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Powerlifters share technique at Scott gym

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Crossen
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  

Experienced competitive powerlifters shared their insight on the sport at the James Sports Center at Scott Air Force Base July 31.

 

Master Sgt. Joseph Jefferson, 92nd Information Operations Squadron communication security manager, is also a seasoned powerlifter.  He is a three-time placeholder of the USA Powerlifting, also known as USAPL, in the Military Nationals, winning first place twice.

 

Tech. Sgt. Brad Lego, from the 618th Air and Space Operations Center, Tanker Airlift Control Center, has been in three competitions, and most recently lifted a total weight of 1,405.5 pounds in squat, bench and deadlift, taking the state record in the deadlift at 556.5 pounds.

 

Josh Hunt, who has been a state USAPL judge, provided his expertise and perspective as a prior competitor.

 

All three shared a variety of information from executing the proper form for squats, bench, and deadlifts to the kinds of equipment allowed during the competitions.

 

There are generally two types of powerlifting, raw and gear. Gear powerlifting is done with the use of supportive equipment, and raw is done without.

 

"The best way to get into it is raw, to get an idea for how it is, because it can take a long time to learn how to use the gear," said Hunt.

 

The equipment a lifter is permitted to use during competition is very specific, down to the form fitted suits lifters wear, which helps judges to see that proper form is being carried out amongst competitors.

 

"It's a great competitive sport. It's very self-competitive, just as it is competing against other people," said Lego.  "I don't know who is going to be at the next meet I go to, so as long as I'm beating my previous record, I'm making progress. If it so happens that I take first in the event against everybody else, even better."

 

The social aspect of the events is not lost on the powerlifters in attendance, according to Lego, who described his first experience at the USAPL Military Nationals.    

 

"I had no idea what I was getting into," he said, " I knew the general rules from looking online, but when I actually got there, the guys I was competing against were giving me pointers, tips and help with my lifts."

 

Hunt said he has met a lot of great people all over the country at these events and the encouragement received from others can inspire an individual to go for their personal best.

 

Jefferson and Lego also met each other at one of the Military National meets, finding out they were both stationed at Scott.

 

The Scott Powerlifting Club is trying to spread interest in powerlifting, so more Air Force members will seek the Military Nationals.

 

"The only reason we lost to the Army last year is because they had enough people to fill out their 10-person team," said Lego, "We only had nine people so automatically we didn't have enough points."

 

Lego said that, unlike Crossfit, powerlifting is not a product of popularity and commercialization as much as it is built for a niche market of people who enjoy an individual and labor-intensive sport. Not everybody is up to the challenge.