Yesterday I saw the following video of a Powerlifting meet in 1999. 20 years ago…. Oldskool rocks!
It was a really good time. Our team was training together and lifting together during the meets. Competition was high within our team. Nevertheless we cheer very hard the other during training and meets. That is the big different between equipped (oldskool) powerlifting and todays classic powerlifting. Equipped lifters need each other to help out, with suit, wraps and shirts. That connects. It motivated me for today’s training đ Thank you boys for that great time! Peter Baltus, Michel Kossen, Robbert Klaver, Erwin Krokkee, Peter Bongers, etc. Coming weekend are Ilrish & Iris batteling on the platform at the Dutch Classic Powerlifting Nationals. I wish both good look and you train very hard for this meet.
After competing rather succesfully at the European Masters Classic Powerlifting Championships in Gyor Hungary last week, the time has come for me to write a personal blog on my experiences with Wimâs training method.
Wim
was my assigned coach during an international powerlifting event and thatâs how
we met. I was struck immediately by his warm personality, professionalism and
experience. I needed some time to adjust to his blatant âdirectnessâ however,
but because of his obvious good intentions, Iâve really learned to appreciate
his approach and straightforwardness.
Weâve
experienced two training periods of approximately 12 weeks each together now
and my results have improved dramatically! His focus on lighter weights and
technique have made me flourish in the sport like never before. I canât fathom
what has happened to me in a relatively short period of time. I feel stronger,
can lift heavier and recover quite quickly. Slight injuries, I might (have)
experience(d) donât worsen and overall I feel invincible.
Of
course I keep an eye on the progress of my peers, especially the ones in
approximately the same weight category, and I see them lifting very heavy (near
pr numbers) weights quite often during their training period. At the beginning
I used to doubt Wimâs training method, and wonder why he didnât let me lift
more kilos sometimes, but now Iâve come to rely heavily on his method,
structure and ideas. Because they work! My results speak for themselves.
What
I really admire in Wim is his knowledge and honesty, even if it sometimes hurts
what he has to say. He keeps an eye on the bigger picture, when I myself canât.
I know he has my best interest at heart. Furthermore I appreciate his
dedication and promptness in responding to any questions or doubts I might
have. I can rely on his backup and wisdom all the time. He has my back
continuously!
Funnily
enough he also teaches me life lessons I can use beyond the gym. I falter
sometimes, but he picks me up time and again. Thanks for everything, Wim, and I
hope we can continue our cooperation!
My next goals are the Dutch nationals and the World Masters Classic Powerlifting Championships in Helsingborg, Sweden. He has promised to keep on coaching me and I canât wait to see what the powerlifting meets have in store for me. Iâm hungry for more kilos, improvement of my technique and more competition confidence. Bring it on!
My final Nationals went very good. With big help of my friend Peter Baltus, coaching me during the meet. Michael Kalter my other was also competing so it as a memorable day for. Like the old days when we 3 lifted together.
The day before I felt some nerves I didn’t feld for a long time. Like I did when I started competing. Knowing that this were my final Nationals made me tense (sickly).
The competition went very good. 1st attempt squat gaves me a little pressure and I corrected the movement when I came out of the whole. My final squat 275kg was the best and just 10kg below the National record. In my loose suit I can control the pressure in my head very well đ Bench press went a little bit worse than hoped during the warm-up and therefore I didn’t push myself to much. And finished with 172,5kg. Deadlifting I do without suit, because also a loose suit generates to much pressure with the liftoff I don’t want that. With my opener 230kg I made the qualify total for the Europeans & Worlds Powerlifting Masters II, so mission accomplished đ In my 2nd attempt I did 242,5kg and in my 3rd and final I felt the emotion that is was my final attempt at the Nationals. I pulled 252,5kg and made a total of 700kg. This is 40kg below the National record, so this will be a nice goal to lift at the Europeans đ Thank you all for the support.
The final equipped training is always very funny đ at least for some one. Iris and Ilrish had a nice final equipped session after their ‘low’ weights classic training đ After this training the openers are sets and they can enjoy the weekend and the light training session coming week for the Nationals. Below their final equipped training sets.
Today I had my final equipped training for the Nationals. Finished the training with 3×2 squats, deadlift and bench press. The weights are approx. the weight of my final warm-up set for my openers next week at the Nationals. Short video of my final sets.
