[quote]Hanley wrote:
I absolutely agree with pretty much everything you said apart from what you’ve just quoted. I know you probably doin’t mean literally NO-ONE but there a are a few stand outs in the USAPL and IPF who train in a more Westside-y manner. Jack Reape would be one of those.
Again, I agree with what you just said, but unfortunately it’s not always a case of black and white. There’s a few grey areas as well.
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Hanley,
Yes, you’re right…there are always grey areas. My reference to Westside was that I haven’t seen or heard of any of the lifters from the gym in Columbus who train under Louie enter a powerlifting competition that either wasn’t the WPO, the federation that Louie started (the IPA) or some similar venue that was a mixture of both (Mountaineer Cup).
MODI stated that he was a drug-free, natural powerlifter who competes RAW. This is not the profile of those who train at Westside in Columbus. Lifters that I know that are like MODI and myself that have tried to do the pure Westside template have either been injured or just eventually “gas out” from the volume from trying to do a pure circa-max program as outlined by Louie.
I am also wondering what has happened to some of the Westside lifters who came on the powerflifting scene, hit it big and then disappeared from competition? I’ve read about them in Powerlifting USA, seen Louie standing next to the newest soon-to-be-star and then the next year and then some you never hear about them again. One example would be George Halbert. What happened to him and so many others at Westside that you never hear about anymore? Could it be from possible injuries or other reasons?
I would be able to validate the pure Westside style of training for a drug-free, natural, RAW powerlifting competitor such as MODI or myself or even using single-ply gear for the USAPL if I could see just one of the Columbus, Ohio lifters enter into an AAU or USAPL meet and just qualify to go to nationals or whatever.
I just think that pure Westside is over-rated and Louie isn’t being totally upfront on what is required to stick out his training protocol to the letter.
I don’t see the proof in Louie’s disciples from Westside in Columbus entering other powerlifting meets such as the AAU, USAPL, USPF, WABDL, etc., or just his lifters having a long duration of competitive years. I know I’m going to take a hit for this so let the flaming, gunfire and bashing start. Somebody has to say it.
I think Louie’s got some good ideas ideas about training and incorporating equipment such as the glute-ham raise and the reverse-hyper into those ideas for a desired result. Heck, I even bought one myself and they have helped me in my training, but I didn’t follow a Westside template because of the way I train and compete.
I never got stronger from lifting light weights (60% of 1RM - speed work). I know there are plenty of lifters in the AAU and USAPL that use hybrid systems of the Westside or incorporate some of their ideas into their training, but it’s not pure Westside. As you quoted from Louie, “If you’re not training at Westside, you’re not training Westside.”
I’ve looked at Jack Reape’s training logs a few times for over a year. I’ve read his articles. Jack’s not following a pure Westside template. It’s a mixture of Sheiko and other schools of thought. His volume is relatively low compared to pure Westside. Westside doesn’t take whole back-off weeks after three weeks of training. They also don’t use kettlebells as part of their regular training protocol. Lawn mowing isn’t GPP training at Westside either.
I guess every lifter has to find what works for them. By the way, good job on incorporating front squats into your training program. I hope you continue to get as much out of them as I do. Good luck with your training!