Powerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively The squat is a lower body exercise used in Strength training. The bench press is a Strength training exercise in which while lying on his back the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest then The deadlift is a Weight training Exercise where one lifts a loaded Barbell (or in the case of the trapbar deadlift a loaded Trapbar) The sport resembles Olympic weightlifting because it involves lifting heavy weights in three attempts.
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Competition Format
A powerlifting competition takes place as follows:
Each competitor is allowed three to four attempts on each lift depending on their standing and the organization they are lifting in. The lifter’s best valid attempt on each lift counts toward his competition total. If two or more lifters achieve the same total, the lighter lifter ranks above the heavier lifter. [1]
Competitors are judged against other lifters of the same gender, weight class, and age. Weight classes are divisions of competition used to match competitors against others of their own size This helps to ensure that the accomplishments of lifters like Lamar Gant, who deadlifted five times his own weight, are recognized alongside those of Andy Bolton, the current World Powerlifting Organization squat, deadlift, and three-lift world record holder. Lamar Gant (born 1957 is an American world record-holding Powerlifter. Andy Bolton is an English powerlifter from Leeds. Andy Bolton was born in Dewsbury Yorkshire on 22nd January 1970 but moved to Leeds due to Comparisons of lifters and scores across different weight classes can also be made using handicapping systems such as the Wilks formula. For "handicap" as it refers to disabled persons see Disability. [2]
Events
Squat
The athlete stands under a racked barbell which is loaded with weight. The squat is a lower body exercise used in Strength training. A barbell is a piece of Exercise equipment used in Weight training, Weightlifting and Powerlifting. Grabbing the bar from behind, it is placed on the back below the upper trapezius muscles, settling on a shelf created by the posterior deltoids as the scapulae are retracted; the closer a grip taken on the bar, the more "shelf" is created. In Human anatomy, the trapezius is a large Superficial Muscle which extends longitudinally from the occipital bone to the lower thoracic vertebrae This low bar positioning places the bar closer to the squatter's center of gravity, thus more effectively utilizing the hip extensors throughout the duration of the movement. The athlete walks clear of the rack (unless competing in a federation using a "monolift", a device which supports the bar in place until the lifter is ready), and squats down until the top of the thigh at the hip joint is lower than the top of the knee. In humans the thigh is the area between the Pelvis and the Knee. The knee is the lower extremity Joint connecting the Femur, Patella, and the Tibia. Although the bottom position is sometimes described as having the thigh "below parallel" to the floor, the lower thigh may not necessarily appear to be beneath parallel. Among the heavier weight classes, this is often particularly difficult to judge, due to the often enormous girth of the lifters' thighs. The lifter then stands up again, and carefully returns the weight to the rack. Disqualification results from the bar making any downward movement after the lifter has begun the ascent, if the spotters touch the bar in any way, if the lifter does not descend far enough, or if the lifter makes no effort to re-rack the weight under his or her own power. The record in the squat lift, using powerlifting equipment, is 1270 pounds (lbs. ) done by Andy Bolton. Andy Bolton is an English powerlifter from Leeds. Andy Bolton was born in Dewsbury Yorkshire on 22nd January 1970 but moved to Leeds due to
Bench Press
The athlete lies on a bench. The bench press is a Strength training exercise in which while lying on his back the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest then Powerlifting USA is a magazine covering the sport of Powerlifting. A loaded barbell rests on stands built into the bench above the eye level of the lifter when lying supine on the bench. The athlete removes the bar from the supports with the aid of one or more spotters, lowers it to the chest, pauses, and then presses it up to the full extension of the arms, then carefully returns the weight to the rack. Spotting, in weight or Resistance training, is the act of supporting another person during a particular exercise with an emphasis on allowing the participant The chest is a part of the Anatomy of humans and various other animals sometimes referred to as the Thorax. Reasons for disqualification are as follows: if the bar is placed too low on the body (varies by federation), if the bar does not pause on the chest before being lifted upward (in some federations, an explicit "press" command is given, and the athlete cannot lift upwards until it is given), if the bar fails to touch the chest, if the bar hits the uprights of the rack on the ascent, or if the bar makes any downward motion during the ascent. In addition, the lift is nullified if the feet move during the lift, if the buttocks lift off the bench, or if the body makes any extraneous movement during the lift. The buttocks (singular buttock) are rounded portions of the anatomy located on the posterior of the Pelvic region of the Apes including Humans
The record for a shirt assisted bench press is 1,050 lb (480 kg). done by Ryan Kennelly. Ryan Kennelly is an American powerlifter. As of April 12th 2008 Kennelly holds the World Powerlifting Organization world record in the assisted Bench press with Heavier presses are claimed but usually in falsehood. The record for unassisted bench press is 735 lb (333 kg) done by Scot Mendelson
Deadlift
A loaded barbell is placed on the floor. Scot Mendelson (born February 21, 1969) is an American powerlifter. The deadlift is a Weight training Exercise where one lifts a loaded Barbell (or in the case of the trapbar deadlift a loaded Trapbar) The athlete reaches down, grasps the bar, and lifts it until the legs and back are straight and upright, and the chest proud. "Back" redirects here For other uses please see Back (disambiguation. The bar is then returned to the floor in a controlled manner normally at the command of one of the judges. The end of the lift is referred to as 'locking out', which means to straighten the back and lock the knees into a balanced position. Disqualification results from the athlete failing to stand completely upright, or if the bar makes any downward motion during the ascent, or for using the thighs to assist the lift (hitching). Many judges have been known to disqualify lifters who drop the bar to the floor after the lift is finished, due to the danger involved in dropping such a heavy amount of weight and the fact that it damages the floor of the gyms that meets are commonly held in. The current world record is held by Andy Bolton (Great Britain) with 1,003 lb (455 kg), although records vary according to federation, where different gear is allowed and there are differing policies for drug use.
Training Format
Powerlifters use many different types of training methods. Conventional Powerlifting or Progressive Overload training was once the most use type of training in the sport. This type of lifting consists of a Gradual increase in weight over time as one lowers one repetition level. For example, one week may be one maximum set of twelve, the next week eight, and the next week five reps, and back up again braking ones personal best each time. Today there are many methods including the the newest edition the "Westside" system. Using this system, explosive speed is emphasised rather than (more relatively) slowly moving progressive near-maximal weight. This type of training more closely aligns with weightlifting. Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell
Powerlifting vs. Weightlifting
In contrast to classic Olympic weightlifting events, where an athlete raises a barbell from the floor to over his head, powerlifting movements are shorter. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Weightlifting, also called Olympic weightlifting or Olympic-style weightlifting, is a sport in which participants attempt a maximum weight single lift of a barbell
The two sports are largely separated by geography, with Olympic weightlifting being more popular in Eastern Europe and Asia (Russia, Turkey, Iran, China, and others), while powerlifting is more popular in Western Europe and North America. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National However, support for powerlifting is growing worldwide, with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Indonesia, and Taiwan producing World Champions and World Record holders. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia.
The events differ in terms of power output in the maximum lifts, where ironically, Olympic weightlifting actually produces greater power (force/time) outputs than powerlifting. As such, Olympic weightlifting competition lifts occur at a faster speed than typical powerlifting competition lifts.
It may be surmised that Olympic weightlifting has not caught on as strongly in the North American culture due to the proliferation of bodybuilding-influenced gyms, wherein powerlifting is often possible, but Olympic weightlifting is essentially impossible owing to lack of bumper plates and an Olympic platform, notable items needed for performing competition Olympic lifts safely.
With the USSR coming strong at world sport events in the 1950-es and the later successes of other East European countries such as Bulgaria, it seems the "west" had lost interest in weightlifting and found a refuge in powerlifting. Today without the total dominance of Bulgaria and the former USSR (Russia) in the Olympic weightlifting there are some signs of revival of the sport in western culture. The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending
Organizations
Although powerlifting always uses the squat, bench press and deadlift as events, different federations have different rules and different interpretations of the rules, leading to a myriad of variations. Some federations, such as the ADAU and 100% Raw Federation, allow no supportive gear to be worn by the lifter. Some, such as the IPF and AAU, only allow a single-ply tight polyester squat suit, deadlift suit and bench shirt, wraps for knees and wrists, and a belt. Official NameAmateur Athletic Union of the United States Incorporated (AAU Polyester is a category of Polymers which contain the Ester Functional group in their main chain Other federations, such as the IPA and WPO, allow opened or closed back bench shirts, multi-ply gear, and a wide array of gear materials such as canvas, denim, polyester etc.
In an IPF bench press, the barbell can go as low as the xiphoid process and no further in the lift, whereas in other federations, the barbell can touch the abdomen. The xiphoid process, also known as the xiphisternum is a small cartilaginous extension to the lower part of the Sternum which is usually In Vertebrates such as Mammals the abdomen (belly constitutes the part of the body between the Thorax (chest and Pelvis. (This shortens the distance in which the barbell is moved and is an advantage to the lifter. )
Some also only have the equipped or non-equipped. E. g. in the IPF worlds, an unequipped lifter may compete but must still win overall or beat the equipped lifters or records like the equipped lifters.
Powerlifting World Records
Squat: Geared: 1250 lb/567 kg, Vlad Alhazov
Raw: 1200 lb/544 kg, Paul Edward Anderson (400 kg all time approx estimate IPF standards, and equipment)
Bench Press: Geared: 1050 lb/476. Paul Edward Anderson ( October 17, 1932 &ndash August 15, 1994) was an Olympic Weightlifter, strongman, and professional 3 kg, Ryan Kennelly (Have had claims of 500 kg in excess)
Raw: 715 lb/324. Ryan Kennelly is an American powerlifter. As of April 12th 2008 Kennelly holds the World Powerlifting Organization world record in the assisted Bench press with 3 kg, Scot Mendelson (Have had claims exceeding 400 kgs) (300kg IPF standard and all time approximate with no assisting equipment)
Deadlift: Geared: 1003 lb/455 kg, Andy Bolton (Have had claims of 460 kg)
Raw: Aprox. Scot Mendelson (born February 21, 1969) is an American powerlifter. Andy Bolton is an English powerlifter from Leeds. Andy Bolton was born in Dewsbury Yorkshire on 22nd January 1970 but moved to Leeds due to 400. 0 Kg (no assisting equipment and IPF legal)
Total: Geared: 2850 lb/1295 kg, Donnie Thompson Raw: 1100. 0 Kg (1035 Kg all time IPF legal raw (no assisting equipment)
Note: There are many records in powerlifting due to variations in rules and equipment across organizations. However for legal lifting, the IPF set the standard, and are the only international organization to do so. The records for Raw (with no assisting equipment whatsoever) are estimated accurately below:
Squat: 400. 0 kg
Bench: 300. 0 kg
Deadlift: 400. 0 kg
Total: 1035. 0 kg
see [3]
External links
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- Southern Powerlifting Federation (SPF)
- The World powerlifting database of results, records and powerlifters with advanced search
- IronScene Powerlifting Videos - videos of powerlifting attempts and competitions from around the world.
- IPF - International Powerlifting Federation Official Website
- USAPL Powerlfting - America's Top Drug Tested Powerlifting Federation
- http://home.vicnet.net.au/~capo/ -Council of Australian Powerlifting Organisations- C. A. P. O. (WPC Affiliate)
- Powerlfting Australia - Australia's IPF-affiliated powerlifting organisation
- Search for powerlifting meets
- - USPF Powerlifting California
- - USA Powerlifting Message board
- - NASA
- pics and videos of powerlifter
- - Powerlifting vs. Bodybuilding
- Official website for the British Powerlifting Championships 2008
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