Thankfully Jo Jordan informed me that our good friend Charlie Merritt had helped organize a bench training seminar for disabled Vets in nearby Tampa this past Thursday. I’m not a fan of public speaking, so I was a little apprehensive at first, but the situation worked out great. Jo, Stephen Harper and I all went to do what we could to give the lifters some advice. There were just a handful, but they were very receptive to everything we had to say and, considering everything they’ve been through, were all in good spirits. Hopefully we will be able to help with future bench training seminars. We're working on getting the local Wounded Warriors project at OBB and getting more of Team EliteFTS involved as well.
I have been competitively powerlifting for over 20 years. Within that time I have competed raw, single ply and multi ply. I hold the highest all time total of 1930 at 148, the third highest total of 2045 at 165 and have broken over 35 world records, over 25 of which I still hold. Through the years in this sport I have learned a great deal from various training methods, met and formed long lasting friends, as well as learned the importance of balancing life, work, and training.
Elitefts accepted me as a team member over ten years ago and I am currently the longest standing still competing powerlifter on the site. I appreciate Dave Tate and Elitefts for giving me the opportunity to learn from and teach others through the Q&A and my training log.
In 2005 I opened Orlando Barbell – a 24 hour powerlifting friendly gym. As well as running Orlando Barbell I designed and sell the Home GHR and Doorway Home Gym, wrote the 12 Weeks to a Bigger Bench EBook, and produced the 12Weeks to a Bigger Bench DVD.
My latest contribution was writing the M2 Method EBook, designed to be the quintessential Raw Powerlifting training manual for beginners to advanced lifters looking to get stronger and prevent injury while incorporating the powerlifts.
I'm currently in off season training and am planning to compete in the Olympia single ply meet next.
Standard warm up:
5 mins. Treadmill
Prehab
PVC rolled on:
Lower back, shifted to right and left
Upper back, shifted to right and left scapula w/hips up
Armpits
Hamstrings
Glutes
Adductors
Since we went to the seminar on Thursday we opted to squat a day early on Wednesday. Thanks to Stephen for accommodating and making it in to train.
Raw Squats-
145x5
235x3
325x1
415x1
w/Reverse Average Bands-
505x1
w/knee wraps-
555x2
595x1
I was going to go for 2, and it felt like I could have, but I felt my right knee pop halfway up on the first rep and decided to call it. Actually you can hear me say “Take it!” but then I finish out the rep. I think this actually would have been a raw PR if I got 2. My knee still hurts a little now, but should be fine. I’m not exactly sure what I did to it.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8c86jrpHiM]
TKEs on Cybex Rotary Hip-
160x15
170x15
180x15
Cybex Ab Crunches-
120x15
130x15
140x15
This past week has been a busy one with a lot of Powerlifting related activities. Along with helping at the seminar I also coached at the Europa and judged at an APF meet. It may have distracted from my ability to focus on my own training, but I’m honestly okay with. Sometimes life needs to be put into perspective.
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