Let’s Review: The Kennedy Lift
by Thom Van Vleck
Al Myers doing a Kennedy Lift.
With the Old Time Strongman Championships coming up September 9th at ET’s House of Iron and Stone I thought it might be a good time to review the lifts. Eric Todd picked 4 lifts from the OTSM list. Today let’s revisit one of those, the Kennedy Lift. First of all Al Myers did a great article on it’s history. Here’s a link to it: Kennedy Lift
So the rules are as follows:
H9. Kennedy Lift
This is a partial lift using a straddle stance on the bar, where the bar height must not be over 18” from the platform (measured to the bottom of the bar). The plates or bar may be supported on stands, rack supports, or blocks to obtain this height. The lifter must have the bar between the legs, as defined by the rules of the Jefferson Lift. Lifting straps or any other gripping aid is not allowed. It is NOT an infraction to drag the bar up the legs, bounce the bar up the legs, or support the bar on the legs during the lift (hitching). A one minute time limit is allowed for the lifter to make a legal lift, during which time a lifter may make multiple tries. Once the lifter is totally upright and the bar motionless, an official will give the command to end the lift.
Al sums this lift up nicely when he said, “I envision the technique to be very similar to how most lift the Dinnie Stones, using a straddle style.” The lift is very much a “Continental” version of a partial Jefferson (or Straddle) deadlift. In that it can be bounced, drug, up or “hitched”
If you want to see the current records here is a list:
| AGE | M/F | CLASS | RECORD | LIFTER |
| 14 | M | 80 | 500 | Kressly, Logan |
| 45 | M | 110 | 750 | Myers, Al |
| 45 | M | 125+ | 500 | Foster, Lance |
| 50 | M | 125+ | 365 | Foster, Lance |
| 55 | M | 70 | 405 | Freides, Steve |
| 60 | M | 80 | 325 | Santangelo, Stephen |
| 60 | M | 95 | 675 | Traub, Larry |
| 60 | M | 100 | 315 | Garcia, Joe |
| 60 | M | 129 | 525 | Glasgow, Dave |
| 65 | M | 80 | 405 | McKean, John |
| 70 | M | 90 | 225 | Habecker, Denny |
| 70 | M | 125 | 400 | Ross, Dean |
| 80 | M | 80 | 225 | Durante, Richard |
| 80 | M | 105 | 315 | Clark, Bill |
| ALL | M | 70 | 405 | Freides, Steve |
| ALL | M | 80 | 500 | Kressly, Logan |
| ALL | M | 90 | 225 | Habecker, Denny |
| ALL | M | 95 | 675 | Traub, Larry |
| ALL | M | 100 | 315 | Garcia, Joe |
| ALL | M | 105 | 315 | Clark, Bill |
| ALL | M | 110 | 750 | Myers, Al |
| ALL | M | 120 | 525 | Glasgow, Dave |
| ALL | M | 125 | 400 | Ross, Dean |
| ALL | M | 125+ | 550 | Kressly, Doug |
As you can see this is a great opportunity to be added to the record list. I hope to see you there!