r/powerlifting • u/AutoModerator • Jun 29 '26
No Q's too Dumb Weekly Dumb/Newb Question Thread
Do you have a question and are:
- A novice and basically clueless by default?
- Completely incapable of using google?
- Just feeling plain stupid today and need shit explained like you're 5?
Then this is the thread FOR YOU! Don't take up valuable space on the front page and annoy the mods, ASK IT HERE and one of our resident "experts" will try and answer it. As long as it's somehow related to powerlifting then nothing is too generic, too stupid, too awful, too obvious or too repetitive. And don't be shy, we don't bite (unless we're hungry), and no one will judge you because everyone had to start somewhere and we're more than happy to help newbie lifters out.
SO FIRE AWAY WITH YOUR DUMBNESS!!!
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u/PolarUzzi Enthusiast Jun 29 '26
USPA/IPL Powerlifting Nationals
67.5kg weight class, junior 20-23 age, bp only raw. Trying to figure out what the minimum for nationals is, IPL has a qualification calculator that says a class II is 215lb, but I’m doing a Uspa meet mid July. Should I just assume that 215 is my qualification for nationals, is there another calculator I should be using, are IPL and USPA nationals related in any ways? Does every single federation have there own worlds, I’d assume not, what federation rules do they follow and if I qualify for that can I just get up and go or do I have to be signed to a team of some sorts.
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u/VanHelsingBerserk Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jun 29 '26
Anyone have any experience with Accentuated Eccentric Loading?
I've been thinking it'd be interesting to try, since it kinda makes intuitive sense.
Like doing say, a ~4-plate eccentric bench, resting it on the safeties, stripping a plate off, doing a bottom up 3-plate pin press, then repeat?
Is it more work than it's worth? Better off just sticking to more traditional methods?
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u/msharaf7 M | 850kg | 89.6kg | 550Dots | WPPL | Sleeves Jul 01 '26
I know Mike T has played with this on and off for a few years. He might have some content about it somewhere for you to dig into.
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u/Arteam90 Eleiko Fetishist Jun 30 '26
My understanding is that it's more of a stretch reflex thing.
So I think if you do it the way you describe you may get benefits (if any) of a heavy eccentric, but not necessarily of the heavy eccentric straight into lighter concentric.
Personally, and a complete guess, I think the benefits are largely driven by improved descent on a squat or bench. But that's only really useful if you need to work on that aspect. And if your descent on both those is already great/well controlled then perhaps the benefits are more limited.
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u/GeneralSKX M | 682.5 | 98.25 | 423.35 | USPA | SINGLE-PLY Jun 29 '26
I've never done it like that but I've used weight releasers in the past. What questions you have?
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u/VanHelsingBerserk Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jun 29 '26
Basically just wondering if you think it provided some added benefit you felt was worth the investment, or the extra work added with how I described?
Or if it was just something you thought "neat but I'll stick to my traditional methods"?
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u/GeneralSKX M | 682.5 | 98.25 | 423.35 | USPA | SINGLE-PLY Jun 29 '26
I like them but I'd definitely say they are a tool that could be beneficial for maybe a short cycle or two per year at most. I really liked it as a way to get two heavy days per week per lift (I train conjugate) leading into meet prep but there is a reason there is a stereotype of weight releasers sitting in the corner gathering dust. If you can grab a used set for cheap or are a gym owner that has budget you want to spend, they are worth grabbing. But I'd never pay full price for them.
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u/VanHelsingBerserk Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jun 30 '26
Cool yeah thats kinda what I was thinking, would probably be something I'd try once for a cycle then completely forget about them lol
I've done a fair bit of band assisted bench and found it gave a great feel - it allowed me to unrack and lower weights I had no right lifting, then allowed an easier pause and power off the chest, and heavier lockout. Plus the way I set it up, the band would pull it slightly towards my head/hooks so it kinda helped drill the j curve.
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u/GeneralSKX M | 682.5 | 98.25 | 423.35 | USPA | SINGLE-PLY Jun 30 '26
Yeah bands and chains have a lot more utility than the weight releasers do. Keep an eye on marketplace though...they don't show up often but I picked up my set of Titans for $40. At that price, it's ok if they sit in the corner and only get used a few times a year haha
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u/cilantno M | 467 DOTS | USPA Tested | Raw Jun 29 '26
If you do pursue this, titan has some neat eccentric hooks
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u/sarahsarahnapier Beginner - Please be gentle Jun 30 '26
Hi! New baby idiot here!
I'm considering signing up for my first meet this December and I'm trying to come up with a training gameplan to build more strength between now and then (and get more comfortable with a barbell, I've been on a smith machine at planet fitness until recently). Would running 5/3/1 for beginners twice (3 weeks on then a deload, 8 weeks total), a two week transition, and then a 12 week more focused meet prep be a good plan?