Deadlifts ???

Wayne Hill wrote: Wow, that is excellent, excellent work, considering the circumstances. It really is easy to get used to going beltless, isn't it? -Wayne

Heh, are you joking? I like the feeling of power in my core that it provides, but lifting au fresco is tough for me, especially when squatting. One thing about lifting this way combined with a shitload of situps: it gives me a kind of distended gut.

All in all, it's a good experience that I'll keep going with. Back on the DL's, I'm pretty convinced that I personally need DL's and GM's, as opposed to one or the other.

MJurkoic wrote: I am a big believer in lifting without a belt unless absolutely necessary. It insures that nothing is left out.

For what it's worth, I also agree with this 100%.  Once you get used to not wearing a belt, it becomes a non-issue until you get near your 1RM, when a belt would likely help you move more weight if that is your goal.  However, I literally never wear one.  This definitely improves your core strength.

Matt,

I just started getting back into lifting last summer after approximately a 15 year layoff.  I am 40 years old and currently weigh about 255 with just a slight gut at 6'3" tall.  My current totally raw (no belt, knee wraps, etc.) 1RM lifts from just before Christmas (they would be about 20 pounds more now) are Front Squat - 335 (done ATG - no old PR), Back Squat - 425 (done Olympic style well below parallel - old official PR was 500 as a lean 215 pound 19 year old, obviously totally clean), Power Clean - 265 (old PR was 300, and 285 any day), Hang Power Snatch - 185 (minimal dip, just getting into these - no old PR), Push Press - 225 (just getting into these - no old PR), Deadlifts - NA (but I certainly could NOT do 500 pounds in the full, conventional style). 

I can't do flat benches anymore due to a shoulder injury from playing beach volleyball over 15 years ago (doh!!!) and have had some rotator cuff impingement issues since I started training again as well, so I haven't done much with the incline dumbell presses yet.  For what it's worth, my old PR in the flat bench with just a slight bounce was 365 ( I got to within 2" of lockout with 405 with a reasonable bounce with no pad - I had very limited triceps strength and probably had 16" arms at the time).

I am looking to improve the current maxes listed by about 20% by the end of June (if training goes well etc etc).

Peter.

Matt,

I live in a suburb just west of of Toronto, Canada.  I try to get together with Harvey Barkauskas and Berle Conrad near London occassionally (this is a long trek for me and I have a wife and two young boys, so...).

I look forward to meeting you this season - perhaps at Alma or the MWC?  I would also love to hear from any throwers located in the Greater Toronto Area or north-west of Toronto.

Peter.

Silverback wrote: Some people look for movements that mimick a throw and use them to get stronger.  They are thinking of the lift in regard to the throw, speed and technique.  I would guess this crowd is not doing weighted pull ups.

There's meaty goodness in all of it for sure. Actually, I need to start getting on the chinups, because that exercise was a prime indicator that something was wrong with my shoulder prior to surgery. If I can work up to a few good chins, then I'll know my shoulder is back.