Powerlifting is a strength sport whose goal is to raise as much weight as possible, to a repetition, in 3 movements. The three movements involved in the Powerlifting are rear squat or back squat, bench press or bench press, and dead -dead or Deadlift.
Strength sports are achieving great popularity in recent years, Cross Training has managed to generalize the use of Olympic bars and the proliferation of athletes in the world of weightlifting. But there are many, and many, those who have opted for a sport that further works as a specific ability with apparently simpler movements than those of weightlifting.
From here the maximum respect for the Powerlifters and their sport, and we do not despise the technique behind their 3 movements, which to achieve improvements at the highest level is needed not only force but an exquisite technique. But it is true that the complexity of an athlete a snatch or a Clean and Jerk is a priori somewhat greater, especially in the first months or years, that what is supposed to a dead weight or rear squat for example.
Origin of PowerLifting
Powerlifting or power lifting as it is also known has a simple origin, testing the strength of those who trained in gyms without depending on complicated movements. What began in the 50s as "Piques" among colleagues gradually organized in competitions and tournaments, until the creation of the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) in November 1972.
And it was necessary that there were standards, both for the technique, and for the classification of athletes (by weight) and as it is also logical for the material that could be used.
Since the creation of the IPF, as a milestone, until today it has not passed long, but the sport has evolved a lot. The weights achieved by athletes grow abysmally. The techniques and formulas applied to the surveys to achieve those weight increases in the bars have not stopped evolving and coaches are an essential element in the improvement of athletes. The material has been perfected and adapted to be more precise, safe and specific to this sport. And what is more important, the proliferation of spaces where to practice this sport has democratized and normalized its practice, being also a great destination for women who wanted to practice strength sports.
Powerlifting material
There are many types of material, the essential would undoubtedly be the bar, discs and a bank rack. But as in all sports the brands are drawing new improvements and materials to try to improve athlete brands. We must differentiate between training material and competition, since in competition there are many restrictions that must be taken into account.
PowerLitting essential equipment
PowerLifting bars:
Unlike haleterophilia, PowerLifting is sought that sleeves do not turn in excess since there are no "dynamic" movements, they usually wear bushings instead of needle bearings for this reason. It is also sought that they do not flex or grind much, they must be more rigid bars, they must flex a little to not leave. The downt must be more aggressive since maximum support is sought and there is no friction by repetition as in Crossfit. They must have specific grabs for banking press and central tillage. Finally, the grip diameter is 29mm (the usual in bearing and crossfit bars is 28mm).
PowerLifting discs:
Metal discs are used, of greater density than rubber bumper. With this we get 2 things, we can put more weight in the bar since they occupy less, and the weight will be closer to the center of the bar with which the lifting will be more efficient. In addition, these albums are calibrated, this means that their tolerance is calculated and has very strict margins. Tolerance is the difference between the weight that marks the album and the one that really has. In PowerLifting, tolerances below 1%are achieved.
Rack Combo:
It is the common denomination of rack specifically designed for powerlifting and that allows banking and squats to practice in it.
Without going into much detail, this is composed of a structure that joins the bank to the rack, also has elevators to vary the height of the bar without having to lift it and a space for a spotter (person who could help us in case of need in the bank press) and safety bars. To increase stability, its base does not have the typical U form, but is complemented with open legs diagonally.
Basic PowerLifting movements
This is how the dead weight, bank and squat press that make up this sport is known.
The squat that is done in Powerlifting is rear, placing the bar on the back, either in a high or low position, as the athlete prefers.
The bench press is lying on a bank, and the head, high back and ass on this must be supported, the feet must be on the floor.
The dead weight, which has fewer technical restrictions than the previous ones, is the preferred movement by the lifters who can choose between conventional or high.
Although more kilos are usually moved in the dead weight, the squat movement is the one that generates more expectation while enhancing, because the athlete has to descend to break the parallel and the climb is usually very exciting.
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