How old are you and what's your height and weight?
I'm 21, 5'8” and weigh almost 220. I started lifting in middle and high school for sports, and I've been powerlifting for almost two years.
Do you remember your first meet and what you got?
I started training at a gym out of high school and the owner said, “Hey, there's a meet in a week that you should enter!” I went raw with no wraps, 220's, and got 525-275-600. I started using the 5/3/1 template and ten months later at a meet, using wraps, I got 625-325-745. I've been in a couple of USAPL, WABDL and USPA meets since.
When is the next meet you're in where you will do a full power meet and pull over 800?
I may do USPA Worlds in Vegas in November.
What do you do for a living?
I did a couple years of college but I applied to be in the Electricians Journeyman Program. I was working at Home Depot and saw all the opportunities that contractors have. I like working with my hands, but in school the teachers would tell us to “find our passion”. That's pretty hard to do, but what's wrong with just liking what you do? Do you have to “love it”? I think I can like the accomplishment of a job well done, so being an electrician makes sense to me.
Back to what we really are passionate about – the deadlift! You use a hook grip that is not often seen, especially in 800 pound deadlifts. Why do you use that technique?
When I first started I used the alternating grip but it would cause me to windmill. I like the fact that with the hook grip I'm more balanced and centered. Most people don't realize this but I put my thumb over two fingers and as I pull, my range of motion actually decreases because the bar slides down into my fingers. I've seen video of me pulling 400 and 800, and the 800 actually is lower by two inches. It takes awhile to build up callouses but it's worth it.
Do you see yourself pulling 900 in the next few years?
It's weird. I pulled 700 conventional a year after I started powerlifting, and a year after that I pulled 800. I'm sure the gap to 900 will take a lot longer but I'm young so we'll see. I know I'll get there but that's why I like this sport. You put the time and work into it and you can keep going.
Do you have a coach?
I did, but we had a mutual parting a little while ago.
You're in Oregon – ever thought about looking up Chris Duffin? Same bodyweight as you, massive deadlifter and squatter; whatever distance you had to drive to train with him and his crew once a week would be worth it.
I'm going to contact him. Social media is great because all these top lifters are willing to make videos and help people and I know that I could get a lot better by training with someone like that. Powerlifting is a big happy family and I know I've got to do it. Everything is starting to click now but it's time to get more advanced. I loved 5/3/1 for the ten months I did it, mostly because of the structure and methodical gains. A lot of people say it's too simple but I'm trying Sheiko for bench right now. I'm trying to figure out reps for deadlift but my form deteriorates. I know I need volume but I haven't figured out the ideal rep schemes for each lift.
You need to try everything – Westside, Cube, Sheiko and you'll find out what works best. What did you do leading up to the 803 pull? Or what are you doing to prep for your meet in September?
A friend of mine that I train with is doing a combination of Sheiko and Westside, so I'm going to try that and see how it works.
Who would you like to thank or mention?
My family who supports me all the way. I want to thank Peter Martin, the owner of the gym where I train. From the start he'd say stuff like “you're going to squat 600 some day, you'll pull 700” even before I could even imagine it.
I'm 21, 5'8” and weigh almost 220. I started lifting in middle and high school for sports, and I've been powerlifting for almost two years.
Do you remember your first meet and what you got?
I started training at a gym out of high school and the owner said, “Hey, there's a meet in a week that you should enter!” I went raw with no wraps, 220's, and got 525-275-600. I started using the 5/3/1 template and ten months later at a meet, using wraps, I got 625-325-745. I've been in a couple of USAPL, WABDL and USPA meets since.
When is the next meet you're in where you will do a full power meet and pull over 800?
I may do USPA Worlds in Vegas in November.
What do you do for a living?
I did a couple years of college but I applied to be in the Electricians Journeyman Program. I was working at Home Depot and saw all the opportunities that contractors have. I like working with my hands, but in school the teachers would tell us to “find our passion”. That's pretty hard to do, but what's wrong with just liking what you do? Do you have to “love it”? I think I can like the accomplishment of a job well done, so being an electrician makes sense to me.
Back to what we really are passionate about – the deadlift! You use a hook grip that is not often seen, especially in 800 pound deadlifts. Why do you use that technique?
When I first started I used the alternating grip but it would cause me to windmill. I like the fact that with the hook grip I'm more balanced and centered. Most people don't realize this but I put my thumb over two fingers and as I pull, my range of motion actually decreases because the bar slides down into my fingers. I've seen video of me pulling 400 and 800, and the 800 actually is lower by two inches. It takes awhile to build up callouses but it's worth it.
Do you see yourself pulling 900 in the next few years?
It's weird. I pulled 700 conventional a year after I started powerlifting, and a year after that I pulled 800. I'm sure the gap to 900 will take a lot longer but I'm young so we'll see. I know I'll get there but that's why I like this sport. You put the time and work into it and you can keep going.
Do you have a coach?
I did, but we had a mutual parting a little while ago.
You're in Oregon – ever thought about looking up Chris Duffin? Same bodyweight as you, massive deadlifter and squatter; whatever distance you had to drive to train with him and his crew once a week would be worth it.
I'm going to contact him. Social media is great because all these top lifters are willing to make videos and help people and I know that I could get a lot better by training with someone like that. Powerlifting is a big happy family and I know I've got to do it. Everything is starting to click now but it's time to get more advanced. I loved 5/3/1 for the ten months I did it, mostly because of the structure and methodical gains. A lot of people say it's too simple but I'm trying Sheiko for bench right now. I'm trying to figure out reps for deadlift but my form deteriorates. I know I need volume but I haven't figured out the ideal rep schemes for each lift.
You need to try everything – Westside, Cube, Sheiko and you'll find out what works best. What did you do leading up to the 803 pull? Or what are you doing to prep for your meet in September?
A friend of mine that I train with is doing a combination of Sheiko and Westside, so I'm going to try that and see how it works.
Who would you like to thank or mention?
My family who supports me all the way. I want to thank Peter Martin, the owner of the gym where I train. From the start he'd say stuff like “you're going to squat 600 some day, you'll pull 700” even before I could even imagine it.
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