A Weight On Your Shoulders
When it comes to raw strength, the base is the same for everyone, and there are universal methods to target it, regardless of goals/age/gender. Powerlifting is an old school sport that’s hitting back all serious gyms all over the country. People take part to get stronger, bigger, or leaner.
The basics lifts are: the squat, bench press and deadlift. There are, however, a collection of very important assistance exercises, that will ensure a well balanced body such as: the military press, rows and core exercises.
There’s also been a resurgence of strength and conditioning coaches, utilising Powerlifting principles, for sport performances. After years of confusion on the gym floors, people are starting to rediscover the essence of training with a barbell, with the come back of Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting…
Don’t Fight The Power(lifting)
Powerlifting is a sport that consist of lifting as much as one can, on three lifts: squat, bench press and dead lift. That’s all. Powerlifting is also the ultimate sport for developing and measuring pure strength. There are many definition of strength, many purpose for it, and many ways to work on it. From a strength and conditioning point of view, Powerlifting offers the most significant strength training, with the biggest carry-over onto any other sport.
The three major compound movements, trained regularly within a well balanced program, will ensure anyone to get stronger. Period. Although most gym rats around the world do practice these lifts, most people don’t do them properly, and that includes actual personal trainers and self proclaimed strength coaches. There’s a huge difference between lifting something and lifting heavy. No bodybuilders, cross-fitters, fat loss experts or Zumba instructors would ever come close to what a Powerlifter can teach you about the squat, the bench press, and the dead lift. Powerlifting invented these lifts - and how to use them. It’s as simple as that.
No Pain, More Gain
It’s important to know that training heavy, with poor form and control will create myriad of problems at some points. We come to the gym to get stronger, not weaker. We all have potential to strengthen ourselves throughout our lives. Strangely enough when you ask 95% of the big guys in any commercial gym they will all tell you about their secret shameful pain. How often do I hear a big boy saying “my shoulder/elbow is killing me, but I’ll get over the pain and smash it anyway” or “I used to be able to deadlift 220kg until I hurt my back, I used to squat four plates until I snapped some mystery muscle in my groin, so I’m now taking a break”. Pain is your body telling you that you are doing something wrong! Once you are fixed, learn how to do it properly, don’t repeat the same mistakes.
Reach For The Sky
I’m not telling you to join a Powerlifting club and lift for England. But consulting a Powerlifter is always a good place to start. If one was to learn MMA, he/she wouldn’t chose a Pilates teacher. If one wants to master the art of pole dancing, a competitive marathon runner wouldn’t be the best choice. It takes the right education, experience on the field, and teaching skills to impart the art of squatting, benching and deadlifting safely to different individuals… add to that a solid bespoke program, a basic understanding of how your body functions. The sky’s the limit.
I will be competing Powerlifting at the British Championship next weekend, representing the BGWC. I might not come back home with a trophy just yet, but each experience teaches me a little more. When it comes to a man (or a woman) and his barbell, and I’ll make sure I share my story with you. Watch this space.