Greg Panora

[chris_mason]

I was just writing a breif recap of the 2007 Power Station Pro-Am powerlifting meet I attended last weekend in Franklin, Ohio.  It was an amazing meet with over $22,000 in cash being doled out to the lifters.

The highlight of the meet was the all-time record total set by Greg Panora.  The man did a 2,600 lbs total in the 242 lbs weight class!!!!

To understand how ridiculous that is, you need to understand that only a very short time ago a 2,600 lbs total was only a dream for even the strongest superheavyweight lifters.  This guy did it at 242 lbs!!!!

His lifts were as follows:

Squat - 1050 lbs
Bench - 750 lbs
Deadlift - 800 lbs

Total - 2,600 lbs!!!

Here is a video of his squat:

His total is a testament to his physical strength potential, strength of mind, and the efficacy of the Westside training methods (www.westside-barbell.com) espoused by strength guru Louie Simmons.

Incredible stuff!

[Al-Gebra]

WOW!!!!!!! 2600!!!!!!!!!! that's really amazing, given the lack of "technological advances" in gear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

another high squat!!!!! Incredible!!!!!!!!

[Van_Bilderass]

The deadlift is very impressive. The rest, well, was it better gear, better gear mastery or did he really get stronger?

The Westside method seems really good for taking advantage of the gear. Ed Coan doesn't use Westside though LOL

[chris_mason]

The deadlift is very impressive. The rest, well, was it better gear, better gear mastery or did he really get stronger?

The Westside method seems really good for taking advantage of the gear. Ed Coan doesn't use Westside though LOL

What does Ed Coan not using it have to do with its efficacy?

Ed is an incredible athlete and one of the strongest men of all time. 

His gear is not better.  In fact, I was looking at his squat suit and it was literally falling apart and I remember thinking he needs to get a new suit.

Look, no one has done over 2420 lbs without gear, so Greg doing it under the same conditions a superheavies etc. proves how incredibly strong he is.  They have access to and use the same or better gear.

Westside training methods, the basic philosophy of ME and DE days and the conjugate method work for anyone with or without gear.  There are thousands upon thousands of trainees who can attest to that fact.

[The Squadfather]

epic 5 inch ROM on the squat.

[The Squadfather]

hahahha, i just watched that clip again and the thing that makes me laugh about these high ass Monolift squats is that these clowns are already in a half squat position when have the weight handed to them off the Monolift, what a joke.

[Van_Bilderass]

What does Ed Coan not using it have to do with its efficacy?

Ed is an incredible athlete and one of the strongest men of all time. 

His gear is not better.  In fact, I was looking at his squat suit and it was literally falling apart and I remember thinking he needs to get a new suit.

Look, no one has done over 2420 lbs without gear, so Greg doing it under the same conditions a superheavies etc. proves how incredibly strong he is.  They have access to and use the same or better gear.

Westside training methods, the basic philosophy of ME and DE days and the conjugate method work for anyone with or without gear.  There are thousands upon thousands of trainees who can attest to that fact.

OK, I don't know what this guy has done raw. My point is that most of the Westside successes are geared lifters. As has been mentioned in many discussions the deadlift is the poorest lift on average for the Westsiders, the lift where the gear matters the least.

By mentioning Coan my point was that some of the strongest lifters without super gear don't use  Westside methods. Westside isn't as popular in the IPF, perhaps for good reason.

Chris, do you use Westside yourself? How do you feel about your deadlift being better than the majority's at Westside, and that even being natural. Put on a deadlift suit and you would destroy the majority of these dudes squatting 1000+ and benching 800+.

Really, I'm more impressed by YOUR deadlift than Byrd's WR squat for example.

[phreak]

all discussion about gear aside: a 242 posted a total only 200 Lbs off of the SHW total. Close to the same total as men double (or more!) his weight. Same rules, same judging, same equipment. Amazing.


NB: For me personally, I would not be satisfied with the depth of the squat. But white lights = good lift.

[tommywishbone]

The 800 pound deadlift @242 puts him in an elite class of lifters. The squat and the bench... Well I ain't seen the BP and the squat was interesting. Times change.

[The Squadfather]

The 800 pound deadlift @242 puts him in an elite class of lifters. The squat and the bench... Well I ain't seen the BP and the squat was interesting. Times change.

you're a big fan of Lee Moran, Tommy, and if Lee was alive he'd laugh his ass off at these "squats", these guys have the weight put on their back by the Monolift already in the half squat position so all they have to do is lower themselves 6 inches and the suit pops them back up, ridiculous, compare these "lifts" to what Reinhoudt, Kaz, Moran, Waddington, Hatfield or Karwoski did and you'll see it's a joke.

[MONSTER_TRICEPS]

Nobody cares about WPO "lifts".

[hangclean]

OK, I don't know what this guy has done raw. My point is that most of the Westside successes are geared lifters. As has been mentioned in many discussions the deadlift is the poorest lift on average for the Westsiders, the lift where the gear matters the least.

By mentioning Coan my point was that some of the strongest lifters without super gear don't use  Westside methods. Westside isn't as popular in the IPF, perhaps for good reason.

Chris, do you use Westside yourself? How do you feel about your deadlift being better than the majority's at Westside, and that even being natural. Put on a deadlift suit and you would destroy the majority of these dudes squatting 1000+ and benching 800+.

Really, I'm more impressed by YOUR deadlift than Byrd's WR squat for example.

Your saying that your not impressed with a handfull of guys that deadlift over 800?

[SteelePegasus]

ummm...was I suppose to be impressed by that Squat?


no, I will never be that strong but 1 rep with your legs that wide open doesn't do anything for me

I would much rather see a guy do some reps with the regular position

[Van_Bilderass]

Your saying that your not impressed with a handfull of guys that deadlift over 800?

An 800 deadlift is always impressive. What I said was Chris is at about 700 at barely over 200lbs and clean (I have to take his word for it). How many lifters at Westside do that RAW at such a low bodyweight?

There are some crazy strong lifters at Westside, that's for sure, but it doesn't impress me as much if they are benching and squatting world record weights yet their deadlift is at 600-something (in some cases).

[haider]

An 800 deadlift is always impressive. What I said was Chris is at about 700 at barely over 200lbs and clean (I have to take his word for it). How many lifters at Westside do that RAW at such a low bodyweight?

There are some crazy strong lifters at Westside, that's for sure, but it doesn't impress me as much if they are benching and squatting world record weights yet their deadlift is at 600-something (in some cases).

probably because they tend to not train the deadlift as much, mostly sticking to training the posterior to improve deadlift numbers. I guess it works upto an extent but not enough for huge deadlift numbers.

[Van_Bilderass]

probably because they tend to not train the deadlift as much, mostly sticking to training the posterior to improve deadlift numbers. I guess it works upto an extent but not enough for huge deadlift numbers.

Yeah, I've seen Louie say they didn't do much deadlifting at all. Maybe it has started to change a bit now, don't know. The deadlift is still a somewhat untainted lift and it's still a lift where you can gauge how strong a lifters is, as opposed to how good his gear is.

[chris_mason]

OK, I don't know what this guy has done raw. My point is that most of the Westside successes are geared lifters. As has been mentioned in many discussions the deadlift is the poorest lift on average for the Westsiders, the lift where the gear matters the least.

By mentioning Coan my point was that some of the strongest lifters without super gear don't use  Westside methods. Westside isn't as popular in the IPF, perhaps for good reason.

Chris, do you use Westside yourself? How do you feel about your deadlift being better than the majority's at Westside, and that even being natural. Put on a deadlift suit and you would destroy the majority of these dudes squatting 1000+ and benching 800+.

Really, I'm more impressed by YOUR deadlift than Byrd's WR squat for example.

a) You give me too much credit.
b) I do incorporate some of Louie's principles, yes.

[chris_mason]

Nobody cares about WPO "lifts".

Errr, the lifts mentioned for Greg were not done at a WPO meet...

[chris_mason]

you're a big fan of Lee Moran, Tommy, and if Lee was alive he'd laugh his ass off at these "squats", these guys have the weight put on their back by the Monolift already in the half squat position so all they have to do is lower themselves 6 inches and the suit pops them back up, ridiculous, compare these "lifts" to what Reinhoudt, Kaz, Moran, Waddington, Hatfield or Karwoski did and you'll see it's a joke.

I have a suggestion, go to Westside, walk into the gym and tell them they are a joke. 

LOL!!!

[WOOO]

epic 5 inch ROM on the squat.

yip...


these newer squat records are a joke

[Van_Bilderass]

a) You give me too much credit.

LOL, I know you have thought the same "what the fuck is up with their deadlifts?" Pound for pound you are a stronger puller than the majority of the Westsiders. Tell me I'm wrong. 

[chris_mason]

LOL, I know you have thought the same "what the fuck is up with their deadlifts?" Pound for pound you are a stronger puller than the majority of the Westsiders. Tell me I'm wrong. 

Ok, not to sound the wrong way, but you could make that statment about just about any group of powerlifters.  I just have a pretty decent deadlift for a clean, raw lifter. 

Here is what I know:

- Any pull over 600 lbs is very good
- Anything over 700 lbs is in the 90th percentile
- Anything over 800 lbs is STUPID strong
- Anything over 900 lbs is inhuman!
- Anything over 1000 lbs is Andy Bolton and he is the freak of freaks when it comes to deadlifting!

[Gino30]

Ok, not to sound the wrong way, but you could make that statment about just about any group of powerlifters.  I just have a pretty decent deadlift for a clean, raw lifter. 

Here is what I know:

- Any pull over 600 lbs is very good
- Anything over 700 lbs is in the 90th percentile
- Anything over 800 lbs is STUPID strong
- Anything over 900 lbs is inhuman!
- Anything over 1000 lbs is Andy Bolton and he is the freak of freaks when it comes to deadlifting!

Andy Bolton who can't lock his legs out and pull his shoulders back.....WPO meets blow!....standards go out the door

[The Squadfather]

Andy Bolton who can't lock his legs out and pull his shoulders back.....WPO meets blow!....standards go out the door

why don't you send Andy a video of yourself pulling your massive 365 max and show him how it's done, you huge monster?

[Coach]

Obviously under IPF conditions he'd lose a few hundred pounds off his total, but as far as pure raw strength goes you would be an idiot to think that he isn't up there with anyone that has ever lifted.

It's a shame that powerlifting is no longer the same sport as it was in the 80's and 90's but it's futile to bitch about it. Just accept that no lifter has ever come within a million miles of Panora's total when lifting under the same conditions.