[quote]mozhne wrote:
Right on. That’s what I’m looking for. Some good old debate. Let me clarify my stance on geared lifting. All I mean is that if you lift with gear I don’t have any respect for you or your lifts.
[/quote]
I accept and respect the many differing opinions on gear in powerlifting, and I can agree or at least understand the feeling on both sides of the debate, but I baulk a little at this.
You have been involved in powerlifting in the past, you are involved in a strength sport community on T-Nation, and you obviously still feel strongly about it. You are entitled to your opinion on equipment and the problems of our sport.
And then you say you have no respect for any individual who lifts with gear???
By all means, attack gear, steroids, federations, questionably lifts and anything else that you feel like, but don’t attack a lifter who hasn’t acted like an idiot. Let alone several thousand, some of which are active in this forum.
Raw federations do not exist in my country or the majority of the world.
If I want to represent my country, I must lift in a federation that uses equipment, and at some stage there’s a chance that I might actually have to use said equipment to be granted that privilege.
And representation is the only way I can compete against lifters who have a chance of making a total that would get them in the top 100 in the USA in my weight class.
Most of the lifters I know are Masters, and between shoulder, knee and back issues there are not many that would be able to lift without equipment to assist. Numbered among these is a man in his 60’s in the 148 pound class who holds the deadlift world record for the class and a former OL competitor who has torn rotators and last attempt at heavy squatting had him partially paralysed for a few days. He is benching high 500’s.
These are people who would quite happily compete raw. But they have no raw federation to compete in simply because of where they live. Most have injuries that prevent them anything close to heavy without equipment. They aren’t on forums claiming equipped numbers as raw. They are just doing what they enjoy, and I don’t think that they deserve to be treated with a lack of respect simply because of that.
I hope I have misunderstood and that is not what you, or anyone for that matter, feels; that simply using equipment means that you should be treated with contempt, regardless of the reasons behind it.
Your best raw lifts don’t get canceled simply because you wear a bench shirt.
Knee wraps don’t undo everything you’ve done for your friends, family and strangers.
And a squat suit is never going to change who you are.