What are you looking forward to?

[Sanjiv Gupta]

With the all-round season entering its final quarter of 2025 it is worth asking the question “What are you looking forward to?”

For me, I am looking forward to the 2025 IAWA World Championship. I had a chance to attend in 2024 and meeting athletes from different backgrounds and another part of the world was very exciting for me. I appreciate the history and global perspective of all-round lifting. I have never been to Australia, but maybe all-round will give me that opportunity in the future.

I am uncertain as to which USAWA event am I most looking forward to. As much as I have enjoyed the Hermann Goerner and the Steve Schmidt events in the past, they do take their toll and are a testament to mental fortitude and balanced attempts. I expect the Team Championship could be fun if we get enough entries. It is still months away so I don’t expect entries to come rolling in anytime soon.

I am less excited about the 2026 calendar year. I expect membership numbers and meet sanctions will take a dip. Hopefully by January 1st, a suitable promoter for the National Championship will emerge and that could create some excitement if a new and geographically accessible venue could be found.

Topic

[KCSTRONGMAN]

We are kind of in limbo right now. with the Todd kids being very involved in activities right now, our participation is rather contingent.
As far as the 2026 year, hopefully we can find a way to reach new lifters/territories without sacrificing the history/integrity of the organization with a growth at all cost mindset. Unfortunately, I am well past my best lifting years. But I hope to continue contributing to the organization however I can.

I'm the lyrical Jesse James

[Denny Habecker]

This is not on topic, but I was unable to create a new topic.
When did we pass the “BENCH PRESS FOR REPS IN ONE MINUTE” LIFT? i was just lokking at the lastest update of the record list and saw there are records in that.

[Randy Smith]

Looks like there is a rule for repetition lifts in the rule book:

“K. Repetition Lifts
Any approved lift may be done for repetitions, provided it is done according to the rules
of the individual lift, which include all official commands. Repetition lifts are allowed to
be a part of any USAWA competition.”

But the amount of time allowed and weight used is not addressed. Compared this to I23.,Total Poundage, where time (3 hours and 9 minutes) etc (reps, sets, weight, change of weight during the “lift”, and scoring) are addressed.

Maybe somebody with more historical knowledge than me knows what intended in the K. Repetition Lifts rule. If not, a review and update to clarify this may be a good idea.

Hope this helps.

[Sanjiv Gupta]

I thought I was the only one who noticed this. Careful observers of the Individual Record List will find a couple of new entries which cannot be officially contested per the current USAWA rules and by-laws.

Bench Press, Repetition (1 min)
Bench Press, One Dumbbell – Right
Bench Press, One Dumbbell – Left
Bench Press, Larson (Fulton HT)
Deadlift, Heels Together Fulton

I started doing a little homework and these are the first repetition lifts in the record books (and for a lift that is not even a USAWA lift). The 1 minute cap seems to be a legacy from the British Strength Athlete Guild (BSAG).

IAWA has several repetition lifts with records and I hope to finish a website article on the topic.

The USAWA rules and by-laws are open to interpretation. The interpretation by Executive Board members, Special Assignment directors, meet directors and athletes are often at odds. This provides opportunity for infighting and calling foul. It also provides great opportunity for collaboration and discussion which this forum allows.

[Author]

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