Category Archives: USAWA Daily News

Worlds – ONE WEEK AWAY!

by Al Myers

The 2012 IAWA World Championships is ONE WEEK AWAY!   Chad and I are in the final stages of having everything ready – just the “small stuff” now to take care of.  The list of registered competitors is set.  This is the 25 lifters who are entered:

Art Montini USA  Dawn Piper USA  Susan Sees USA
George Dick SCOTLAND  Dennis Mitchell USA  Dave Glasgow USA
Frank Allen ENGLAND  Ruth Jackson USA  Doug Kressly USA
Sam Trews AUSTRALIA  Al Springs USA  Jera Kressly USA
John Mahon AUSTRALIA  Denny Habecker USA  Randy Smith USA
 Chad Ullom USA  LaVerne Myers USA  
 Lance Foster USA  Rudy Bletscher USA  
 Paula De La Mata ENGLAND  Frank Ciavattone USA  
 Graham Saxton ENGLAND  Dan Wagman USA  
 Tim Piper USA  Bob Geib USA  

Yesterday I went to pick up the awards and t-shirts from the “trophy shop”.   I think everyone will be very pleased with both!  The trophies are as nice as I’ve ever received in a competition, as they should be since this is a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.  I want to emphasize that every weight class within age groupings will be represented.  After all, this is the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!   I plan to award certificates for the Best Lifter awards.  I also made up something “special” for all competitors.  I don’t want to reveal what this is yet, so it will be a surprise.  But it is something that you will keep and cherish as it represents the 25th Anniversary of the International All-Round Weightlifting Association.

As stated on the entry forms, this Championship will be held at the Dino Strength Training Center in Salina, Kansas.  The address is 742 Duvall Avenue. It is easy to find.  There is plenty of parking at the gym.  The General IAWA World Meeting will be held Friday night at 7:30 in the gym for those wanting to attend.  I will be in the gym most of Friday afternoon doing the final meet setup so if you get in town early please stop by (but if you do I will probably get you to help with the setup!).  IAWA President Steve Gardner will organize and preside over the meeting.

Weighins will be from 8-9 AM on Saturday.   This first-day weighin determines your weight class for the entire weekend.  You must also weigh in Sunday morning if you want to be eligible to set records on Sunday.  If you are not interested in this, you do not need to weigh in on Sunday.  At 9 Am we will have the opening ceremony and lifter introductions.  Immediately following this the meet will start.  The meet will be ran in a 2-session 1-platform format.  The two sessions will be divided this way – women and older men in first session, and younger men in the second session.  Sunday’s lifting will follow the exact way.   Also, since this is an IAWA event IAWA Rules and Scoring will be used.  The IAWA official scorekeeper Chris Bass from England will be in attendance to do the scoring.  IAWA President Steve Gardner will do the announcing. 

Immediately following Sundays lifting, we will have the award ceremony.   After that for anyone interested, we will have a post-meet celebration at my place.  I am calling it that instead of a banquet because this will be an informal affair.  Dress casually and show up ready to have an enjoyable evening.  This will be a good ole fashioned Kansas backyard BBQ, complete with “all-you-can-eat” barbecued meats, potato salad, baked beans and homemade ice cream!!  Refreshments will be there as well, but if you have something special you like to drink I would recommend that you bring it along.  I will have plenty of chairs and tables to sit back and relax, and hopefully will have a nice cool October night as well!  This BBQ is included as part of the “package entry fee” for all lifters, and for anyone else that is attending there will be a donation jar.  I highly recommend that anyone who can attend this evening event to make it, as it will give a time to meet new friends (or catch up with old friends) from overseas.  I will have directions available to my place at the meet for anyone who wants them.

One Hand Clean and Jerk (Clean and Jerk – One Arm)

by Al Myers

Tony Terlazzo performing a One Arm Clean and Jerk.

The second lifting event on DAY ONE of the IAWA World Championships is the one arm Clean and Jerk.  This is one of  “the original” all-round lifts, and once was even contested as part of the Olympics Weightlifting.  The athlete can choose either arm for this lift, but once the arm “is chosen” it must be used for all the attempts.   The IAWA rules are very similar to the USAWA rules for this lift:

B25.   ONE HAND CLEAN AND JERK

The rules for the two hands clean and jerk apply except that the lift is done with either the left or right hand only. An optional grip is used, and the bar is raised to the commensurate shoulder as the lifting arm, in a single movement. The bar must not touch any part of the legs or trunk below the line of the nipples. In receiving the bar at the shoulder it should not make contact with or rest, on the opposite shoulder or chest. The centre of the sternum is used as the line of indication. The free hand may be supported on the thigh or knee of either leg, but must not touch the lifting surface, lifting arm or bar during the lift. With a single distinct effort the lifter will jerk the bar to arms length above the head. The signal to replace the bar will be given on completion of the lift, when the lifter is erect and motionless with the feet on a parallel plane to the torso.

Causes for Failure:

1.  Touching the lifting surface, bar or lifting arm with the free arm.
2.  Touching the bar with the legs or trunk below the line of the nipples.
3.  Touching the chest or shoulder with the bar, on the opposite side to the lifting arm.
4.  Allowing the bar to rise above the lower level of the ear, when adjusting the grip prior to the jerk.
5.  Failure to control the bar and fix it motionless, at completion.
6.  All other causes for failure are the same as for the two hands clean and jerk.

The USAWA Rules for this lift are practically the same. However, there is one additional rule stipulation in the USAWA Rules which states, “the nonlifting hand must be clear of the body upon completion of the lift.”  This is not stated in these IAWA Rules, so it appears to be technically allowed under the IAWA Rules??  However, I wouldn’t take that chance – so remove the supportive hand upon completion!

Reverse Curl (Curl – Reverse Grip)

by Al Myers

The strict Reverse Curl has a long tradition of being an All-Round Lift. This picture was published in a 1946 issue of Strength and Health.

Over this next week I’m going to highlight each lift that will be contested at the 2012 IAWA World Championships in Salina, Kansas on October 6th and 7th.  The total lifts contested is 7 – 4 on day 1 and 3 on day 2.  It is a good mix of lifts to test the all round strength of any lifter. The order in which the following list is listed is the order these lifts will be contested on meet day. 

Lifts on Day 1:

Reverse Curl (Curl – Reverse Grip)
One Hand Clean and Jerk (Clean and Jerk – One Arm)
Pullover and Press on Floor (Pullover and Press)
Steinborn (Steinborn Lift)

Lifts on Day 2:

Two Hands Snatch – 2 Inch Bar (Snatch – Fulton Bar)
One Hand Hacklift (Hack Lift – One Arm)
Straddle Deadlift (Jefferson Lift)

You may notice that each lift has 2 names.  The reason for this is that the IAWA rulebook has different names for several of the lifts than the USAWA rulebook.  The first name listed is the IAWA name while the second name (the one in parenthesis) is the USAWA name.    It is important to know that for this meet the IAWA rules for the individual lifts will be followed instead of the USAWA rules since this is an IAWA event.  The following is the IAWA rule for the Reverse Curl:

E32     REVERSE CURL

The rules of performance for the rectangular fix apply, except that once the curled bar reaches the midway point, it does not stop fixed, but continues in one movement, until the bar is at the top of the sternum / neck configuration.

Causes for Failure:

1. Starting to lift before the referees signal.
2.  The causes for failure are the same as for the rectangular fix, except that once curled the bar continues upwards to a finished position at the sternum / neck configuration.
3.  Any stopping or lowering of the bar on its upward journey.
4.  Lowering / replacing the bar before the referees signal.

E3       RECTANGULAR FIX

The barbell should be held at arms length, resting across the lifters thighs with the legs and body upright and erect. With a hand grip spacing of no more than shoulder width, and with the knuckles facing the front, the referee will signal to start the lift. With the upper arms remaining held in contact with the torso, the lower forearms will raise, holding the bar firm (not sagging at the wrist) until they are at right angles to the body and parallel to the floor. No raising of the heels and toes, or swaying of the body is allowed. When the bar is held fixed and motionless in the finished position, the referee will signal to replace the bar.

Causes for Failure:

1.  Starting the lift prior to the referees signal.
2.   Failure to hold the bar in the fixed, finished position, forearms at right angles to the body and parallel to the floor, until the referees completion signal.
3.   Any movement of the feet or swaying of the body during the lift.
4.  Failing to keep the legs and torso braced, upright and erect during the lift.
5.  Failure to keep the upper arms in contact with the torso throughout, or allowing wrists to sag.

The USAWA Rule for this lift (Curl – Reverse Grip) is the same, but just worded differently.  However, it is important to know that the USAWA does have a similar lift (Curl – Cheat, Reverse Grip) that follows the rule of the Cheat Curl instead of the Rectangular Fix.  That lift is NOT the one being contested!!! I’m reinforcing this point because the Curl – Cheat, Reverse Grip was contested at this past USAWA National Championships, and by that, could cause confusion!

New Rulebook – 6th Edition

by Al Myers

USAWA Rulebook 6th Edition

The new updated USAWA Rulebook is now available.  It is the 6th Edition, and contains all the updated rules changes.  It is available in the USAWA Online Store for $30 plus shipping.  The USAWA bylaws are now included as part of the Rulebook.  As always, the Rulebook is on the website FREE OF CHARGE to download (but it is a large pdf at over 4 MB, so it takes a little while).   The Rulebook for sale is a spiral bound book with a clear cover.

John’s History in the USAWA

by Al Myers

John Vernacchio completing a Clean and Jerk.

It’s been a sad past couple of weeks with the passing of John Vernacchio.  He had many friends in the all-round weightlifting community.  However, it is a glorious occasion as well, because I know he is in heaven right now meeting family members and friends that have gone before him.  My bet is that he and Howie are having a hard training session together right now – with John pumping out those famous presses of his, while Howard is hooking up the belts to do a Harness Lift.

I would like to take today and share some of the accomplishments that John has achieved throughout his lifting career.  Most of this will be with his time lifting in the USAWA as I don’t have much information on his lifting before that.  However,  Joe Roark (Ironhistory.com) recently provided some important information on John that I wasn’t aware of prior to his USAWA involvement. Initially John did some competitive bodybuilding in his early weightlifting days.  These were his physique competition accomplishments:

Mar 12, 1960 was 11th at Mr. Jr. Middle Atlantic
Dec 09, 1961 was 7th in an Open Physique contest in Norristown, PA
Oct 13, 1962 was 18th in an Open Physique contest in Philadelphia
Apr 04, 1964 was 21st in a physique event at Holy Saviour

After that John become involved with Powerlifting and Olympic Lifting, lifting for the Holy Savior Weightlifting Team.  Joe Roark also provided some contest history of PL and Olympic meets that John competed in in the early 60’s:

Oct 19, 1963 at Atlantic Coast PL: curl 140, Sq 360, BP 200, Total 700 for 6th place in the 181 class
Mar 21, 1964 was last in an Open PL contest in Pittsburgh where his only successful lift was a 380 squat
Feb 13, 1960 in the 148 class at the Greater Philidelphia Open 200-170-235 = 605

In John’s Hall of Fame Bio, it stated that he won his first National Championship in 1961, at the National Collegiate WL Championships.  John also stated in his bio that his two favorites lifts were the Military Press and the Squat – which shows why John eventually found his calling in All-Round Weightlifting by enjoying two such different lifts the best. Most of his Powerlifting was done in his club – the Valley Forge WL Club.  This continued into the early days of the USAWA, as John usually brought a team from his club to represent in all-round meets.  The Valley Forge WL Club was a member club of the USAWA from 1989 to 1995. 

John Vernacchio (left) presenting Jerry Turner (right), a member of the Ambridge Club his award after a meet John was promoting.

John was one of the pioneer leaders of the USAWA.  He promoted the VERY FIRST USAWA National Championships in 1988.  That is still a meet the “old-timers” tell stories about.  He went on to promote three USAWA National Championships (1988, 1989, & 2004).  At this years Nationals, a special award was given to John for this contribution, as he was one of 4 that have promoted the most, at 3, USAWA National Championships.  I am really glad now that he received this final award from the USAWA before his death.  He deserved it! 

John was the second President of the USAWA, elected in January 1989 and serving till the end of 1992.  He also served as one term as the IAWA Vice President (elected in 2000).  In addition, he has served several terms on the IAWA Technical Committee.  He did several IAWA promotions as well.  He promoted three IAWA World Championships (1989, 1991, & 1997), as well as three Gold Cups (1992, 1996, & 2003).  John was “no stranger” to competing overseas.  Numerous times he attended the IAWA Worlds when it was held out of the states. I did some research and have discovered John competed in 12 World Championships!  He had a continuous 10 year run from the the first one in 1988 in Leicester, England to 1997 Worlds in Collegeville, PA.  This included World Meets in Glasgow, Scotland twice and England three times.  His last two World entries came in 2002 & 2005 in Lebanon, PA. John also promoted many Powerlifting meets and Olympic lifting competitions. He promoted the 1987 National Masters WL Championships as well as the 1991 Pan American Masters  WL Championships.  He promoted multiple Eastern Masters PL and WL Championships.

John was an active participant in the USAWA National Championships as well.  All together – he competed in 15 Championships (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, & 2007).  He won numerous Best Lifter Age Group Awards through the years: 1988 Best Lifter 50-54, 1990 Best Lifter 50-54, 1992 Best Lifter 55-59, 1993 Best Lifter 55-59, 1997 Best Lifter 60-64, 2004 Best Lifter 65-69.  He probably won more Best Lifter Awards than this number, as this information came from the old meet results and often not all Best Lifter Awards were recorded.  His highest overall placing at the USAWA Nationals was 4th overall at the 1988 Championships.  He had 4 total “top ten” finishes at Nationals: 4th in 1988, 10th in 1989, 6th in 1990, and 8th in 1997.  John “V” also really supported the IAWA Gold Cup.  He competed in 13 Gold Cups, including Gold Cups  in England and Scotland.  He entered the “very first” Cup in 1991 directed by Howard Prechtel in Lakewood, Ohio and performed a 190 Kg 12″ Base Squat.

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