and would like to learn more about it. I’m very interested in competing sometime in the near future, but I have no idea where I would find a meet, or if I need a team, or anything, really. Can you guys give me a hand? I plan on switching over to a more PLing-oriented program in the next month or so; probably WSFSB. Also, would these numbers be competitive at all at age 20, 220 lbs?
bench ~315 lbs
squat ~315 lbs (I’ll want to get this up to over 400 before I even consider a meet).
deadlift ~500 lbs
I’ve actually sustained quite a few injuries in the past year or so, and I’m just recently getting them fixed. I’m thinking once I really start concentrating on squat, it will be back up to around 400 in no time at all. Thanks for the encouraging words, btw. I feel right at home.
[quote]John S. wrote:
Before competing even crosses your mind, your squat should increase at least 150lbs.[/quote]
Ignorant post. Worry about making your lifts, not what place you’re going to come in. Experience counts. Or he could just want to do it for fun.
OP:
Check out powerliftingwatch.com and have a look around. Check out the different federations, as some have different rules as far as gear and depth are concerned.
[quote]John S. wrote:
Before competing even crosses your mind, your squat should increase at least 150lbs.[/quote]
Nope. Go out and compete. You’ll learn a lot and meet STRONG people that will help you become STRONGER. You can have fun and meet your goals and set new ones for the next meet.
Here’s a link:
They have Raw and suited lifting. The fastest way to navigate that site is to hit the Table of Contents link.
Find a meet in your area and if you don’t want to compete, just go and watch at first. Don’t worry about your lifts for your first few meets, just get experience in a meet setting. It takes a few times to get accustomed to it.
[quote]gi2eg wrote:
John S. wrote:
Before competing even crosses your mind, your squat should increase at least 150lbs.
Ignorant post. Worry about making your lifts, not what place you’re going to come in. Experience counts. Or he could just want to do it for fun.
OP:
Check out powerliftingwatch.com and have a look around. Check out the different federations, as some have different rules as far as gear and depth are concerned.
Good luck and have fun.[/quote]
How the hell is that a ignorant post. You don’t go into a competition with a shitty lift like that.(no offence) You don’t go into something unprepared just for experience. Going in with a weak lift(for you weight) in powerlifting is the same as going into a bodybuilding contest fat, it is just plain stupid.
If everyone waited around till they thought there lifts were “good enough” there wouldn’t be very many people competing.
But guess what? That guy that goes into a bodybuilding show out of shape is going to get a quick reality check on what stage shape is like and come back 6-12 months later ONE HUNDRED PERCENT better if he’s got any passion. Same with this guy, if he goes and squats in the high 3s low 4s and get’s outlifted by girls don’t you think that might teach him a thing or two about strength?
His lifts aren’t terrible and he’s not going to embarass himself. If he wants to compete then let him learn his lessons in a meet and not on a forum.
I’ve never competed in PL but I did some strongman shows. I didn’t place well in any of them. But, I competed, went out and gave it my best and it was a worthwhile experience. You have to start somewhere.
If you want to get stronger, meet and train with strong people. The guys I met have all been top notch guys. If you put out an honest effort, nobody will look down at you for your numbers.
[quote]Scott M wrote:
If everyone waited around till they thought there lifts were “good enough” there wouldn’t be very many people competing.
But guess what? That guy that goes into a bodybuilding show out of shape is going to get a quick reality check on what stage shape is like and come back 6-12 months later ONE HUNDRED PERCENT better if he’s got any passion. Same with this guy, if he goes and squats in the high 3s low 4s and get’s outlifted by girls don’t you think that might teach him a thing or two about strength?
His lifts aren’t terrible and he’s not going to embarass himself. If he wants to compete then let him learn his lessons in a meet and not on a forum. [/quote]
Why compete to lose? Thats exactly what he would be doing.
I am going to assume these are raw lifts and he wants to compete raw. if he spends the next 6 months training full force, instead of going into a meet with 1130 total he could go in with a 1300 for his first meet. He then has a pretty decent total for a raw lifter.
Every powerlifter I have ever talked to has told me to get into competitions for the experience. It’s not about losing, it’s about beating your own records and having something to strive for. Additionally, you get the experience of what actual competitions are like and even better, you get to meet strong individuals and LEARN from them.
Why compete to lose? Thats exactly what he would be doing.
I am going to assume these are raw lifts and he wants to compete raw. if he spends the next 6 months training full force, instead of going into a meet with 1130 total he could go in with a 1300 for his first meet. He then has a pretty decent total for a raw lifter. [/quote]
I understand your point but think you are missing the point in general that people compete for different reasons. If this guy said he wanted to have a legit shot at winning a competition and he was there only for that reason then yes, he should wait until he his stronger. But if he wants to get experience (so he doesn’t blow his opportunity when he is stronger), if he wants to meet up with fellow lifters, if he wants to see if he really likes the thing and if he has been training appropriately (a gym squat is much different than a meet squat) then he can compete right now. Besides, who is to say a 1300 lb total is good at 220? Maybe he should wait until he can total 1600 lbs, then he would really have a good chance of winning (sarcasm off).
IMO he should go in there and see what happens, plus he is only twenty. If everybody out squats him by 100 lbs then he will know what his weakness is. If he waits until he has something to prove then he will begin to live in fear that somebody else will show up at the meet and outdo him, something he has no control over.
Bottomline is last place in a meet beats everyone who didn’t compete.
Man, you’ve received alot of positive feedback. And honestly, I felt like you did when I started. I wanted to place, and bring home a cool looking trophy. I wanted big numbers too. But my very first meet B-L-E-W me away at how strong these men, women, young boys and girls were. And that was with or without full gear. I began to meet alot of people my first day. I took notes of my attempts, and the corrections I needed to make. I collected alot of email address from those that gave me pointers during the meet. Everyone was supportive. It was great! Everyone there was competing against themselves. Wanting to beat their PR’s from the last meet. I personally got alot of my info from www.elitefts.com and articles/DVD’s from www.westside-barbell.com. You’ll read tons and tons of information on how to train, when to train, what method or program will work for your body and lifestyle. How to use gear if you choose to. Where to buy it and get the correct fitting. Learn some of the best raw programs to train by. Check out www.rawpowerlifting.com , tons of good articles. And there just might be a garage full of “powerlifting equipment” in your area of town, that a couple of guys get together at their house and train with loud music, chalk dust everywhere, with intense motivation. That’s where I’m at in my journey, I used to train at a commercial gym, but I found a guy who is also a judge at PL meets that has it ALL in his garage. That’s where I go now four days a week. And I’ve learned this to be true for myself, “to get stronger, train with stronger beasts, and they’ll bring the animal out of you”
Be safe,…listen,…read,…keep a journal,…and CRANK THE MUSIC LOUD!!!
As a junior, and if your lifts would get passed in the IPF, your numbers are fine and you won’t embarrass yourself. You’ll learn a lot and with raw numbers like you have you’ll be able to progress a long way fast with good advice.
With the exception of the squat (I’m barely over 400), your raw lifts are more or less the same as mine, and while I’m a long way from winning the opens, I am still competitive in the juniors. So like everyone else has said - go, compete, have fun and learn from stronger people!
[quote]gi2eg wrote:
John S. wrote:
Before competing even crosses your mind, your squat should increase at least 150lbs.
Ignorant post. Worry about making your lifts, not what place you’re going to come in. Experience counts. Or he could just want to do it for fun.
OP:
Check out powerliftingwatch.com and have a look around. Check out the different federations, as some have different rules as far as gear and depth are concerned.
[quote]John S. wrote:
gi2eg wrote:
John S. wrote:
Before competing even crosses your mind, your squat should increase at least 150lbs.
Ignorant post. Worry about making your lifts, not what
How the hell is that a ignorant post. You don’t go into a competition with a shitty lift like that.(no offence) You don’t go into something unprepared just for experience. Going in with a weak lift(for you weight) in powerlifting is the same as going into a bodybuilding contest fat, it is just plain stupid.
[/quote]
Bollocks! If he enters a novice or similar there will be other beginers, high level comps usually require a qualifying total so he won’t get in. It might be considered the same as going into a bodybuilding comp SMALL, you know you’re not going to win (probably) but you’ll learn an awful lot!
[quote]Tim Henriques wrote:
Bottomline is last place in a meet beats everyone who didn’t compete.[/quote]
Well said Tim. and as someone else pointed out, competing is a reality check. I was always the strongest guy in the gym and thought I was hot shit. Then I did my first comp and was getting redlighted for squat depth, redlighted for quick pauses on the bench and was being outpulled by 100-200 pounds on the deadlift by other guys in my weight class. it was a wake up call that gave me a real frame of reference for where I stood strength wise and I was able to use that as motivation to train smarter, train more intensely and as a result I made more gains more quickly. bottomline dude is just enter a comp as soon as possible. you’ll learn more in one day at a meet than you have all year
