Repetition Lifts

Repetition lifts have been part of USAWA for a while.  The 2012 Annual Meeting clarified record keeping by Total Lynch Points.  This is a bodyweight correction only and does not call for age or gender correction factors.  Al Myers article discusses the thought process for the USAWA clarification and also discusses IAWA Repetition Records.

In 2012, IAWA had (8) lifts that could be performed for repetitions

  1. Cleans
  2. Presses
  3. Snatches
  4. Clean & Jerk
  5. Jerks
  6. Deadlift
  7. Abdominal Raise (any weight)
  8. Roman Chair Sit-ups (any weight)

The first (6) had to be done at bodyweight.  I have also found Back Lift, Hip Lift, Harness Lift, Leg Press, Travis Lift and Total Poundage Records

By comparison, USAWA has not recorded many repetition lift records until recently.  Clark’s Gym hosts the Bench Press Heptathlon which includes repetitions of Bench Press-Feet On Floor (a non-USAWA lift) performed in a time cap of 1 minute (not part of the USAWA or IAWA rules).

Jarrod Fobes is the first athlete to set repetition lift records per the rulebook section K and have them recorded per V.8.

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.

Tony Lupo, our die-hard records director, has created a separate record list to track repetition records.  This was done for the Team Lifts successfully.

I think repetition lifts could be an interesting addition to competitions.  Like Team Lifts, there are probably lifts that will be contested more frequently and some that will be contested less frequently if at all.  I do not see repetition attempts for the Inman Mile, Van Dam Lift or Lano Lift in the near future.

Clark’s Gym has sanctioned the 250 to honor the 250th.  This is a repetition lift event, but any lift can be chosen and long pauses are allowed as long as all reps are completed within 24 hours.  I hope there is a great turnout for the event and maybe there is the possibility of yet another repetition category.

  • No time restriction (no long pauses)
  • 1 minute (pauses allowed)
  • 3 hours and 9 minutes (pauses allowed)
  • 24 hours (pauses allowed)

I would be remiss if I did not mention the Total Poundage Lift. Any lift may be performed for reps. All reps must be completed in 3 hours and 9 minutes. Weight lifted can be varied. Down commands are not required if the repetition does not need to be held motionless. Pauses between attempts are not mentioned, but I assume would be allowed. Repetitions x Weight Lifted = Score. Historically, this is based on a feat by Warren Lincoln Travis (5,500 back lifts x 1000 pounds = 5,500,000 pounds). No records are included in the latest edition of the individual records list. Howard Prechtel set a record of 6,060,060 in 1982 prior to the founding of the USAWA. Steve Schmidt back lifted 1111 pounds x 7253 reps = 8,087,095 on December 14, 2002. I assume this was before Total Poundage Lift was added to the rule book.