[dwagman]

Al, many thanks for all of your time and hard work. It is my sense that you did a great deal to keep this great sport alive. Those who follow will have some big shoes to fill. I hope you will continue to contribute to the blog and perhaps most importantly, put on meets in the future.

‘Till the next meet…

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Al, I don’t disagree with anything you stated but would like to point something out.

Regarding the potential for Johnny getting bombarded by lifters who want their records retroactively added, while none of us can predict how lifters may or may not respond to adding the Senior group to the records list, their request would be in violation of the rules (and it would be easy for Johnny to turn down all such requests with a standardized answer…Copy, Paste, Send, Done). Here’s why…

The Rule Book specifically and incontrovertibly denies the Senior group from having their age group represented as a category for records. Therefore, if the organization decides to add the Senior age group to the records list, then that represents a change in the rules that must become part of the Rule Book (minor rewording of Section V.9). Once that occurs, you can’t go back to add old records; that’s nonsensical. That would be like taking records away from lifters who set more than 5 records on a Record Day BEFORE the 5-records limit took effect in 2015.

So Johnny, I don’t think you need to worry about having an insane amount of work added to your record-keeping task. But if it is too much work—and I hesitate to make yet another recommendation—why not split up the records list in to women and men and add an individual to the record-keeping task so that each person does one? Masters could be separated out, too, and another person put in charge of that. Separating men from women would take all but 5 seconds. Just a thought.

At any rate, it seems that overall those of you who have followed this thread seem to understand how unfairly the Seniors have been handled. How do we go about changing this? Are Abe’s and Lance’s thoughts on the right track?

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Yeah, that’s right Chris, start a Senior group in the records list from this point forward. Like Al said, it would be nearly impossible to go back and do that as the All category represents all ages.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

ET, the Rule Book already has the Seniors listed as an age group but not listed as it’s own category for records, too. So I’m suggesting that we change the language in the Rule Book to be all-inclusive, meaning that all age groups are equally eligible to set records in their respective age group AND in the All category.

Of note, back in 2011 Al highlighted Chad’s accomplishment of hitting over 100 All records while in the Open/Senior group and how that was such an immense accomplishment because lifters 40 or over are automatically eligible for 2 records; all called that “double-dipping.” So clearly Chad’s accomplishment was infinitely more significant than that of a 43-year old who reached 100+ records and Chad was in a sense discriminated against due to the accident of his birth date.

At any rate, the Rule Book isn’t written in stone as lifts get added to it and rule changes get incorporated. So the same can be done here.

John, while I see your point I think the opposite of each argument for each age category can be made as well. My records argument, however, is not based on any of that. I’m simply arguing that the Seniors (and Open) should receive equal opportunities in the record book as any other age group. That is not the case and I’m arguing that is unfair, regardless of what reasons those who wrote the Rule Book had in mind.

Look at it this way, John…say we accept the belief that a lifter is in his prime between 20-39 and from 40 on he declines. Shouldn’t that then also mean that we give the 40+-year old other breaks? How about letting them just hit parallel in a squat instead of breaking it, how about allowing a press out in a one-armed snatch, etc., etc.

So you see, I’m just arguing from the basis of basic fairness in our sport. If you’re a Junior or 40+ and eligible to set 2 records, then all other age groups should be allowed to do so as well.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Al, thanks for sharing the historical context of this. It seems to me that this needs to change back so that the records list includes Seniors (and Open); how many competitors there may be in each division is of no real consequence.

So according to the Rule Book, Senior (and Open) lifters can only break an All record whereas anyone 40 and over can break 2 records; All and in the age group of their weight class. That’s unfair. Moreover, USAWA makes a big deal over lifters who have broken 100+ records. Naturally it’s much easier for a 40+ lifter to accomplish that than a Senior. That’s unfair.

Since the Rule Book calls for Junior, Senior, Open, and Master age groups, all ought to therefore be represented in the record list. Anything less is nonsensical and, you guessed it, unfair.

There’s an economic aspect to this, too. How can this organization expect to grow or even stay alive if it discriminates against people aged 20 to 39…the next generation?

Not keeping Senior records is an arbitrary discrimination and the Rule Book ought to be changed to include Seniors (and Open) in record keeping beyond just the All category. So let’s get this going. What’s the next step?

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Well, ET, since my grip is superior to yours, I’m just gonna grab you by the throat and squeeeeeze…hehehe…

I have to respectfully disagree with your points. All-round is, by definition, not about being the strongest in any and every exercise being thrown at ya. While this sport tests an all-rounder’s strength in nearly all areas, being the best doesn’t require that. I don’t think that a powerlifter with an outstanding bench and deadlift who wins nationals would say he doesn’t deserve the recognition because he has a mediocre squat. So like it or not, YOU are da man and watching you lift over the years has been one of the highlights of my lifting career.

As to your second point, well, of course you do have a point there. Y’all probably don’t know this, but I was real good at tennis; had a GREAT serve. Even taught tennis in graduate school. So if I walked around telling people that, “yeah, so-and-so was good at nationals, but I probably could’ve beat him,” you’d drop one of your insane press weights on my head. While in theory you’re correct, all these guys that think they could beat all of us in all-round need to show up on the platform. Until they do, lettem dream.

And yes, we are sorta a fringe lifting sport. That, however, I would argue again is what sets us apart from the rest. C’mon ET, go ahead and go to ANY gym in KC, pick out the biggest and strongest dude there, show him how to do a Steinborn, then ask him to do it. He wouldn’t even try. THAT, to me, is the difference between us and the rest.

I stick to my assessment in the blog article. All I have to say, though, is that I don’t quite understand why you’d let that Al and Chad character get so close. YOU BETTER GET CRANKIN’!!!!

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

I don’t quite understand the dim view held by some regarding awards for Postals. Back on January 29, 2011 Al highlighted and profusely thanked John Wilmot’s Postal efforts including “sending out award certificates to the winners” in the USAWA blog.

Denny, I want you and everybody else to know what I believe to be obvious…this thread wasn’t designed to criticize anything you have been doing in running the Postal Series. I was merely thinking about things and wanted to share that among Forum members, that’s all. Based on your reply to this thread you seems to get it and not have taken offense. Thank you for that Denny, you’re a class act.

Hey Abe, I thought some more about your ideas on variety in Postals. On 5 lifts per Postal instead of 3, what came to mind is why should a Postal be limited to a specific number of lifts at all? Couldn’t some be for 3 lifts while others for 5, or maybe 4? That in and of itself would add variety.

In staying with that theme, there could be a Postal directed solely toward grip/finger strength. Those lifts don’t take a lot of time to accomplish and don’t tear the lifter down, either. So something like that could contain more than 3 lifts.

Another Postal could offer, as an example, a bench press theme by contesting bp-fia, reverse grip, one armed left and right; that would be 4 lifts.

Another one could be dedicated toward only lifts that contain the name of an old-time strongman.

Another could be dedicated to Abe called the Bodybuilder’s Postal where three lifts are done for max reps.

Another could…I could go on and on and I’m sure you guys could come up with great variety-related ideas, too. An obvious winner in my mind is to pick lifts that haven’t been done in a real long time or even at all in a Postal.

And Abe, just having some fun…please don’t be angry with me and break in to my gym and steal my posing trunks.

John, I usually copy the results from the website and save it as a PDF in my Meets folder on my computer. Over the decades I’ve competed so many times, I can’t keep track of the meets or the weights I lifted, so it’s a nice reference to have. But to me, an official award, even if it’s just a printout of what Wilmot used to have, is just a bit nicer. And like you said, having an “ego wall” in your gym is just a nice thing to have. I don’t know about you, but it also brings back memories about things you did with friends on and off the platform.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Hey Abe, only a bodybuilder would ask to do repetition lifts. Oh, the shame of it…hehehe…

But seriously, I’m with you on variety. Variety to Postals is pretty darn cool and the more of it, the better.

No, not coming to Nationals. If you’re going, I expect to see some new records from you.

Denny, I’d be happy to help if USAWA would want to go in that direction. Just let me know and we’ll take it from there.

My 1.5 cents worth…a meet is a meet, Postal or otherwise. There are many USAWA meets that don’t ask for an entry fee but some sort of award is usually still given. It’s just a nice memento to have from a meet and a nice gesture from the organization, even if it’s just a certificate like what John used to send out.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Yeah, Abe, I found it to hit my quads similar to a squat while stressing my lower back and erectors greatly due to having to keep your back very straight as the center of gravity is in front of you.

Next time I see Denny I’m going to walk up to him, hug him and lift him off the ground, shake him back and forth so that his feet will swing side-to-side and exclaim:

“Hey guys, is THIS how you do the Habecker?”

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

While y’all find this amusing, Habecker’s being crushed by my “love.” With friends like you…

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Hey Abe, you’re more than half the lifter…maybe 51%…can’t give you more than that if you’re from Clark’s Gym. Just kidding. I hope we’ll be able to toss some weight around together in a meet at some point in the future.

If there’s general agreement that adding pictures and denoting what lift constitutes a USAWA record, I’d be willing to help out and put the results, records, prep images, and put it on the Blog; I’ve got the requisite Net savvy and it wouldn’t take me much to learn the particulars of this software. The “higher ups” just need to ask.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

So how did you place in the bodybuilding contest? 🙂

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Sad news, Denny.

My best friend and training partner, Whitey, who died unexpectedly last Sept., and I trained at the Gold Plate Gym in Norristown. We competed in a powerlifting meet they put on in the basement of the church there. Those were the days when the bar was still simply loaded up in weight and I remember starting my DL at 9 PM. I don’t think we got done till midnight. Anyway, as I remember, and my memory is admittedly foggy, Vernacchio and Durante were there judging. They had big names even in PL circles.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Denny, sorry to hear this. There are a few considerations to bear in mind.
– Where is the pain? If it’s in the muscle belly, then you may have torn some muscle fibers and it’s likely to heal just fine. Still, practice RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate)
– If the pain is low or high on the muscle, but still sorta on the muscle, then it’s possible that you have a Grade I – IV tear at the myotendinous junction, which depending on grade may require surgical repair.
– If the pain is very high or very low, then it’s possible that you have a Grade I-IV tendon tear. The higher the grade tear, the more likely surgical intervention is necessary. If the pain is rather severe, it’s worth seeing a physician.

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[dwagman]

Wow, I didn’t expect that, you guys. I guess I’m not the only one with the same experience. Thanks for sharing.

Dan

—
Dan

For Body Intellect Brochure click here: https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0fcsokZWooW_1B1uZmL1AI5fA#BI-DW

Those who are enamored of practice without science
are like a pilot who goes onto a ship without rudder or
compass and never has any certainty to where he is going.
Leonardo Da Vinci; 1452-1519

[Author]

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