Louie asked me this past weekend to write down some of my memories from the gym during my time there (the 90’s). When I first came, it was a commercial gym, then moved to the boxer in the basement location, and finally to the location in projects.
I won’t be posting these stories, as they will be for Louie, but I may drop an occasional one here and there because, as I was taking notes today, there’s a lot! I didn’t just train there, he was my direct training partner, I traveled with him to all the meets and seminars, trade shows and broke him out of the hospital after his partial shoulder replacement. I loved and hated that fucker.
What always comes to my mind first are the rules we had. Most were nothing new to me, due to the lifters and groups I’ve trained with my entire life, but they were not as “real” as they were at WSBB and I loved it! Some were stated others were just learned.
It was an easy place to come visit, stay and train for a week or two. Those who did this got to see a small fraction of the training, club and shared several meals with Louie. They saw the outter layer of the club and I am sure had great vacations.
I have been to many areas of the Caribbean and loved my stay. I would bet to Live there year around would be 100% different than my one week stay by the pool.
Over 95% of those who came to train and stay, didn't last one month.
Some of the rules I remember
Powerlifting had to be your FIRST priority.
Don’t miss sessions EVER. Don’t be late EVER! I saw and was part of kicking very good lifters out for those two.
You compete or leave.
Once you commit to the meet you do it, no matter what. I never missed a meet and had many poor meets or bomb outs because I lifted injured. Never back out!
Make those less than you better than you.
Never sit during a dynamic squat or bench session.
Leave your drama outside the door. It took me years to find out that some of the guys I trained with were married. We talked shit and we talked training. That was it.
Go to meets to help your team and pay your own way there.
ONLY enter the open division.
Everyone trained the same lifts on the same day (except supplemental movements that were weak-point specific).
Know the program.
There is an AM crew and a PM crew. No other crew. Train in one or the other or not at all.
Keep your hands off the board unless you were putting your name on it.
No cameras.
Make the gym better.
If you get called out, step up
If your Ego started to get the best of you, you would quickly be reminded to - take it to the meet. In other words, shut the fuck up. It doesn't matter in the gym.
Realize you don’t matter at all - your numbers do, and those are only as good as your last meet.
Training hard was not expected, it was a given. If you couldn’t handle it, leave.
Don’t be the one who worked the least. That would make you a “twead” and your exit would be soon.
If you got on the cover of PLUSA, your lifting days won't last much longer. Publicity was the kiss of death to a Powerlifter.
Stay out of the Bullshit and let your lifting do the talking.
I will be the first to say, while I was there we didn't know what training "optimal" was yet. Louie learned what too much was from us (and HIM as he was right at the top of the mix - in his 50's). Good or bad, it fit the mentality of the group of the 90's so maybe, for us, it was optimal.
More Blogs & Articles From Dave Tate Here
3 Comments