Unfortunately in terms of weightlifting the only thing measured is weight on the bar. Veterans will lash out at younger people on here and say stuff like “don’t talk until your bench is X, squat is Y, and deadlift is Z.”
It’s hard not to let numbers seem important. My goal is to squat 4 plates and I have a long ways to go since I haven’t been squatting lately. I’ve never been close. I know for a fact it would be a lot easier if I was 5’10".
So from a pure numbers standpoint, I do think being tall a restriction. It also makes it more difficult to obtain a certain physique since limbs and muscles are longer.
Does it prevent me from improving and working hard? Of course not.
But overall being tall is an extra hurdle in a place like this where everything is measured by your PRs and physique. It’s hard not to care about those things when your goal is to be bigger and stronger than most people you meet.
Maybe in the skewed T-Nation reality. In the normal world, I’m occasionally asked what I can bench. Whether the number was under 300 or over 500 (bluffing to test my theory) the answer is either, “wow, that’s a lot” or an anecdote about their cousin’s friend doing 5 lbs more for a triple during their junior year in high school.
Nobody really cares. If they do, it’s helping fill a void somewhere else in their life.
Being tall also gives you a relatively higher starting bodyweight, more room to add bodyweight, and (anecdotally) more potential to deadlift.
Sorry man, but this is bullshit. If you were 5’10" you’d still be complaining you weren’t 6 foot. Him Wendler talked on this before about people complaining that they could be pro athletes if they had all the time and shit they do, but they wouldn’t. They’d just have more time to play Xbox and eat bullshit. You either get it done or you don’t. If you never squat 405, that’s on you and your programming. Not your height.
To be clear though, I do agree with your point on quarter squats and leg presses for vertical height. A lot of people squat to jump for anything when in reality all the power is in the hips and glutes after squatting quarter of the way down. You need both imo because they build different aspects, but it all needs to be goal oriented.
Bluffing to test your theory made me laugh. And you are correct about PRs not really mattering to most of the world; however, achieving those stupid 3,4, and 5 numbers still seem important. I don’t even know why other than that it seems to be “the standard” of strength for people who pursue this nonsense. I guess I’d’ like to meet the standard for an experienced lifter… someday.
I think what strength I actually do have (whether it be a lot or a little) would be better displayed in a strongman type environment versus the weight room.
I partially agree with you here. I agree that achieving my goal is on me. I never said I can’t/won’t get to 405; I believe it’s much harder with long limbs. I may or may not squat 405 in my lifetime. It’s a goal but it won’t make or break my life. I do not share Jim Wendler’s passion for lifting where I will ignore everyone in my life to “focus on my training”. I also won’t pursue a goal if it’s going to injure me. I’m stubborn, but not that stubborn. As mentioned above, no one really cares anyway. I don’t care that Jim squatted 1000 lbs. That’s neat, but it doesn’t affect me or change my life. My goals might also change after speaking with a hip specialist next week. If he tells me not to do _____ then I’ll probably listen. Worst case scenario, I’ll quarter squat 405!
You are correct. And thank you. As @brady888 mentioned earlier I think longer legs actually do help with pulling movements. The last time I built up to a 1RM for power cleans and front squats I actually cleaned 40 lbs more than I could front squat. Apparently my squatting strength drops off the table when my legs get past the half squat position.
I never reference Jim in that regard though? Only his take on how even if you had the time that athletes do, you would still do the same ahi because it doesn’t matter to you as much as them.
There’s a great Dan John video where he gets someone at his seminar to do a broad jump. He then brings that person back amd says "do it again with locked knees " and the person manages to jump as far with quads taken out of it. Very interesting stuff.
I wanted to clarify that I’ve been 240 lbs before. I’m hoping to return to that weight but improve the quality of the weight compared to last time. I’m hoping that it won’t be too much of a shock to my system since it’s carried that weight before. I also know it’s important to stay very active while gaining weight so my tendons and ligaments adjust as well.
I was doing front squats! I quit squatting while I figure out my hip problem. I should have a concrete answer next Tuesday.
I’ve really enjoyed the 5/3/1 Training Maximally program for deadlifts (basically working up to a heavy single each day). I haven’t had a chance to use the same approach on squats or front squats yet.
The key here is that I power clean instead of a regular/traditional clean. I catch it in a quarter to half squat position. You have to pull the weight higher but it seems to work for me.
Doc thinks I might have a small deformity on the head of my femur which has caused impingement and possibly a tear in the labrum. I’ve been trying to figure out my problem since March though.
Today’s MRI included dye injected into my hip to highlight any problems. The first MRI didn’t have any contrast and the Doc wasn’t 100% certain so he ordered another with the dye.
I like doing power cleans for…power (insightful right?). I never really learned how to clean properly but I learned how to do pulls really well so I eventually just added the catch that I knew from high school. My catch isn’t atrocious but it’s not worthy to be called weightlifting. I’d call it a variation for athletic purposes.
I’ll play with clean and jerks on occasion. I’ve done power snatches in the past but my shoulders are lax and I don’t know how to miss safely. Another plug about my height here - - - I wouldn’t be comfortable missing a snatch on the platform at the Y. It’s a nice set up but losing the bar 6 to 8 feet off the ground would get sketchy in a hurry.
