Maybe have some new format. One interesting thing that can be done would be an AMRAP bench press session like the NFL combine. Have several squat racks and multiple lifters can squat/deadlift within a certain timeframe.
Powerlifting will never be mainstream because shits boring to watch lol, I love powerlifting and do watch competitions but it’s not actually that exciting to watch and there’s no way to change that
I agree with Mike on building the powerlifting celebrities. I feel like we got a taste of that in the 2022 USAPL Nationals, where everyone was anticipating Russ vs Sean in the 83kg division
would be cool to switch competitions to a circuit- X reps of bench, Y reps of squats & Z reps of deadlift. All this with 5 people competing at the same time or just do it based on time and one person at the time
We need some shit talkers in powerlifting competitions. Powerlifting competitions are too friendly and everyone is just happy for each other. They need someone that's there to fucking WIN and talk that shit 😤
There's a few things they could do to make PL more enjoyable to watch. One-on-ones between lifters, or even 3-4, can be very entertaining to watch. Especially with commentary, such as John Haack v Brett Gibbs and Taylor Atwood back in the old days. Seeing those 3 go head-to-head was pretty cool. Even expanding that would be building cards, similar to boxing or UFC, so you'd have an 83 matchup, a 93, and like a 105 for an event. 12 lifters would probably take about an hour to get through a lift, especially with the commentary.
and maybe like an "all star game" matchup where a group of 5 high-level lifters from one federation are matched up against another group of 5 high-level lifters from another federation, for example the top 82kg lifter in a federation going head to head with the top one in the other federation, the top 100kg lifter in a federation going head to head with the top one in the other federation etc etc
The thing that turns me off the most about powerlifting are the rules. I haven't paid attention to it for a couple of years and it might have changed, but there aren't any clear hard rules on what a lift is. The most irritating one is the bench press with the extreme back arch. Some lifters arch their back so much that all they have to do is an inch of motion. It makes it more of a circus show than an act of strength.
No there are pretty strict rules now. The elbow joint now must go below the shoulder joint which basically makes the low range of motion benches obsolete.
All the athletes lifting head to head, with a set weight for for each attempt would be awesome. Sort of how crossfit has their weightlifting ladders. People get eliminated and when it’s down to like the last 3 then they can pick their weights. Like every lifts 315, then 365, then 405 ect, then the last 3 pick the next weight they want to hit, whoever picked the highest weight goes first and if they make it everyone else has to do that too.
AMRAPs would be cool especially for Bench since people are familiar with it as part of the NFL combine. This is not an issue exclusive for Powerlifting. Weightlifting also has the same issues. Mainstream sports are more entertainment and I think we can look at how heavy lifts in CrossFit competitions are done like at the CrossFit Games. Creating stories and rivalries involving the athletes will not work unless the sport event is entertaining to watch to begin with.
Strongman is growing because of the entertainment value and personalities like Eddie Hall, Martins Licis and Hafthor. Hafthor coming for the all time raw PL record this year could be a good base to grow from.
The thing about Strongman is anyone can enjoy watching some massive guy lifting up a tractor. You don’t have to even go to the gym to know how heavy the weights are. Power lifting cannot feasibly incorporate things like that.
It’s not an entertaining sport, look at weightlifting which is basically the least popular Olympic sport, and is a more visually pleasing and exciting version of lifting
(In general) Weightlifters care about winning the competition, powerlifters care about bettering their own totals. Most powerlifting meets your opponents are happy for you when you PR, but at a weightlifting meet you can tell they immediately are trying to think how they can beat you. Neither is right or wrong just an observation.
Even at like Nationals and whatnot, or some big head-to-heads (jess Buettner, John Haack in their respect worlds performances) behind the curtain it's a lot of "dude, nice PR" "Thanks"
So esports example was a good one imo. Sometimes the 'downtime' shows, between matches are more fun than the actual matches. And thats purely because of the narratives theyre building, the statistics, the groups etc. Also 1 attemp looks fun too. Id maybe make it 2, but as of right now watching the 1st round is only fun to make guesses how far theyll go. But watching an rpe8 lift is kinda meh tbh
If Barbell Brigade hosts another competition, they should live stream it with commentators.
With Mexican football commentators.
Maybe have some new format. One interesting thing that can be done would be an AMRAP bench press session like the NFL combine. Have several squat racks and multiple lifters can squat/deadlift within a certain timeframe.
Powerlifting will never be mainstream because shits boring to watch lol, I love powerlifting and do watch competitions but it’s not actually that exciting to watch and there’s no way to change that
Yeap. I love the sport, but it's a horrible spectator sport.
Honestly, yeah. Spectator sports are all about spectacle, but watching 23 dudes go and lift weights 9 times each over 4 hours?
I agree with Mike on building the powerlifting celebrities. I feel like we got a taste of that in the 2022 USAPL Nationals, where everyone was anticipating Russ vs Sean in the 83kg division
would be cool to switch competitions to a circuit- X reps of bench, Y reps of squats & Z reps of deadlift. All this with 5 people competing at the same time or just do it based on time and one person at the time
We need some shit talkers in powerlifting competitions. Powerlifting competitions are too friendly and everyone is just happy for each other. They need someone that's there to fucking WIN and talk that shit 😤
Entertainment wise, that channel Strength Wars was actually entertaining to watch compared to just regular powerlifting.
Beautiful topic and convo!! Def needs the love like how yall described, I def would love to see this playing out fr fr
It would be cool if entering a powerlifting meet was just as common as entering a local 5k
they should do brand deals in singlets like the ones in jerseys
There's a few things they could do to make PL more enjoyable to watch.
One-on-ones between lifters, or even 3-4, can be very entertaining to watch. Especially with commentary, such as John Haack v Brett Gibbs and Taylor Atwood back in the old days. Seeing those 3 go head-to-head was pretty cool. Even expanding that would be building cards, similar to boxing or UFC, so you'd have an 83 matchup, a 93, and like a 105 for an event. 12 lifters would probably take about an hour to get through a lift, especially with the commentary.
and maybe like an "all star game" matchup where a group of 5 high-level lifters from one federation are matched up against another group of 5 high-level lifters from another federation, for example the top 82kg lifter in a federation going head to head with the top one in the other federation, the top 100kg lifter in a federation going head to head with the top one in the other federation etc etc
The thing that turns me off the most about powerlifting are the rules. I haven't paid attention to it for a couple of years and it might have changed, but there aren't any clear hard rules on what a lift is. The most irritating one is the bench press with the extreme back arch. Some lifters arch their back so much that all they have to do is an inch of motion. It makes it more of a circus show than an act of strength.
No there are pretty strict rules now.
The elbow joint now must go below the shoulder joint which basically makes the low range of motion benches obsolete.
All the athletes lifting head to head, with a set weight for for each attempt would be awesome. Sort of how crossfit has their weightlifting ladders. People get eliminated and when it’s down to like the last 3 then they can pick their weights. Like every lifts 315, then 365, then 405 ect, then the last 3 pick the next weight they want to hit, whoever picked the highest weight goes first and if they make it everyone else has to do that too.
100% agree. Can’t grow too much with federations holding the lifters back.
Does this video keep getting reuploaded or am I tweaking?
Maybe if we changed it to their 5 rep max, and each rep we add pounds. That would be pretty exciting
EA Sports releases a new game “USAPL 2024”…is something that will never happen.
😂
AMRAPs would be cool especially for Bench since people are familiar with it as part of the NFL combine.
This is not an issue exclusive for Powerlifting. Weightlifting also has the same issues. Mainstream sports are more entertainment and I think we can look at how heavy lifts in CrossFit competitions are done like at the CrossFit Games.
Creating stories and rivalries involving the athletes will not work unless the sport event is entertaining to watch to begin with.
Strongman is growing because of the entertainment value and personalities like Eddie Hall, Martins Licis and Hafthor. Hafthor coming for the all time raw PL record this year could be a good base to grow from.
The thing about Strongman is anyone can enjoy watching some massive guy lifting up a tractor. You don’t have to even go to the gym to know how heavy the weights are. Power lifting cannot feasibly incorporate things like that.
Powerlifters need to stop making new federations the moment there is a small disagreement or someone’s ego gets bruised.
Fuck it, we need a powerlifting reality competition show like how UFC made ultimate fighter to get people hooked lmao
Mike’s right
Do you mean Matt Fraser not rich froning
It’s not an entertaining sport, look at weightlifting which is basically the least popular Olympic sport, and is a more visually pleasing and exciting version of lifting
Strongman probably could
(In general) Weightlifters care about winning the competition, powerlifters care about bettering their own totals. Most powerlifting meets your opponents are happy for you when you PR, but at a weightlifting meet you can tell they immediately are trying to think how they can beat you. Neither is right or wrong just an observation.
Even at like Nationals and whatnot, or some big head-to-heads (jess Buettner, John Haack in their respect worlds performances) behind the curtain it's a lot of "dude, nice PR" "Thanks"
The way to make it mainstream is to make it like crossfit bur God forbid that ever happens
Powerlifting makes baseball look exciting
So esports example was a good one imo. Sometimes the 'downtime' shows, between matches are more fun than the actual matches. And thats purely because of the narratives theyre building, the statistics, the groups etc.
Also 1 attemp looks fun too. Id maybe make it 2, but as of right now watching the 1st round is only fun to make guesses how far theyll go. But watching an rpe8 lift is kinda meh tbh
👍🏽🫶🏽
First??
It's just boring to watch lol
I think it's because it's boring to watch. It's fun, but not great for spectators.
Bench is boring watching because they be having a arch like a hill