thread being about wrist wraps and raw lifters arguing about them...it's time to unify and keep pushing forward and get more than a handful of guys on a pedestal. There was an 1800+ total posted in the raw 242's recently and several 1700+. I have a feeling we will have our own version of idol's once the bar gets pushed to a 1900 total and beyond at 242, leading into 2000lbs. If the trend would have stayed raw, then I am sure this would have happened already...the top ten 242's in the 1900-2000 range. I think that would grab anyones attention, the same as the 2500gear totals do now.

The raw numbers in the top ten are increasing fast and I am hoping that soon both sides have an equal footing of recognizable names to give the next generation something to shoot for.