Powerlifting and Its Importance to the Population

[Bruce Tackett]

In my 20-plus years of professional lifting, coaching and helping many achieve their individual goals and sporting endeavors, I have learned one major thing:

Powerlifting and its movements are for everyone, regardless of their ability and needs. There are no machines that replace the squat, deadlift or bench press.

- Matt Wenning

ditillo2.blogspot.com/2019/05/powerlifting-and-its-importance-to.html

As anyone who knows me knows, I have an affinity for arms. There was a time when I was doing every isolation exercise you could think of, and I hit a point to where the ol' guns just wouldn't grow no matter how many sets or exercises I added. Mags used to call me Shen, the Isolationist.

And then I read an article that said that if you're stuck and can't add any more size it's because you're doing only isolation exercises. To maximize muscle growth you need to include compound weight lifting exercises. Duh. In a flash it all made sense to me. You can't isolate and just exercise one muscle, you gotta do exercises that bring into play all the support muscles that contribute to performing particular lifts. Old School. I love it!

[fastfor40]

I would agree 100 percent with the PL advice. I've been training since my junior year of high school, started with the Charles Atlas course, wasn't too thrilled with the results, started going to a college weight room near where I lived, noticed almost immediate results doing basic movements, enlisted in the Air Force, and after a year of BB-type workouts met a couple powerlifters who revamped my training.

During my 45 years of training I'd guess that 3/4 of that time was devoted to powerlifting-type training, and even now, most of my workouts consist of compound movements with low reps and lots of sets.

[Bruce Tackett]

Jun 11, 2019 19:01:27 GMT fastfor40 said:

During my 45 years of training I'd guess that 3/4 of that time was devoted to powerlifting-type training, and even now, most of my workouts consist of compound movements with low reps and lots of sets.

And then there was that year we don't like to talk about.

Mags, that Beast, is a real proponent of deadlifts.

[fastfor40]

I remember the picture MBS posted about 15 years ago...I think it was response to a challenge from that Minnesota- based fitness camp by the lake...MBS was ripped and looked great, and then came his revelation his training consisted of deadlifts and hiking..

Yes, let's not mention that wasted year...

[Bruce Tackett]

Jun 11, 2019 20:35:24 GMT fastfor40 said:

I remember the picture MBS posted about 15 years ago...I think it was response to a challenge from that Minnesota- based fitness camp by the lake...MBS was ripped and looked great, and then came his revelation his training consisted of deadlifts and hiking..

Not MBS....Mags. Mags is a powerhouse. MBS is athletically muscular and does a lot of bodyweight and hiking.

[stuke]

I like powerlifting, it's what I started with. I think for me in terms of bare minimum exercise compound workouts, I would replace bench with some sort of press above head.

[macky]

It wasn't wasted, fast. That year added to your overall knowledge base and experience. It was an experiment worth trying at the time, and has reinforced your views on what is appropriate, and what is not in your continuing training.

You now can speak with authority on "our methods", having actually done them yourself. 

Well done. 

[fastfor40]

Oh yes; Mags, although MBS raised a few eyebrows...Mags was a beast, and as I recall Big Jim on that other site posted pictures showing his alleged 275 pounds of sheer muscle - kinda disappointing - and then Mags posted one of himself that made the other guy look rather ordinary and flabby.

[gruntbrain]

Weighted dips are a reasonable replacement for the bench press. Trap Bar deadlifts are safer than conventional ones and arguably they could replace squats .

[stuke]

Jun 11, 2019 22:11:16 GMT gruntbrain said:

Weighted dips are a reasonable replacement for the bench press. Trap Bar deadlifts are safer than conventional ones and arguably they could replace squats .

Yes, perhaps. Now we are down to 2 exercises, I would round back up to 3 with the addition of chins.

[gruntbrain]

Monster resistance bands(large looped , thick , wide flat bands) can be a reasonable, safe alternative to weights .

[stormshadow]

Known many powerlifters over the years that got large and muscular doing the three powerlifts. These were drug free and no lifting gear but raw. That was my preference too.

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2019 0:18:09 GMT gruntbrain said:

Monster resistance bands(large looped , thick , wide flat bands) can be a reasonable, safe alternative to weights .

Fun to travel with too.

[Deleted]

Jun 12, 2019 2:35:18 GMT stormshadow said:

Known many powerlifters over the years that got large and muscular doing the three powerlifts. These were drug free and no lifting gear but raw. That was my preference too.

I do admire the drug free lifters and seeing what's possible without needing steroids. Those dudes are crazy strong and often times underrated and unappreciated.

[Bruce Tackett]

Drug free. Old school. I think John Farbotnik, Mr. America 1950, is the best built bodybuilder of all time.