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Post by scifres on Apr 10, 2006 19:17:36 GMT -5
My name is Phil Scifres and I'm from Taylor, Mo. 2 months ago I decided to get into power lifting. I've lifted off and on since high school with mostly bench and very few squats. I've taken off years at a time. I was in one power lifting meet at my high school at age 18 and loved it, but didn't have many opportunities to compete after that. In that one meet I did Sq.- 415 B- 290 DL- 375 at 165 pounds. I am now 32 and 190lbs. My estimates for my lifts are bench at around 345, Squat at around 445, and DL is only around 405 because of my weaker left hand grip and I can't hold on to bar. Estimates are based on current 5 rep max weights of B-295, S-395, and D- 355. I am going to enter a meet on April 22, but it is not a raw meet. I am planning on competing raw, because I believe it is the only true way to lift. I am hoping to make it to one of the RAW meets in Palatine, IL if it works out.
Advice about grip strength would be greatly appreciated.
God is my strength.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2006 8:39:49 GMT -5
I have seen people take a few 10lb plates and pinch them together and hold them for as long as they can. Also in the squat rack, you can load the bar heavy as heck and lift (like deadlift lockouts) and hold the weight as long as you can, do several sets. Hope this helps!
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Post by dopar66 on Apr 12, 2006 11:53:32 GMT -5
Hey, Phil! Tickled pink to have you here!
Those numbers are pretty doggone good. That's a firm foundation to build on! I got reintroduced to the sport at age 34, and am finding my squat and deadlift respond way better than when I was a teen. My bench....well....the squat and deadlift are okay!
The two grip strength exercises BDBLDR mentioned are great. I use the lockouts at a minimum of every other week. Some manufacturers make grip equipment just for such cases. If you do try those hangs BDBLDR mentioned, try it both with a hook grip and an opposing grip. I try to do both, but once I get over 5 plates the hook doesn't cut it any more.....
Glad to have you here, Phil!
God Bless.
Doug P.
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Post by scifres on Apr 23, 2006 8:33:04 GMT -5
Hey guys, thanks for the advice. I believe it helped me out a lot. I competed yesterday in a small powerliftnig meet as a novice lifter in the 198 class. I competed 100% Raw. I did'nt even use a belt. I got 8 out of my 9 lifts. I came up short on my last bench attempt of 360. My lifts were Squat- 415, 435, 460 Bench- 315, 335, 360-S and DL- 405, 435, 460. So, I got a total of 1255. I may of been able to add 25-35 more pounds to my total if I would of lowered my last bench attempt to 345-350 and uped my squat 10-15 pounds, and I may have been able to get 5 more on DL. But overall I am satisfied with the whole experience. The meet was not a RAW meet. For the first time, I got to see the use of Squat Suits and Bench shirts. I thought it was pretty funny watching guys bench and struggle to get the weight to there chest and then after 3 seconds of bringing it down it exploded off their chest for a good lift. It appeared that they were having more trouble bringing the bar down to their chest then it was to press it up. I hope I can compete in a 100% Raw meet some time in the near future.
Thanks again for the advice and God Bless,
Phil
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Post by dopar66 on Apr 24, 2006 11:53:03 GMT -5
Excellent, Phil! Congratulations on a heck of a meet! Those are some highly respectable numbers, and I bet some of the equipped lifters were scratching their heads! Way to go. With the estimated numbers from changing the squat and bench, you're looking at a realistic 1280 total. Not a bad start!
Thanks for posting those results!
God Bless.
Doug
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Post by scifres on Jun 8, 2006 12:17:59 GMT -5
Man! I really want to go to Orlando for the National meet. I have been seriously thinking about it, but I don't know if I can afford the money for the plane ticket(s). My lovely wife wants to go, if I go. So that would double the cost. I don't think I want to drive over 18 hours and try to compete, either. I was hoping to get down to the 181 class and compete against some of the best.
Anyone have any suggestions?
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Post by dopar66 on Jun 12, 2006 11:57:40 GMT -5
I'm certainly not the world's leading authority on air travel, and I expect you've already thought about this.
Cheap tickets dot com, travelocity dot com, etc.
I hope you're able, but if not, hopefully in the near future!
God Bless.
Doug
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