Oct. 06

USAPL CORNER

October 2006

Raw Lifting

What defines raw lifting? According to the USAPL it is wrist wraps, knee wraps and a belt. Other organizations consider raw lifting, just that, no equipment at all. Whether you want to argue about what is considered raw or not, one thing is clear, this type of lifting is gaining speed.

We have seen the equipment advancing to the point that a single ply shirt can give a lifter over a hundred pounds in a bench press. The USAPL has always been able to brag in a way that our lifters have a limited on equipment. But, in this day and age, that doesn’t mean a lot. Thread count has increased and designs have advanced. What the IPF considers single ply has changed with each shirt it has approved.

Some people have seen enough. Athlete’s with blown out pecs and other injuries because their bodies cannot handle the weight the equipment can. As the public becomes more aware of our sport it becomes increasingly harder to explain an equipped lift verses a raw lift. So…let’s go raw! More and more organizations are including a raw division in their meets. The organizations that are totally raw are gaining members.

I am happy to say, for those raw lifters, the USAPL has officially defined what it considers raw and does include a raw division in its bench press Nationals. Who knows, with this increase in raw lifters … maybe their will be a USAPL Raw Nationals one day. As the USAPL North Carolina, we are happy to announce that we will start keeping raw state records and at all future competitions starting in 2007 will have a raw division for athlete’s to compete in. We welcome the raw athlete!

Jennifer Thompson

USAPL North Carolina State Chair

I.P.F. World Bench Press Champion

Webmaster Donovan Thompson

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