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A Perfect Fit: Powerlifting defined
Topics: Ken Wheeler and wife Lisa.
Anonymous user Tue Apr 3, 2007 11:28:15 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Once in a while a friend or stranger will surprise me and mention something I wrote about in a column then ask a question or make a comment challenging my fitness wisdom or foolishness. We have a friendly chat and I end with the question, “What would you like me to write about in the future?”
One of the most common responses is “powerlifting.”
The individual will say, “My son wants to do that” or  “My dad used to do that” or “Isn’t that what they do in the Olympics?”
And on one occasion, “I heard that your wife does that. Do a lot of women do that?”
At the risk of boring the rest of you to tears, this week’s article is for those who spoke up and suggested a topic. It’s fun for me — I love my sport! Welcome to Powerlifting 101.
To begin, no, powerlifting is not an Olympic sport. The lifts done in the games are called, coincidently, “Olympic lifts.” They are the “clean and jerk” and the “snatch.” There also was an overhead lift called the “military press,” but it was removed from Olympic competition back in the 70s. All Olympic lifts are done overhead, power lifts are not. I have great admiration for Olympic lifters, but that’s another topic for another time. 
Powerlifting began to emerge on the weightlifting scene in the late 50s, but really started gaining popularity in the mid-60s. Without dragging you through all the transitions of the sport, it boiled down to the three lifts that we do today: Squat, bench press, and dead lift — the three heaviest lifts in any type of weightlifting sport. No one has ever lifted 600 pounds in any of the Olympic lifts, whereas the biggest power lift, the squat, comes it at 1,213 pounds; the bench press an unbelievable 1,008 pounds (my wife Lisa was a referee for that lift); and the dead lift completes the show with 1,003 pounds.
Both the squat and dead lift records are held by Andy Bolton of Great Britain, and the bench press is held by Scott Mendelson of California. Lisa and I have had the honor of refereeing Andy on several occasions, and we were two of the referees at the Arnold Classic just a few short weeks ago when he set the squat record.
It isn’t entirely accurate to compare powerlifting and Olympic lifting. For one, powerlifters are allowed to use supportive gear to aid in the lift and protect against injury. Secondly, the lifts are totally different. That being said, it still remains that the three power lifts are the undisputed kings of the weight room. Let’s take a brief look at how a competition works.
In a powerlifting competition, the object is to achieve a “total”consisting of your best of each lift: squat+bench+dead lift=total. Squats are done first, followed by the bench press, and lastly the dead lift.
There is a saying in powerlifting: The meet doesn’t start until the bar hits the floor — meaning you may have had a great day so far with your first two lifts, but now the real test comes. How much do you have left in you to pull a dead lift and achieve your total? And perhaps win the meet? Lifters with weak dead lifts can be substantially ahead in the subtotal (best squat plus their best bench), and then drop down in the placings because their dead lift is poor. Conversely, a lifter might have an average squat and bench but a great dead lift. Thus, when it comes to the “pull” he might actually win the contest.
Another saying we have is: It’s all about the total —  meaning it doesn’t matter if you are the best at one of the lifts because it takes all three to win. My wife is one of the best drug-free female powerlifters in the world in her weight division, but she has a lousy bench press! So a competition day will begin very well, with her having, if not the best squat, one of the best. Then we go to the bench and “bam” (just like Emeril) the girls with the big bench catch up or pass her up. But when it’s time to pull (dead lift), she usually is back in the mix and ends up with a great total.
The day is strategic at times, but ultimately it boils down to who the strongest lifter is on that day.  Very unpolitical, and very nuts and bolts, if you will. No instant replays (although a case could be made for them), no subjective “he looks better than the other guy” (as in bodybuilding)— it’s just about who can lift the most weight by the rules, and under the eyes of three referees. Those who do, win, those who don’t, lose — nice.
A typical day of competition runs about eight to 12 hours. Many larger regional and national meets are held over two days, with the world championships usually taking four, sometimes five days. It is a sport of family and friends who come out to sit, eat, hang out, and watch people lift big, heavy weights. You’re absolutely correct, it is a long and boring day — one that I absolutely love. It is a backyard sport with a following that ranges from students to construction workers to attorneys and doctors to retail store clerks, such as yours truly.
In powerlifting, it doesn’t matter who you are in the outside world, it only matters what you can lift, how you train, and when your next competition is. No one cares how much money you make, where you live, what you drive, or even how ugly you are. Just shut up and lift.
To those who asked, thanks for asking, and to everyone, remember, only those who quit will fail.
E-mail Ken at:
ken@wheelersfitness.com

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