Product Description
O.K., so we weren't able to convince Paul to include a good recipe for chicken-fried steak, but what he did serve up is a humorous but insightful account of effective basic powerlifting training.Don't look here if you think your next gains come from going triple-ply or your next win depends on shopping for the right federation.Do stop by though if you think a little horse sense is just what's called for when it comes to basic training for powerlifting.96 pp. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Basically worthless
First of all the title is a lie. This is not a book about power lifting. There are no power lifting routines other than one that involved all three power lifting exercises on the same day, and the author advises readers not to do it. Then why include it in the book Kelso?

There are several basic routines in this book, but no discussion whatsoever about exercise technique. This is dangerous considering the fact that it is the power lifts that have the most potential for injury because of the large amount of weight being lifted. Try to squat or deadlift with bad form and you could seriously injure your back. Try to bench press without a spotter or a power rack and you could end up dead.
Think I'm kidding, look for bench press accident videos on YouTube.

There is also no discussion of starting poundages, or when to increase the weight, or what to do if you can't complete the required sets and reps.

There is a chapter on nutrition that is basically, "Tex-Mex is the king of workout food" as well as an entire paragraph devoted to making good coffee. No I'm not joking.

Don't waste your time or your money on this book, better and more concise information can be found after 10 minutes on the internet.

Paul Kelso's right on the money!!
A gem of a book.It's an informative, entertaining story that backs up the basic premise of strength training.Lift HEAVY, rest, and do unto others.Very simple review, but it's a very simple book:in a GREAT way!!

5 stars, but be wary
One of my all time favorite books on weightlifting, and without question, the most entertaining.If you think of this book as a philosophy and older-brother type advice book, you will get a lot out of it.It is NOT a how to book.Don't buy it thinking it will tell you how to perform lifts.Get another book, DVD or have somebody teach you.But, if you are a beginner, it will probably save you a lot of time, energy and money searching for effective routines and sound advice.If you're intermediate, there is a ton to learn from this book.If you're advanced, you can still learn, and have a jolly time laughing while you recognize all the charecters in the book (and likely, yourself).As someone who grew up in the age of "what do you bench?" being the only measure of a man's strength, I once was one of the "3/4 of all ironheads who spend 3/4's of their time on the bench".The book in a nutshell:Why do you want to train?Train for that purpose using simple effective excercises in reasonably set up routines.Enjoy the ride, reach your max potential, and don't get caught up in how it compares to others potential.I wish I had known about this book when I started lifting at 18.If I had purchased this, instead of that Men's Workout, who knows what I could have done!It's a classic.

For the hardhead in all of us
Hopefully, Kelso's wisdom won't sail over the reader's head like a frisbie.This is a short, and very funny read, strongly imbued with East Texas culture. Through stories (partly truth and partly fiction) of his days as a teacher, with a powerlifting club (the Wampus Cats), Kelso imparts some fundamental and sound truths about lifting weights. He offers different routines that would benefit most lifters depending on their varying goals. Although he doesn't get much into the technique of the exercises (this isn't a book for rank beginners),most of the routines are fairly simple--which is part of their value (assuming you want to get strong, that is). All laughing aside, Kelso obviously knows a few things about weightlifting. Along the way, he skewers a lot of goofy ideas--most deriving from the bodybuilding world. All in all, a very enjoyable book.

Different
This is a very different approach compared to what I'm used to in books on this subject. However, it is interesting. He does give some useful principles of training along with the stories. I particularly liked Kelso's Laws and how he conveys the idea that less can actually mean more. I wouldn't call this a be all end all book on strength training, but I don't think such a thing has ever been published. It is an entertaining read and it provides good training advice. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you’re a competitive powerlifter or an athlete who needs strength and explosive power for sports, Powerlifting has everything you need to develop a program incorporating the three powerlifts:

• Squat

• Bench press

• Deadlift

Photos clearly illustrating the phases of each lift are accompanied by detailed descriptions emphasizing correct technique—the key to maximizing your gains and avoiding injury.

Strength expert and powerlifting competitor Barney Groves shows how to combine the lifts into a program according to your training goals. Sample programs are included for men and women in six different weight categories. And expert powerlifters share tips that you can use to boost your own program.

Groves also explains what to eat to build strength and size, how to enhance your performance with approved supplements, how to get psyched up for lifting, and whatyou need to know to enter powerlifting competitions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great intro to the SPORT of POWERLIFTING!
A lot of folks confuse body building, weightlifting and power lifting. These are three sports that use similar equipment for different effect. It is important to explain this to avoid a lot of confusion and understand the authors target audience.

1. A bodybuilder is using a variety of exercises to have large and well defined muscles. While strength gains are real, the primary goal is to have a shapely body and the contests are based upon how good the contestant looks. There are numerous resources, magazines and so on available to the prospective trainee. Most people who "work out" are following one or more bodybuilding routines.

2. Weightlifting is a strength and speed exercise with many classic lifts such as the 'clean and jerk' - and this is the sport most people think of when they talk about weight training. This is an Olympic sport and has a lot of books and other references.

3. Powerlifting is mostly a strength exercise based upon 3 exercises: the Squat, the Bench Press and the Deadlift. This book is about this particular sport, and it is about these three lifts. If you want to know about this sort of lifting, the sport and the types of people that do this, as well as a taste of the types of diet and exercise programs people use to train, this is a good book.

*** It happens to be one of the only easily available books on the subject, as such it is a "must get" for the prospective Powerlifter. ***

The book is not a complete reference for an absolute beginner to weight training, but if someone is familiar with basic bodybuilding routines, and has done it for a little bit (a year of minimum training in my opinion) this is a great introduction into the sport of powerlifting. From some of the bios in the book, most of the people did bodybuilding for some time, and then discovered Powerlifting, and this probably should be no different.

The book does a great job of describing the lifts, how to perform them properly, and safely, and it explains routines for training, periodization for competition as well as how to set up your own powerlifting routine. You can glean a lot of information on the sport and routines for a variety of ages, body types as well as men and women form the book. It also has sections talking about how to have a balanced routine, which is important if you are to have a LONG powerlifting routine!

If you want to learn about POWERLIFTING (the sport) this is a great book! If you have some experience in bodybuilding and want to know more about some really core exercises as well as one possible way to expand you horizons with a new sport - pick this up!

Very vague program
I do realize that Grove's intent is to show us the basics and let us develop our own programs over time, but he leaves way too much food for thought.

The vagueness of the program, applies to it's incorporation into other sports, as well as powerlifting itself. For example, he tells us the deadlift and squat should be performed every 5-10 days and the chest twice a week, every 3-5 days, with one light day. What he doesn't tell us, is should we do the chest and deadlift on the same day since the muscles are different? And what does he mean by doing a "light" day for chest, when there is no explaination of this at all in the program? Are we just supposed to figure out our own system?

I also find it strange that Groves only gives 2 examples of other sports, where powerlifting can be used. One of which is basketball. You'd think he'd include a program for wrestling or Olympic weight lifting, but he didn't. Not only that, the exercises he lists, give no indication of how many sets, reps, or how his main program should be incorporated into that sport. He also tells you to a whole bunch of exercises, that aren't even listed in his book.

All I can say is, don't expect to follow this program properly unless you already have a good amount of knowledge of basic bodybuilding and it's exercises.

Solid start for powerlifters
I can't believe all the bad reviews this book is getting. Ive been into fitness for 12 years and seen far, far worse efforts by self-styled "experts".
I'm aware that power lifting is hard on the joints. So is every sport I can think of. Sad to say, as a weightlifter and martial artist, my sports have a lot of envy and gossip. The author is a professor of Physical Ed at a Virginia University. What are the qualifications of his critics?
If you want a book that shows real strengh training, get this one. It's about ten dollars used and twenty new. You won't be sorry.

Disappointing
Although it is informative to hear the views of an insider to Powerlifting, the author failed to warn people of the shortcomings of this unscientific and dangerous sport.

The author is obsessed with the definition of Power in the context of the laws of mechanics and entirely omits the physiological dimensions of muscular power. Powerlifting induces serious limitation in the range of motion of joints. Thus, many powerlifters would be crippled with knee injuries, back injuries, and shoulder injuries before too long.

The three powerlifting lifts (squat, bench press, deadlift) are arbitrarily chosen to represent the sport.Thus, powerlifters will fail to lift overhead, in upright position, due to frozen shoulders, stiff back, and worn knee cartilages.

Powerlifters should be advised strongly to stretch and enhance the range of motion of those three major regions. They also have to be told to plan for health insurance that covers serious knee injuries with life-long disability.

One must admit that training on Powerlifting is much better than doing nothing. Yet, better, is to lift weight from the floor overhead, standing on your own feet, even if it would require many months to develop the coordination and balance. Lifting in the deadlift is very "partial". Lifting in the "squat" tips the body extensors at the expense of the flexors. Lifting in the "bench press" freezes the shoulder joints in a narrow range of motion.The three lifts have to be balanced with full, floor-overhead, lifting and flexing exercises such as "pull-over", "weighted crunches", and "standing shoulder-press".

very useable for firewood
who is barney groves??????........and who are the supposedly national and world champions he presents in his book?????

as one who had been involved in powerlifting since it's inception as coach.....international referee.......and a 5 time world champion........i find this book to be a joke......mr groves may have meant well...but i find the book to be a piece of junk...written by a no name author ...giving incorrect information....using made up national and world champions to promote a book that teaches nothing........i guess anybody can make money on anything today in the good old u.s.a.

it does my sport a great disservice to present information like this to the general public......

the book should be rated as a comet not a star......i.e falling to earth and burning up is it's best chance of being useable
rickey dale crain ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

the source
I was a competitive powerlifter in college (never on the sauce), setting state records in the State of Alabama in the early to mid 1980's.I and my fellow powerlifters used this book as our primary source for increasing our individual lifts as well as our totals.Just looking at it today made me flash back to a time in my life when my strength was greatest.

An absolute must for the powerlifter
Along with John Kuc's "Kuc Speaks" this is one book on powerlifting that you must read.Written in the early 80's it has remained one of the most informative books on the subject of powerlifting ever written.Eastern bloc lifters who now dominate the sport consider this their Bible.Dr. Squat has talked of updating it, but when taken together with his powerlifting manual on his website at [...], you have a complete system for putting up champion caliber totals.

good standard reference
I am not a powerlifter, but i weight train for fitness. I found this book to be very helpful in giving straightforward explanations of the importance of building a good strength base, and what exercises and approaches to use to achieve that. The different workout systems were clearly explained and the pictures and explanations of the exercises were clear. The diet information was also helpful and non technical. A nice addition to my fitness library (...).

Well explicited about strength training and supplementation.
I found this book extermely interesting and explanatory. Dr.Fred Hatfield (professionally known as Dr. Squat) presented the sport of powerlifting and bodybuilding in a way that even the "weekend warriors" canunderstand. And I have had this book for about 10 years now. ... Read more

Product Description

----- This book is geared towards the beginner to intermediate powerlifter, along with the person just thinking about getting into the sport. This book will present sound training, competition, dietary, and supplements advice to aid the reader in starting and progressing in the sport of powerlifting. It will also help the reader to wade through the maze of federations, divisions, and supportive gear now found in powerlifting.

Customer Reviews (1)

Waste of time unless you weigh 114 lbs.
Horrible.The book is not well reasearched as far as what builds absolute strength. there are far better sources on the internet for powerlifting developement. ... Read more

Product Description
A Practical Approach to Powerlifting is the official training manual for the International Powerlifting Federation IPF www.Powerlifting-IPF.com and details the complete technical analysis of the three powerlifts, with step-by step photos. Besides a complete guide to the squat, bench press, and deadlift, both for training and competition, this book also contains information on assistance exercises, powerlifting gear, program development, competition guidelines and much more.As well, it explains the use of the three powerlifting movements to sports training in all amateur (including Olympic, NCAA sports) and professional sports (including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer). Both recreational and professional powerlifters, as well as athletes in any of the power sports, including Olympic lifters, track and field athletes, and players in all team sports, will benefit from the information presented in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
"This book will give you all you need to plan your quest for greater strength." "If you're looking for a practical & proven program, look no further. You hold in your hands Z Last Book you'll ever need to get strong." - BILL KAZMAIER - World Strongest Man '80, '81 and '82 - IPF World Champion Powerlifter '79 and '83 ____________________ "I found the title perfectly fits the book as it definitely is the only strength book you'll ever need. All the information necessary to achieve maximum strength is included and as well as being accurate it's easy to understand." - FRANCO COLUMBU D.C. - Mr. Olympia '76 and '81 - Champion Weightlifter, Powerlifter and Strongman ____________________ "Todd is a real expert, with real world experience. If you want straightforward, time-tested, easy to follow, strength building formulas and routines - Todd's book is for you." - PHIL PFISTER - 2006 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man ____________________ "Todd's book is as innovative as it is thorough. - JOE WEIDER - Trainer of Champions ____________________ "Todd Bostrom has shown his passion for strength training by utilizing an easy to understand but effective methodology for getting stronger." - MARK PHILIPPI - 7 Time World's Strongest Man Competitor - 1997 America's Strongest Man ____________________ "'Z Last Book You'll Ever Need On STRENGTH TRAINING' by Todd Bostrom is the 'cookbook of strength'..." - MIKE LAMBERT - Powerlifting USA Magazine ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Almost as good as having your own personal strength coach
I've just completed the 1st of the programs described in Todd's book (the "3's and 5's" program) and got the following results after 14 weeks of training:
Benchpress: previous 1 RM 308 lbs ->> new 1 RM 330 lbs
Squat: 396 lbs ->> 430 lbs
Deadlift: 407 lbs ->> 463 lbs
(the weights are not round because recalculated from kilos)

I'm 32 years old and weigh about 240 pounds now. I've been training for a couple of years so I guess I can be called an intermediate-level athlete. I don't use any special equipment (such as a benchpress shirt), just a belt, wrist and knee wraps. I also don't take any supplements or any of the harder stuff.

I believe that any training program should be evaluated based on the progress it helps one to achieve, and since I got more than 5% improvement in all the three lifts (13.7% in deadlift), I was quite pleased. I'm not a complete beginner anymore, so gains don't come as easy as they used to. I know that at this level improving your 1 RM's by 5% in 14 weeks is pretty good, and I achieved more than that.

Now, no training program is completely fool-proof (unless one is an 'elite' weightlifter like the other reviewer - but then I don't think that you need a book to tell you what to do.) Even if Todd's book sets a new standard when it comes to clarity - all key points are repeated many times - there were still some small things which I was not quite sure that I understood correctly. Inside the book I found Todd's business card so I sent my questions to the email address provided on it. Todd replied within 24 hours and explained everything what I wanted him to explain. Moreover, I told him that since I was into powerlifting rather than general 'strength training', I couldn't be bothered to train military press, but would rather concentrate on my benchpress. In response to my request, Todd adjusted the 3's and 5's program so it became more benchpress-oriented. We've had email correspondence for several months now and Todd never left any of my questions unanswered, including those that are not covered in the book such as related to dieting. He even gave me some valuable hints regarding my technique based on photos that I sent him.

I always wanted to have a personal coach specializing in strength training, but they were pretty thin on the ground in the places where I lived and trained. Now I feel like I've finally found one. Todd has provided me with a lot of invaluable advice at no extra charge to the cost of the book that helped me to improve my results and gave a new impetus to my training.

Simplest Program with Guaranteed Results
I have to admit, when I read all the endorsements of this book and then opened up the actual programs, I thought I was duped. It seemed too simple. Where are all the crazy accessory exercises? Where is the dynamic effort work? Why do I start out so light? Well, the proof is in the program. After a full 14 week strength cycle of the 3's and 5's program outlined in this book my numbers jumped up to the following. I've never experienced these jumps in such a simple program. And I only gained 10 pounds with little fat in the waist. (Currently at 205)

1 RM Squat 365-->405
1 RM Deadlift 455-->505
1 RM Bench Press 295-->315
1 RM Standing Press 185-->200

I've been chasing these numbers for over two years.

But make no mistake...the last weeks are really hard. I felt like I was getting hit by a truck in weeks 13 and 14. Also, it is most effective when you follow the program to the book and do not add in anymore accessory work. If you do, expect less than optimal results. Also, my experience is that some of the workouts can take a great deal of time and dedication. I had to rest a great deal between sets when I started to go heavy. This could be because life was getting in the way of diet, sleep and training motivation. I wish I would have had this program when I was in college and single, because I would be a friggin beast.

Todd was receptive to questions and showed an interest in making the program work for me. I shot enough e-mails to him that I thought he was going to start asking for consultation fees. Stand up guy with a great product.

Z Last Book You'll Ever Need On Strength Training
I highly recommend Todd Bostrom's book "Z Last Book You'll Ever Need On Strength Training". I followed Bostrom's 5s & 8s training program for the full 14 week strength cycle exactly as laid out in the book. I experienced a 12% strength gain in my Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press and Military press in 14 weeks. I then did 3 weeks of Hypertrophy and a week of rest and went into a 2nd 14 week power cycle and achieved another 12% gain. I plan on repeating the same training regimen over and over.The book has changed my approach to weight training for the better. The book is a very easy read and the programs are laid out with every set listed so that anyone can follow them.The book is excellent.

dissapointed elite level powerlifter telling you to not be scammed!!!!
ive been competing in the sport of powerlifting for over 15 years and training for over 25 years and won many state raw powerlifting titles in the 275s and shw classes ive tried many methods of trainingand i can tell you that the first 6 weeks on this program doesnothing to build up strength.he wrote up a spread sheet and sold it as a book wtf?where are his credentials?better yet he doesnt give any details as far as which program should go towards a powerlifing or any sport cycle!ive never felt so scammed in my life!his assistance excercises are a joke as well.real men of strength do chins and bent over rows> not pulldowns and low pulley rows.everyone of my training partners laughed @ this book!try westside barbell, ed coans videos are awesome and detailed as well! for all around strength nothing even comes close to the mother of all strength books DINOSAUR TRAINING by brooks d. kubic this is the first book on "strength" that i will be throwing away! not kidding either!i would not give this to a beginner!!!he must have paid the endorsers of his spreadsheet i mean "book" lol a lot of money or a percentage of the sales.laughable!!!!

Best training book I have ever used
I am 40 years old, 5'11" 265lbs.I currently work for the Vermont State Police as a State Trooper.I have been with VSP since 2001 and have worked in law enforcement since 1992.I have been strength training most of my life and most of that time not really knowing how to train the right way.I have gone through at least 100 differant workout routines in my training career and none really worked.When I saw this book I said I would try it.My big lifts before the book were 360 lb raw bench and 575 raw dead.I started the 3's and 5's workout and it looked like it was going to kill me but once I got through the volume stage I knew that this was the best routine I have ever used.There is no guess work with this routine, exact sets and reps for whatever you need.After 14 weeks April 3, 2010 I benched 425lbs at a raw meet and just missed 435lbs.Deadlift was 625 lbs and just missed 650lbs not bad for my first meet to total 1050lbs for a push pull meet.

The best thing about this book is not what is written in the pages but Todd's committment to helping you achieve your goals.Todd emailed me daily giving me exact sets and warm up for my meet you dont find that every day.Todd does not even know me but over the last 16 weeks we have becaomn friends.I have another police fire raw meet coming up on June 26th and again Todd is personaly traning me for that contest and I am going to get at least 450lbs raw that day.

The point I want to make is you are not going to find this kind of personal treatment with any other book out there.I guarantee you will get bigger, stronger, faster using this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Powerlifting is a sport where strength plays a great part in an athlete’s success, but there are many other factors involed in success in powerlifting. In Powerlifting For Men and Women: How To Lift Like A Champion, Lewis reveals the secrets he has learned about powerlifting in his 20 plus years of coaching the sport. Attitude, workouts, equipment, and nutrition, as well as technique for each lift are thoroughly discussed. This book gives the reader all the information, theories and tips he or she needs to begin lifting like a champion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Geared towards young kids
I was disappointd with this book.It should be re-titled to "Powerlifting for Boys and Girls" because the information in the book is completely irrelevant for adults.In addition, this book is useless for anyone who already participates in the sport of powerlifting (regardless of age).

I am dumber for having read this
A truly horrible book filled with equally horrid information.

It provides a simple and poorly set out cookie cutter training program that makes no sense at all.Squat Mon, Bench Tue (with stiff legged deadlift), Deadlift on Wed.For a meet on Sat.Which is fine if there is a meet on Sat but why train that way during the year?

After stating that women gain better strength by using high reps in the bench, he then states that most women will not improve their bench by more than 5-10 lbs per year.

Which is probably true if they are following the terrible advice in this book. ... Read more

Product Description
!! Warning before you buy: !!

If you own Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training, by Mohamed F. El-Hewie, you do NOT need to purchase this abridged edition.

Due to the voluminous nature of the hardcover book of Essentials of Weightlifting and Strength Training, which could overwhelm the new comers to weight training, the author opted to offer the following three chapters as an integrated body on strength training. In this concise format, this book covers the essentials aspects of bodybuilding and stretching without the esoteric complexity of Olympic Weightlifting. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is for the beginner to intermediate powerlifter, along with the person thinking about getting into the sport. It will present sound training, competition, dietary, and supplement advice.
It will also help the reader to wade through the maze of federations, divisions, and supportive gear in powerlifting. Plus, it will detail some of the personal difficulties the writer has encountered in hope that doing so will help the reader to avoid the same problems. So this book is truly a compressive guide to powerlifting.
The author has a degree in Nutrition Science and was a state and national collegiate champion and record holder back in 1979-82. Starting in 2003, he began to compete again. He is currently a top-ranked master powerlifter, holding 39 records set in four different powerlifting federations.
He is also the founder and director of Fitness for One and All, which is dedicated to helping people attain their heath, fitness, and per-formance goals, with an emphasis on powerlifting. ... Read more