Interview With John Bernor

Create: 01/04/2006 - 09:42
Author: admin
Christian Powerlifters of America has an interview with powerlifter John Bernor. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

Who are some individuals you look up to in religion and powerlifting? In lifting I think the old school guys are awesome(Cole, Kuc, Reinhoudt,) Karwoski and Coan are amazing. However Anthony Clark is my all-time favorite because he gave God ALL the glory and used his gift to reach others. Chris Taylor, Joel Toranzo, Lenny Spero, Eric Adolph and all the guys I train with inspire me every week.

$1,000 For A 1,000 Pound Bottom Position Squat

Create: 01/04/2006 - 08:24
Author: admin
Anti-drug lifter Bud Jeffries has recently issued a challenge to anyone that can replicate his 1,000 pound bottom position squat. He says he'll pay anyone $1,000 if they can do a bottom position squat with 1,000 pounds from parallel. No equipment other than a belt is allowed. To be eligible one must also be drug tested. Check out his site for video of the squat.

More Bench America Rumors

Create: 01/04/2006 - 08:11
Author: admin
There's been a fair amount of talk recently about Bench America. Most of it centering on whether the event will take place this year or on a format change for the event. Another discussion has appeared in the NASA forum. The original poster says:

I have heard that the Bench America program has been terminated and is no longer in existance. Can anyone verify or discredit this report or rumor? I have heard that they lost over $100,000.00 on the entire series and it is bankrupt now.

Worst Bench Press Form Mistakes

Create: 01/03/2006 - 09:01
Author: admin
We've all seen it in the gym; benchers bouncing the bar off their chests, lifting their butts a foot off the bench and other foolishness. Which is the most foolish of these gym benching mistakes asks an Elite Fitness poll. The poll choices:

NOT lowering the bar to the chest. Bouncing the bar out of the midpoint. "Bucking" the hips/ arching like an exotic dancer. Benching to the neck/ abs. Having a spotter who does all the work.

Some poster's experiences:

I once had to spot a guy who did just about all of those things - butt in the air, feet on the bench, stopping about 4 inches from the chest. Started with 225 and I had to help him get his 3rd or 4th rep IIRC. Then he bumped it up to 275 and I was like OMG and I had to help him a lot on all 3. I then went off to dead or something, and I saw him scouring the gym for me. I guess he liked my spotting. So anyway he's got 315 on it and I was pretty scared since it's kind of an awkward angle to be pulling up on the bar that much. 3 of the hardest reps of my life. There used to be another guy with this huge lifting belt who did the butt in the air thing - his flat looked like a decline and his incline looked like a flat, it was that pronounced. And then there's the guys who squirm around a lot on the bench, we call it 'the hooked marlin'.

This Does Not Sound Good!

Create: 01/03/2006 - 08:39
Author: admin
A poster over at the APA forum is getting married soon and is asking for a bit of advice:

I need some help with excuses to get to the gym, or I may be forced into retirement by the future Mrs. JohnnieO!

The replies are a much needed wakeup call:

Either: You're making a mistake by marrying someone who won't support your lifting 100% OR: Lifting just isn't in your heart, and getting married is an excuse to slowly fade it out.

Should Lifters Who Test Positive In The USAPL Be Prosecuted?

Create: 01/03/2006 - 08:09
Author: admin
An interesting discussion going on over at the USAPL forum about whether lifters found violating their drug policy should be reported to authorities for prosecution. The original poster remarks:

ABOUT A WEEK AGO I HAD A INTERESTING TALK WITH SOME USAPL LIFTERS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITVE AT A USAPL POWERLIFTING CONTEST. THE GENERAL OPINION WAS THAT BANNING THEM FOR A FEW YEARS WAS NOT ENOUGH. THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED BY HAVING THE TEST TEST RESULTS SENT TO THE LOCAL ATHORITIES AND THUS BRINGING THE MATTER BEFOR THE LOCAL COURT.

Gene Rychlak's Next Meet

Create: 01/02/2006 - 12:19
Author: admin

For all you Gene Rychlak fans, word comes from Rychlak's partner, Amelia, that the next meet he plans to lift in will be the IPA Worlds. A final date for that event hasn't been set, but look for it sometime in June. There is a chance he will enter a meet before then as well.

Best Of 2005

Create: 01/02/2006 - 08:37
Author: admin
Fortified Iron has a thread looking at the best powerlifting moments of 2005. Here are a few of the bests:

Best Bench: 1) Matt Lamarque hits 800 @ 220. Best Squat: (I have 3) 1) Mike Miller hits 1200..He was the first, Judges said good lift, enuff said. 2) Jeff Lewis hits 1200...Without any questions about depth or power. 3) Becca Swanson 854...Easy with more in the tank. Biggest Surprise: (I have 2) Last year we weren't even talking about these guys. 1) Kutcher 2) Jeff Lewis Best comeback: 1) Joel Toranzo comes back from a horrible injury as a 3 lift lifter. 2) Candyass comes back after neck surgery as a 3 lift lifter and hits monster Pr's.

Bench Press Grip Width

Create: 01/02/2006 - 08:00
Author: admin
If you go into any gym and watch a handful of strong benchers bench, you'll more than likely notice them using a number of different grip widths. Which one is right? Is there a right grip width? A poster at Ryan Kennelley's Bench Monster forum asks:

Just wondering how all the strong benchers here decided on how wide of a grip to take. I compete with a shirt, but I am talking raw grip width here. If one wants to maximize their raw bench poundages, how wide should the grip be. the rule of thumb I have always gone by is to have my hands slightly wider than my elbows when the bar is touching the chest. Does this sound reasonable? Some people will say to adjust your grip width based on muscle strengths and weaknesses. I would rather simply correct my weaknesses. Hopefully that rambling made sense. So what do you guys have to say about raw bench grip width??

New Year's Goals

Create: 01/02/2006 - 07:47
Author: admin
Monster Muscle has an obligatory New Year's goals thread. So what are the reader's goals? Many have listed new pr marks. Here are a few others.

Oh yeah and to try not to be an ass at the gym when people come up and ask, "What is that shirt for?"..."Are you supposed to squat that low with that much weight?"..."Do the boards help you bounce the weight?"

Mendelson Bench Press Classic Offers Up $5,000

Create: 12/31/2005 - 07:54
Author: admin
Information is out about the Fit Expo - APF Scot Mendelson Bench Press Classic & APF California State Championships. It will be held at the Pasadena Civic Center in Pasadena, California on February 18th & 19th. There will be Pro-Division Bench Press only classes for the men and women which are invite only. The Pro Division winners of each weight class (lightweight and heavyweight) for the men will be awarded $5,000. Each of the women's weight classes will earn $500.

Do High Reps Equal A Big Bench?

Create: 12/31/2005 - 07:44
Author: admin
Following the NFL scouting combine, talk around the gym often centers around how many reps were done by the players at 225. But what is repping at 225 really measuring? A poster at Ryan Kennelly's forum wonders:

just curious if a high rep bench equates to a high bench? Like doing 225 for 50 times like ryan does and he does 900lbs so if someone can do 225 for 50 times does that equate to 900lbs also? I have a hard time explaining to my buddies that i can do 205 for 10 reps, but I can also rep 225 for 10 reps also i tell them my muscles burn way too much for higher repping they dont believe me.

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