Vintage Pressing Shot

by Atomic Athletic on Monday, August 1, 2011 at 4:45pm

As you are getting ready for our All Round Weightlifting Meet on August 20th, I would like to provide you with some inspiration.  I call this shot, “How much do you press?”

That was the big question when this photo was taken.  I am not sure of the exact date, but I know that those guys are lifting in the old York Barbell gym on Ridge Avenue.   The guy who is pressing in the center has 205 pounds on the bar and he is not a huge guy.  How many lifters do you know today that can do a strict 205 clean & press?

Until the Olympic Press was eliminated from Olympic competition, that was the measure of a man.  In fact, if you ask any 5 year old to show you what a strongman does, he will probably do a pressing movement.  It's incredible.  That is the natural association. 

Pressing is a real lost art today.  Because strict pressing is such a lost art, I included the Clean & Push Press in our last meet and this upcoming meet.  The rules are a little more lax.  However, I know that a lot of guys, myself included, are working on the classic two hands clean & press, as a training movement. 

Live strong,

Roger LaPointe

PS Don't forget to check out the lifting in the background, as well as the decorations in that gym.  I am fairly sure that is John Grimek doing pullovers, left of center.  I am not sure who the guy is that is doing flys, but those sure are some big old cannonball dumbbells.

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