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[dustin1102]

Just thought I'd share a little more about Bruno. I'm from Pittsburgh and met him at a charity event. I talked to him one on one for about 45 minutes. It was funny because the more I asked him questions, the more he asked me about myself. He's a great guy and a lot shorter than I thought. He was my height like 5'10 or so but he's huge even at 70. I was asking him how he got into wrestling and he told me he started as a power lifter. Then I started asking how much weight he was lifting on different exercises and he said "Not enough" and laughed. I asked what he meant by this and he would say that when he would max out he would always psyche himself out. He said no matter what weight it was he always had doubts if he could do it or not. So, what he started doing was telling his friends to put the weight on so he never really knew how much it was. So one day his friends put some weight on the bench press, which he thought was about 495, and he did one rep. Afterwards, he counted the plates and saw that it was 585 (I met him 2 years ago so it could have been 565 but I'm pretty sure he said 585). Regardless, he then said they added 20 pounds and he couldn't even get it off of his chest. We talked some more about his lifting acheivements but like I said he was more interested in me since I had just moved back to pittsburgh from LA. Just thought I'd share that story.

[Clint]

Cool article repped.

Benchpress is such a poor measure of actual strength though. I would love to see what these guys could squat or clean and press or something along those lines (especially the fighters since leg and core strength or of such importance)

[J-diggler]

Originally Posted by dudefella

300lb is nothing on the bench.... it's not "average for a really good press"

dude were not talking about on your bowflex.

[JMH]

Originally Posted by J-diggler

dude were not talking about on your bowflex.

Ha, hah.

I can max out on a machine at 200 lbs. But on free weights, I'd probably struggle at 145.

[JMH]

Originally Posted by dustin1102

Just thought I'd share a little more about Bruno. I'm from Pittsburgh and met him at a charity event. I talked to him one on one for about 45 minutes. It was funny because the more I asked him questions, the more he asked me about myself. He's a great guy and a lot shorter than I thought. He was my height like 5'10 or so but he's huge even at 70. I was asking him how he got into wrestling and he told me he started as a power lifter. Then I started asking how much weight he was lifting on different exercises and he said "Not enough" and laughed. I asked what he meant by this and he would say that when he would max out he would always psyche himself out. He said no matter what weight it was he always had doubts if he could do it or not. So, what he started doing was telling his friends to put the weight on so he never really knew how much it was. So one day his friends put some weight on the bench press, which he thought was about 495, and he did one rep. Afterwards, he counted the plates and saw that it was 585 (I met him 2 years ago so it could have been 265 but I'm pretty sure he said 285). Regardless, he then said they added 20 pounds and he couldn't even get it off of his chest. We talked some more about his lifting acheivements but like I said he was more interested in me since I had just moved back to pittsburgh from LA. Just thought I'd share that story.

OSU is that you?

[Splandman]

I have never posted on here before, but I enjoy all the information Im able to get on here reading these threads most every day.

I had to say something about the guys that believe a 300lb bench is a lot.
I was in Leavenworth (USDB) from 1993 to 1997 and had a little bit of extra time to do some weight lifting.
We had a powerlifting team that was not allowed any type of supplements whatsoever and was not given any special food. The food was basically the same as what the Army is given to eat on a daily basis.
At the time I was in my mid-twenties and never weighed more than 165 lbs, I consistently could bench 315lbs. and was never even thought of for a spot on the powerlifting team. I would have had to increase another 75lbs or so (along w/ large increases in deadlift and squat) to be able to make it.

Over the years we had many inmates that I observed benching well over 400lbs and a couple that could bench 500lbs.
Im not saying that a guy that can bench 300lbs isnt a strong guy (normal guy) but I would never consider that to be a strong weightlifter.

Right now Im 37 years old, fat, have severe back problems, and Im in by far the worst shape of my life. I have not lifted any in the last 10 years or so. I still believe if I would get off my lazy ass I could bench 300 within 3-6 months.....and not on a bowflex.

[noahm]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dudefella
300lb is nothing on the bench.... it's not "average for a really good press"

dude were not talking about on your bowflex.


HAh. They really should qualify this. For a 200+ lb man, 300 is a very nice average. For a 150 lb guy. 300 is pfg.

[MONSONBYCHOKE]

Your right its not a great measure

[J-diggler]

Originally Posted by Splandman

I have never posted on here before, but I enjoy all the information Im able to get on here reading these threads most every day.

I had to say something about the guys that believe a 300lb bench is a lot.
I was in Leavenworth (USDB) from 1993 to 1997 and had a little bit of extra time to do some weight lifting.
We had a powerlifting team that was not allowed any type of supplements whatsoever and was not given any special food. The food was basically the same as what the Army is given to eat on a daily basis.
At the time I was in my mid-twenties and never weighed more than 165 lbs, I consistently could bench 315lbs. and was never even thought of for a spot on the powerlifting team. I would have had to increase another 75lbs or so (along w/ large increases in deadlift and squat) to be able to make it.

Over the years we had many inmates that I observed benching well over 400lbs and a couple that could bench 500lbs.
Im not saying that a guy that can bench 300lbs isnt a strong guy (normal guy) but I would never consider that to be a strong weightlifter.

Right now Im 37 years old, fat, have severe back problems, and Im in by far the worst shape of my life. I have not lifted any in the last 10 years or so. I still believe if I would get off my lazy ass I could bench 300 within 3-6 months.....and not on a bowflex.

sure but the key is if you would get off your lazy ass(as you said) and put in the time and effort it would take. Thats what makes it a good mark. But I do agree a persons height and weight have allot to do with it.
I'm not saying 300lbs if not possible or that special if you put in the time effort and discipline but how many people do? Also some guy off the street in good shape would drop the bar on his neck and kill himself if he didnt train for awhile to work up to it.

[earle]

I agree, maybe the bench isn't the best expression of strength, but it is still a good one. E.g. George Halbert, 600lb+ bench at 190, that's strong anyway you slice it.

The bench can still be a useful training tool along with others (i.e. Olympic lifts, squats, pull-ups), even for MMA athletes. You get some good central nervous system stimulation with a heavy bench, and the benefit is, you don't trash your legs doing it, so you could use it closer to competition than you would other methods.