For centuries, people have been fascinated with testing the limits of their bodies, especially when it comes to physical strength. The sport of powerlifting has origins that date back to the strength training traditions of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Powerlifting as we know it today developed in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1950s. An earlier version of the sport, known as “odd lifts” followed the same basic format but included a wider variety of lifts. Modern powerlifting consists of three lifts—the squat, bench press and deadlift. Each athlete in the competition gets three attempts to reach maximum weight on each of these three lifts.
There are two types of powerlifting: equipped and un-equipped, also known as “raw” or “classic” lifting. Raw lifting is done with no supportive clothing or equipment. In equipped lifting, competitors may wear supportive shirts or suits, or special knee wraps that store elastic potential energy and assist in lifting.
Powerlifting may seem like an intimidating or even dangerous sport to outsiders, but it is actually very safe (when done properly) and can be extremely rewarding. Not only does your body become stronger, powerlifting can benefit your mental strength as well. While lifting, athletes must be extremely focused and driven towards their goal. Compared to other sports, including basketball and soccer, the injury rate for powerlifting is actually much lower. Another benefit of powerlifting over other sports is that you can do it professionally for much longer. While soccer and basketball players usually peak in their twenties, the strongest powerlifters are typically between 35 and 40.
For beginners looking to get started with powerlifting in Greenville SC, we recommend that you find a personal trainer that specializes in powerlifting. An experienced trainer will supervise you and make sure that you learn proper form and that you don’t hurt yourself while lifting. They will also formulate a plan suited to your body and your specific needs and goals. A great personal trainer will push you to meet and surpass your limits but will always keep safety the number one priority.