Okay here the video of all the deadlift attempts of @inspirised at the Dutch Equipped Powerlifting Nationals of last Sunday. Including the new Dutch Record of 230,5kg. With this attempt she qualified herself for the European Equipped Powerlifting Championships in May 2018.
This meet is a very a nice steps towards her Worlds Classic Powerlifting in June 2018.
Read here blog about the nationals, click here and mine, click here!
And that is being equipped in powerlifting: not only setting goals but 
achieving them ??
10 weeks ago I decided to give equipped lifting a try. And I discovered that the difference between a wish and and a goal is: ACTION. I did not only strived to learn how to master at least a tiny bit of this style of lifting. I worked my ass of to do so and complaint just as much ?.
While writing this blog it’s saturday 14.00 o’clock in the afternoon and am waiting for Sunday ‘competitionday’ to peep its head around the corner. I AM SET on giving all I have got and more. It’s time to let my technique, strength and focus come together and work MAGIC.
By speaking it in to existence I know it will be all right. SO NO MORE FEAR ONLY the right mindset I AM ON FIRE. I got my coach there…my sister there and (gym) friends who care for me and want to see me shine.
COMPETITION DAY |And how did it actually go?
Everything I wished for and more. Eager to continue with equipped lifting. I will with the though love from coach @wimwam1 who got me this far. It would not have been able to do this without his help and persistence.
THEY NEVER SAW US COMING. During the day I dealt with some turbulation. Missed my weigh in. Bench did go as aspected….I gave it my best shot. But was not able to show all I have got in my 2nd and 3rd attempt. But most off all I am uttermost satisfied. Squats went and felt great. I know what I have to work out. Especially my WALK OUT and wearing a tighter suit. Deadlifts need some extra love on my lock out and using the suit more. I lift classic in the suit and that works against me. But hey….that only means that I am getting stronger right ?✅✅
Broke the DUTCH EQUIPPED Deadlift record with a pound!!! Pretty AWESOME. . .
SQUAT 185 ✅ 195 ✅ 200 ❌
[ FOCUS ]
Bench 80 ✅ 87.5❌ 87.5❌
[DETERMINATION]
Deadlift 220 ✅ 230.5✅ 238 ❌
[TECHNIQUE ]
Leave a comment if you want me to write a about a particular subject relating to my equipped journey.
◇ Untill we meet again ◇
Video of all my attempts:
Today Iris had her debut at the Dutch Nationals Equipped Powerlifting. After 10 weeks training and 5 equipped training, she did a great job! Awesome to be at here side 🙂 For me also a comeback as coach on a meet. I can imagine she will write her own blog this coming week at www.powerlifter.nl
Nevertheless below some facts of her meet and below the video of all her attempts, including the Dutch National Record deadlift with 230,5kg
Squats went great. 1st attempt 185kg followed by 195kg. Unfortunately 2 reds on her 3rd attempt of 200kg. In my opinion it was a good attempt. Nevertheless you have to accept the referees decissions.
1st attempt bench press was very nice. On her 2nd & 3rd attempt the plate on the right side hits the safety racks. The safety racks were not locked at the rack and therefore moved too much outside 🙁 Also with that kind of a mather you have to deal with.
Deadlifting went awesome. Iris 1st attempt was 220kg (equal to here classic record) followed by 230,5kg. And that is a new Dutch Record Powerlifting Equipped. Her 3rd attempt 238kg was a little bit to heavy for today.
Overall she became 3rd place on her 1st Equipped Powerlifting meet. Hopefully she will be invited for the European Equipped Powerlifting Championship in May 2018. If she does 🙂 it will be Time for really tight suits. I can imagine at least 1 person will like that very much 😀
Again Iris you did a very good job!!! proud!
loading the bar ?.
Untill we meet again….
F A I L I N G I S YO U R B E S T M A S T ER
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Eight weeks back I had no idea where I got myself in to. I think I know a lot more since then, but I am still searching fore some overall clarity. I am learning new stuff by doing new things. It gives me a new understanding about what I’m capable of doing. Am very gratefull for it.
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Overall I can say that some things feel good and a lot feels akward. And that akward feelling makes me somewhat insecure. It’s not a big deal…but enough of a deal for me to point it out. Knowing that it eventualy will make me embrace that feeling. As I heard today (watching the Winter Olympics) that even the best of the best (top) atheletes have insecurities.
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This week most things I planned went as planned!
Particularly me following my training in the order I’m supposed to: 1,2,3, 4 and not 1,3,2 and 4. ?
I wouldn’t be me (silly human) if I didn’t mess something up. Ofcourse misloading plates during one of my work outs. Due to lack of my counting ability. This mistake came to bite me in the a$$ during this central training. I wasn’t able to hit all the numbers like I wanted to. Well you live and you learn right?
And F A I L I N G is a part of that. I’m learning to accept and adapt to this roalercoaster ride. Eventhough it’s difficult from time to time. But I’m learning from the best Master.
Untill we meet again..
That’s how I can describe yesterday’s training.
I tried my hardest to make this week go as smooth as possible.
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I can check the following boxes.
□ Did all work outs
□ Managed my time a lot better
□ Felt strong during the week
□ Eat and slept enough
□ Looked forward to the ‘lightweighted’ central training
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Even with all this preperation the central training got me like…..RU FREAKING KIDDING ME.
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Squats felt heavy….bench went much better….and deadlifts……..:-/. Don’t you even get me started!
In Dutch there is a saying that goes like: those who are not strong should be smart.
Well… I can tell you that is difficult with a fried brain.
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During this training I asked myself many times….what am I doing? Why does this feels like I’m surviving. I’m glad to say that my technique saved me through this day cause I felt like ‘UGH’. The head was out of office, and my manners took a vacation. Alll that was left was the heart to lift with.
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My sister @ilyscious was there to have my back. Every step a long the way, alongside coach. The one and only coach who made me do extra sets and reps to get the best (of that day) out of me. That is what I realise now. But at that moment it felt like he was pushing all my buttons and really got on my nerves. We are still friends but I did not like his behaviour that much! Or was it my own?
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This video shows what that looks like. I dare you to watch it (without laughing).
*3×170KG EQUIPPED SQUATS
*5×195KG EQUIPPED DEADLIFTS
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After getting my frustration out of the way, Coach was so kind to remind me of the boxes I forgot to check:
□ Not sticking to the order of the programme
□ Forgetting that I’ve made progression
□ Being to ‘lightheaded’ about the lighttraining
□ Choosing to survive
□ Taking one step at a time
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Uhm….what did you say? Well that sets the record straight!
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When you think you know, but you have no idea.
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Untill we meet again
《《 Key note》》: I’ve got my squat and deadlift suit tailored. They are tighter than before. I’m so happy, because now I feel what compression does when the technique is right. For now I’ll save you my experience on how things go down hill when the technique is off ?Untill we meet again.
Every SUNday I review my week and all my sins 🙂
Well today it’s evaluationday. This comes after judgementday a.k.a. the weekly central training.
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Five weeks @ following this new programm feels like a rollercoaster. An interesting and unpredictable ride I must say. Eventhough we know where we are working towards. Ahum….at least one of us does.
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My third equipped training is a fact. Squats were a big challenge. I’m much aware of being out of my comfort zone. My head and body are trying to speak the same language when It comes down to speeding up the lift. But mostly to ‘let go’. I’m not affraid of failing a squat…I’m just not looking forward to get comfortable staying down..d.d.d.down there.
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I’m stunned about the fact that my light training sessions seem to pay off. Especially when it comes down to my technique. I’ve noticed that my style is changing and I think for the better. When my lifts are wobbly, tensionless, look like dive bombs; ‘you name it’ I’ve done it… I can reproduce what I did wrong and am able to act on it in the next set/rep/training. Click here to watch a part of yesterday’s training and know what I mean.
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All the mobility exercises are beneficial to my bench press. There is still a lot work to be done. Focussing on my set up…leg drive…and placement of the barrrr
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On deadlifts I’m amazed about the KG’s the suit is making me pull. And the speed that comes with it. Needless to say that I almost started with squats in my deadlift suit :-). Lucky for me coach keeps an eye on everything. Especially on me and makes sure I don’t get lost in this world of endless possibilities, reps and sets.
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If it was not for him I would still be walking around in my suit this weekend. Because I couldn’t get out of my belt. It must have something to do with being : EQUIPPED IN BEING CLUMSY.
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Untill we meet again….
ONE word TWO syllables……keep on reading…..
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Yesterday Wim took me for another equipped ride. After the first equipped session I was a little bit nervous to follow up to this second one, but all I can say is “I buckled my seatbelt”. This for sure is gonna be a bumpy ride!
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Pjotr van den Hoek (Netherlands strongest pwrlftr in the -105KG weightclass) was so kind to send Wim the Titan suits needed for this training. Some already worn by him. So I thought I was in the clear.
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Well….big mistake. Because the fact that someone already worn the suit doesn’t mean you automatically gain Superpowers. Silly me 🙂
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How it all went down;
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The raw SQUAT training went well. I felt very strong and with each rep I looked forward to move on to the real deal. Getting in the squat-suit was a little hassle and hilarious at the same time. I had to hang on the rack to get in to it. 
And after that Wim lifted me from the ground to make sure the suit was on. Getting my legs strapped was a little less painfull this time around. I still get the feeling as if my legs are getting numb. And my head is screaming…..GET ME OUT OF HERE. Following Wim’s advice & trainingsschedule these last 4 weeks teached me that I should block these thoughts and stop*wining*. Let me rephrase that in a positive way: just think happy thoughts 🙂
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I’m learning, slow that is, but I’m getting the hang of at least maintaining the mindset of approaching the bar with a positive attitude. Eventhough I am in pain. Unracking the bar needs more practice and patience. I’m used to taking big steps. With this kind of lifting that is not (yet) possible or practical. Every misstep gets me out of the flow and makes me feel the weights inmediately. With the risk of getting out of the groove.
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Benchpress *fried* my arms for sure. We tried different shirts but we are still figuring out what shirt works best for me. Let’s say I’m like an “IKEA closet”!! There is always something wrong, missing and the manual is never right.
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Deadlifts were a blast. I got several ques on my handplacement, stance and tips on how to use the momentum by speeding up the lift. The suit felt great and is for now the right size. 175KG feels like 100kg. My legs and arms were tired from all the other stuff we had done and tried out.
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The day after all I can say is: ONE word TWO syllables = MUSCLE-PAIN…!
Click here to see my performance on squat (3x155KG) & deadlifts (3x175KG):-) or scroll at the end of the blog 🙂
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Lucky for me the company Perfect Body is helping me out with that. They are so kind to sponsor my supplements and make sure my vitamine and mineral intake is ON POINT. I can’t express how happy I’m with such a generous act. Thank you Perfect Body for making this powerlifting ride (a little) easier. 
I’ll keep my act together and make sure I wont let you down.
Untill we meet again…..
The new URL www.powerlifter.nl is active and it forward the athlete blogs of Iris Kensenhuis. 1,5 year ago I meet Iris and Ilrish (here sister) on a Powerlifting work-out I gave at Spartacus Noord-Scharwoude. Unfortunately the Gym is closed after over 35 years. Big Powerlifting legends trained there under the supervision of Henk Keizer. Happy that Henk is still active in the sports as coach of the National team. This was the side step in this blog. After the workshop I stayed in contact with Iris and Ilrish. Since last summer they come over to train at my 
homegym. During their training I gave advice / suggestions how to improve their powerliftingtechnique. Also adviced them to add some oldskool excersises in their training, when they were training in my homegym. At the end of last year Iris asked me if I want to be here trainer/coach, so she can start a new journey and go to next level as a powerlifter. Because I’m still recovery from aftermath of my operation, I had to think over and over. And I made the decission on my feeling and I’m glad she gave me the opportunity to help/advice here so she can make the steps in here journey. The first is started already. Here first meet will be the Dutch (Equipped) Powerlifting Nationals at the end of februari. Hopefully she will be ready to qualify herself for the European (Equipped) Powerlifting Champions in May 2018. This will be a good step to get prepared for the World (Classic) Powerlifting Championships in June 2018. At the www.powerlifter.nl you can read the blogs from Iris and hope you will enjoy reading the experiences of here journey.