Tag Archives: Jim Malloy

2019 Year in Review

By Al Myers

In memory of Jim Malloy

In memory of Jim Malloy

I have just finished the 2019 USAWA Year in Review.  Every year since I have been secretary of the USAWA I have done this Review Book.  I take all the information that has been put on the website (blogs, meet results, past history archives, etc) and copy it into a book, which is printed off.  I also include this book as a digital file on the website if someone wants to look at it that way or print it off themselves.

I do this for one reason primarily – and that is to preserve the history of the USAWA in paper form.  It always surprises me by the amount of information that this website accumulates every year. This year the Year in Review is 361 pages long and contains 74,744 words!  It would take a few evenings to get all that read.

Every year I dedicate the Year in Review to someone we have lost in the USAWA.   This year it is in the memory of the great Jim Malloy.

If anyone wants a printed copy of the Year in Review please let me know.  I plan to take it to the printer’s next week.  The cost is $50, made out to the USAWA.

Memories of Jim

By John McKean

(Webmasters comments: Thank you John for sharing your memories of the late Jim Malloy. I encourage others to send me their memories of Jim as well, so I can share them on this website.)

Jim was always a warm ,loveable guy, but tried to “hide” it with his gruff, steel worker manner & “colorful” method of speaking! His subtle humor during conversation had to be experienced to appreciate it! For instance, He, Chris Waterman, and I were gabbing at a VFW meet, when Chris mentioned training since his early teens with Jim. Chris commented, “I guess I was a fairly obnoxious youth and it sure took Jim a long time to warm up to me!” Jim never changed expressions but quickly added, “No, Chris, I NEVER liked you! Not even now!” Chris’ mouth dropped open (till he realized he’d been “had” by the ole master), and the rest of us howled!

Another time, Jim showed up at a record day meet at our club, sputtering & moaning all the way down the stairway to the gym. No one had any doubt by the unique colorful phrases that it was Jim approaching. It seems that Scott Schmidt and his wife picked up Jim at his home in Cleveland that morning,telling him they were taking him shopping at a local mall, then “kidnapped” him down to Ambridge for Art’s birthday meet! Loudly complaining the entire time, Jim ignored his injuries, aches, and pains to set a bunch of records!

I think Jim got a kick out my two sons when they were lifting as pre-teens ; Sean & Rob always referred to him as that “Missing Link” guy! Certainly they’d never seen anyone that strong, gruff, and hairy !!

The Hand and Thigh

By Eric Todd

Big Frank Ciavattone doing a big hand and thigh.  Frank has not only promoted the Heavy Lift Championships in the past, he is a four time Heavy Lift Champion!

Big Frank Ciavattone doing a big hand and thigh. Frank has not only promoted the Heavy Lift Championships in the past, he is a four time Heavy Lift Champion!

With the Heavy lift Championship just a few short months away, I am going to continue on with my series on the Heavy Lifts.  The last article on the series focussed on the first lift we will be contesting at the event, the neck lift.  This one will focus on the second lift in the order of the meet, the Hand and Thigh Lift.  The hand and thigh lift is a quite old lift.  It was a favorite of many old timers, and was done by many of them including Louis Cyr and Warren Lincoln Travis.

Quite a bit more should be lifted in the hand and thigh than in the neck lift.  The heaviest neck lift is around 1000 pounds, while the heaviest hand and thigh is over 1900, by Joe Garcia.  However, that is quite an outlier, as most of the rest of the best hand and thighers in the USAWA are in the 1500-1600s. The rules of the Hand and Thigh in the rulebook are as follows:

A Heavy Lift Bar is used in this lift. A hand bar is also used, which must not exceed 28 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. The hand bar will have an adjustable chain and hook attached to it in the center so it may be attached to the Heavy Lift Bar. No knurling is allowed on the hand bar. The lifter assumes a position with the Heavy Lift Bar in front of the lifter, or the lifter may straddle it. The feet must be parallel and in line with the torso. Width of feet placement is optional. The feet must not move during the lift, but the heels and toes may rise. The lifter may adjust the chain length to his/her preference prior to the lift. The hand bar must be in the lifter’s grasp and will lie across the thighs. The hands must remain on the hand bar and must not change position during the lift. The lift begins at the lifter’s discretion. The lifter is allowed one test lift to check the balance of the weight and to make adjustments to the chain length. The lifter will stand or lean back to lift the weights from the platform. The shoulders and torso do not have to be upright upon the finish of the lift. The legs must straighten, but the knees do not need to be locked. Once the weight is motionless, and the plates on both ends of the bar are off the platform at the same time, an official will give a command to end the lift.

So, I have seen the hand and thigh done with both feet in front of the bar and also straddling the bar.  That being said, from what I have seen,  far better poundages are done with both feet in front of the bar.  I like a flat sole, such as wrestling shoes for the hand and thigh (as well as all the heavy lifts for that matter) though I am not sure if that offers any advantages or not.  Some people, me included, like to stand on a platform of sorts to complete the lift.  It seems to give you better leverage to complete the lift.  My platform comes by way of a few sawed off 4×4 timbers. Stance is optional, but I prefer a rather narrow one.  I like my shins just a few inches behind the bar so my knees can float over the bar when I bend them to dig my knuckles into the top of my thighs.  Grip is optional, but I would suggest double overhand with the thumbs in line with the fingers.  You do not need your thumb to lock in the bar, as your thighs serve in that capacity, so I have been more successful with keeping them over the top of the bar. Once you have the bar locked into your thighs, lean way back, looking up, and drive back on your heels.  The first few times I did this, I had someone spotting me from behind, because I felt I may fall over.  I never have, though.  As soon as both sides are off the platform simultaneously, you will get the down command.  As you can see in the rules, if your chain length is wrong or you are off center and only one side comes up, you do have the opportunity to make one adjustment.

Not unlike the neck lift there is no absolute substitute for actually doing the hand and thigh to train for the hand and thigh.  The technique takes some getting used to in order to become proficient at it to maximize your poundages. However, there are some movements that doing help strengthen your connective tissue.  Strong connective tissue (such as tendons and ligaments) is crucial to heavy lifting.  You could halfway simulate an hand and thigh with heavy partial barbell pulls in a rack.  You could also play with heavy squat lockouts or heavy partials on the leg press to help build strength in your connective tissue.

Check out this video of Jim Malloy performing a 1200# Hand and Thigh at the 1991 National Championships, and keep training for the Heavy Lift Championship!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrxZWECwMq0

Membership Renewal Time!

By Al Myers

Jim Malloy performing a clean and press with heels together.

Jim Malloy performing a clean and press with heels together.

It’s that time of the year – time to renew your USAWA membership!  I want to remind everyone that membership in the USAWA is for the calendar year (meaning Jan 1st to Dec 31st).  So there’s no reason to wait to join as you might as well enjoy a full years worth of membership versus less if you join at a later time in the year.  This is how it has always been in the USAWA, and for good reason. I have heard complaints from lifters joining late in the fall that feel like they’ve been shorted.  Well, this is my opinion on this.  Why if you are doing your one and only meet in December every year while the other guy is doing his one and only meet in Jan should you not have to buy a full year membership like the other guy?

I always like it when lifters register BEFORE the first of January.  I just recieved the FIRST membership of 2018.  It came from JIM MALLOY, the great lifter from Cleveland who has been a long time supporter of the USAWA.  Jim is always one of the first to get me his check. Plus Jim does every year what very few do – he sends a little extra to the organization in addition to his membership dues.  Now please don’t think I’m begging for extra funds as the USAWA is very financially sound – but it is sure appreciated!!!

Membership applications are located in “Forms and Applications”.

HOF BIO – JIM MALLOY

By Al Myers

(Webmasters Note: Over the next month I will be running a series of biography blogs covering all past USAWA Hall of Fame members.  These bios will be added to the history section, under Hall of Fame.)

HALL OF FAME BIOGRAPHY

JIM MALLOY – CLASS OF 1996

___________________________________________________

Malloy-CP

Jim Malloy was born July 7th, 1941 and currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Following High School graduation, Jim went to work in a steel mill where he has worked for over 47 years. He has been married to his wife, Sandy, for over 45 years. They have one daughter, Tracey, who now lives in Texas. Jim started out with Olympic Weightlifting in 1968, and then got involved with the USAWA in April of 1990 after being introduced to all-round weightlifting by Bob Karhan. Jim spends most of his training time lifting in his garage. When asked if there were any lifters that inspired him in all-round weightlifting, Jim named two great lifters – Howard Prechtel and Art Montini. Jim worked out with Howard quite often, and often helped Howard in the promotion of several competitions, which included a National Championship, a World Championship and several Gold Cups. Jim is a true all-rounder with his lifting and has set USAWA records in many lifts that are very different from each other. Jim has done a 400# Front squat, a 400# one handed Deadlift, a Continental to Chest and Jerk of 300#, and a 420# Zercher Lift. I should also mention that these were all done after the age of 50!!!! Jim has set over 100 USAWA records and has lifted in close to 100 competitions. Among his greatest accomplishments in the USAWA was winning overall Best Lifter at the National Championships in 1997. He was the Master’s Best Lifter in 1994 and 1997 at the National Championships. He has also won many Championships in his age and weight class. Another thing that is very impressive is Jim has placed in the Top Ten Overall in 12 National Championships!!!! He has also placed in the top six in 4 IAWA World Championships, with his best placing being 3rd Overall in 1995. When asked what he likes about the USAWA, Jim replied, ” I have lifted in several other weightlifting organizations, but nothing compares to the people I have met in the USAWA.” Jim is a great Champion and role model in the sport of All-Round Weightlifting.

Malloy-Jefferson

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