Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below im down if someone wants to call themselves a powerlifter yet doesnt compete, but there is a difference to what you can lift in the gym and what you can do on the big day infront of loads of people and with judges to tell you whether your technique and form is a pass or not. i train with a big crew of people, most of which compete some are world champs. i dont call myself a powerlifter (yet) as it would make a mockery of them and their acheivements, however, i do powerlift.
When are you considered as being a Powerlifter?
- Thread starter Traps59
- Start date
SPORT SCIENTIST
Banned
Personaly, I make sure my form is perfect, to do anything else is just cheating yourself. I think another thing that makes a powerlifter, is someone who trains to percentages of their max. Not only do you make the best progress this way, but it distinguishes you from those only interested in showing off, by maxing out and going to failure on every lift. With all due respect to you, suk1979 (great to see women doing powerlifting), who cares whether you enter a competition or not. I do powerlifting for the intrinsic reward of gaining strength. That is your motivation. If you use correct technoque, train wisely and don't show off too much (because it retards your training) then you are a powerlifter.
Something I forgot to mention, I train for olympic lifts as well (the clean and jerk translates amazingly well into squat and deadlift gains)- so what does that make me? A Powerlympic lifter?
Something I forgot to mention, I train for olympic lifts as well (the clean and jerk translates amazingly well into squat and deadlift gains)- so what does that make me? A Powerlympic lifter?
I understand where someone who competes want's to draw the distinction between power lifting, bodybuilding, strongman training, olympic lifting, and any that I left out, but for me I just train. I take a little from most of the different forms, and try to put together an all around program.
sports scientist,
my motivation is purely personal. "who cares whether you compete or not" surely the point of competition - even for those who dont compete, is to set some sort of measuring standard..if not how do you define strength?
without being full of myself, thats one of the reasons i "give a fuck" about competing, cos i think i can raise the standard of my weight class. and i do if i compete cos then maybe someone else will think - "i can do that" beat my lift and we continuosly raise the standard. especially important from a female perspective i think.
i'd have thought most people who are interested in strength training realise the importance of competition and support it?
my motivation is purely personal. "who cares whether you compete or not" surely the point of competition - even for those who dont compete, is to set some sort of measuring standard..if not how do you define strength?
without being full of myself, thats one of the reasons i "give a fuck" about competing, cos i think i can raise the standard of my weight class. and i do if i compete cos then maybe someone else will think - "i can do that" beat my lift and we continuosly raise the standard. especially important from a female perspective i think.
i'd have thought most people who are interested in strength training realise the importance of competition and support it?
SPORT SCIENTIST
Banned
suk1978 said:
The only measuring standard I need is personal improvement. It sounds like you're pretty good if you have ambitions to raise the standard of your weight class, good luck. If you are that good, then go for it. What I am saying, is that in my weight class, I wouldn't stand a chance of doing anything meaningful in any serious competition. I can appreciate the fact that people enjoy competing , and I admire them for going for it. My point was that as a "powerlifter" who doesn't compete. I train just as proficiently, maybe more so as most of those that do. I am stronger than some pound for pound and have all the motivation and perservereance I need without competition. Maybe I might enter a competition in the future, but I don't have the tIme at the moment. I probably would have been better off a year and a half ago, when I was the same strength naturally. I had a l1 year ay off, did a couple of cycles and got back to the same strength. - The competition in non drug tested divisions are much stronger, so I wouldn't stand a chance.
p.s. I am English, my friend was sponsored by Maximuscle when he was younger. Perhaps, given your drive, you should contact them once you have done something meaningful in competition. I'm sure you could get good sponsorship as a decent female powerlifter.
Good luck.
blut wump
New member
This might be slightly off-topic in the PL/not-PL discussion but competing against others in any activity will raise the level of focus of any naturally competetive person. This extra focus will drive you through sticking points and enhance motivation and drive. It'll help you to re-evaluate your goals as you gain direct comparison with your peers/age group/weight class.
Choosing to compete is a step which redefines your emotional commitment as you pit yourself against others who are there to defeat your best efforts. I think we, as humans, are at our best when we face an opponent we believe is slightly better than we are but is within our grasp. Discounting life-threatening situations, that is the time we produce maximal effort and maximal involvement.
I have to respect the courage of anyone who is prepared to put their egos and efforts on the line with the intention of coming out a winner, whatever they compete at.
Good luck suk1978. Train your balls off (or whatever the female equivalent is) and do your best on the day.
Choosing to compete is a step which redefines your emotional commitment as you pit yourself against others who are there to defeat your best efforts. I think we, as humans, are at our best when we face an opponent we believe is slightly better than we are but is within our grasp. Discounting life-threatening situations, that is the time we produce maximal effort and maximal involvement.
I have to respect the courage of anyone who is prepared to put their egos and efforts on the line with the intention of coming out a winner, whatever they compete at.
Good luck suk1978. Train your balls off (or whatever the female equivalent is) and do your best on the day.
I don't have much to add regarding the definition of a powerlifter, but I do want to add that no matter how much you lift, if you take lifting for strength seriously you should compete in a PL meet. It is a great experienced and can almost garauntee you'll be hooked after your first meet.
Off topic: Anyone competing in the Maine State APF meet on the 19th-20th?
Off topic: Anyone competing in the Maine State APF meet on the 19th-20th?
Traps59
New member
Yea, I kinda know that competing is a great experience because I've been to competitions as a spectator before and I can almost feel what the competitors must be feeling. I know I will never have that feeling until I compete but I do sorta have an idea. For now, I'm happy just lifting my ass off in hopes of seeing new gains. In a way, I feel that I do compete because by trying to get a new PR every time, I'm competing against myself. Whether or not people refer to me as a powerlifter, I'll leave that up to them but I just refer to myself as someone who lifts for strength.
