Training Methodologies of the 1960's by Dr. Ken E. Leistner

One of the disappointing things in powerlifting, and I think a lot of the uninitiated don’t realize it, is the top guys are very strong in the three specific competitive lifts and in three spe cific planes of motion. But, many of them are not particularly strong at doing anything else. It might be difficult to comprehend that someone could weigh 181 pounds, benchpress over 450, squat over 700 and deadlift 700, and not be that strong. But many of them aren’t, other than within the parameters of the competitive lifts. A lot of the Olympic lifters, especially with the elimination of the overhead press movement, are tremendously athletic and very strong within the context of doing snatches, clean and jerks, and all the assistant exercises they use on a regular basis to enhance those competitive lifts. A lot of the bodybuilders, unfortunately, aren’t very strong at all. Some certainly are, but many are not because they don’t train the basic exercises. They don’t train multi-joint movements that essentially force the body to become strong if done in a progressive, consistent manner.

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