I recently attended a local powerlifting meet. I want to rant about the number of people who had @followmecausemommydidnthugmeenough printed on any and everything. I want to rant about how out of 150 competitors, the biggest three guys were 242 pounds. I want to rage about the amount of pizza and ice cream socks that seem to blend like some evil version of a powerlifting Jackson Pollock. I'm not, though. After having some time to process my inner hatred of the clowns, this is what chaps my ass, the death of the squat.
The squat, the king of the lifts, the most significant part of your total—well it used to be—is changing into the deadlift. In this meet, in particular, running parallel with what little footage I do see these days, the squat is a bunch of quiet, nervous people wearing deadlifts and: whiskey, donuts, bacon, ice cream, LGBT, pizza, and beer shirts. Is the squat and bench just a formality for people to deadlift in a competition?
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Why don't people have squats and bute shirts? I have no patience, even if I had the means to collect the data. But I’d bet a Derek Lewis chin shot that the majority of lifters are out pulling their squats. Ugh, writing this is tough; this is the catalyst for the total not being shit anymore, either. I'm fully aware that I come off as some old guy yelling, “Get off my lawn!” Well, that's it—I worked hard on that lawn, so fuck off. A huge deadlift is way cooler than a huge squat. How and why? It's the same era where you have to screenshot 1300-pound squats on some digital witch hunt to prove that "it's high." It’s 1300 fucking pounds!!!!
There are some undeniable reasons why this is. One is fear, and two, you can’t tweak a squat by spreading your legs using standard pound plates on a deadlift bar loaded with 900 pounds and pulling it a mere inch or so off the ground for a "good lift." God, people are out pulling their squats by 100, 200, 300 pounds!!!!!! How and why? ‘Cause the total ain't shit compared with getting a viral video shared everywhere. Yeah, squatting is scary. Big fucking deal—life is scary.
Taking a token squat and a token bench to "save" it for pulls is a shitty philosophy. Last I checked, you make nine attempts, add your best three together for a total, and a winner is decided. Nope, we got Wilks warriors and sumo stance deadlift wizards. I can't wrap my head around it; the only thing that comes to the front of my thick Irish head is, people are just scared—plain and simple.
"If one lift were to be removed from powerlifting, which of the three movements do you feel it should be?
Low and fucking behold, the squat came to the front like a sacrificial lamb waiting for slaughter. The reasoning you ask? Too hard to judge? Too controversial? Takes too long? It kills me, and I'd much rather see someone say "fuck the squat, I'm too big of a pussy" than make bullshit excuses.
This whole era of deadlift and sweets is mind-blowing. If you don't know me, or what I've done, I'm no squat-only fat dude. I've benched 580 in a competition and have pulled 800. All while after squatting low to mid 900's. So, don't work that angle. Admit you sit to piss and are scared.
The deadlift is making its way to "king" due to one simple fact— it has the least chance of fucking you up. Oh no, you got a little boo-boo on your little handy wandy that you'll post and have the most badass gnarliest hashtags showing that YOU are an iron warrior. Wrestling is removed from the Olympics, the squat removed from powerlifting, everyone gets a trophy, what's next? Fuck, make America squat again.
So, besides my throwing a tantrum over the spineless wave of weirdos—who probably all eat halo top instead of Ben and Jerry’s—check this out. Train your squat, and have some balls that it is the biggest. Pound the bench, and then, get your big pull. Powerlifting is a three-lift competition (smh), and you are scared-to-death squat lifters are the ones preaching integrity when a heavy squat isn't to your desired depth. Fuck, it gives me a migraine. This website that you are reading right now has so much information on how to build a big squat. Trust me, when you build the squat and bench, you'll be surprised. You can squat so much more than you let yourself believe. Fear is the killer of all motivation.
I'll close with this. Squatting big is an experience. Not only will it test your grit and your mental toughness but also it'll give you freedom. This is going to get a little thick, so tie your boots up.
Sitting on a bent metal chair, getting your knees wrapped. The skin is peeling, and your feet are going numb, but you are focused. You hear your name, but most things are quiet and blurred inside your head. Your handler helps you up, and you waddle to that bar. Bars loaded come over the speakers—you don't see shit at this point. It's all systems go, and for that 10 seconds—10 measly seconds—you're free.
No overdue bills, no kids fucking up, and the old lady isn't at your neck. Nothing enters your mind—nothing but to stand the fuck back up. Red lights, white lights, who cares? You had the balls to take it for a ride. That's why you shouldn't be scared of the squat. Don't cheat yourself of this; when that feeling dies, I'm dead.
Make the squat great again.
Thank you, and God bless.
Dave Tate's Free Squat Manual
The squat is king for strength and mental toughness. I’ve been squatting since 1974 and the night or two before squat day, I still start feeling a little anxious about my planned weights.
Getting past that sticking point on the way up, or the heavy feeling of the bar on your back are all part of my training experience.
It’s truly the king of lifts.
1. Different goals is fine and all but when competing there is only one specific goal, the total
2. No good powerlifter is scared of squatting, kind of driving my point.
3. I didn't say my body type isn't for the squat, it most definitely is, I also have a solid bench and a solid pull all while being built to squat
4 Dave Tate liked my "garbage article"
But thanks for the read, I appreciate you God bless