Born Again Hard!!

[strongestsurvive]

I have been away from competing for about a year and half due to a tricep tendon tear and school. I just moved to Mount Desert Island, an island off the coast of northern maine. I hooked up with Mike Scott, who used to own the Power Pit in Hawaii. This guy has competing 46 years and is 62years old. He can squat 500, bench 315, and pull about 500 at 178 pounds, all of which he has done in the last 2 months. He is going to train me for my next meet in feb. I have not been this excited to train in over 3 years, all i can say is i am going to get really big and really strong soon. And get my name back onto the scene. Watch out world!!!

Strongestsurvive

 

[Deciever1]

have fun! take advantage of this! mos people will never get an oppurtunity to train with someone like that!

 

[IrishPower]

did you get your tricep tendon surgically repaired?

/irish

 

[strongestsurvive]

The guy Mike Scott, who is going to train me, used to run the Hawaii World Record Breakers meet with Gus Reithswich, But Irish I did tear the tendon and had 3 Surgeries, About a month after the first one I punched a guy out at a pantera concert, then had it reattached, then a month after I got into another fight at a strip club over an exgirlfriend, then for my final surgery they took an achilles tendon and heel bone out of a cadaver and replaced the last 1.5 inches of my ulna with the heel bone and then removed my tricep tendon and replaced it with the achilles tendon. Before my surgery(s), I was able to bench 560 for 3 raw and my best RAW bench was 600 in a meet. Now i am going to try for about 525 this coming feburary in a full meet. I would like to mention that all my benches where done in full meets, powerlifting is judged on all 3 lifts to see who is the strongest. I am not a person who only benches because that would make me 1/3 the powerlifter.

Strongestsurvive

 

[TheFng]

Mike Scott moved from balmy Hawaii to damp and chilly Maine for what reason?

 

[Screwball]

I would like to mention that all my benches where done in full meets, powerlifting is judged on all 3 lifts to see who is the strongest. I am not a person who only benches because that would make me 1/3 the powerlifter.

I agree with you that the 3-lift is the truest test of overall body strength. However, I do not agree that a bench specialist is only 1/3 the powerlifter. Comparing a 3-lift meet to a bench-only or push/pull is like comparing apples to oranges. There are many competitors that cannot squat or deadlift because of previous back and leg injuries. In a bench only contest or a push/pull the playing field is level because each competitor competes under the same rules and performs the same lifts. It's unfair of you to diminish a 1 or 2 lift competitors accomplishments. The simple act of competing is the only thing that really matters. IMHO.

 

[IrishPower]

well.. there are RARELY injuries that can't be overcome... just a lack of willpower to do so.

I agree with VDOPs assessment of the 1 lifters.

however, VDOP:

1. dude, you need to grow up. i mean what kind of idiot gets in a fight 1 month after his surgery?

2. there is a reason equipment is made. why are you trying to compete raw still?

 

[Screwball]

well.. there are RARELY injuries that can't be overcome... just a lack of willpower to do so.

Irish: Agreed. The willpower and determination of an individual is the deciding factor on whether or not an injury can be overcome not the nature of the injury itself in almost every case. Names like Louie Simmons, John Bott, Ed Coan, PLJay and IrishPower come to mind.

VDOP???

 

[Screwball]

I'd like to hear others views on 3-lift competitors vs. specialists.

It in understood by anyone who has competed in a 3-lift meet that it is very demanding, certainly more demanding than a push/pull or bench only meet. Benching and deadlifting after squatting is no easy task. All who compete in 3-lift meets should be respected regardless of skill level.

But, why is it necessary to think any less of those who choose not to compete in a 3-lift. If someone wants to specialize in the bench for whatever reason then it shouldn't be frowned upon. It is better that they are enjoying their training and competing thereby adding to the sport. Some of the most respected individuals in our sport are specialists. Names like Halbert, Kennelly, Blakely, Heisey and others...

 

[Vulgar_Display_Of_Power]

Huh??????

however, VDOP:

1. dude, you need to grow up. i mean what kind of idiot gets in a fight 1 month after his surgery?

Damn-I havent posted here in 2 weeks! Unless my surgery was for amnesia, I must have missed something!!

Oh well, at least its good to see Im fantasized and thought about even when Im not around! Irish Is KINDA A BIG GUY-dont really know if I want him thinking about me this way!


Later..

 

[powerlifterjay]

I do think that there is a difference in the full power meet lifter, and the specialist.

I know when i am getting ready for a bench meet its no big deal really. I am not nervous, i am relaxed and calm. But prep for a full power meet is stressful, and takes alot of get ready time. Because it is harder and way more demanding.

Training is very different. I know 100% i could bench more if i didnt train for all three lifts. Squatting really get the bicep tendonitis flared up. Not to meniton the over traiing aspect from squatting and deadlifting.

But there is nothing wrong with being a specialist. Bottom line is the lift that they do is better then anyone or they wouldnt do just that. Not to mention if they are dealing with old injuries they can still compete. I have thought many times about just benching only. But i just cant dump the others.

Are bench specialist who train for that, powerlifters? NO. The only reason i can say this, is because we have a guy in our group who is bench only. He really isnt even that good. He is about 500 @181. BUt to compare his lazy ass with the way me, Jimmie Dean, And Freak19 train is a farse! No way can i label that guy a powerlifter. In fact i heard him tell someone he is a powerlifter, and i said no way are you one. But in fairness to real specialist, this guys doesnt train hard on his days he is there. So i guess i dont knwo whats in the regimen of a real specialist. He is so fuckin lazy , we all want to boot him out , but because we're friends it makes it hard. Just like we have had to boot others, that are freinds. We just want it the three of us. I dont know how Louie Does it!

Truth is many might think i am a specialist. I am not. Though i dont compete full power often, i do train for them year round. No breaks. I do bench meets more so, cause yes, i do love benching the best, but they take little prep. Fullpower is a dedication that is precise and takes a full "get ready mode" i must get in to.

Two different worlds!

 

[Imnotdutch]

Quote of the day:

"we have a guy in our group who is bench only. He really isnt even that good. He is about 500 @181." [Powerlifterjay, 2002]

This is why I like using the boards........it reminds me of how far I have to go!! Great inspiration.

 

[IrishPower]

VDOP:

hehe... i was just razzing you a little. Seriously though, when I had my surgery, I stayed in the fucking house so people wouldnt get to me. You need to let that shit heal man. You will be back 100% if you are smart. If your girlfriend gets you into fights, you need to drop her if you want to be a great powerlifter.

Screwball:

I don't mean to put down the specialists. You are right. I have respect for them, too. Kennelly is huge, obviously trains his whole body, but I think an inordinate attention is paid to the benchers when it is the 3-lifters who have put in more work.

pljay:
500@181..... hahah 181... that is still small. 600@181. Still small..... hehe

l8r guys.
/irish

 

[powerlifterjay]

Ok i didnt mean for it to come out like that. See this guy has alot of natural talent. His arms hang down to his waist, he is 5'5 and 185lbs and is actually pudgy!! Heres the thing. His bench is not moving. He got an open back 2x denim so it moved it up some. BUt after speed, or raw benching he leaves the gym. On ME day after the ME movement, he leaves. He comes in one other day in the week and does pull downs and leaves. He hasnt had a bench get passed since last AUG. Then he did 460 ish. He tells eveyone he benches 550lbs. BUt he has done 545 like i have done 660. Within an inch or two but still not down. I cant bench 660 yet. When at the bench Nationals in June in Daytona he brought 512 with in centimeters from touching and it barely went up, but still no good...Bomb number 4or 5!! If he trained harder he would be stronger and better. BUt dont get me wrong his bench is good , but its been the same for over a year. His bench is good but like i said he isnt that good!

500 at anyweight is good. Sorry didnt mean to make it sound like anyless sucked. Thats not what i meant. He sucks is what i meant!

 

[BODYSNATCHER]

Well IrishPower, as far as that statement about "RARELY being injuries that you can't overcome, just lack of willpower to do so", that all depends on what the injury was, and what "overcoming" the injury means. I've completely ruptured my patellar tendon, the doctor said I'd be lucky to walk regularly again, well, it took about 15 months of rehab, but I could run again - but I'm not going to be able to squat at the level it takes to win any competition or even train to squat, UNLESS I WANT TO RUPTURE THE TENDON AGAIN. There's a difference between coming back and BEING STUPID. And a muscle tear is a lot different than a tendon rupture. Everyone talks about the comebacks of some of these guys, but nobody talks about ALL THE SURGERY REPAIRS they go in for AFTER THE COMEBACKS. Some times you have to use your head.

So I might not be able to squat or deadlift, that doesn't keep me from benching enough to be ranked near the top of the bench lists in PL USA. It's being able to achieve goals that YOU ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE - without being stupid and crippling yourself for life. Think about it.

 

[IrishPower]

:: " the injury means. I've completely ruptured my patellar tendon,

talk to john bott. talk to joe ladnier... talk to matt dimel (if he were alive) ... same injuiry... still lifting the big numbers

:: the doctor said I'd be lucky to walk regularly again, well, it took about 15 months of rehab, but I could run again - but I'm not competition or even train to squat, UNLESS I WANT TO RUPTURE THE TENDON AGAIN. There's a difference between coming back and BEING STUPID.

most doctors will tell you that powerlifting in general is stupid. do you have the balls to do what it takes to be a champion powerlifter? even if it mean being stupid?

::And a muscle tear is a lot different than a tendon rupture.

yep. i had a tendon rupture. yep i will probably need corrective surgery on my rotator cuff as well shortly. i dont give a shit... my deadlift and squat will move up when i am rehabbing that as well.

::Some times you have to use your head.

if you want to use your head, get a hobby like chess.

 

[BODYSNATCHER]

Hey IrishPower, how old are you? Do you have any kids? As far as brains or balls - it's more like brains or EGO man. Don't say that all patellar tendon ruptures are the same either - because they're not. And the way your surgeon does the repair, has a lot to do with wether you will ever be able to squat heavy again or not.

How big are your balls when your kids have to push you around in a wheel chair.

See me when you hit 45 years old - and then again when you're 55. Oh, or are you one of those "BURY ME MASSIVE" guys.

When it's all said and done, if you make it to 50, you'll be one of those guys that says, 25 years ago, I was able to squat 8, and bench 6, and deadlift 7. But now, I'm content sitting here watching my TV, from the couch, with my big balls, until I leave this earth - because my life as a powerlifter ruined me.

If you're smart, you'll drop the EGO, and pick up a BRAIN.

And Chess isn't my game. I'm 44, can't squat, but I can still drop a left hook.

This is the sport that takes real balls -http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=130200

 

[IrishPower]

bodysnatcher:

This thread really wasn't meant to be about YOUR life or YOUR surgery. It was one lifter reporting on his progress from a repair, with others offering active encouragement that he could get back into the sport full-blown if he were smart.

Somewhere you jumped in and said that not all injuries came be returned from. I will give you that a small % of injuries are bad enough to merit discontinuing. However, that % is small. I said it before, and I will say it again,

"healing is in the mind."

If you don't want to compete, fine. That is your right. You may now derive more pleasure out of your family and children, and that is great for you.

But for someone to have gotten a 600 bench raw (i will take VDOP at his word here), he obviously has the genetics and willpower to be a lifter, and if this is what he choses to do, that is his business and he doesn't need some over-the-hill naysayer telling him that it can't be done.

Again: If you have moved on in your life, good for you! But for those of us that are still actively competing and wanting insane strength, we choose not to focus on what we'll be like at age 40 or 50. We simply don't give a fucking shit. Although, I doubt it will be as bad as you say. Those that are active and not beaten down by life seem to be ok to me.

And don't talk to me about fat ex-football players who can't get around anymore. I see lifters competing in their 40s and 50s all the time now. One of those stubborn bastards just beat me in competition at age 55. That is 25 years my senior.

 

[Imnotdutch]

Irish,

I think you meant strongestsurvive claimed a 600 raw bench........VDOP didnt (he posted above and sounded confused ).

 

[powerlifterjay]

Yes i think VDOP is part of the Okie crew. Strongestsurvuve is the 600lb raw bencher.

Vdop did sound confused!! With good reason!

As far as injuries go i think all injuries are different. I see both of ya'lls points. Irish if your young (and we are) and you get a injury most will try to comeback. BUt if its bad enough and like Bodysnatcher said , you can never squat at a competetive level, why kill yourself. At 45 if my knees are shot iam just gonna bench too.

BUt if i slipped some discs, tear my pec, rotator , you name it i am gonna be back in full force soon. If i do it at 45 i may hang it up!

I know some guys that have been hurt and currently i cant see anyway in hell they could ever squat. And for that matter even to try would be insane! But if they loved squatting so much that it was an obsession, they would probably find away. I knwo i personally would exhaust all options before i ever hang up benching. BUt if for some reason i couldnt deadlift anymore(you know i suck at it) i think life would go on. Take away the other two, i would probably need to be treated for depression!!

 

[BODYSNATCHER]

Well Irish, what I got from your post was that you thought that rarely any injuries were severe enough to stop competing at a lift, and if you did, you obviously didn't have the balls to be a powerlifter. I didn't post anything before you made the statement about the injuries RARELY being enough to stop you. When you told me that I should play chess, because I didn't have the balls for powelifting, YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT ME. I agree that if it's possible, STRONGESTSURVIVE should make a comeback, it's obviously possible, and I encourage him. My patellar tendon rupture isn't the only injury I deal with. I've got a ruptured bicep, 2 torn rotator cuffs, and a torn-up cervical spine - but that's not enough to stop me from benching big enough numbers (right now) to make it on the PL USA Top 100 and Top 20 masters lists. Don't talk to me about pain and balls. Everybody in this sport goes through pain.

 

[IrishPower]

BODYSNATCHER: YOU jumped into the thread. you seem a bit defensive about your decision not to 3-lift anymore. If it sits right with you, that is what is important. It was encouragement to strongestsurvive to be smarter and make his comeback.

You got it right when you read that I thought injuries were rarely severe enough if you had the balls and will to continue. I stand by that assessment.

I don't need to see your injury list. We've all got 'em. I respect your decision to continue competing, but I also don't want to see someone else scared off if that's what they have the desire to do.

Let's let it lie at that.

/irish

 

[BODYSNATCHER]

Irish, I'm glad that you are sticking to your assessment about injuries and balls, as I am also standing by my views on brains and using your head.

As far as injury lists, I didn't need to see yours either, as you were the first to bring up all of your injuries.

I noticed you had very little to say about Ryan Kennelly not being a POWERLIFTER, only that he was HUGE, but I guess since he's within driving distance of you, you hesitated to say, but IMPLIED that he doesn't have the balls to squat and deadlift, but you still respected him, and as far as I can tell, he has NO INJURIES holding him back.

NEWSFLASH: When you tell someone that they don't have "the balls" to do something - THAT'S NOT RESPECTING THEM.

You've obviously been hanging out on GOHEAVY too long, take a break.

Now, we can let it lay.

 

[IrishPower]

ok you're starting to piss me off.

you are misquoting me. i didn't bring up any of my injuries like some badge of courage as you did. go reread this thread. i said i was smart in my rehab.

NEWSFLASH: if you are gonna wave your injuries around, it makes a much better story to say "... and I still came back and lifted xxxx NOT "... i got smart and quit the sport of powerlifting". Who the fuck wants to hear that? Real inspirational!

WTF is that supposed to mean about ryan kennelly?? i gave him my props for training all the lifts hard. you can tell he is not all about benching, but if you think i did that because he is within driving distance, give me a fucking break. I also know he squats as well, just not competitively (yet). so, is ryan a champion powerlifter? no... he's the world's best bench presser though.

Do I think he deserves the same credit in powerlifting as a National's Champion? No. Happy now?

you know, i posted on this thread as encouragement to someone who wants to rehab from an injury and it gets derailed.

Since you have raised my ire, fine fuck you. Get under the goddamn squat bar and quit crying you old whiner.

 

[strongestsurvive]

I can bench right now, 405 for 2 sets of 7 fairly easily. I am not pushing the weights any heavier right now because I want to ease my way back up their. It was really stupid for me to get into fights after a surgery, but anyone can look back and say something is stupid after it happened, I think they call them monday morning quaterbacks. I believe in lifting with out equipment, if this achilles tendon blows out trying to bench over 500 raw in a full meet again, I will just go to the closest graveyard and did me up a cadaver and take their achilles tendon and heel bone and if the fucking doctors don't want to do the surgery i will call up Louie simmons and have the Guru of Powerlifting do it for me. I think what it really comes down to is the person and what they are willing to do for the sport of powerlifting. If I keep blowing these god damn tendons out and never get back up their, maybe my failures will motivate someone to bench (or lift) heavy and go the extra distance. That is what powerlifting is for me.

strongestsurvive

 

[strongestsurvive]

And I am glad to see that me and pljay finally agree on one aspect of powerlifting. I think that it is great that there are guys who can push certain lifts to the extreme, but it takes being somewhat good in all 3 lifts to win a meet. I always tell people that someone is not a powerlifter until they compete in a full meet, taking token lifts does not count in my book.

Strongestsurvive

 

[BODYSNATCHER]

Hey Irish, here's my assessment of you - you're nothing but a self-promoting, powerlifting wannabe, that's spends most of his time on the internet talking shit, and giving "advise" to people, without knowing what the fuck you're talking about. And the measure of a man/person, isn't what they can squat, bench or deadlift. And the only one whining is you - grow up punk.
P.S. Louie Simmons isn't God, and PL USA isn't the bible, and when you die, you don't go to WESTSIDE BARBELL CLUB, and the easter bunny isn't real. Are you fired up? Now what? Go make us another board press video.

 

[Imnotdutch]

Irishpower and Bodysnatcher,

I know this is a bit rich coming from me after my recent experiences with Spatts et al, but you wanna cool it?

I'm not asking you to agree on something........I cant see that happening some how At best, agree to disagree........or take it to PM's or email. This whole thing really is getting stupid.......it seems this whole thing blew up because people took things the wrong way. One thing about this board is that members have always avoided the personal bullshit.......until now. Why spoil it??

 

[IrishPower]

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