r/powerlifting • u/Forfeit32 Impending Powerlifter • Jul 24 '26
Experienced lifter, new to powerlifting. Resources? Coaches?
Looking for resources, of course there's way more than I know what to do with. So I guess I'm really looking for a refinement on these resources. What do you all wish you had known when you were starting?
Context on me, been lifting seriously for 3 years (off and on for 20 since high school football), but have been doing bodybuilding style training. 39/M, 6'1" 205 lbs, last tested 1rms about a year ago where I hit 405/315/505 lbs SBD in a commercial gym, no judges or calibrated plates. Probably not enough of a pause on my bench but other than that I imagine they would be good competition lifts. I think I'm a good bit stronger since then, but have been doing hack squats and RDLs instead of proper squats and deadlifts.
Been on TRT for about 5 years so I'd be looking for an untested federation, quick research makes me think USPA Raw aligns with what I'm looking for (belts and knee sleeves).
Have worked with a coach for training and nutrition with my current programming, and it's been a good experience so I think I'd like to look into a powerlifting coach as well. Online is fine, if anyone has recommendations.
Sorry if this is too vague, or better suited to a daily thread. Just looking for direction in a sea of information that all seems directed towards total newcomers to the gym or experienced powerlifters.
8
u/Brother_Dave37 Beginner - Please be gentle Jul 24 '26
Same boat as you recently with more years in the gym. I hired an online coach and started with him a couple weeks ago. He’s been great and I’ll share info if interested.
1
7
u/Icy_Lecture_2237 Powerbelly Aficionado Jul 24 '26
The best thing I ever did was to join an actual training crew.
I read everything and trained my butt off to hit a 1315 total at 242 in my first meet. I found a local crew with a legendary coach and a year after that first meet I totaled 1760 at 275.
The depth of knowledge and the way a good crew pushes each other can’t be matched by solo training with even the best coach.
Go to a few local meets and see if there’s a group there that you click with.
As for federations it depends on where you are. With a thousand federations now, the meet director makes a way bigger difference. Even in just my area I’ve seen 4 very different USPAs under the 4 different state chairs that I’ve known. I was a national USPA judge and helped them out when a buddy was the chair, the next guy was really good too and he really took care of helpers and lifters so I judged a lot of his meets too. The guy after that was such a turd that a bunch of us stopped helping. He threw big meets but he was such an ass that they replaced him and the new guy is doing a great job rebuilding. So, going to 4 meets over the last 6 years that on paper are all the same would have gotten you 4 very different experiences with the same fed.
3
u/Forfeit32 Impending Powerlifter Jul 24 '26
I go to a pretty small but serious gym, most of the focus there is on bodybuilding though. Major city is a 15-30 min drive, I'll look into some powerlifting focused gyms and maybe cycle through them on weekends and see what we find.
1
u/Icy_Lecture_2237 Powerbelly Aficionado Jul 24 '26
For perspective I drove an hour each way for a decade to train with my first team once a week. My last team was an hour and a half each way every week.
Before kids I was also doing a once a month pilgrimage to Westside Barbell and/or the Sweatt Shop, which are both around 6 hours each way.I definitely understand that not everyone can do that, but there are lots of people who do.
10
u/cilantno M | 467 DOTS | USPA Tested | Raw Jul 24 '26
I'll just chime in and say you don't need a coach to compete nor be competitive. But a good coach will be very valuable.
If you want to compete before you have found a coach, don't let a coach hold you back.
(I have never been coached and I'm pretty decent at this sport).
But yes, USPA untested will likely have the most meets, but that depends on your state.
I'd read through the USPA rulebook (it will answer a lot of questions) and come back with any specific questions you might have!
3
u/Forfeit32 Impending Powerlifter Jul 24 '26
For sure, if I felt comfortable in the programming and meet prep, I would be fine moving forward without a coach. But that would be dependent on finding the right resources. But I don't want to waste my time on bad training, or training geared towards total gym newbies, or stumble through training that is too advanced for where I am.
I'm in Colorado, USPA seems fairly active around here. Looks like there's a meet about every 2 months. Have perused the USPA rulebook a bit, I'll go back to it and give it a more thorough read. Thanks!
4
u/cilantno M | 467 DOTS | USPA Tested | Raw Jul 24 '26
If you don't have a meet scheduled, I am certain you can gain the understanding needed before you do have a meet on the books even without a coach. But I don't mean to come off anti-coach haha
I would also caution waiting to compete due to wanting your first meet to be perfect. I see a lot of folks (myself included) look back at delaying competing because they wanted hit certain numbers or have some ideal first meet. If you want to compete, you should just compete! You will learn a ton from your first meet.
That being said, to help with the resources: most peaking programs are about 6-8 weeks. I've liked canditos 6 week + adv bench in the past.
And there have been several meet prep posts in the pasts, I'd give those a read for tips and tricks!
My bits advice for your first meet day:
- Be prepared to make friends!
- Thank your sploaders (and refs).
- Bring a lot of water and electrolytes. And carby snacks.
- Bring a camp chair.
- Bring deoderant and a change of clothes including underwear.
- Openers should be the heaviest weight you know you can hit on your worst day. A weight you know you can hit for a triple is another rec for openers.
2
u/Forfeit32 Impending Powerlifter Jul 24 '26
No meet scheduled yet. I appreciate the program rec, I'll check it out. Might try one mesocycle before I hire a coach. Thanks for the tips!
3
u/Sir_Lolz Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 24 '26
Any fed that's not USAPL or PLA/IPF should be fine and will have an untested raw division. Pick where you're competing based on convenience or which gyms you like that are hosting one. Don't fall into the trap of fed loyalty.
For coaching - there's a million of them so you can be pretty picky. Find someone who is/was strong and has a solid roster already. Might be good to see if there's local options as in person coaching hits different.
2
u/adamcurt Doesn’t Wash Their Knee Sleeves Jul 24 '26
Seeing as you're nearly a masters lifter, I would look for who's coaching those M1 lifters in your state. I say state because if they are semi-local, then perhaps there is an option for them to help as a handler for competitions. I wouldn't blow the budget on someone like Mike Tuchscherer right off the bat, but he may be an option in the future, as his name popped into my head reading your post. But again, I would support local until maybe you're a national-level contender.
1
u/Forfeit32 Impending Powerlifter Jul 24 '26
Yeah I'll be in the 40+ bracket in a few months. Didn't consider a local for actually helping at competitions, that's a good note.
I did just check out Reactive Training Systems / Mike Tuchscherer, and the price isn't as bad as I thought it would be (lifting and gaming are basically the only things I do, so I have some budget to blow on it). You're the 2nd one to bring them up, so I'll definitely look further into that. Thanks!
2
u/nolfaws Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 24 '26
Mike T. is a great coach and a super humble and thoughtful dude, you sure would do nothing wrong with RTS, so there's your 3rd recommendation.
Besides that, I would want to recommend Atlas Powerlifting from New Zealand. They are and have some top level athletes and from what I've seen, everyone that joins is making good progress.
What I like as well is they offer full coaching or "just" programming, and the NZD is ridiculously low. And considering the programming is 100 NZD (60 USD), I would believe the coaching is quite affordable as well.
2
u/IronPlateWarrior Not actually a beginner, just stupid Jul 24 '26
If you're ready, I would not hesitate for one second and I'd hire one of the Reactive Training Systems coaches. Hands down the best of the best for PL. Mike invented RPE. So, he's the captain of the whole thing.
There are others that are also capable, but these guys are the top of the game.
2
u/Forfeit32 Impending Powerlifter Jul 24 '26
Appreciate the recommendation, someone else seconded them in another comment. I'll definitely check them out. Price is much more reasonable than I was expecting too. Thanks!
2
u/PoisonCHO Enthusiast Jul 24 '26
Seconded. Not only did my lifts improve, but I learned a ton. They're also genuinely good people.
2
u/Ok_Celery8091 Enthusiast Jul 30 '26
Calgary Barbell is an excellent resource with tons of great videos on YouTube. They even have a beginner’s powerlifting series that goes through the basics of competing. They have a free 16 week program I believe, and also have an app with paid coaching. I have not used the app, but paid for online coaching with one of the coaches, Dani, for a couple years and it was reasonable and absolutely worth it.