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Powerlifting Powerlifting is concerned solely with lifting as much weight as possible in the three main lifts which are the bench press, deadlift and squat. The final score is determined by the total of maximum weight lifted by each competitor. Being a powerlifter is very different to training as a bodybuilder. Powerlifting training is purely for power.
In the Squat, the athlete stands under a racked barbell loaded with weight. The athlete then grabs the bar from behind and positions the bar onto the top of the back. He/she then walks clear of the rack, squats down, then stands again and carefully returns the weight to the rack. At the Bench Press, the athlete lies on a bench beneath a loaded barbell. The athlete removes the bar, lowers it to the chest, pauses, and then presses it up to the full extension of the arms, then carefully returns the weight to the rack. In a Deadlift, the athlete reaches down to a loaded barbell on the floor, grasps the bar, and lifts it until the legs and back are straight and upright, and the chest proud. The bar is then returned to the floor in a controlled manner. The sport is growing around the world with associations established to develop and promote high-standard and enjoyable drug-free competition at local, regional, national and international levels. The Global GameAll about PowerliftingWhat is Powerlifting
The History of PowerliftingPowerlifting as it's known today was born from the strongman shows of the 19th century. During that time, professional strongmen performed a variety of lifts at entertainment venues around the world. Some of the strongman lifts were also used in training as weightlifting became a more popular activity towards the end of the century. In 1928 the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) recognized three lifts, the snatch, the press, and the clean and jerk as Olympic lifts. It grouped all other lifts together as the "odd lifts" or "power lifts". Among them were the squat, the deadlift, and the back lift (to become the bench press). At bodybuilding contests after World War II, exhibitions of power lifts and informal competitions often occurred.During the 1950s, as Olympic weightlifting declined in the United States, grassroots support and momentum for the power lifts was occurring across America. As a result, in 1958, the AAU's National Weightlifting Committee decided to recognize records for odd lifts, provided they occurred at sanctioned AAU meets. By 1963 the appeal of powerlifting competitions could no longer be ignored by the AAU and a committee was formed to study the sport and assemble a list of recommendations. In June of 1964 the AAU Weightlifting Committee met in Chicago and its members voted a change in the rules to eliminate the barbell curl and keep the bench, squat, and deadlift for powerlifting competitions. The AAU officially sanctioned powerlifting as a sport in December of 1964.The first national powerlifting meet was held in York, Pennsylvania on September 5, 1964. The "Power Lift Tournament of America" was organized by York Barbell and held at William Penn Senior High School. The AAU held its first national championship, the Junior and Senior National Championships, in September of 1965.
Powerlifting RulesPowerlifting is a strength sport which consists of three events: the squat, bench press and deadlift. Lifters have three attempts at each lift, which are performed in that order. The maximum weight lifted in each event is added together for a final total. Three judges rule on each attempt, with a majority decision needed for the lift to be passed. Some meets feature variations on these three lifts (eg. a bench press only meet or a bench press & deadlift meet). Lifters compete in age divisions and bodyweight classes. Rule differences between Federations. These relate principally to: - drug testing and the importance of testing for drugs - equipment rules regarding the equipment a lifter may utilize like bench shirts, lifting suits, knee wraps, erector shirts, squat briefs and wrist wraps
Powerlifting EquipmentOriginally the attire for powerlifting was similar to that for Olympic lifting. Lifters had the option of wearing a one piece lifting suit, called a singlet, or a two piece one made up of a tee shirt or tank top and a pair of shorts. Knee and wrist wraps were allowed in the form of ace bandages. Additionally, a belt no wider than 4" could be used. However, at the 1968 AAU Senior Nationals there was significant controversy over lifters wearing multiple layers of trunks and wraps to aid their lifts. Soon, special squatting and support shorts turned up that helped when lifting. In 1973, the National Weightlifting Committee banned these supportive suits and all other supportive lifting gear other than a belt. These rules continued until 1974 when the IPF came into existence. Gear use is currently widespread in powerlifting with more federations offering equipped lifting than unequipped. With the continued advancement of equipment, powerlifting gear use has become extremely controversial. Equipment can give the top lifters hundreds of pounds on their total. Some federations allow no gear to be worn by the lifter. Others allow single-ply polyester gear, as well as knee and wrist wraps. Yet other federations allow multi-ply gear in many variations.
Powerlifting Training
Play/Watch Powerlifting
Powerlifting OrganizationsThe confusing number of organisations is unravelled in Powerlifting Watch and they are listed here for completeness. In the states, there are federations which offer any and all lifters' favorite type of lifting: drug free/raw, drug free/single-ply, drug free/multi-ply, raw, single ply, multi-ply, then there are slight variations and combinations of these. Throw in some egoism by federation founders and you have the situation powerlifting has today. The divide caused by the drug/drug free and equipped/raw issues in addition to federation head's egos prevents unification.
Powerlifting Events
Powerlifters
Powerlifting Forums
Powerlifting in North AmericaPowerlifting in CanadaPlay/Watch Powerlifting in CanadaPowerlifting Organisational bodies in CanadaPowerlifting Players in Canada
Powerlifting in USAPlay/Watch Powerlifting in the USAPowerlifting Organisational bodies in the USA
Powerlifting in OceaniaPlay/Watch Powerlifting in OceaniaPowerlifting Organisational bodies in Oceania
Powerlifting Events in Oceania
Powerlifting in AustraliaPlay/Watch Powerlifting in Australia
Powerlifting Organisational bodies in Australia
Powerlifting in New ZealandPlay/Watch Powerlifting in New Zealand
Powerlifting Organisational bodies in New Zealand
Powerlifting Forums in New Zealand
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