Schemansky's Shredded Sweats

by Atomic Athletic on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 2:42pm

Huge plates of calamari were being passed around.  The beer was only being served in the double sized tall glasses.  At any other table the tales being told would have also been tall, but lies weren't necessary last night.  This was another Norbert Schemansky birthday party at Doc's Sports Retreat and the guest of honor did lifting that is still considered larger than life.

Everybody looked great.  Nobody was in as good a shape as they once were, but the mental faculties were all there.  Norb told some great one liners and everybody had fun.

TRAINING TIP

The training tip comes from Norb himself.  “Keep your pulls close.”

I brought an old Iron Man Lifting News from 1964, with Norb on the cover doing an easy 420 squat clean.  Well, that June issue covered the Senior Nationals, where Norb won Best Lifter, again.  There is an awesome photo on page 9 with Tommy Suggs, Sid Henry and Norb, standing before the contest.  They had clearly been warming up, as there was plenty of chalk on their sweats. 

It was the sweats that are the key.  All of the old Detroit lifters would have to sew blue jean patches on their quads, because the Olympic bar knurling would just shred them there.  When I commented, Norb said, “Yep.  We pulled it close.” 

Art Tessier replied, “I hand sewed a lot of sweats and old seat belts for pulling straps.  A lot of guys used cotton (belts), but we used seat belt material.  It lasted.”

I remember when I first started lifting in Suchyta's basement and all the guys had these sweats with big blue jean patches on their quads.  I thought it was weird at first, but I learned.  When you lift today, make sure to do pulls, keep it close, and wear out those sweats.

Check out Norb's Signed Book Mr. Weightlifting 

http://www.atomicathletic.com/store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=BK081

And the Atomic Athletic Power Clean Clinic DVD

http://www.atomicathletic.com/store/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=VID103

Live strong,

Roger LaPointe