Larry Brock interview 4 LSTJ

INTERVIEW W. LARRY BROCK 2007 WORLD STONE PUT CHAMPION AND 2007 WORLD HAMMER CHAMPION

LSTJ: How did you get started in the games?

LB: "When I was in high school was this 1st time I ever had heard about the games.  My cousin showed me all of these medals he had won competing at the scottish games and I was not very interested because I was throwing the discus and had my mind set on doing that so I never really took interest in listening to him.  The first occasion I had with actually  throwing and learning about the games was from Meg Ritchie Stone.  She was my throws coach at Appalachian State University where I was attending on a football scholarship.  She suggested that I try out the games at Grandfather Mountain so I had to find a kilt....well I called my cousin and asked to borrow his and a fellow teamate and I made our way up to Grandfather Mountain and competed.  I can say I had immediate success and then it all came crashing down.  I won the Stone put because it was similiar to a shot put and then i think I threw 12 feet in the Heavy weight for distance.....what a reality check!!

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> LSTJ: What sports did you do in high school? and what were your marks and
>accomplishments in them?

LB: "I did football and track and I wrestled for a year.  I was an all state offensive lineman and was captain of the east west all-star team in North Carolina.  In track I was a three time all-state performer in the discus and I won the state championship my junior year in the discus. In my senior year I finished 2nd in the indoor shot, outdoor shot and discus at the state championships.  I was also a three time junior olympic all-american in the discus.  My high school Personal records were: Discus: 185-5, shot 54-4 and I threw the javelin in Junior Olympics and I made it to nationals in that.
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LSTJ: What college did you go to and what sports did you do?  
>Accomplishments?

LB: I went to Appalachian State on a Full football scholorship and they allowed me to participate in track when football was not going on......and if you know anything about college football you know that it never is not going on so my track career in college was really hit or miss.  I was always tired from running and lifting from football so I never got to train much.  At one point I was waking up at 5:30am and running for two hours with football from 6:00am-8:00am then going to class all day then I would go to track practice at 2:00-3:30-  then I would lift from 4:00pm-5:00pm then collapse and eat  and then wake up and do it all over again.  I lost so much weight I was being accused of trying to pursue underwear model adds.  I went from 305 to 258 in a matter of a couple of months....it was rough stretch.  With that said I was two-time southern conference  discus champion, I was runner up in the javelin two years with a personal best of 187+ and many times all conference in the shot and discus.  I qualified for junior nationals in the discus but the school was to cheap to send me to compete in the meet. The football team averaged ten wins a year when I was there and we made it all the way to the semi final game in the 1-aa championships before losing to The University Of Montana in Over time.  I was on the team for five years I redshirted my 1st year and then I played my redshirt season in every game and then started at left Gaurd my last three seasons. 
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LSTJ: what is your current height and weight?
> LB: 6'3" 285 Pounds
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LSTJ: What are your current Pr's in each event?

LB:

16# Stone         & nbsp;     55’1” Standing Stone Highland Games, Tazwell TN, 2003

56# Weight Throw   48'9” Cumberland Gap Highland Games, Harrogate TN, 2005

28# Weight Throw  90'8.5” Celtic Classic: US National Championships, Bethlehem, PA 2006

22# Hammer        119'6. 5” Woodland Scottish Festival, Woodland, CA 2007 (Sacramento)

16# Hammer      144'6.5" Loch Norman Highland Games, Huntersville,NC 2007

20# Sheaf Toss       32'0  Lo ch Norman Highland Games, Huntersville, NC 2007

56# Weight Toss     18'6"  Uwharrie Scottish Festival and Games:        Albemarle, NC  2007
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> LSTJ: What are your weight room numbers like ? What are your Prs in squat,front squat, bench,clean,snatch,deadlift,vertical jump
>etc.?

LB: I can honestly tell you that I do not max lift.  I can't really tell you how much I lift because I do not do it but If I had to guess i would say in my lifetime I have benched close to 400 pounds, squatted over 500 pounds,front squat I have no clue I do not max lift in this, full cleaned over 300 pounds, snatched over 225, and Deadlift I have no clue because I don't do them and verticle Im not really sure. 
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> LSTJ: What is your philospophy on weight training for the throws ?

LB: My Philosophy is lift to throw farther, dont lift to lift more.  In the winter time i train 4-5 days a week in the weight room, I squat twice a week and pull twice a week.  I throw 3-5 times a week.  I do lift hard and I do throw alot but I do not and will not try and be a power lifter or anything of the sort.  I am a thrower and that is my focus.  I like to get strong but I will not neglect my main goal of being a good thrower so I can tell people..."hey I squatted 600 or 700 pounds"....or "hey I benched 500 pounds"...That is not what Im about. I never get caught up in the weight room numbers i get caught up in the throws on the field!!
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> LSTJ: Can you give us a rundown of a basic week of training for you both inseason and out of season?
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LB: November-feb/march

Lift 4 days a week 

March-may i cut it to three days a week, then in season i lift twice a week if i can. 

 

 

>LSTJ: What do you do for a living outside of Highland games?

  LB: I am a High School Physical education teacher at Myers Park High School and I coach Football(offesnsive Line) and I coach Indoor and outdoor track(shot and discus)  I mainly teach male and female weight training so I get a chance to lift everyday if I need to

LSTJ: who are your sponsors?

LB: I am sponsored by some great folks.  The Highland Brewing company in Asheville, NC are one of my main sponsors along with Powerbar and just added this season and a great addition are IRN-BRU the USA distributor which happens to be located in Charlotte, NC

www.powerbar.com

www.highlandbrewing.com

www.irn-bru-usa.com

 

> LSTJ: You seem to love throwing over seas,,,what is it about getting to throw in Scotland and other countries that appeals to you?
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LB: I enjoy different places and travelling.  Scotland is the home of the games...the heartbeat.... and its great to be able to go to the place that it started.  The highland games is a pathway for my travel and leisure.  I have been all over the United States, Ireland, Scotland and yes even Idonesia although thats a different story.  I like adapting to different styles of implements.  I have throw a 28# weight that was 28 inches long an a 28# weight that was 12 inches long all in the same week.  I also enjoy the scottish people, their culture, their food and their way of life and how it differs from the U.S.
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> LSTJ: Can you tell the folks about your trip to Indonesia last year and the horror show that followed...as I remember some really smart,
>good looking guy told you not to go , is that right?
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o LB: My trip to Indonesia was one that I do not regret.  I di get very ill and had to go to the hospital but it was neat to get over there and see a place that I never would have gone to.  The ticket alone was over 2000.00 dollars and if you know me if I had to pay for it well...............I never would have made it.  I got over there and I inherited a small parasite called amoebic dysentary.  Which includes massive explosive diarhea and vomiting. Loads of fun but that which does not kills you makes you stronger and afte that trip I became the Worlds strongest man. ahahahahah
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>LSTJ: You also had a serious neck injury and surgery last  year can you tell us a little about that?
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LB: In december of 2005 I was incline benching. I was going not going heavy but doing a good amount of weightsfor the reps i was trying to complete.  I rarely have a lifting partner because no one lifts on my schedule.  I was driving up on my last rep and i felt something let loose in my shoulder and felt a great amount of pain, but I thought nothing of it and I finished lifting and just figured I would be sore the next day and it would all go away.  Well the next day i was coaching one of my shot putters and I picked up a High School Girls Shot put and I could not even throw it because i could not use my index finger or my middle fingers to flick the shot because of the nerve damage.  I immediately had an mri and found out that it was a herniated disc and it would require surgery.  Dr. Tim Addamson completed the surgery and I was back to throwing in 6 -8 weeks.  It was a very depressing time for me but luckily the Good Lord took care of me and now Im back to form.
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>LSTJ: you were crowned world hammer champion this year ,,,can you tell us a little about your technique and let us know from start to finish
>what  a perfect throw feels like for you?
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LB: The World Hammer Championship title was one I really wanted and the oppurtunity to compete against the best made it even better. It was my 1st majortitle in  highland games that I had won and I was extremely happy and it made allthe work I put into it all worth it.

Technique: 1st: I set my feet with the left toe in line with my right instep andy feet are just alittle bit wider than my shoulder, but not much.  I take the hammer and I place tha hammer off to my right side with the hammer head slightly in front of the trig.  This allows my low point to stay far off to the right side.  I then start the throw by pulling the hamme across across and shifting the hips and i then try and set up the 1st turn off by my right side and then all I do is go like a bat out of hell and keep my arms long and then the finish is a hard block with the left foot and a rip up and out with the hammer
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LSTJ: On top of World Hammer Champion you were also crowned world Stone put champion this year.   Give us a look at a perfect stone put for you.
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LB: Well let me say I never think I am a stone putter, i just got lucky that day.  I am actually torn with the stone right now.  I have been contemplating switching to the full spin because I feel that the south african style really takes away alot from what I could do out of the back.  I spoke some with Scott Ryder who I feel is one of the best stone putters ever and he helped me with a few things and with a little bit of time im might be switching. Im sure it will be a slow process but I will give it a go.

LSTJ: So how was worlds this year.  A third place finish is a great feat for any heavy events athlete?
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LB: Well it was a cold rainey day and I had been sick for a few days and I really did not expect to

throw well.  Needless to say I was lucky enough to throw pretty good and get third.  I was very excited and felt that I worked hard to get where I was and third place with that group of guys was an honor.  I really wanted to win but e had a great time and I think it was a good building block for the upcoming years.

LSTJ: Finally , What do you love about the highland games?

LB: I love the atmosphere, I love the ability to show off hard work and God Given Talent for a pure sport.  I love the fact that I can get paid for something I like to do.  All the guys that I throw with are great and we have alot of fun together and I hope I can continue to do this for a few more years. 

I would like to thank my sponsors: powerbar, Irn-Bru-USA,and  The Highland Brewing Company.  And a special thanks to my family for all their support.

LSTJ: Thanks Larry and good luck the rest of the year!

You want it off to your right side to set up the low points. The low points will gradually float but you never want the hammer head to float past center because you lose tourque(or however you Spell it).

He is turned but that is not his low point, he is on the up swing of the release