JOURNEY TO THE WORLDS by Coach Jim Massaro
The journey to the Worlds started 12 weeks ago. It was time to get physically and mentally prepared. First thing to do was to set up a training program. But at the same time one of my athletes came to me, telling me he needed to get ready for the combines in June. Since we have been working together for about six years, I knew it was time to make his dream come true. With this being said, I immediately started him on the Renegade football phase 1 program. For extra incentive I told him I would do the program with him, casting away the traditional workout program for a bench and deadlift competition. Let's face it, as long as you are getting stronger don't be afraid to take chances. I always looked at it as strength is more in the mind than in the body, so Eddie and I started our training.
At this point I had to tell my training partner, a powerlifter, of my plan. I have been training John for ten years now and he has made some incredible accomplishments. For years we have been using the Westside philosophy, so it was going to be a little difficult to break the habit for some of us. Eddie went along with it with no problem. Now came the other guy, Johnny! At first he thought it would make him weaker because of the results he had gained in the past. Remember, I was the one that first sold him on the Westside program and it was even hard back then to get him to change. But as I told him before, I didn't steer you wrong the last time and I wasn't going to do it this time. Besides, I was doing it too. Also, too much of Westside's methods are geared to the assisted class. Don't get me wrong, they have done great things for the sport of powerlifting, more than any one else. Wherever you compete, you see their influence all over in the way people train today. But I felt it was time for a change. Respecting Johnny's knowledge of training and the sport of powerlifting, we were able to incorporate certain lifts into his program that he felt worked better for him to gain strength. As a coach, this is what you like to see in an athlete. Taking the knowledge you have given him and have positive feedback in their training programs, because no one knows how their body responds better than them.
With all the planning set, it was time to get down to the fun hammer 'en away at the steel. I could not wait to start something knew. By adding in lifts that we were not accustomed to, the propreception was amazing. You could feel you whole body getting strong. About five weeks into the program I hurt my wrist doing a power snatch. This cost me to miss 10 days of training on my upper body. Around the same time Eddie crashed his motorcycle, screwing up his ankle pretty good. A bad break for someone getting ready for the combines AND a deadlift competition. This kept him out about two weeks. Johnny on the other hand was physically fine but very busy at work so we could only hook-up on Sundays to work out together. The Sunday before our meet we got together to do our last heavy bench, and deadlift. During my bench I felt something in my left shoulder. It did not feel all that bad but by the end of the deadlift it felt a lot worse. Just what I need one week before the meet. For the rest of the week not only did I have to worry about making weight, I had to rehab my shoulder. It's too late to turn back now, too much preparation went into this. Three hours before the weigh in I am still 2 pounds over weight so downstairs to the eliptical with two pairs of sweats on to trim some water weight. No problem. Now I'm at 240, two pounds under.
Sunday, the day of the competition finally arrives. Due to my shoulder I can only compete in the bench press. I don't want to take a chance on causing any more damage to my shoulder. The squat is the first lift performed. Johnny is the only one of us that entered in this. He opened with 525lbs and gets it easy. His next attempt is 585lbs. No problem. On his third attempt he goes up to 600lbs. This looked like his strongest lift of the day so far. Next, we enter the benchpress part of the competition. We are all entered in this. Eddie went first and opened with 315lbs. No problems. His next attempt is at 330lbs. Again, another good lift. He attempted 345lbs. on his third lift, gets the weight easy but doesn't wait for the rack signal, so no lift. John is next and opens with 360lbs. Good lift. Next he lifts 375lbs. Again, good lift. On his last attempt at 400Lbs-bang-he got it. Finally, it's my turn. I open at 375lbs. and it flies off my chest. My next attempt was at 400Lbs and again no problem. On my third attempt I try 415Lbs. I get halfway but no lift, boy am I pissed. Not only did I miss the lift but the way I missed it was with rookie mistakes: not setting up right and not staying tight on the bottom end. This should not happen with all my years of experience. In the deadlift part of the comp, Eddie finishes off with a 650lb pull and Johnny finishes with 550lbs. Not a bad day. I wound up winning the master 242lb. Raw Bench Press with my lift of 400lbs. Eddie won the Novice Division in the bench and deadlift, Johnny came in second place in the power fest with a total of 1550lbs.The best part about it is that we all qualified for the World Natural Powerlifting Federation World Championships in October.