High Country Vigour

The USAWA Strength Journal published its last issue (Volume XX, No 6) on October 19, 2009.  This was produced by Bill Clark, the founder of USAWA and a driving force of strength sports in the Midwest.  The notes in the journal include correspondence with Tommy Kono, Vic Boff, Bill Starr and many others. I received a treasure trove of back issues from a friend 2009 Volume XX (6 issues)  2008 Volume XIX (7 issues) 2007 Volume XVIII (7 issues) 2006 Volume XVII (8 issues) 2005 Volume XVI (9 issues) 2004 Volume XV (8 issues) 2003 Volume XIV (9 issues) 2002 Volume XIII (8 issues) As I perused this decade of All-Round Weightlifting history, I was immediately impressed by the discipline and effort required to collect content, compile results (typed or handwritten), add commentary and finally copy and distribute.  Coming up with a thoughtful, curated update today is hard enough. The content is primarily: Meet results Personal tidbits on athletes Upcoming evnets Calls for memb...

I had an amazing adventure at Wellington Lake.  I completed the Wellington Swim-Run event which consisted of 3 laps of a 0.3 mile swim and 1.7 km run.  My training had been going well, but I did not take into account the colder water (60-65 degrees) and 8,000 feet elevation.  Despite these environmental factors, I executed my race plan well and finished in 1 hour 49 minutes. 0415 - Alarm goes off, dress, brush teeth, take meds, load car, use restroom twice, load up car 0500 - Get on the road to Lake Wellington.  Directions to main office was fine, then I started to get turned around 0645 - Park at campsite area 0700 - Arrive at starting line, get checked in and body marked 0745 - Race briefing 0800 - Start 0949 - Finish 1005 - Walk back to car and drive home 1145 - Arrive home, clean up gear and shower After checking in, I milled about talking to Felecia, Dana and Steve among other eager race participants.  The disparity in kit and  preparation was startlin...

I had heard of Oliphant's Gym (the oldest gym in North America) a few years earlier on  YouTube . I did not give it much thought until I found myself taking a trip to Toronto and remembered that the gym was located somewhere in Canada.  It could have been Toronto, Montreal or any other city in Canada.  In advance of the trip, I called the phone number and talked to (?).  He asked me to text Carlos who explained that I could just drop in and someone should be able to buzz me in.  I opted for a Monday morning, got in, filled out the waiver and Nisha and I were able to lift. We started with bench press and did a few sets.  I used the straight bar and Nisha used dumbbells. Next we did cleans at the "squat rack."  I used the fixed bar and Nisha grabbed the short bar at the lightest weight. Next was bodyweight movements with the back extension and I did a couple of pull-ups on the bar hanging from the ceiling.  I also felt the need to string up the low ...

Jarrod hosted the Repetition Rampage Record Day.  We did a rules briefing for the athletes and the officials and then got underway.  It was a little chaotic, but overall things went very smoothly with records being attempted when athletes were ready roughly taking turns. Jarrod - 49 - 216.8 pounds Finger Lift, Thumb, Right - 54 pounds x 10 reps Finger Lift, Little, Right - 75 pounds x 11 reps Finger Lift, Ring, Right - 104 pounds x 10 reps Finger Lift, Middle, Right - 120 pounds x 10 reps Finger Lift, Index , Right - 99 pounds x 15 reps Sanjiv - 55 - 208.2 pounds Trap Bar Deadlift - 210 pounds x 16 reps Front Squat - 135 pounds x 9 reps Bench Press, Feet In Air - 135 pounds x 11 reps Press From Rack 100 pounds x 6 reps Kim - Age - 128.7 pounds Clean & Press, Middle Fingers - 35 pounds x 21 reps Gardner Full - 25 pounds x 6 reps Diya Clean & Press, On Knees - 30 pounds x 10 reps Leg Press - Self Loaded - 25 pounds x 10 reps Despite the heat we all had fun.  Jarrod'...

Women's Podium Lifters and Officials The 2026 National Championship was a whirlwind trip.  Nisha and I flew out Friday morning, arriving in St. Louis around 11 AM and driving to Columbia, MO by 1:00 PM.  We relaxed in the room and then headed over to the annual meeting. As usual in Columbia, MO, dinner consisted of barbecue at D-Rowe's which has good service and good food.  It is a bit expensive at $30/person, but that is OK.   Attendees: Chad Ullom Jessica Hopps David Glasgow Larry Traub Neveah Traub Jayden Traub Kristin Traub Drew Traub Jarrod Fobes Nisha Gupta Sanjiv Gupta Logan Wenzel Jeff Wenzel Dylan Wenzel Allison Lupo Tony Lupo David DeForest Lisa Gore David Beversdorf Tony Hose Bill Clark (10) Clark's, (6) Ledaig, (3) HCV, (1) Dino, (1) Frank's Officer reports were read and/or waived. Old Business - Board decisions to be able to remove athletes due to disruptive behavior and waive official scoring were overturned. By-Law Changes - Laundry list were deba...

This was the inaugural installation of the Carnival in the Cul-De-Sac hosted by Joshua Guerin in Greeley, Colorado. The drive up was pleasant enough and enjoyed the hour drive up listening to The Grip Show recap of US Nationals and Canada Nationals. Arriving at the venue, Josh had set everything up and was a very accommodating host.  I emptied my bladder and just squeaked into the 95 kg weight class after taking off my shoes and my t-shirt.  I was pleased with my svelte 208.5 bodyweight and began to get in some food and hydrate.  We took a group picture before hand.  Joshua even had stick on old time mustaches for us to try.  With rainbow and black choices, I opted for rainbow in honor of pride month. After rules briefing we started with the Steinborn Squat.  I went 3 for 3 with good lifts at 89, 109 and 131 pounds.  With some practice, I would like to get this up to 150 pounds, but will not be breaking Al Springs 200 pound record anytime soon.  T...

We had a great time with the Heavy Lift Championship.  It was slow going and a lot of time was spent with warm-up lifts so that everybody could figure out chain length, technique and how to position a neck harness and hip belt. Nisha always opened and was under the pressure of performing (3) lifts in a row with three middle aged men watching, but she did great.  Her neck lift was the trickiest, during warm-ups she missed 50, made 30 and made 40.  She decided to open at 40 pounds, then made 50 pounds and 70 pounds saying it felt easy.  I am not sure if 4th attempts were allowed, but she did put up 90 pounds on a 4th attempt. Jarrod did 100 pounds and did not care for the lift.  He accepted the token effort and was done.  Joshua tested 100 pounds and then opened at 150 pounds also being done.  I was a glutton for punishment and after warm-ups at 100 and 150, I opened at 170 and had a tough lift at 190 pounds for my second attempt. Hand and Thigh was much...

Clark's Gym was hosting two meets this weekend and I decided to enter and submit some record session lifts. Sanjiv Gupta 54 years old Weight 209.6 kg (100kg Class) Lifts performed 4/25/2026 Officials - Jarrod Fobes and Kim Van Wagner Diamond Jubilee Deadlift, No Thumbs - 325 pounds Deadlift, No Thumbs, Overhand Grip - 315 pounds Jefferson Lift, Fulton Bar - 305 pounds Side Press, Bar, Left - 45 pounds Side Press, Bar, Right - 45 pounds Diaper Day Squat, Lunge - 95 pounds Reflex Bench Press - 180 pounds Jarrod Fobes 206.2 pounds 49 years old Turkish Get Up - Repetition - 50 pounds x 10 reps (in about 2:20) Half Gardner - Repetition - 45 pounds x 12 reps (in about 3:30) Finger Lift, Little, Left - 41 pounds x 25 reps (in about 2:00) Finger Lift, Little, Right - 41 pounds x 36 reps (in about 2:30) Lateral Raise, Lying - 40 pounds x 26 reps (in about 2:00) Kim 129.5 pounds 59 year old Clean & Jerk, Behind Neck - 70 pounds Clean & Press, 12" Base - 65 pounds

Jarrod and I took on the Bench Press Heptathlon.  I had a lot of fun, despite him beating me on nearly every lift. Competition Lifts Bench Press - Feet on Floor - 175 Bench Press - Feet in Air - 175 Bench Press - Reverse Grip - 115 - personal best and set the 50 yo 100kg record Bench Press - Alternate Grip - 125 - personal best Bench Press - Hands Together - 145 - set the 50 yo 100kg record Bench Press - Right Arm - 55 - set the 50 yo 100kg record Bench Press - Left Arm - 55 - set the 50 yo 100kg record Certificates Bench Press - Rampage - 19 reps x 95 pounds Bench Press - Reg Park - 110 pounds - first time trying the lift Bench Press - Roman Chair - 75 pounds - beat the 50 yo 100kg record held by Patrick Hadley Records Vertical Bar, 1 Bar, 1" Left - 141 pounds Vertical Bar, 1 Bar, 1" Right - 141 pounds Vertical Bar, 2 Bars - 262 pounds I was pretty conservative in my attempts, but it worked out well.  I missed attempts at 65 pounds for the one arm presses, but otherwise was ...

This year’s Grip Championship was an all-Colorado event.  Nisha and Kim lifted in flight 1 and Sanjiv, Jarrod and Joshua lifted in flight 2.  Weigh-ins and rules briefings were conducted and the meet was contested using the one official system. We started with Pinch Grip, Deadlift, One Hand.  This is the first time the lift was contested at the Grip Championship and mistakes were made.  Flight 1 set the plates up vertical to the platform and had top lifts under 30 pounds.  Essentially, they did a Pinch Grip Strict, One Hand.  Jarrod correctly pointed out the error and Flight 2 set up the plates horizontal to the platform.  Flight 2 all had good lifts at 100 pounds or more.  Kim and Nisha declined the option to repeat their lifts. For record purposes, they should be recorded as Pinch Grip Strict, One Hand. Next was the Deadlift, Fulton Dumbbell, One Hand.  This was the fifth time this lift has been contested at the Grip Championship, and some ...

Saturday we threw in for the birthday bash being hosted by Clark's Gym.  Jarrod was planning on hosting, but unfortunately had to cancel.  Kim, Josh and I cranked through the lifts pretty quickly. Jefferson Lift - This was not too bad and I had a personal best of 355 pounds.  It is nice to come out of the gate strong.  50 year old 95kg record is 424 pounds. (Kim - 175, Josh - 390) Clean & Jerk, Dumbbell, One Hand, Left - This was tougher.  I felt good warming up and decided to open at 82 pounds.  My next attempt was a miss at 92 pounds.  I prefer using my right hand, but the right hand record is 105 pounds while the left hand record was open. (Kim - 45, Josh - 105) Vertical Bar, 1 Bar, 1" Right - Another scenario where I wanted to post an open record rather than try to beat the existing record.  I opened at 106, made 131 and missed 156.  My left hand record is 170. (Kim - 86, Josh - 186) Anderson Press - I really do not like my set up for...

Three of us took on the USAWA Club Championship Lifts.  We were without Jarrod who came to officiate. The lift selection was tough. Snatch, Dumbbell, One Hand Zercher Turkish Get Up Deadlift, Ciavattone I was pleased with the results. Kim - 27.5-85-175-44 - Total = 331.5 pounds = 630.5 points Josh - 72-225-72-330 - Total = 699 pounds = 650.5 points Sanjiv - 72-245-50-325 - 692 pounds = 700.7 points We will have to see where we stack up against Clark's Gym and other clubs.

Our local venue had a blast with the Ground to Overhead Challenge.  Kim, Jarrod, Josh and I squared off to attempt the Clean & Press, Clean & Push Press and Continental to Chest & Jerk. As the weights should get heavier as we go, I will list the top lift in order Kim - 70-75-75 pounds Sanjiv - 135-145-155 pounds Jarrod - 165-185-165 pounds Josh - 155-175-165 pounds It turns out the Continental to Chest & Jerk did not suit any of us.  Jarrod nearly made a 185 pound attempt but was unable to complete the Jerk.  I was planning on cleaning my 155 pound attempt, but received it low and had to work it up my chest.  Looking forward to seeing the results from Clark's.

There are (4) USAWA Lifts that require a Roman Chair. Bench Press – Roman Chair (A6) – 55 records Abdominal Raise – On Roman Chair (D2) – 21 records Extension – Back (D12) – 22 records Roman Chair Situp (I21) – 46 records The last time the topic of a Roman Chair was discussed in earnest was in 2011 on the forum and the website . Al does an excellent job of providing some history of the device, early lifts and the USAWA lifts. My revisit is a little more on the practical side of actually securing a device that meets the USAWA standards. Tuff Stuff “Roman Chair” I unofficially tried to do these lifts on commercially available Tuff Stuff “Roman Chair” that had an angled pad which does not meet the USAWA specifications. I considered having a shop cut and re-weld the post to make it comply with the rulebook but abandoned the idea. Dino Gym Roman Chair with Adjustable Safety Clark’s Gym Roman Chair with Adjustable Bench Height Frank Zane on a Roman Chair Bruce Lee’s Original Roman Chair The...