USAWA - United States All-Around Weightlifting Association

Over the years I have had the pleasure of competing in many different strength sports in many different organizations. Some of my most unique exeriences were competing in the USAWA. The USAWA is old school and cool! If you need a break from the standard lifts and want to challenge yourself with lifts made famous by strength legends, check out the USAWA. They have tons of different sanctioned lifts, you could spend a year learning them all.

Here is an overview of the USAWA as stated on their website.

"The USAWA was formed to continue the long standing tradition of old-time weightlifters like Eugen Sandow, Louis Cyr, Arthur Saxon, Hermann Goerner, Warren Lincoln Travis, and many others. We strive to preserve the history of the original forms of weightlifting, which in the past has been referred to as “odd lifting”. Many of the lifts we perform are based on stage acts or challenge lifts of old-time strongmen."

"The USAWA was organized in 1987 and was a charter member of the International All-Round Weightlifting Association. The USAWA has over 150 recognized lifts and 8000 plus records, so any strength athlete can find their niche. We have a drug testing program to encourage drug free lifting. Numerous local meets and a National competition are held each year to find true “all-round” weightlifters"

I have broken a couple different USAWA records, in a couple different weigth classes over the years. Before I brag in detail, I need to order an updated record book, to see which ones still stand.

On top of the legendary lifts, the USAWA is filled with great people. I have had the pleasure of meeting some great people, who have shared with me a ton of knowlege on training. I have been out to Kevin Fulton's barn/training center in Litchfield Nebraska, and trained with his Braveheart Barbell Club. Kevin is a former Olympic Training Center Coach and has been nice enough to share his knowledge with me over the years. I also had a chance to compete in a couple contest down at Clarks Gym in Columbia Missouri, this is a gym built for legendary lifts. Bill Clark is a USAWA Hall Famer and the sports best ambassidor. His gym is one of my favorite in the country! My Bulldog Strength Sports has hosted a few different small USAWA events in the past at my old home gym, when I lived in the country and we had some fun! I think it's getting about time to get the gang back together for a little USAWA action in my new Bulldog's Gym here in Papillion!

USAWA
http://www.usawa.com/

Born Stronger Sportwear

I have found some great gym t-shirts over the years, and the looks of the shirts have evolved over the years and MMA has brought in a whole new look and attitude to sportswear.
Recently I come a cross Born Stronger Sportswear, while surfing the web for some new cool gear. Not only did I find some great shirts, but I also found a website filled with inspiring Born Stronger stories, one of which was the story about how Born Stronger was born.

This is the Born Stronger Story as told on their website.
"It all started with the belief that if we put our mind, body and passion into anything, we can be successful.
For BORN STRONGER founder Dhillon, the inspiration for this dream came when an obscure news story forced him out of his pending sleeping bliss. A young boy in Africa stared back through the TV set. The boy wore dirty, tattered clothes. Flies swirled around his head. He wore no shoes. His mother, father and all his siblings killed by brutal warlords. Yet the young boy was smiling because he had found joy by helping other families escape the same fate of his family. He was driven to help and not let his misfortune ruin his life. That boy was BORN STRONGER.

Dhillon woke up the next morning still seeing that boy. And he realized it was time to do something meaningful in life. Dhillon’s dream was to help boys, girls, women and men realize their potential. BORN STRONGER was born.
Since then Dhillon is simply known as Dr. Dream. Helping others recognize and pursue their dreams and passion.

Today BORN STRONGER is the only sportswear brand that represents everyone. Regardless of race, color or culture. Regardless of the dream, the sport or the desire. Because we are all BORN STRONGER!"

Born Stronger also has a great blog and a whole section dedicated to submissions by their readers. So they can tell their own Born Stronger stories. I love this section! Warriors come in all shapes and sizes from all over the world, and their spirit is contagious!

Well I have become a regular visitor to www.bornstronger.com, and I ordered several shirts. I got myself the Born Stronger Plaid T-shirt, the Born Stronger Laughing Buhdua and a Born Stronger Rash Guard. I also got my wife the Born Stronger Inspire ladies t-shirt. Born Strong did an incredible job designing the t-shirts down to the smallest details, Heck, even the tags are cool. The nice thing about the Born Stronger gear, it is a very nice quality shirt with a very classy yet bold logo. This is gear you could wear to the gym or just out on the town. As for the Rash Guard, I have to say this is one of the nicest quality rash guards I have ever seen. I am jacked about all my new gear from Born Stronger.

Check out Born Stronger at http://www.bornstronger.com/

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Big Back Grips http://bigbackgrips.com

Like many middle age lifters, I am starting to deal with some of the things that come with wear and tear on your body. My biggest issue is some bad tendinitis in my right elbow and some minor tendinitis in my left elbow. Most of my pain comes from pulling motions, like lat pull downs, rows, etc. I have found that using grip aids help reduce the discomfort, but for years I have been a grip purest, that would never use a grip aid. Other than using straps on partial deadlifts and heavy shrugs, I have never used any type of grip aid. I have competed in USAWA grip contest, Rolling Thunder contest and closed the #2 COC gripper. So needless to say I take my grip strength serious, so I had a real conflict!

A couple months ago I was reading an article about grip training, and solved my issue. The article I read talked about training grip like any other muscle group. Would you train bench press every workout? NO! Would you squat every workout? NO! So why would you train grip every workout??? Really that is what I was doing - I trained grip on grip day, back day and shoulder day. So I decided why not a grip aid, but I wanted the right one. I wanted one that aided my grip but not completely eliminate it. I also wanted it to be grab and go. I did not want to have to spend alot of time putting on every set.

I spend alot of time looking through things I collected over the years, and researching things on line. I have a variety of lifting straps, but like I said I really only like them for heavy partial deadlifts and heavy shrugs. Straps also take some time to put on and they eliminate the grip. I also have a pair of leather cuffs that work like a strap, but the other than using them on pull ups I don't find them very practical. As for products on line, I found most things had the same flaws, they eliminated the grip completely and they were cumbersome to use.

I did find one product that was intrigued with, Big Back Grips. Now even though it seem to meet all my criteria, I was skeptical. I just wasn't sure how easy to use they would be. I wasn't sure if they would feel un-natural in my hands. I wasn't sure if they would slip. Well I figured for $5.95 - What the hell, it was worth a shot! So I ordered a couple pairs and I had to have one of their T-shirts, because there logo is AWESOME and they are black and gold like my Steelers!
I got them in just a few days, and I was not disappointed! So far I have had them just a couple weeks and I am very happy with my find. It worked! Between the rehab work I have done and the Big Back Grips taking some of the stress off of my tendons, I have reduced the discomfort during my work outs. I also found them very easy to use, they are truly grab n' go, which is huge for me, because sometimes my busy schedule cuts into my workout time. I also am glad to say they did not slip, they feel natural in my hand and they are not cumbersome. Do I use them for everything - No.

I do use them every time, I do any type of pull downs or rows.

Also as for the t-shirt, I ordered the Gold with the black logo. It is a real nice Hanes 100% cotton Beefy-T. The quality is great and the look is cool! If you would like to learn more about Big Back Grips or Order your own pair, check them out at Big Back Grips

Big Back Grips
WEBSITE
http://bigbackgrips.com/
PHONE
(323) 363-9450
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