Just ask Westside. Very few of you here actually compete, so I assume are RAW lifters. You earned it. George started losing body fat but kept his bench strong. Meanwhile, he is kicking and punching me. At the end, there was $10,000 in cash and prizes for the winner. There's no better squat for powerlifting training than a wide-stance box squat. Lou loves the sled, but I never do it. So, what started your run of world records? Youve seen it; when visitors come here and were getting ready for a meet. You dont do many interviews and dont get involved with the internet. A post shared by Paul Leonard (@powerliftinghistoryillustrated). benchers, wow it has come a long way. A subreddit for general weight training discussion, focused on intermediate level and above in experience and strength, for those ranging from strength sport competitors, sports that benefit from weight training, or weight training enthusiasts. and at the time, you only got up to 100 lbs. Privacy Policy. I told him we were going to Texas for the meet and he said he would come along to report it in the magazine he was writing for. I see that a lot more info could be added to his Wikipedia page,, With respect to direct lat work, you will neither find it in the detailed 1982 article by Ron Fernando, disclosing, I was there, front row at the USF SunDome in Tampa covering the contest for The Tampa Tribune when Jeff, Dave was 7 years my elder and my teen years weightlifting idol. At SFS we strive to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed for your fitness journey. Matt won the raw shootout at Dave Tates gym that day. I became only the third to do it with two-hour weigh-ins. Like many, George was convinced that board pressing was the key to a big bench. I let my lifting do the talking. His main training partners were Kenny Patterson and Gerry O. The next week, we had 175 lb. I guess this is what George said is why he did not come to Westside for 2 years. The first 800 pound squatter Pat Casey in 1970 was a box squatter from the original Westside Barbell in Culver City. I just liked to workout. I thought, He knows how to strain, but I guess that is how he discovered to do so. So I said, Sure. He then says, Youre right buddy. George made his benches mostly from his strong chest. Simply return it within 30 days for an exchange. would only use 45s. Today, really nothing is different. So if you have no triceps, in this workout you're going to train tris. Im sure everyone wants to know how you stay so lean. Chuck Vogelpohl (242) squatted an all-time record of 1,110 pounds today at the IPA Iron House Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Squat deeper. He is the man behind the JM Press. Call . He was the greatest squatter of all time. I need to pull something heavier than I will pull in a competition. We are not EliteFitness.com. Mark notes that Chuck squatted over 1000lbs in the 220, 242, and 275 lb class. Are you still doing this? I told John Inzer. Gerry O was to win a national championship. The workout session consisted of dynamic speed work of back squats with a bar loaded to 405lbs. But, George finally got it right. He trained with George Halbert and Kenny Patterson, along with the others. So while I lay in the hospital bed, I read all the books I could from the Soviet Union (they were miles ahead of us). KP made a 688 lb. Had knee issues because I didn't squat deep enough. The one in the guns and roses teeshirt. His bench presses, including his final one of 633 were all done as strictly as any shirted bench press I have ever seen. Until his teammate Dave Hoff would do 1,210 at 271 lb. An elite lifter in multiple weight classes, Tate has published tons of fitness-related articles, written books, and coached athletes of all levels. EFS: You have a reputation for being intense and hardcore. Is there a way to gain size and strength without spending hours in the gym? He left Westside and quit competing in gear shortly after breaking the total record in the 308s. J. M. Blakely also benched with us. Oh, yes, I remember you told me not to mess with him; that he was too big and too fast. Similarly, he was always the last person to leave the gym, meticulously ensuring that weights were put away and everything was in its proper place ready for the next group of athletes. But it was how he did it, George recalls it must have taken 10 seconds to lock out and win top coefficient bench over Clark. Chuck V: I think people believe that they will be perfect after one year. he was a one of a kind beast and will be greatly missed, Chuck taught me everything I ever knew about powerlifting. I told him that I didnt need money from my friends. where every prison in the state of Ohio would converge to our Instiution,Chuck, being the recreation Director brought several programs to the table including Track and field, Boxing,Softball,Basketball,and of course Powerlifting. KP and I told him not to do it, just to F with him. I handed out 545 for 3 reps, of the now known JM Press, to him. Tate said this was the hardest squatting training session of his life. In an interview we came across with Louie and Vogelpohl, Louie asks him how he got started on his series of world record-breaking lifts. Im just another member of the team. One group was testing bands on the bench, mainly our top benchers, meaning world record holders. I do most of my abdominal work at work or at home. Jujimufu just posted this super intense squat workout with his training partner, strongman Joey Szatmary where they attempted to follow a sample squat workout from the powerlifting legend Chuck Vogelpohl. I had an 821-pound squat, and you had a 738-pound squat. I got George to use a cambered bar with an 11/2 in. But things were getting weird, and we left for the IPA. It does no good to be strong in the wrong exercises or put effort into the wrong muscle groups. Here's how. EFS: What does your abdominal training consist of? He was the greatest squatter of all time. 2023 Westside Barbell. world record at 220. And that he must stay and train others and teach them like he was taught, not only by me but by the other greats before him and his training partners. a couple weeks before he pulled out in the warmup room at The Arnold. I woke up three days later and spent another four days afterwards in the hospital. I should probably stay a bit more controlled. on your back again. Well, he brought me out of retirement and I made in the 7s, 8s and even 920 lbs. Jim says: Chuck was serial killer intense and he had a reverence for that place (Westside Barbell).. Now, George went on a tear, on the next 9 attempts he made 8 world records. Louie:I thought you were done, but the WPO was about to come on the scene with money. First, very briefly, explain how and why you structure your squat and deadlift workouts. In a career spanning almost two decades, powerlifting legend Chuck Vogelpohl competed in weight classes from 90kg all the way to 125kg. Then, a few weeks after KP made 728 to make him the greatest bencher of all time. It is in my head. I was relieved for a while. So for a 1000-pound squatter who does 12,000 pounds of squats in a workout, his reverse hypers alone would be 45,000 pounds! Another reason you need to work speed is technique. But, I told him, he must touch his chest, after all that is the hardest part of the lift for most. At Westside, we use a particular weight and particular bar speed, and we control the volume by how strong you are. For the time you jumped over the 242 class. Chuck:Right. I used to do a lot of speed work with chains and with just bar weight; I did this for years, maybe fifteen. If I recall, we did three meets before you wrote about it in Powerlifting USA. Some of these stories have led people to believe that he is some kind of crazed lunatic. bench which would be a milestone at the time. Over the 45 minutes, they completed 43 sets with a starting weight of 330 lbs, then bumped it up to 390 lbs about halfway through. All raw. Westside barbells Louie Simmons would come to the Powerlifting events to be the head judge in all the compitions. On speed-strength day you train with high volume and moderate intensity. I know we are both proud of what Westside became. You ended up getting kicked out and had to have Amy Weisberger go to the scorers table and give all of our attempts. Furthermore, Tate notes that although the intensity that Chuck displayed at meets may have seemed extreme to most, that was nothing compared to what was going on inside his head. With the explosion in the internet since the late 1990s, Powerlifting competitors and fans around the world have been able to see the best lifters compete and train. I knew you already knew, but you just wanted to confirm it. Kenny P. and George were the best coefficient benchers in the world for almost ten years. raw bench. The number one thing that people dont seem to do is keep their head up and their knees always come in. Louie:Many people started their own federations and were criticized, but there was a good reason for so many. High reward requires high risk and at powerlifting meets you need to wear gear. I dont know who is coaching these days. You don't perfect technique using heavy loads; you perfect technique with light weights over multiple sets. dumbbells, which no one could do 20 reps of. Check it out: Westside Deficit Deadlifts George made 650 and missed 672 and then sat in the front row to watch KP make a 716 world record. You were right; the 220-pound class was no more. Chuck:Louie, I am like you. Louie:At that time, you were always calling people out in the gym for some kind of a contest in some lift or exercise. Vogelpohl also holds the second highest squat of all-time at 275 (1,150 pounds). So when The Arnold came around, I walked up to him and said, I heard you are retiring, Glen. He got a big laugh out of that. Lots of dumbbell work, rowing, lat work, abdominal work, and low back work. George could blow up anything of his chest, but could not lockout big weights. He benched 470 lbs. Until after the workout, Mickey Tate says to me, Dont ever do that again. Joe McCoy was a young, great lifter at the time, winning a WPC world at 19 years old. What a day. Dave also hails from Westside gym, he's a specimen that has been heavily involved in the powerlifting community for decades. Inside, in the deep part of your soul, how does this make you feel? Chuck V: This depends. Tony Ramos still holds the total and deadlift marks at Westside. He became the youngest World bench press holder with 720 pounds at 20 years old. We have four. Long live King George. In York, PA, at the IPA World Cup, Rob was lifting against Dave Barno, a strong competitor and friend. It could be too many phones in the gym. This was only the start once you had lots of equipment and strong training partners. Lets cover the icon of Chuck V. AKA Chuck Vogelpohl, the man who had to duct tape his ribs so they wouldnt pop out of his spine. Tate would challenge these imitators, saying that if they really wanted to be like Chuck, then they should be the first person in the gym and the last one out at the end of the day. (The classic Westside template has two Dynamic days and two Max Effort days, one of each for both the upper and lower body.) But everyone had left the building. I put the bands over my shoulder and knew this could change the world, and it did. Glen Chabot also comes to mind as a great guy, and very strong. First we'll teach you perfect form, then we'll work on your weaknesses so you don't get hurt. But, an old back problem put him out of our great sport. EFS: What about your diet? In three years it was 2855, and his best was 2930. On Sunday, I walked into the warm-up room, nervous and green. Dave asks, how many more are you going to do?, this is when Chuck says, one more than you. They ended up finishing the workout at 40 sets!!! This first 4 week block is designed to help lifters get used to dropping reps and really gauge their max effort movements. The flame hat you wore should be in its own Hall of Fame! Do their physiques say something about their training styles, or is there something else going on? I have girls that squat 450 at 123 pounds and 132 pounds, and girls that squat 590 at 148 pounds. For more information, please see our Sign up for Patreon and get the exact programming Matt recommends for each modality. All right reserved. EFS: We all know you started the squat beanies in powerlifting. That's why it works for everybody. Great lifters, poor organization, like many power meets. chuck vogelpohl powerpohlbest hockey base layer. George goes right over to the 155 lb. They need GPP, so dragging a sled, pushing the Prowler, and using the wheelbarrow and strongman yoke. In this clip, Tate and Coan address the question of what it was like to train with Chuck. I was 43 in 91 and said I was done powerlifting after this miss hap. Simply put, he is a force of nature. This was the last time I lifted in a USPF meet. Chuck was a National champion by the late 1980s, a World Champion in 1995 but injuries kept him from fully realizing his potential until the early 2000s and once professional meets with prize money and championship belts were created in the mid 2000s, Chuck entered the zenith of his career. hated me, along with his sister, or wife, or both, Im not sure. Yep. Dave said that Chuck was an incredible training partner because he respected the gym, the weights and the equipment greatly. I now present to you The Iron Man; Chuck Vogelpohl. Chuck. And Chuck V., Dave Tate, and myself in the squat and deadlift. Thanks for sitting down with me and talking about the old times. In Texas, John Inzer put on a Bash for Cash along with Joe McCoy. And, while he was holding the deadlift, after the down signal, he said in his witches voice, F you Louie Simmons. It was a great day for him and myself to see him make that lift, we will both remember that day forever. EFS: What do you think of static iso-holds? Or for people to tell /u/WeaponizedSleep to eat more. It was good for the team to learn to make, not only lifts, but to compete. Chuck is the man . 2023 Westside Barbell. and our I took Dave Tate with me. He became the youngest World bench press holder with 720 pounds at 20 years old. I saw him do 1,100 lb. After the interview I sat down with Dave and talked about what its been like training with Chuck over the past several years. And this leads us to the final point. We won the APF Nationals from 1993 through 1997. George and KP were ruling the bench at Westside. If you cant lift correctly than you are going to get hurt. Chuck V.: Well I should point out that I did perform a max effort day and dynamic effort day for almost twenty years. The only barbell lifts he does are basically Zercher squats or sumo deadlifts. To adapt to training is never to adapt. world record at SHW in the 80s. Dave Hoff came to Westside as a 15 year-old high school football player. He is a very humble and gracious person. Much like a rabbit in track. Chuck, you had a very high tolerance to high volume, and you maintained it for your entire lifting career. It had a powerlifting room by itself, and I started to train with lots of guys like Kenny Patterson (KP) and Joe McCoy, but would work my way into your group. The bands wont make you squat big; check between your legs before you change anything. Although Vogelpohl isnt breaking world records these days, you can find him showcasing some of his wisdom on his Instagram page, with his latest post showing hamstring glute sit backs using the belt squat and of course a box. For example, Chuck Vogelpohl would do speed squats with 405-455 in a 3-week wave with one set of strong Jump-Stretch bands. This builds mechanical power. The fact we always kick their asses might have something to do with it. At that point, we were lifting at many meets and kicking everybodys asses. Free Shipping with a $69 qualifying order. EFS: How do you calculate volume on a weekly basis and do you base this entirely on Prilipins chart and do you follow the 60% rule when performing extra workouts? I can go on Look, this is nothing I'm doing. Louie:I could think of two things that took your lifts up, especially the squat, to unbelievable levels. So it's instinctive, but with a purpose. It takes a lot of time. How much is too much band tension? The proven Russian formula we worked was all on percentages. It doesn't matter what your age is, whether you're natural, even your gender. One reason he was having a problem was that he needed to gain more size on his legs. The Insanity of Chuck Vogelpohl. The bands are what made my squat take off, but I lost a lot in stability. Tate encourages coaches to lean on one another. Back to Daytona and Waterman again, plus the giant killer, Markus Schick, was in the house. close grip bench, but missed it at the top. Anti-slip mat on the bench! Note: During the BFCM sales period all sales are final.Thus, no returns will accepted. And the two were almost even for years. Wed Oct 14, 2020. Dave Tate has said during multiple YouTube videos that Chuck was always the first person in the gym setting the lift of the day up and he was the last person to leave the gym, in order to make sure that everything was put away and cleaned up properly. EFS: Whats it like training at Westside being Chuck Vogelpohl? It shows in how he takes immense pride in caring for his training environment and for his fellow lifters. Louie, I knew you kept track of all our training, and you were always trying to get me to taper back for a meet and not squat all the time and pull a weight sled, but I would not listen. He has more 2900 totals than anyone on the planet. Ten guys here have squatted 1200 pounds. EFS: The major reason why we wanted to do this interview was to clear things up on your new video, Vogelpohl XXX. There are a number of YouTube videos on Lexen Extreme, Brandon Lilly, and 360 Cut channels which showed Chuck training ferociously after he left Westside Barbell in approximately 2009. He is the other half of this absolutely mental squat workout/competition with Vogelpohl. EFS: What kind of percentages do you use? The original plan was to do 8 sets of 2 reps. I just read some coach arguing that you need to "learn how to grind." Then, I tore my triceps off. Dave Tate thought I was crazy, but that would soon change everything at Westside. I had a cage put in my back so that I could lift some good weights like 700-pounds raw squats and 750-pound raw sumo deadlifts with straps. Chuck has had numerous upper body injuries to overcome to include a broken neck which caused severe nerve issues in his upper body. At this point, Chuck finished with a couple of sets of elevated glute-ham raises and went home. Can you let us in on what the new fashion trend is going to be? I go right to the bench and do my set. The saying goes, If you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Too much band tension hurt Georges peck, and also broke his best bench by 50 lbs. bodyweight. Dave Williams of Liberty University was coming for a visit. That is the saying I would attach. Chuck: I do think its getting somewhat out of hand, but if you want to compete at a high level, you have to wear whats out there. How To Get The Most Out of Your Westside Bands. We were the only gym with three 600 lb. I am proud to say not only Matt trained at Westside, but also, Dave Tate, you made Elite Fitness. Just trying to keep him down, because hed get so hyped up that hed [mess] his squat up, hed fall over in the bottom, and its just like dude, settle down. Copyright 2023 elitefts. Chuck V: Whats the deal with your tattoos? His 628 lb. Another YouTube clip shows Chuck squatting the all time world record of 1110 lbs in the 242 lb class. Compound sets will get you there. Chuck Vogelpohl (242) squatted an all-time record of 1,110 pounds today at the IPA Iron House Classic in Columbus, Ohio. I need to put that weight in my hands. he was the lightest man ever to squat 1,000 lbs. He was a great training partner with his Zippy fired personality, along with Chuck V. who could never do enough in the workouts, and the two carried me along with them. This was when Westside was at demorest. You cutting that much weight finally caught up to you. But George went on to his first 600 lb. Chuck is known for his incredible squatting prowess, but as Louie says it is improving your weakest lift will make you a champion. They see internet videos of him squatting or deadlifting and going nuts. EFS: Do you ever do any max effort work on Monday?