I have never said it was common for someone to do that. And I only could do it a few times. In the front would be a different story though. What I am frustrated about is how you think I am making up the Joe Onasai story. I wish I knew exactly how to get a copy of that video cause I would post it in a minute. But, I don't think about it or really care that much. I saw it as did many thousands of others who wee watching tv at time. 405 is an unreal weight and I doubt there are maybe 2 or 3 in the whole state here. I know many guys who bench over 600 lbs. and could barely do 315 for reps on the BNP. Means nothing unless they do that lift a lot. Last time I checked powerlifters train in the squat, bench and deadlift. I see that many doing BNP at all. I used to do them twice a week. I have also seen and armwrestled many guys who could out lift me in every lift. They didn't last 1/2 a second on the table with me. So unless you do the lifts then I don't see how you can do that kind of weight
That is just the point which these little kids doesn't understand: It isn't something which guys do all the time, but some few guys are capable to do it some times. For Leino, it cost the shoulder, meaning that his career was ended by shoulder injuries few years later. There still is a bunch of guys who are a capable lift weights like that, but because it has high risk involved, and it doesn't do so much good for your muscles, it is somewhat futile thing to do. Anyway, Leino has good sense of humour, and when interviewer ask him: "how do you manage to press 450 lb behind your neck for four reps? " Leino told him "because I first do ten reps with 500lb... "