Considering powerlifting?

[BanZeh]

What sort of strength levels do you need to achieve before you can start considering powerlifting? Or what advice would be good for trying to progress to a point where you could consider it? Currently I have a best of Bench 100Kg, Deadlift 175Kg and not sure on Squat have done 150Kg x5 all with just a lifting belt at 81Kg.

[Martin Brown]

There isn't really a level to be honest - well your certainly at the level where you could enter.

Powerlifting is a sport where you do learn alot as you compete, almost opposite to bodybuilding where everyone hates each other and laughs at the person who really shouldn't be there. You tend to find people will help other lifters out and give new people alot of encouragement and advice.

Lifting equipped (in suit, shirt, wraps etc) is very different than raw lifting as you do now.

Best thing to do is find someone who competes in your area and see if you can train with them for a week.

Have you ever trained to actually increase your 1RM's?

[BanZeh]

Thanks for the response Martin. Ive not trained specifically for 1RM, I did Bill Starr 5x5 about 2 years ago which is strength based, and the last couple of weeks have dropped my reps down on deadlift but never specifically trained for 1RM. Is it worth investing in some wraps and planning to do some strength specific training for a bit then do you reckon?

[Was_once_fat_dave]

I enjoyed the ste kortes 3x3 training that Martin put me onto last year. That's an 8 week training cycle that builds you to your 1 rep max. The 3x3 Program might be worth giving that a shot see how you feel. (I did it raw by the way)

I think \/\/\/\/ is on with it at the moment.

[BanZeh]

Thanks Dave, I did 1 week of Rippetoe after doing the Bill Starr before which seems kind of similar although the 3x3 has even less volume. I might give this a go.

[Was_once_fat_dave]

lol, thers a lot more to it than 1 week. Its 4 weeks of large volumes followed by 4 weeks of competition prep.

the part of my log that follows it starts here http://forum.myprotein.co.uk/trainin...er-log-29.html

[Martin Brown]

I think it's worth doing Korte's program and see how you like it. I suppose the important thing is that you have to want to lift heavy weights and if you don't like doing that it's pretty pointless trying to powerlift.

It's a good idea just to try to get your raw lifts up (maybe use a good PL'ing belt and some wrist wraps).

M

[BanZeh]

Quote

I think it's worth doing Korte's program and see how you like it. I suppose the important thing is that you have to want to lift heavy weights and if you don't like doing that it's pretty pointless trying to powerlift.

It's a good idea just to try to get your raw lifts up (maybe use a good PL'ing belt and some wrist wraps).

M

I enjoy lifting heavy weights, will look at Korte's program, I think my deadlift will go up quite quickly, don't think 200Kg will take me too long, benchpress will be a different story lol. Only problem is I only have access to a smith machine for squatting for about the next 6 weeks or so, so wont be able to start for a bit When I do get round to it, is it worth getting knee wraps as well as the belt and wrist wraps you suggested, I thought that still counted as raw?

[suj]

goodluck banz if you do enter! you got good lifts as it is mate (good start)

[\/\/\/\/\/\/]

I can heartily recommend the 3x3 BUT the first 4 weeks are very tough. I'll report back in two weeks whether my 1rm's actually increased!