Mark Bell needs no introduction to anyone familiar with this site – unless, of course, you haven’t been here for a while and think his life and lifting career are still defined by the “Jackass” sobriquet. If you are under that impression, you’ve a lot of catching up to do because Mark, by dint of brutally hard work and dedication, is no longer the novelty act he was brought aboard this site to be. Not by a longshot.

Can a man with a 2502 total in the 308 lbs. class – and the owner of a facility that was recently listed among Men’s Health magazine’s Top 30 Gyms In America - still be considered a joke?

If you know Mark, and you know his oft-inappropriate sense of humor, then maybe. When it comes to lifting and preparing other lifters for competition, however, then the answer is a definitive no. The “Jackass” tag may have to stick for now, but with everything he’s accomplished in the powerlifting game, Mark Bell is no joke. No joke at all.

What’s been going on with you lately?

I have hit a 2502 total, so now what? One thing I know for sure is that satisfied athletes suck! I can do more, I want more and I’m going to keep training for more. Now the goal is 2600, and eventually I want to break the world record in the 308 lbs. class. This is held by Paul Childress (2662). Another goal I have is to bench 903 in a full meet. This would also be an all-time world record, and it’s definitely within my grasp.

Recently I have turned more of my attention to my team at Super Training. I get to my gym at around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and stay until about 8 or 9 in the evening. On some days, I’ll start lifting right when I get in. In between my own lifts, I’ll be running around helping my team. If you’ve never trained like this, I can tell you firsthand that this sort of thing makes for a VERY long day. Last Thursday, I started my first set at 3:30 in the afternoon, and finished my last set at 8:30 at night! That's FIVE hours! Like I said, it's not non-stop training, but it still makes for a long night.

The extra attention to the team has paid off in a big way, as we saw a bunch of PR’s at our last meet. For example, Scott Cartwright nearly pulled off an 1102 squat! We’ve added another elite total from Ryan Higgins, and another 2000 pound total from Treston Shaul. Treston had a great day in his first meet with us. He smashed an 804 squat, and I’m expecting him to total about 100 pounds over elite in his next meet. The women who train at our gym have also stepped up big time. Janet Loveall competed at back-to-back meets, hitting PR’s in both with a 402 Squat, 301 Bench and a 402 deadlift! I have no doubt that she will also get elite in her next meet – the UPA nationals in Columbus Ohio.

Speaking of the UPA Nationals, Team Super Training will be well represented, with myself, Scott Cartwright, Treston Shaul, Jim McDonald, Janet Loveall, Ryan Higgins and Andy Zavala competing.  Andy Zavala has fallen into our lap with an already established elite total and a 1003 pound squat. We now have three thousand-pound squatters at Super Training! We also have five lifters over a 2000 pound total and three over 2300. Andy and Hoss both have an excellent chance to total over 2500 at Nationals. That would give us three 2500 pound totals! I’ll offer one more Louie-style stat for everyone out there: we are one of the few gyms in the entire country that can boast three 800 pound benchers.

To see how we do it, check out our Never Enough Bench DVD. The Bench DVD examines how to use single and double ply shirts. We go over setups for many different body types, and we document nearly two years of my own benches, showing, in excruciating detail, my ups and downs from 600 to 793. Never Enough Bench examines both how we train as individuals and as a group, and it’s the perfect DVD for both the solo lifter and those training in a team setting.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster, the documentary made by my brother Chris, has been sold and it will be in theaters on May 30. This movie is going to shake up America. After going through this process with the film, I have realized that the worst side effect of steroids is that they make you a liar. I, for one, have been up front about the steroids. Most other people, however, have not. This documentary is one of the most powerful pieces of film you’ll ever see, and I think everyone who uses this site should see it.

Q&A

I saw your training tip of raising your head and doing a sit-up when lowering the bar – and laying the head back down when raising it. I’ve been using the Metal Militia setup, which works for me. Can I use your sit-up method with this style?

Metal Militia teaches you to keep your head on the bench. If you keep your head on the bench and arch up it tightens up your shirt, thus making the shirt give you more. However, it is my belief that you must run away from the strength of the shirt for a second to get the weight to touch. That is why I not only lift my head, but I also do a slight sit-up.

To answer your question directly, the answer is yes. You can mix styles. Just realize that raising the head off the bench is not something Metal Militia advocates.

I believe a lot of people could benefit from the way I bench. Anyone out there with real problems touching weights could take advantage of my funky technique. The technique I use was taught to me by George Halbert and Fred Boltz while I trained at Westside Barbell.

I read an interview with your brother regarding his new film. He expressed his concerns about your weight, indicating that carrying around that much excessive weight can pose a danger. Based on his assessment, he feels you’re almost 100 lbs overweight. How has this impacted your eating habits, and might you soon be following Dave Tate into the land of diet and cardio?

I know we all talk about it all the time, but I do have a plan to drop weight over the next few months. As for now, I will be as heavy as can be to hit a big bench at the Mendy Classic.

After that, the plan is to get my big fat ass back the 275 class. The 275's are more competitive then the 308 class anyway. I will be 275 for UPA Nationals or for Louie's meet. I would like to weigh about 280-ish then drop a few to get to 275.

What are Chuck V rows?

Chuck rows are kind of like face pulls just pulled down towards your belly rather then your face. Take a V handle and attach it to a lat pulldown machine. Grab the handles, take a few steps back and pull the handle towards your belly.

I noticed from your video that you really don't use much of a back arch when benching. Why is this? I keep thinking that if you could really got your chest up high and get your shoulders really pulled back hard, you could bench a lot more. What do you think?

Thanks for the advice. If you look at some of the strongest benchers in the world they really don't have much of an arch. That’s not to say they have NO arch, but still. My problems have started since I gained weight. I have a lot more trouble getting up on my traps due to the fact that I have been cramping a lot. In that meet I was cramping like a mofo. Another problem I have been having is getting my feet plated firmly. If you look closely you will see that I need plates under my feet like a midget lifter.

I'm sure if I sit here and think hard I can come up with about twenty more EXCUSES. And that’s all they are - excuses. I do in fact need to change some things on my bench. When I do, touching weights will not be as big of a problem. This will also allow me to press the weight back up easier.

Blah, blah, blah....

I got away with benching pretty flat and doing a sit-up type of move for a long time, but that shit ain’t be working no mo. Time for a change and again, thanks for the advice.
 
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