If you are interested in joining our powerlifting team, come to The Foundry January 11th at 6pm to meet up with others and for a critique of your form.
Coach Bob LeFavi will give guidance on how to improve your lifting technique for competition and we will start a training program to prepare for an upcoming meet as a team.
These try outs are free even if you are not a member of The Foundry. Come to the gym ready to work out.
Even if you are new to powerlifting, you are welcome to try for the team and challenge yourself to compete as we prepare for upcoming meets.
What Is Powerlifting?
Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as “odd lifts”, which followed the same three-attempt format but used a wider variety of events, akin to strongman competition. Eventually odd lifts became standardized to the current three.
In competition, lifts may be performed equipped or un-equipped (typically referred to as ‘classic’ or ‘raw’ lifting in the IPF specifically). Equipment in this context refers to a supportive bench shirt or squat/deadlift suit or briefs. In some federations, knee wraps are permitted in the equipped but not un-equipped division; in others, they may be used in both equipped and un-equipped lifting. Weight belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps and special footwear may also be used, but are not considered when distinguishing equipped from un-equipped lifting.
Competitions take place across the world. Powerlifting has been a Paralympic sport (bench press only) since 1984 and, under the IPF, is also a World Games sport. Local, national and international competitions have also been sanctioned by other federations operating independently of the IPF.
