Why Does the USAWA have a separate Rulebook

IAWA.UK and the All-Round Weightlifting Federation of Australia (AWFA) have both adopted the IAWA Rulebook. USAWA maintains a separate rulebook. I decided to do some investigating and now understand why.

USAWA rulebook has 196 lifts (154 of which are common to the IAWA rulebook).

USAWA unique lifts

  1. Clean & Press, 12” Base
  2. Two Hand Clean & Press, Heels Together
  3. Jackson Press
  4. James Lift
  5. Press – From Rack
  6. Reflex Bench Press
  7. Reg Park Bench Press
  8. Seated Press – From Rack
  9. Deadlift – 12” Base
  10. Deadlift – Heels Together
  11. Deadlift – No Thumbs, Overhand Grip
  12. Deadlift – Reeves
  13. Squat – 12” Base
  14. Piper Squat
  15. Curl – Cheat, Reverse Grip
  16. Lano Lift
  17. Pullover – Bent Arm
  18. Scott Lift
  19. Clean and Press – 2 Dumbbells, Heels Together
  20. Clean and Push Press – 2 Dumbbells
  21. Clean and Seated Press – 2 Dumbbells
  22. Curl – 2 Dumbbells, Cheat
  23. Side Press – Dumbbell
  24. Van Dam Lift
  25. Bench Press – 2 Dumbbells
  26. Bench Press – Fulton Bar
  27. Continental to Chest – Fulton Bar
  28. Deadlift – Fulton Bar, Ciavattone Grip
  29. Maxey Press
  30. Rectangular Fix, Fulton Bar
  31. Bearhug
  32. Carter Lift
  33. Chin Up
  34. Deadlift – 3” Bar
  35. Deadlift – Two Inch Dumbbells
  36. Deana Lift
  37. Foot Press
  38. Phumchaona Lift
  39. Pinch Grip – Strict
  40. Pinch Grip – Strict, One Hand
  41. Pull-Up
  42. Weaver Stick Backwards

IAWA Has Some Unique Lifts that USAWA Does NOT Contest

  1. One Hand Bent Press (specification on how to get bar to starting position)
  2. Middle Fingers Hacklift
  3. Index Fingers Hacklift
  4. Little Fingers Hacklift
  5. Ring Fingers Hacklift
  6. Bent Arm Pullover (Bench)
  7. Reverse Rim Lift
  8. Domaal Squat
  9. One Hand Deadlift – Cambered Bar
  10. One Hand Pinch Grip Clean and Press
  11. Duck Walk
  12. Seated Dumbbells Press
  13. Two Hands Anyhow with Dumbbells
  14. One Hand Dumbbell Strict Curl
  15. Inch Dumbbell Press
  16. Patterson Deadlift – Peoples Deadlift with 2 Inch Bar
  17. Deadlift
  18. Squat
  19. Bench Press
  20. Snatch
  21. Clean & Jerk
  22. One Hand Wrist Curl

Among Common Lifts There are some slight rule differences

  1. Continental Snatch – in UK, from belt, must be proper snatch
  2. Continental Clean and Jerk – UK allows multiple attempts on jerk
  3. Snatch From Hang – USAWA requires bar to go below knees
  4. Deadlift, No Thumbs, One Arm – UK says thumb cannot touch bar at all
  5. Strict Curl – UK still requires piece of paper
  6. Vertical Bars – UK allows a maximum 30 inch length
  7. Weaver Stick – UK has different specification for stick

USAWA  allows any lift to be done for reps or as a team lift.  IAWA only allows (12) lifts for repetitions and (11) lifts for team lifts.

IAWA Repetition Lifts

  1. Cleans with Bodyweight
  2. Snatches with Bodyweight
  3. Presses with Bodyweight
  4. Clean & Jerk with Bodyweight
  5. Jerks with Bodyweight
  6. Bodyweight Deadlifts
  7. Abdominal Raises
  8. Leg Press – Unsupported
  9. Roman Chair Sit Up
  10. Back Lift
  11. Hip Lift
  12. Harness Lift

IAWA Team Lifts

  1. Two Person Clean and Snatch
  2. Team Press
  3. Team Snatch
  4. Team Clean & Jerk
  5. Team Hacklift
  6. Team Straddle Deadlift
  7. Team Deadlift
  8. Team One Hand Deadlift
  9. Team Curl
  10. Team Cheat Curl
  11. Team Turkish Get Up

Further IAWA specifies Seated Disabled Class Lifts and Standing Disabled Class Lifts

Beyond the Lifts, there are other rules in IAWA.UK that are not in USAWA:

  • Drug Testing and lifetime ban
  • Rule 4.6, IAWA  UK also recognizes the MX division for lifters not identifying as Male or Female
  • Rule 4.10, Longer process for new lifts
  • Rule 5.1, Knee wraps for Back Squat and Front Squat
  • Rule 5.10.A, IAWA UK only allows 20 kg (44 lbs) bar
  • Rule 5.10.F, IAWA UK knurling required at center for one hand lifts
  • Rule 5.12, Plastic or Spring collar can be used, but will not have weight recognition
  • Rule 5.13, Minimum hand spacing called out for dumbbell
  • Rule 5.14, Allows 4 inch raised platform
  • Rule 5.17, Scale Certification
  • Rule 6.2, Three Officials for all competition
  • Rule 6.2.B, Protest board for rules interpretation
  • Rule 6.6.A, One year probationary period for officials
  • Rule 6.6B, Fully qualified must demonstrate competency every 2 years
  • Rule 6.8, Weigh In begins 2 hours prior and lasts for 1.5 hours
  • Rule 9.A, Females can weigh in with undergarments and suit and subtract 1 pound
  • Rule 13.L, Demonstration of lockout
  • Rule 8.G, The Blindt Formula
  • Rule 9, Pool of Lifts for International Competition plus Chain Lift Challenge

Finally IAWA rulebook has to specify rules for International Competition

  • World Championship
  • Gold Cup
  • World ‘Postal’ Championship
  • Old Time Strongman’ World Championships – One venue per nation

USAWA rulebook spends a lot of time on the rules for the National Championship and has a different process for approving new lifts.

IAWA.UK, AWFA and USAWA all have unique processes and criteria for certifying officials for competition.

USAWA allows one official for USAWA records.

Please share your thoughts on the Forum. Should USAWA adopt the IAWA Rulebook? Are the (42) unique USAWA lifts aligned with our mission statement? Are the (22) unique IAWA lifts contrary to our mission statement?