Over the last few
years, I have witnessed the glorious bench press competitions turn into a
freakish event that looks more like a clip from a movie that features a
cyborg version of an armored Frankenstein trying to pump iron. I mean,
for the ones that don't know, the bench shirts are strapped on so tight
and act as a spring of some sorts, that if you master the technique, they
can actually add a few hundred pounds to your bench press. Is that
fair? Does it boil down to who has the best bench shirt wins?
The rules obviously don't apply in most of these competitions or claims
or displays via YouTube, and I've seen people with their back arched so
high that their butt doesn't even touch the bench. The last time I
checked, bench pressing was about lifting weights, not about how close
you can get your ass to your shoulder blades! Many of these people are
so jacked up with equipment/excessive gear and upper body apparatuses
(bench shirts), that they look like a freakish padded warrior that can't
even put their arms down (due to the advantageous bench shirt) while
walking to the damn bench. I just seen a person lift an enormous amount
of weight without even bending his elbows. How does that count? The
spotters lifted the weight down for him, then he lowered it a couple
inches and rolled/squirmed it back to the spotters and they called that a
bench press even though he never pressed anything!
At any feign rate of lifting, I just think this sport/competition has
turned into a complete joke. Unless it is raw/natural with no equipment
involved whatsoever and no spotters that help you lift it off the bench
for you, it shouldn't count, period! If you need excessive gear, pads,
supports, braces, tightly strapped upper body apparatuses and additional
people just to perform YOUR bench press, you need to find another hobby
or at the very least, quit claiming to lift several hundreds of
pounds more than you can actually lift yourself!
Besides, the short-armed wide gripped tactic that involves the arched
spring method is basically 80% technique and 20% strength. At one time,
the bench press was one of the standard measures of strength, but now,
going by what I've seen during the last few years, it means absolutely nothing!
Related Links to further your reading:
* The 1,000-pound bench press. (slate.com)
* forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=146545&;
* health-fitness-guru.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-estimate-your-max-bench-press.html
---End of Post "Bench Shirts and Excessive Gear has ruined the concept of Bench Pressing"
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