What I'm Capable of - Breaking Down Barriers

[Simon C]

Originally Posted by Matthew

No sarcasm, I meant that. I'll start using gear and then I'll be fine with it.

You can rack pull 530? From what height?

I dunno, its above the knees all I know. Next time I'll take a look how high it is exactly. I did it without straps, and felt I was good for another few reps, I only did it once. It was 539 actually hah, I might start doing high rack pulls again, just keeping the weight at 539, and dropping the pins down a notch every few weeks. 539 is what I'll want to pull at the end of the year for a sub junior record.

[Frank.S]

anything higher then the 3rd pin just fucks up your deadlift form imo. That is the pin thats usually about 1-2 inches below your knees. Whatever I can pull from that pin for 2 reps I can get from the ground for a single.

[Simon C]

Yeah I just did it to test out my grip really, I reckon I can hold onto 250-260kgs

And just to see what it would feel like to hold the weight that I want to deadlift by end of the year. I know it's not going to do much for my dead, but it was fun.

[Matthew]

Pulling from that high, Frank, I do just like a RDL.
The other way is to actually press the weight up (much like the second pull of a clean, or that hitch you do at lockout when you're pulling a weight that's too heavy).

Pulling like a RDL I don't think fucks up my form at all.

[Matthew]

Week 6 Day 2 - bench - May 27

lockout bench
120kg (264) x5x3

sticking point bench
85kg (187) x5,3,3

full bench
80kg (176) x3 - it was at this point I realized I've been benching with the bent bar. No wonder my shoulders/elbows/wrists hurt so fucking much!
80kg x3x2 (straight bar)

OH press
60kg (132) x5,4,4

headcrushers
ez curl bar + 60 x5x2
+50 x6


hanging leg raise x15
leg raise holds x30sec, 40sec




So pissed I didn't realize I was benching with a bent bar until it was too late.
The lockouts were up about 10kg, but everything after sucked. Joints were too sore.

Anyone remember my story about ripping a callus last week deadlifting? Well it hasn't healed over, it's still an open wound. It hurts when I touch anything, even lightly. I'm wondering if I should tough it out and hope I don't rip half the skin on my hand off, or if I should just use straps for one day and let it heal.


Ehh. Fuck straps.

[Frank.S]

I ripped my hand completely open on my last deadlift in my comp. Dont pick at it, let the callouses dry up and trip them if they are really long. It took about 2 days for my hand to stop bleeding, but now only 4 days after im healed.

I do almost all my rack deadlift work stiff legged (or semi stiff leg), i either use the 2nd pin setting, or somtimes the 3rd which is 1-2inch below knees. ive found it to have way more carryover.

I like reverse band much better then rack pulls though, seems more realistic.

[Alcoholiday]

just put a bandaid over it, and then wrap it in athletic tape.

[Frank.S]

wouldn't that rip off?

crazy-glue over the open wounds works alright in a pinch. Or, just deal with the pain.. its some skin on your hand that strings nothing worth worrying about.. if you where in a contest and that happend on your first attempt, you sure as hell better suck it up and get 2 more lifts in!

[Matthew]

I don't think I have band-aids or athletic tape.
Or crazy glue.

I have chalk, maybe I'll just put an extra thick layer of chalk on my hands.

The problem is that it's not just one or two or three sets. It's three sets of rack pulls, three sets of lower rack pulls, three sets of pulls from the floor, and then three sets of rows.
That's 12 sets of suck-it-up-and-take-it.

We'll see how it goes.

[Frank.S]

in that case just use some straps. I have the spud straps from elite, they are cool, i use them all the time


my grip is good to well over 700lbs, so i may as well put my arms in a better (over-over) position.

[Frank.S]

Originally Posted by Dave Tate

So what is your carry over?

This seems to be the question of the decade. What can you do RAW? I am asked this just about once a week. I am sure there are many of you who are reading this that know exactly what I mean. Will this ever end?

It is always those who have the least experience in the prone position who ask such things. They are really the ones at risk. RAW is just plain dangerous. We are in a different world then we were years ago. We have more knowledge, technique is better, strength and endurance is better optimized and the stakes are higher. going raw is just not worth the risk. I have seen the news and see the stats. It is those who go raw that are ending up seeing the doctor wondering how they put themselves in such a position. They knew better but did it anyway and now they are paying the price.

Why can't tell wake up and see what is going on?

Single Ply, Two ply, Triple ply, who cares? Just wear something!

I have though long and hard on this and have come up with a few reasons why these pricks stay raw.

1. They do not understand the issues we have to deal with.

2. They have never had had their performance interrupted because of a hamstring cramp?

3. They have never had to stop short because their lower back was in knots?

4. They have never been so tight they felt like they were going to pop only to find they could have been tighter?

5. They have never had their staying power compromised.

Have they ever tucked as hard as they could only to find they missed the sweet spot? I don't think so.
Do they know what it is like to push and drive as hard as you can to have a blow out and then spend the next 30 days wondering how they will deal with it? Nope! They have no idea.

Look I know we are in the up and coming age of the Ultra this and Ultra that, Titan, Magum, Viking, Max, Trojan and whatever knight they come up with next. We have so many options. We have single, double and triple ply. You can get the in any size to fit anybody. They are meant to keep you jacked and tight and defiantly make you stronger. We have push harder and have a little more at the peak to finish strong. I will not lie. Being Anti Raw is not only safer it helps. It helps you feel better and lets you take it to the next level.

I can't sit here and make it sound like this is all good and does not have its negatives. Years ago many records were set and they were all RAW. Were these legends better than the ones of today? This can be debated but how long did they really last. There were many that died before there prime. Sure there names will go on forever and legands like Holmes will last forever. There are many Frank, Dick, and Harry's out there that think this is all easy business. It is not as easy as it looks. First getting it on right takes skill and experience. If it is not put on right you will not get the biggest carryover. Second, they can tear you up and can actually somewhat hinder your ability to feel the stroke. But I can say this. I have personally gotten close to 30% on single ply and 50% with double. Now what does this mean in real terms.

What this means is when I have sex and wear one condom I can actually make it for 13 stokes. My RAW max is around 10 so I am getting a 30% carry over. Now when I wear two condoms it goes right up to 15 strokes or 50%.

Did you assume this was about Bench Shirts? Hum. Never trust you assumptions.

Now go back and read this again. It is much funnier the second time.

[Matthew]

Funny.

[Matthew]

Week 6 Day 3 - deadlift - May 29

rack pull - inch lower than last week because different equipment
200kg (440) x5
210kg (462) x5,5,4

sticking point pulls - lower again
165kg (363) x5x3

pulls from floor
160kg (352) x5

short walk over to the other weight room because the one I was in closed for the night

bentover row
185lbs x5x3

alternating hammer curls
50x8x3




Story of the day. The hand I ripped last week was fine. Instead, I ripped a chunk out of my other hand. Now when I say "chunk", I mean chunk. It was a thick fucking piece, and not just callous, but some surrounding skin as well.
I didn't feel it during the set, but I put the bar down and looked at my hand and AH! a thick flab of skin is sticking out! So I walk around looking for some scissors to cut it off, finally get some. A guy working in the clinic that's attached to the weight room took a bandaid and some athletic wrap out of the first aid kit and wrapped it.

That's when I started using straps. Next week is going to suck.

I only got one set of full deads in because the room closed and I didn't feel like working back up when I walked over to the other room. Oh well.

I was going to take a picture for you guys of the skin hanging off my hand, but didn't get a chance. Too bad, it would've been a good one.

[Frank.S]

got to hate those, you using pretty good bars? that makes it worse i find... worth it, but worse

what are you goals for the meet?

[Matthew]

They seem pretty good, but honestly, they bend under 440. So they can't be that great.
Decent in terms of the knurling though, easy to hold on to (which makes me wonder how the bar could have ripped my hand this bad).

My goals are a 450 pull, 350 squat and 250 bench.
I don't know how close or far I am from these because of the kind of training I've been doing lately. I think though that after the last phase, I should reach them all.

It would make a 1050 total, but as long as I total over a grand I'm happy.

[Simon C]

Originally Posted by Matthew

They seem pretty good, but honestly, they bend under 440. So they can't be that great.
Decent in terms of the knurling though, easy to hold on to (which makes me wonder how the bar could have ripped my hand this bad).

My goals are a 450 pull, 350 squat and 250 bench.
I don't know how close or far I am from these because of the kind of training I've been doing lately. I think though that after the last phase, I should reach them all.

It would make a 1050 total, but as long as I total over a grand I'm happy.

good knurling and easy to hold onto = easier to rip a callous

When you put chalk on too.

The more grip your skin has on the bar, the more leverage it has to rip something off, so if you let the bar move slightly in your hands it could all fall apart.

Good goals for the meet.