We’ve recently featured some exercises which are named after strongmen and bodybuilders. Today we have another selection of great exercises for you, this time they’re movements named after legends from the exciting sport of powerlifting. Give them a try in your own routines and let’s get you increasing your strength in the three main powerlifts with these 5 Great Exercises Named After Powerlifters.
1. Spoto Press
Eric Spoto owned the world record raw bench press for over two years, lifting an astonishing 722lbs (327.5kg). The barbell should touch the chest at the bottom of a bench press rep, but in Spoto’s variation the bar stops 1-2 inches short of the pecs and is momentarily paused. This one is great for new stimulus and will also prevent of course any of that undesirable ‘bouncing the bar off your chest’.
2. Kirk Shrugs
This straightforward and highly effective exercise is named after one of powerlifting’s greatest lifters, Kirk Karwoski. He used this to build extra strength for his deadlift and particularly for his grip. A bonus of extra trapezius size will come with the regular use of this exercise.
3. Tate Press
Dave Tate is one of the big names in the powerlifting world and he has excelled in this sport. This strength legend has benched over 600lbs (272kg) in competition. This tricep extension variation was one he included in his own routines to build his big bench press. Try it on a flat bench or different incline angles to earn the reward of big and powerful triceps.
4. Dimel Deadlifts
Powerlifters love to train heavy but sometimes it’s necessary to do some lighter work. The Dimel Deadlift (named after the super strong powerlifter Matt Dimel) only needs a weight approximately one-third of your heaviest deadlift max. The reps starts slowly and increase in speed during the set, building explosiveness in your lower body. It feels great on your hamstrings too!
5. Hatfield Front Raise
Even if you’re not a powerlifter, you may recognise Fred Hatfield’s name from the famous squat battle he had against bodybuilder Tom Platz in the 1990’s. Appropriately nicknamed “Dr. Squat” he had an extremely powerful lower body. (You may find it interesting that Tom Platz is one of the few bodybuilders who openly talked about the use of anabolic steroids (https://anabolicenergy.com/). He was no slouch in the upper body department either; he bench pressed over 500lbs (227kg) in his time. Here’s a nice front raise variation he used to build deltoid strength for his bench press.
Talking of Hatfield, we’ll leave you with one more exercise named after him. Have a look for ‘Hatfield Squats‘ next time you browse online for strength exercises. What weight-bearing exercises stimulated extra gains for you? Let us know below, join in the conversation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter & Instagram! (Need extra iron? Then check out 5 Great Exercises Named after Bodybuilders, 5 Great Exercises Named After Strongmen, and no harm in seeing the World’s Strongest Man – Eddie Hall fold up a frying pan with his bare hands again, eh?)
