Decades ago I was a power lifting champion and the strongest man in South Carolina in 1989. I retired and never looked back to the accomplishments I made and the many friends I acquired while lifting.

Then, not too long ago I received a phone call from a man called Furman. Furman said that when he was young he watched me train in the gym and wanted to be a Powerlifter just like me… talk about a head rush. I never had anyone tell me that. It was kind of spooky hearing it from a man I could not remember, but then Furman was a very young man when he met me, from what he said.

I finally met Furman in person; this young man was not the young boy that he was when he said I had such an effect on him. He is a walking mountain of pure energy. If I stood behind him you would not even see me! Huge would be an understatement! We had lunch and talked for quite awhile. Talking I started to remember the feeling I had when I was lifting, the rush, the challenge of the weight, the motivation needed to move it, all embodied in this young man mountain sitting across from me.

Furman is a professional wrestler and goes by the name of “BIG HOSS” for obvious reasons. In my era we had a show on the TV called the Cartwrights, a western. There was a man called Hoss on that show that reminds me of Furman with the feats of strength he does.

Since then Furman and I have had multiple fun moments talking. One of the best times I had was when he invited me and my wife, (a retired body builder) to his home for Thanksgiving with his family. And here I was looking at another moving mountain, his “little” brother Clint. I thought that all the giants of old were dead… truly an amazing family.

Furman called me the other day and asked if I would help spot him and another man, Donnie, while they worked out. Having nothing to do, sure why not?

I’m 5 -10 and weigh 300lb right now. I’m not a little person by a long shot. But when I got to this “gym” I really felt small! The “gym” is the home of Donnie Thompson, the official strongest man in the WORLD for Powerlifting! When I was lifting the strongest man in the world was Bill Kazmaier. I said Powerlifters would rule the world with Kazmaier as King. Well as time passes Kazmaier has been dethroned and now the new and undisputed king of Powerlifting is Donnie Thompson, blowing all previous records apart!

For the next 45 minutes I watched as these world class athletes stretched and warmed up for a semi heavy bench day as they trained for an upcoming meet on November the 25th 2008.

Things have changed so very much with weight training. These giants among men have learned for the world’s best, Donnie Thompson. He teaches by example, and gives advice on technique and style freely. I was truly humbled to be among these giants, listening to their teacher and watching each and every motion of their style and training with the utmost interest.

The men and the ladies that were in Mr. Thompson’s personal, (invitation only) gym are not only the most amazing people I know and have seen. They are also gentle giants, the most mild mannered, respectfully people I have ever met. Now I understand why Mr. Thompson does not have a gym open to the public. He cares about the people who he allows to lift in his personal gym and home. They are professionals in and out of the gym. That is the kind of person Mr. Thompson wants to be associated with and no other.


For those of you who have heard that people can not move mountains.

You have not seen with your own eyes what I witnessed first hand!

People can move mountains…

To yet another world record!

Some countries pick their champions from birth. Some even go so far as to arrange marriages of athletes with the expectations of having the ultimate child to represent their country. These same countries pay for all living expenses while the athletes train to represent their individual county at the world class contests.

Here in the United States of America our champions are driven by desire and determination. Our champions have a passion to devote their own time after they worked all day, to be the very best at what they do! Second place is not an option for them!!

With that said; if you would like to contribute to any of the athletes I have listed on this page to help with their expenses, or donating supplements, equipment, transportation, lodging while at one of their many contests, please feel free to contact any of them that have listed their phone numbers above. They will be glad to tell you of their contest dates and needs.

My personal gift to these giants among men is this humble WebPage to let America know we do have world class champion’s right here in Columbia, South Carolina. And to let America know that our champions need your help to compete in peak condition in the world’s stadiums!!

• What to do when you do not have anything left to give.
• How to be motivated to achieve excellence.
• How to excel with your job and home life.
• How to influence the next generation now.
• The different levels of determination.
• What makes the desire to succeed?
• How you can become a leader.

When you watch Mr. Dunn go through his routine during his workout a person can only wonder how he summons the drive and determination to do what other would call the imposable. When this World Class Strongman does an exhibition you are more than entertained, you will first deny what your own eyes have just witnessed, and then are in awe of what you will finally except as the truth of reality!

• 37 as of 10.25.2008
• Prior Arena Football League Linebacker/Fullback.
• 5'11" and compete at roughly 295lbs; currently about 285.
• ASC/USA Pro Strongman since March 2006.
• Married w/ 5 children ages 3 to 19.
• Best Squat (RAW): 745
• Deadlift: 815
• Log Lift: 405
• Atlas Stones: 365lbs loaded to 70" Platform; 5 stone series (300-415lbs, each stone 30ft apart) in 32 seconds.
• Competed in the last three ('06-'08) America's Strongest Man competitions.
• Also was member of 4-man Team USA at this 2008 World's Strongest Nation in Ukraine, making the finals.
• Top 5 finish at the Strongman Champions League in Kokkola, Finland in September2008.
• Call for motivational speaking and strongman exhibitions.

My name is Brad Dunn and I am a United States Professional Strongman. I compete here in the U.S. as well as internationally with the best strength athletes the world has to offer. It is extremely fun and challenging. It is an extreme test of the body and mind. It is my passion.
One of the most frequent line of questions I am asked concerns the physical requirements necessary to be competitive in a sport that demands so much from the human body. So much physical ability, preparation, and exertion. There is no question that a solid foundation of muscular strength is required to perform the near super-human task of picking up and loading a 400lb. stone to a 5ft. tall platform. But what role, and how much so, does mental strength and preparation play concerning the level of achievement in such a physically demanding path in life, or for that matter life itself?
I will attempt to answer this question in full based on my personal experiences over the last few years, and in the meantime I hope to inspire you to achieve more than you and your peers around you ever believed you were capable of. I have chosen to cover this topic because of how relevant is to me on a personal and professional level.
I began competing in the sport of strongman in 2004 in the U.S. amateur system known as North American Strongman (NAS). I made it my goal early on to achieve professional status and to ultimately become a top-level Pro.
I worked my way through the amateur ranks and by March of 2006 I had become a Professional Strongman. It was a crowning achievement for me and a goal realized. Conversely, I went from being the 'big fish in a small pond' to the small fish in a big one.
I experienced ups and downs (more downs) for the better part of my first year and a half as a Pro. Although I qualified for the America's Strongest Man finals in '06 and '07, I found myself finishing in the bottom of the pack at these bigger competitions. It then dawned on me what else I was doing before I even got to the competitions: I was letting guys beat me before the competition ever took place. In my mind, leading up to the day of the show, I was going through the competition event by event and deciding which athletes were better than me at each one before they even earned it. I was taking 6th, 8th, and 12th place finishes before the first whistle blew or the first drop of sweat fell.
At first I was so angry at myself. I thought of all the effort I put into training and preparation. I thought of the sacrifices made by my family. I thought of the financial cost involved and the support of local sponsors. I couldn't help but feel deep inside that I had let all of them down.
But the face I had to look at in the mirror everyday was my own, and I was going to begin to see it differently. This was a defining moment. I began by asking myself a serious and very relevant question: What makes these other athletes better than me?
Size? No. Although there are many athletes in Strongman that are taller and heavier, I have seen men my size win championships.
Experience? No again. This certainly can be a factor, but I have witnessed newly turned Pro's make a great impact and win titles.
Age? I am entering my late 30's, but no once again. This is nothing more than a feeble excuse. Ask Odd Haugen.
So what could it be? I looked around me and came to the conclusion that there was no good reason why I couldn't compete and finish at the top with the sport's best. I then observed more closely the competitors I believed were at the top of their game and noticed their determination and approach to each and every event. You could see it in their eye's and in their body language. They EXPECTED to win. And if they fell short or made a mistake they didn't become deterred, they became more determined.
The answer was plain and relatively simple, yet something that would require work and perseverance. The answer was, and is, 'MINDSET'. By definition mindset is "a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations". And it can be changed, developed, and strengthened.
You can shed an unproductive mindset and construct a new, powerful fortress of mental strength and toughness that not only defends against negative impulses, but also produces confidence and expectations of great results. I mentioned a moment ago that as plain as the answer is, it does require effort and perseverance. By adopting a new mindset you do open up a whole new realm of possibilities, but these possibilities can only be turned into real world results by applying daily focus and determination.
Now if you're thinking it sounds like too much work, do not be discouraged. All it takes to put a new mindset in place is a decision on your part and a true desire for positive change. Once you have put into place this new mindset you m ust do whatever you can to put it to use. As stated in the above definition, mindset is habitually based. The more you put it to action the more natural, or habitual, it becomes. Over a relatively short amount of time it will take root and much of the initial effort will not be required. You will have a naturally occurring positive outlook and you will expect more from yourself. You will also be able to handle any setbacks that may come about with a 'conqueror's attitude' by knowing you will overcome adversity by making it serve you in the form of determined future success' instead of allowing it to hold you down or make you feel weak and unable to succeed.
For me personally, I began visualizing having good workouts and performances. I also watched any available video of other competitor's achievements. In the past I would actually let myself become discouraged by doing this, thinking that I was not capable of what I saw other's doing. I turned that around within my new mindset and I now allow it to fuel me by saying to myself, "If he can then why can't I?". These other athletes are my peers, not my superiors.
I will begin closing by saying something very important: Anyone can do this. You and you alone control you're thought process and ultimately your mindset. I am no more special than you or the next person. I am simply someone trying to achieve rather than accept underachievement. That's it. Achievement as the only option.
Brad Dunn's Strongman Mindset: I am in 1st place in every event leading up to competition day. I am still in 1st place when the whistle blows for every event. I will stay in 1st place until someone steps up and takes it from me, earned by their effort over mine on that day, in that moment in time. I will not give away what I have worked so hard for.
My strengths have become stronger and my weaknesses are no longer. They will have to want it more than me, and I will not make it easy for them. May the best man win!
Last but not least, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you got something out of it, and maybe even became inspired by it. Either way, pass it along if the opportunity presents itself. I appreciate it.


Sincerely in Strength,

Brad Dunn
American Strongman Corporation
United States Professional Strongman
"The Wolverine"
www.AmericanStrongman.com

I have traveled to Yokota (USAF) Air Base in Japan the last three years to help put on a strongman competition as well as perform a demonstration. It is the only competition of it's kind all year in Japan and the guys that compete in it are true fans and students of the sport and really appreciate the opportunity to compete and see a couple of US pro's in person. In '06 and '07 it was hot as blue blazes (August there is like August in Columbia!) but this year it poured rain. It is an outside venue and most show's here in the US would have been cancelled but we put it on anyway due to the fact it is the only chance these athletes have to compete in their home country all year and some travel thousands of miles to get there. It turned out great and the guys loved it. They treat me so well over there and it is so satisfying. I have already been invited back for '09 so I pray that I can make it. I love this sport!!

There are so many events/disciplines in the sport of strongman that make it interesting to both the athlete and the fan. It is both fun and challenging preparing for each competition. The entire body is put to the test, the mind must be even stronger, and one's will must not be allowed to be shaken. It is Man vs. Weight, Man vs. Man, and most of all, Man vs. Himself.

My personal goals are lofty but within reach. I am going after the America's Strongest Man title for 2009, planning on leading Team USA to Gold (for the first time ever!) at World's Strongest Nation, and mixing it up more internationally within the Strongman Champions League throughout the year.

We (ASC) finally have a television deal in place for '09; the first of it's kind for the American Strongman scene. This new level of exposure is sure to bring the sport, the athletes, and all of our supporters the recognition that is merited.
This is truly reason to be excited! I believe 2009 is going to be HUGE!!

The Current U.S. Log Lift Record is 430lbs. I will be challenging this record come January and again later in the year, as well as the maximum height stone load. The record is currently 72" using a 365lb stone set by 6' 5", 340lb Tom McClure. Even though I am only 5'11" (okay, 5'10 3/4", haha!) I loaded the same stone to 70" in September and I am determined to keep moving up. BTW, most people don't believe this but I can two-hand slam dunk a basketball. YouTube video coming soon, haha.....


CONTACT INFORMATION:
You can call The Wolverine's phone number listed on the top under the COMPOUNDS RECORDS to enquire about motivational seminars, strongman demonstrations, sponsorship, or drop him an Email at The Wolverine to give him the moral support our American athletes deserve in the worlds stadiums!

		Here you see Mr. Thompson getting ready to squat. It takes a team effort or some really close friends when you handle the kind of weight that World Class Powerlifter Donnie Thompson handles with his training routine. You can see another world class lifter Mike Johnston wrapping Mr. Thompson’s knees while his beautiful girlfriend Ms. Jessica Fulmer applies chalk to his back.
		Before squatting you can see the determination in Mr. Thompson’s eyes as he prepares the last wraps around his wrists while he looks at the barbell that is loaded before him ready to squat. It is beyond belief that Mr. Thompson does not use knee wraps, or the benefits of a squatting suit until he gets over 800 pounds on the barbell. I personally stand there shaking my head is disbelief that any person could do this. But when you are The World Super Heavy Weight Champion… well, a person will see things that will just defy belief!
		You can tell I do not have these pictures in order by what you see here. Powerlifting Champion Donnie Thompson is coming up from a very easy squat without knee wraps or the use of his squatting suite. The plates pictured on one side are four hundred pounders and one forty five pounder. The barbell is around fifty five to sixty pounds! The standard forty five pound barbell just bends too much with the kind of weight Mr. Thompson plays with! You should have seen the brand new barbell Mr. Thompson used on 10.20.2008 bend when he packed it down with over eleven hundred pounds, and make it look so easy once more! Other names for Mr. Thompson… a squatting tool, a squatting machine!!! And one of the most humble people you will ever meet in real life! That is what impresses me the most with this man. The character he brings to Power Lifting and his personal life!
		Professional Strongman Brad “The Wolverine” Dunn gets ready to squat. These pictures are not in order. Brad squatted over eight hundred pounds on his first set for reps. He had a slight tear in his quad and came back after wrapping his leg to do another set. Lucky for everyone at The Compound Mr. Thompson has many years of experience as a Strength Director and works with Physical Therapy of patients and Strength Development for High School, College and Professional Athletes. Basically if you have a muscle problem Mr. Thompson can put you on the path to recovery.
		Once more you can see how these World Class Powerlifting athletes do not use a knee wrap on what allot of us would call a heavy lift… Mr. Dunn is using a squatting suite and has the reassurance of his partner and another World Class Power Lifter, Mr. Mike Johnston spotting him from behind. Mr. Johnston has told me not to post his lifts until he reaches his personal best total and another record in his belt. That is fine by me, I just like to see these giants among mortals do what they love to do for fun, and break all the records that are in their way to the top of their profession, in person! Talk about goose bumps!! So to get over that technicality look at the picture of The Compounds Men’s Records under Johnston, hehehehe. I’m so bad…
		Mr. Thompson gives “The Wolverine” a hand with wrapping his quad after a painful lift. It’s a welcome when you have a Professional Physical Therapist on staff… it’s even better when you have two! Mr. Johnston, pictured above spotting “The Wolverine” from behind, is also a Professional Physical Therapist. You can tell with the number of hundred and forty five pound plates who is up next to squat, World Class Power Lifter Mr. Donnie Thompson. The picture to the right you can see Professional Wrestler “Big Hoss” and “The Wolverine” taking it easy between lifts. I presented myself with the Dumb Dumb award for the week when I did not warm up long enough, or stretch before I squatted. On the second set I pulled a hamstring and Mr. Thompson was doing the same thing to me, you see him doing for the Wolverine. Well at leat the Wolverine had over 800 on the bar. I’m ashamed to say what I had…
		You can see the look of determination in Big Hoss’s eyes. When you have a man looking at you this way and charging at you head on to literally take your head off in a wrestling ring one will get out of the way in a hurry! I will never stop saying, you have to have an attitude when you get under the heavy weight! The Wolverine is spotting Big Hoss from behind and Mr. Thompson and Johnny have the sides. Yes those are hundred pound plates! I have never seen a gym where hundred pound plates have been used so much in a workout. But then I have never been in a gym where the owner was the current World Record holder for powerlifing!! He seems to attract the best in the sport with his personal training routines.
		A goofy bad timed picture of Mike Johnston while he was talking… yea I had to put this one on the web Mike. If I had to write a caption under the picture it would read something like daaa what do you mean I can’t lift that weight? LOL, Mike will you forgive me? Every picture I have of these mighty powerlifters shows the immense weight they train at. Mike has his own records recorded on the compounds record board. You have to agree when you only weigh 242 pounds in powerlifting and are still warming up at 850 pounds he is a world force to be reckoned with. Mike Johnston is a professional rehabilitation tech. So when you get hurt and can not use your mussels, he will be the man who gets you to walk, stand and lead a normal life. That my friend is a man a person can look up to when in need!
		When I was lifting decades ago I started wrapping my knees at 405 for squats. If you look at the pictures above and of Mr. Johnston to the left you can see even with all of these hundred pound weights they have yet to start wrapping their knees! Mr. Johnston’s good friend is the “Wolverine” Brad Dunn. You can see the Wolverine keeps a good eye on his training partner Mr. Johnston, while he goes through his powerlifting routine. You have to have a training partner who can get you out of trouble when you lift this kind of weight! The barbells that Mr. Thompson has in his gym are not your typical45 pound Olympic bar. These special order bars are designed to hold the 1300 to 1400 pounds that Mr. Thompson trains with prior to his powerlifting contests. When you have a man machine that can lift that kind of weight the ends of the bar do bend and bounce!!
		I just can’t believe what Mike is doing in this picture! Squatting right at 900 pounds WITHOUT KNEE WRAPS!! I would personally blow out both of my knees, and drive my spine into the floor when taking this kind of mad weight off of the squatting rack. You can see Mr. Thompson’s intense look and how closely the Wolverine is spotting Mike while he trains with this weight. It only takes a fraction of a second to be permanently disabled! Once again I will stress the need to have people you train with on a regular basis that know how you lift, and when you need help to prevent any physical injury.
		What to know a secret? I would have not known this myself if I did not notice it one day while Mr. Thompson was getting ready to lift. Mr. Thompson has a 14 inch foot. When he lifts he wares an ankle brace, and 12 inch European shoes! When I asked him why, he said so there is no space in his shoes for his feet to slip. Makes since when you are squatting 1300 to 1400 pounds right? Who wants to have their feet slip when holding that kind of weight? The picture to the left has Mr. Thompson getting ready to bench, and BIG HOSS pulling the mighty man’s belt tight. When you use a bench shirt you have limited things you can do with your arms other than bench. The technology in powerlifing has come a long way from the way it was 20 years ago! When a person says they can do so much of whatever raw, that means with no shirt or squatting suit. Nothing but you and the weight!

		Well if you can’t figure who is up to bench right now there is a problem…there is 9 x 45 pound plates and 1 x 25 pound plate on one side of this special 50 pound bar!! Add that up and you have 910 pounds ready to bench. Whew, am I glad that it is not me, LOL. I mean people would like to squat or deadlift this much in powerlifting, and here Mr. Thompson is pushing this half a car off his chest!! G-Man is behind the bar and looks like he wants’ what everyone else does in powerlifting… to be able to move a mountain of weight and be the number one World Record Holder like Mr. Thompson!! Inspirational, motivating, intelligent, caring, and humble are not your normal descriptions of a weightlifter. It is with this Elite World Record Holder!
		Lifting gear has advanced so far in Powerlifting so when you do use a benching shirt even with 5 to 7 hundred pounds it will not allow you to touch your chest! I can only give you my observations on what I have witnessed over the last 5 weeks, so to really understand the principle I’m getting ready to talk about you have to go to the source of all of the knowledge, Donnie Thompson. You will see on the far left picture Mr. Thompson is benching with his shirt and using 3 – 2 x 6’s fastened together so the weight stops on the wood about 4 ½ inches of his benching shirt. Doing this makes him use his own enormous strength to press all of the weight to lockout without going all the way down to his chest and using the benching shirt to drive it out of the hole.
		One key to an impressive bench is to arch your back as much as you can while still keeping your butt, shoulders, and feet planted firmly. Doing this will push your chest and stomach up so the bar will not have to be pushed as far to lockout. As Mr. Thompson’s contest date is coming closer he will decrease the 3 – 2 x 6’s down to 2 – 2 x 6’s, then 1 – 2 x 6, and finally none. The trick seems to be in not to bring the bar down to your chest as was done 20 years ago in the infancy of Powerlifting, but to bring it down to under your chest. Using the bench shirt helps with directing the bar to this area. Another tidbit of information. I have seen these Powerlifters use a 4 inch heavy gauge PVC pipe to put under there spine to get an arch on their backs. Then someone slides the pipe out leaving you with the arch you need to push a heavy bench press. Not a bad idea huh? I have learned so much by just watching, listening, and asking questions.
		Only a man with the strength of Big Hoss can left off 900 pounds for a man who is getting ready to bench that kind of crazy weight. Lucky for Mr. Thompson, he has 5 people like Big Hoss who train off and on at his personal gym. These other Strongmen and Weightlifters are the only people who are capable of spotting a World Record Holder like Mr. Thompson! A person like me can only watch, and stand in wonder of what is happening. I competed for 12 years and only witnessed maybe 3 people in person, and that was at contests, which were at this caliber of lifting. At “The Compound” there are more world class Powerlifters and Strongmen I have ever seen in one place! These Professional athletes come from all over SC and the nation to be able to learn from Mr. Thompson!! What can I say? Count the plates and see Big Hoss and Tex ready to lift off for a press.
		A great picture of Shedrick “Tex” Henderson on the left giving the thumb up sign, and the serous looks of Johnny “Ratatouille” Rakowsky, Furman “Big Hoss” Jeffords, and The Powerlifting World Record holder Mr. Donnie Thompson before what I would call a light 770 to him on the bench, LOL. Amazing! And here I am remembering when the World Record Powerlifting bench press was a humble 660 or so for my idol Kazmaier! Yep, Bill Kazmaier was The King of Powerlifting 20 years ago, but this young man has single handedly broken all of his records to bits and pieces. Not to mention most everyone who has come after Kazmaier. Long live the King of Powerlifting, Donnie Thompson! May his records stand forever!! Or at least until he decides to retire right?
		Big Hoss is not a man you want to see coming at you in a wrestling ring. I can honestly say that if I had an option of being hit by a car going 50 miles and hour, or looking across the wrestling ring at him coming at me, I would take the car anytime!! I mean you only get hit by the car once, right? Big Hoss does not stop until there is nothing left for you to give, and then he will just rest right on top of you daring you to kick out. Nope, I’m pinned; count quickly please so I can breathe. Does anyone have an aspirin, ibuprofen? Morphine drip? I can see wanting to lift more than anyone else, but then having the time to wrestle too? You know I have never seen Big Hoss come to the gym with one single bruise after a wrestling match. But then I really don’t think there is anyone out there who can hurt him when he is in his own domain either!
		Great pictures of Big Hoss, Ratatouille, Jessica, with The G Man. You do not have much time to sit around in the gym. Mostly it is between sets and then you are helping your workout partner get ready for their lift and spotting them. Helping this old man change the weight, (well I’m getting more used to the hundreds now at least). Like the Wolverine says, and he does say it so very well… “It is Man vs. Weight, Man vs. Man, and most of all, Man vs. Himself.” It is a personal challenge to do what no one else has done. To reach the level most people only dream about reaching, never think they could reach it, and never will reach it with a mental block. You need to stay on the path and focus everything in your life around one thing, being the very best at what you do. And if you don’t think you have what it takes, you need to talk to the athletes who you see listed on this page to find out what you need to accomplish your personal goals.
		This is one of my favorite pictures. The far left you see Ratatouille looking down at the weights counting them. I would have loved to know what he was thinking. But then I might have come out screaming too! When one goes where no one has ventured, in the mind of Ratatouille, they may never be the same again. And I have been said to have mental problems myself, so I guess it was a good thing I did not aggravate it, right? “wink” You can tell from all of these pictures they all can relieve muscle cramps, strains, and minor pains. You can see ---------- lending her elbow to the back of Ratatouille. I have seen Mr. Thompson’s girlfriend Jessica standing on the back of his legs to help loosen him up before lifting. You MUST WARM UP BEFORE YOU LIFT!! Believe you me; I have learned that too many times myself, and always the hard way. After I hurt myself.
		Another important item during a warm up I have watched on all workouts. Mr. Thompson along with everyone else starts off doing some abdominal work. Yes you heard me right. Abdominal work. This consists of heavy pull downs. On the floor wheel roles, and hanging leg raises. Then everyone starts using the different large rubber bands for resistance exercises isolating the muscles. Finally after everything else they may get their workout partner or some outer person in the guy to put the elbow to the back, or run a wheel over their hamstring to further loosen things up. What have I learned? Well when your 50 years young you don’t need to stop with just doing the abdominal work. You need the full treatment before you get under the bar. Now you know how I pulled a lousy hamstring on my ever loving second set of squats huh? Embarrassing!
		It is a beautiful site when you see a young man like Ratatouille benching this kind of weight. Don’t get me wrong. Mr. Thompsons 900 pound bench press is beyond my belief. But here Ratatouille has benched 600 in the 220 powerlifting class! Now that is amazing to me. Remember when Kazmaier was king 20 + years ago? Well I guess some of you may not… LOL. Kazmaier’s world record bench was 660 for quite awhile as a super heavyweight! Kind of puts things in prospective right? I have always enjoyed watching the superheavyweights lift. They push the heavy stuff without a doubt. But the lighter lifters can sure empress you too when it comes down to body weight vs. poundage lifted. Mr. Thompson is my hands down favorite being a light superheavyweight at 350 pounds. Most superheavyweights are a whole lot bigger!
		All of these great men and women are dedicated powerlifters at Mr. Thompson’s Compound. Each brings a different talent to the mix in The Compound. For instance, Mike Johnston has a gift to be able to squeeze every drop of effort out of you when he is there. I do love to see this Elite powerlifter train. He reminds me of the pure determination needed to be a champion, just like the Wolverine, Mr. Thompson, and Big Hoss. Mike allows his intensity to be more visible on the surface than others something I like, and it does make everyone physic up better for their lifts! Mike also travels quite away from his home to be able to lift with Mr. Thompson and the rest at The Compound. But when you have the opportunity to train, and learn from The World Record Powerlifting Champion who in their right mind wouldn’t?
		Powerlifting is not just a man’s sport. Women compete also. Ms. Roxann is a great lifter herself. Trains very hard with the help of her friend Christy. Both of these ladies are a welcome site for me when they come in. They help keep the boys in order! Not to mention having the trust of everyone, and ability to assist in training between sets. You could not find anyone else that knows as much and has the ability to load multiple 100 pound plates! If you see these ladies on the street, my suggestion to you is to treat them with the respect all women should have. If you don’t… your life is in your own hands! Don’t say I didn’t warn you now, LOL.
		During warm ups, between sets, and afterwards the bull can get pretty deep around The Compound. We all have fun joking and cutting up, but as the warm ups come to a close you will start to see a shift in attitude, as it should be before you address the bar for your first set. You can see the look on the faces of everyone there. It’s time, time to get serous about what they are there to do. Another first, another record another day to do what they love so very much. That which has made them drive from afar to be at Mr. Thompson’s Compound. To break their personal best, and maybe another World Record in powerlifting along the way. When you train with the pro’s you will learn their secrets in techniques, lifting gear, diets and many other things most people would not know anything about, or even know to ask.
		G Man is one big guy. I have only seen this huge man a couple of times. But I know he is more than familiar with everything in a gym. When you start out to weightlift your priorities are to first understand how to warm up correctly. I flunked that course. Then learn the correct form to lift. I think I got a C on that part. Then what has helped me so much is to keep a record of the different exercises you do. How many sets, reps and weight used. Another good idea is keep a record by each exercise abbreviated like G.F. = good form, M.F. = medium form, B.F. = bad form, G.P. = good physic M.P. = medium physic, B.P = bad physic. Never use B.D. = bad drunk M.D. = medium drunk, and if you make it to B.D do yourself a favor and stay off the street and in your home! Seriously folks, if you do drugs, or drink before you workout stay out of the gym. It’s bad enough that you will hurt yourself, but worse when you hurt someone else!
		Training for Mr. Thompson’s Pro Contest in York Pennsylvania has required him to workout 6 days a week. Not all days are heavy days. But he still devotes 6 days out of 7 to his passion for powerlifting. Some people may work out 4 days a week. Others may do less than that or every day of the week. All I can tell you with this short webpage is that when you start to weightlift you have a goal in mind as to what you want to do. With that goal you will have to make a routine that will deliver you to your goal’s doorstep. The rules have changed since I have competed, techniques have changed, and most of all the supplements and lifting gear has changed, so I feel uncomfortable in recommending anything. What I can recommend is that you contact any of these men listed on this page for their advice.
		When you first start to weightlift, at any age, expect to hurt for about 6 weeks. Your muscles are not used to lifting weight yet, so yes it will hurt, cramp, and just make you feel like if someone tossed a penny on your muscles it would make you scream. On the good side of things, after 3 months of going to the gym 3 to 4 days a week you will actually see results with the definition of your body, picked up endurance, and all over well being. Did you know that working out will release the stress that builds up during your daily lives? True! Now you know why some weightlifters like me say to channel all of the problems of your life into the bar before you lift. That extra physic before you lift can help you do more reps and weight. Just remember to keep your form while lifting and have someone you trust spot you when going to failure or maxing out. It makes it fun when you have multiple workout partners too. Be safe!

POWERLIFING WORLD RECORD HOLDER LIVES IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA

‘SCROOGES’ & ‘ANGELS’ CHARITIES NAMED FOR 2008