Powerlifting - More Than Just Lifting Heavy Things?
Last Sunday, I competed in a powerlifting competition. It was the first time in a long time (over two years) for me. A whole bunch of my team came to watch which was incredibly beautiful. It was the first competition they had been to. When they rolled in the door for training on Monday morning, their energy was absolutely phenomenal. They had so many questions about the rules, the timer, why the lifters did certain things and so on. They were amped. But one comment really stuck with me.
“What a world! The competition really made me feel like I’m part of something. I can see my training becoming more of a hobby now.”
YES!
Training (or rather, exercising) in our culture is so often just seen as a reluctant but necessary means for weight loss or maintenance and oddly to a lesser extent, health. And with that comes the comments of “why are you here (at the gym)? You’re already in great shape” and associated dare I say, ignorance. But what if training was so much more than that — a means of self development, a personal challenge, a hobby, a place for social connection and self expression.
Now full disclaimer, most of the following could be said about most sports. I personally just really enjoy powerlifting and the flexibility it provides — eg, training is not restricted to a time set by a team coach, no having to be at a game every weekend, no running around in mud when it rains, no requirement for any sort of hand eye coordination, and with the growth of online coaching it can be performed anywhere with just a barbell and some weight plates. Powerlifting is my sport of choice.
So, here are the top five things that I love about powerlifting and why it might really up level your experience of the gym.
It is a mode of self development.
James Smith made a post on Instagram last week that said “It may start with standing up with a weight, then standing up for what they believe in and even walking away from what they don’t.” This rings so true for me personally and for so many people that I’ve had the pleasure of coaching. And I think this is a byproduct or outcome of the traits that powerlifting forces you to adopt. It teaches you how to apply effort, how to work hard, how to strain for something, how to be disciplined, patient, resilient and to have mental fortitude. When progress slows or stalls or worse, you regress, it is so easy to just throw in the towel. But to grit your teeth when it feels like it may all be for nothing — that brings about some really powerful cognitive shifts that have the power to influence every other area of your life. Knowing what is possible when you apply yourself, learning what level you can kick up to when the going gets tough, tapping into your potential — you can apply these lessons to your work, your education or any sort of adversity. I am a more confident and assertive person because of the lessons powerlifting has taught me.
It shifts the goal posts.
From a goal bodyweight to a goal weight on the bar. When I was first introduced to powerlifting I was in the depths of my preparation for my second bodybuilding season. I had stacked on a tonne of weight in the months prior and was fucking so miserable in my own body and skin, and for letting myself “get that way.” I started dabbling with powerlifting just out of curiosity but it wasn’t long at all before the improvements in my physical strength distracted me completely from the “improvements” in my appearance. Unsurprisingly, I hung up my bikini for the last time only weeks later and began training solely for strength. I’ve seen this time and time again with the people I work with too. Stepping in to a powerlifting club following years of flogging them self in gym after gym, banging their head against a wall trying to reach a goal weight — the shift is huge. Admittedly, most are apprehensive early on. But it only takes a few weeks of dedicated training to see the weight on the bar increase and they’re hooked. Again, unsurprisingly, the gym jumping ceases and they’re all in — refining their skills and loading on plates.
Training can be fun.
Sorta coming off the back of point two, training does not have to be a mode of punishment, of burning off yesterday’s calories, and something you “ have to do.” “What are you doing after work?” “Oh I have to go to the gym.” What a fucking shit attitude. Re-read point one. What a fucking privilege it is to be able to move our bodies in such a way. And to live in a world so progressive that we have to pick things up and put them back down for fun because technological advances mean all the heavy lifting is done for us throughout the day. Instead of taking yourself to the gym, getting your heart rate up running on the spot [which deep down you know you hate] — do something you actually like doing and that adds further value to your life beyond burning a few calories [fewer than you think, hate to tell you].
It is a mode of self expression.
This is perhaps a more subtle point, but a point worth making none-the-less. The powerlifting platform continues to get more and more glam. Dudes with fresh fades, girls with fresh tans and battle braids, jewellery and socks you’ve been planning for months. If you’re in the gym because you’re relatively health conscious and not so in to the whole night life thing, you might be restricted [perhaps willingly] for opportunities for dress ups. A competition day is a big deal. [Disclaimer: you don’t need to have competition ambitions to participate in powerlifting.] However, should you wish to, it’s fucking cool to plan your outfit and to organise matching scrunchies. Outside of the way you dress and present yourself, the way you carry yourself on the day is also an expression of who you are — an opportunity for you to unleash a side of you that the world may not have the chance to see otherwise. I [at least I like to think] am relatively gentle natured. I apply substantial effort to maintain my more calm demeanour and I wouldn’t say that if you met me for the first time that I would strike you as a strength sport athlete. But I do have an internal fire, and yeah, this side of me that just wants to fucking unleash a huge [outrageous] bark and like, shake shit and scream in public. And powerlifting makes that socially acceptable to do so which is pretty cool.
It provides a social and support network.
Making friends is hard as an adult. And if you live away from where you grew up, you can really feel the weight of this. We go to work, we come home from work, we maybe go to the gym, we do groceries, we do laundry [like 100 loads a week — wtf is with that?] There are not a whole lot of opportunities for meeting new people or for any sort of social connection. But if we can couple a “chore” like the gym with some place that you can make friends and hang out, suddenly a social life does fit your schedule. Further, while at it’s core, an individual support, there is a wealth of community in powerlifting. It might start with just a coach, then a group of you who share the same coach and before long, you’re making strong friends on Instagram. In any case and by whatever means, by doing something you enjoy doing and doing it with other people, you’re undoubtedly going to forge some new friendships with others with whom you share common interests. I do yoga, make soaps, have craft days and share cat photos with people I have met through powerlifting which I think is so rad.
And another cool part, you don’t need to be “strong” to start. You just have to open minded and willing to learn and apply yourself.
Third attempt competition squat at 123kg,