Fortress...calling you out!

[Titus Pullo]

 

Just kidding.  Everyone here knows you're legit.  You're intelligent, likeable ,have been in the game for a long time and have tons of stories to tell.  I like you (Jane, please spare me the "OP drinking gallons of jizz" pic, dear ).

Anyhow, I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to hear more of your stories; e.g., some specifics about training with pros like Nasser who, per one of our conversations eons ago, left you "marvelled" at how much he struggled to incline press 315 for a few reps.

For that matter, I know you started out in bodybuilding but transitioned to powerlifting.  What sort of training modality do you use now?  How does it differ from your bodybuilding routines and general training ethos?

Just curious, mate.  I'm tired of the selfies threads and back and forth nonsense associated therewith.  It'd be nice to have a real discussion for a change

[Gym Rat]

...

[Gym Rat]

The Fortress "315 x 25" squat is pretty fucking crazy...

[wes]

I agree and throw in "The Coach",Tommywishbone,hazbin,Grant Henderson,and Big Ro.......great stories will abound.

[Matt]

Fortress is the man!

Great post, Titus Pullo.

Some good questions in there too. I have been doing a bodybuilding-style program for almost four months now. But I have that tickle to get stronger. Hitting a bench/squat/deadlift of 350/450/550 would be nice, at 185-lb body weight.

It would be a challenge, but I think I can get pretty close [with knee wraps, straps, and a bench bounce].

Fortress has hit some incredible lifts, including a full ass to the grass 635-lb squat, basically going as low as the guy in the picture below. 

Just kidding. But he has incredible power.

He is also against the current Woke insanity. I am a big fan of his posts. 

[Walter Sobchak]

Fortress is the man!

Great post, Titus Pullo.

Some good questions in there too. I have been doing a bodybuilding-style program for almost four months now. But I have that tickle to get stronger. Hitting a bench/squat/deadlift of 350/450/550 would be nice, at 185-lb body weight.

It would be a challenge, but I think I can get pretty close [with knee wraps, straps, and a bench bounce].

Fortress has hit some incredible lifts, including a full ass to the grass 635-lb squat, basically going as low as the guy in the picture below. 

Just kidding. But he has incredible power.

He is also against the current Woke insanity. I am a big fan of his posts. 

This thread isn’t about you, shitstain.

[Gym Rat]

Just kidding. But he has incredible power.

He is also against the current Woke insanity. I am a big fan of his posts. 

Fortress is one of GetBig's "GOAT's"...

[Kwon]

Fortress is Great, Wes is Great, Don Arvilla is Great, Matt Canning is Epic, Taffin is Superb, Robcguns is Epitome (as are his Bushes)

[Matt]

The Fortress "315 x 25" squat is pretty fucking crazy...

Incredible lift.

Obviously depth matters, but Fortress buries his squats.

I had a friend who squatted 315 for 30 [if I recall correctly...it may have been 25 reps]. At six feet/ 220-lb [photo below].

I have never personally witnessed anyone else hit that. That is a phenomenal squat with 315.

I suspect that if Fortress got 315 for 30 reps, that he buried each rep. My friend was a parallel squatter, but his max squat was well below Fort's [500-lb to Fort's PR of 635].

I think some people are built better for squats, or just don't hate them as much. Personally I loathe squats...I get bad knee valgus.

I always assumed Fortress must be built for squatting - or just loves the lift, the way Ed Coan did.

[BigRo]

Incredible lift.

Obviously depth matters, but Fortress buries his squats.

I had a friend who squatted 315 for 30 [if I recall correctly...it may have been 25 reps]. At six feet/ 220-lb [photo below].

I have never personally witnessed anyone else hit that. That is a phenomenal squat with 315.

I suspect that if Fortress got 315 for 30 reps, that he buried each rep. My friend was a parallel squatter, but his max squat was well below Fort's [500-lb to Fort's PR of 635].

I think some people are built better for squats, or just don't hate them as much. Personally I loathe squats...I get bad knee valgus.

I always assumed Fortress must be built for squatting - or just loves the lift, the way Ed Coan did.

Never squatted 600 pounds but I have done 315 x 20 "fairly" easily.

[stingray]

What intelligent post has Fortress ever put on here?

[Matt]

What intelligent post has Fortress ever put on here?

I think he posts great stories. Here's one:

So Fortress is perusing DVDs at his local Sunrise Records.

Gnome Rainbow Bright Fruitcake employee broad is yappin’ about, pestering me. As if I want the company. No one else is in the place.

I see Get Out on the shelf and say, “Good movie, in approach. Too bad about the whole evil-white-guy thing it pushes.”

The little LBTWRONG+ gremlin says something about how White people are evil.

She’s White.

I counter with a, Well, every non-White wants to live in our nations, so I guess we are less evil and more badass.

“Are you a WHITE SUPREMACIST?” she asks.

“Naturally.”

Rainbow Bright immediately begins to cry: “Oh, my god! I am sooo scared right now!”

She is legit sobbing, tears streaming down her face.

I pull out the American Psycho classic … “I’m leaving. I’ve assessed the situation, and I’m going.”

Fortress doesn’t need this shit.

And another great one:

So, yesterday I’m at Sunrise Records, and I’m paying using my iPhone. It requires face recognition, so I pull down my paper mask (aren’t allowed entry without). The cashier girl immediately takes a few steps back.

I’m thinking, Is this real life?

She’s roughly 20 years old and very obviously a lesbian. Nice girl. But is this the average person in these times? Entirely committed to the pLandemic joke?

The store is in a mall, and spouting every few minutes from its announcement system is crap about wearing masks, etc., and ending with, “We’re all in this together!”

Nope. We’re definitely not.

And as far as gym masking, the past few months I’ve been lifting completely bald-faced. Signs ask members to wear a mask upon entering, but not a chance.

Heck, in my condo there are postings stating a temporary by-law mandates one to don a mask in all common areas of the building.

Just not gonna happen.

[illuminati]

Never squatted 600 pounds but I have done 315 x 20 "fairly" easily.

My best for reps Back squat at around 97kg BW
420 x 19 (21 I think only My memory ain't great)  Full deep reps & It wasn't easy .
At 50+ age.

Damn well wish I could do the same now.

[Hulkotron]

I squatted 136 (half-pound clips) for 20 yesterday.

[BigRo]

My best for reps Back squat at around 97kg BW
420 x 19 (21 I think only My memory ain't great)  Full deep reps & It wasn't easy .
At 50+ age.

Damn well wish I could do the same now.

At 50 plus, I would be happy to do it at 40. Some going.

[CalvinH]

I agree and throw in "The Coach",Tommywishbone,hazbin,Grant Henderson,and Big Ro.......great stories will abound.

Sigh....

[robcguns]

Fortress does have great stories and he’s a strong ass mofo. As well as a proud white man.

[Fortress]

On “vacation” to attend my folks’ 60th anniversary …

Thanks for all the rockin’ words for Fortress. Love you boys.

More when I return home next week, but …

Best in-comp squat is 660 (obviously no drugs), and in gym, 705. Best with 315 is 31. Went down for 32 … and never returned upright with it. Hahaha Ass-to-Asia, muthas!

Lots of fun lifting sessions and bonkers shenanigans. Been at it without pause since 1985.

And lots of stories, yep.

Have to share as they’re remembered.

Platz almost killed me in Gold’s in 1994. Hahahahaha

Thanks again to my Getbig brothers.

You know who you are.

Rock out, roll on.

[wes]

Sigh....

THROW IN CLAVIN ALSO.....he has to make some fucking list someday!   LOL 

[robcguns]

On “vacation” to attend my folks’ 60th anniversary …

Thanks for all the rockin’ words for Fortress. Love you boys.

More when I return home next week, but …

Best in-comp squat is 660 (obviously no drugs), and in gym, 705. Best with 315 is 31. Went down for 32 … and never returned upright with it. Hahaha Ass-to-Asia, muthas!

Lots of fun lifting sessions and bonkers shenanigans. Been at it without pause since 1985.

And lots of stories, yep.

Have to share as they’re remembered.

Platz almost killed me in Gold’s in 1994. Hahahahaha

Thanks again to my Getbig brothers.

You know who you are.

Rock out, roll on.

Very impressive lifts. Congrats to your parents on their 60th that’s impressive.enjoy.

[robcguns]

What intelligent post has Fortress ever put on here?

Get fucked stingray.

[Matt]

Never squatted 600 pounds but I have done 315 x 20 "fairly" easily.

That's a great lift.

I hate squatting, and the most I ever got was 385x2 to well below parallel [contest depth - like the picture below]. It's the only one of my three PL lifts I do in contest form [I bounce my max bench, and deadlift with straps].

I was 170 at the time, but I think I was pretty close to 405 with wraps. I feel like I can get to 405+, but I have some knee valgus, so I've only been leg pressing lately. A 405+ squat will be fine with me, as it is my weakest area. I don't even see anyone squat 405 once a year.

I just never cared for the movement...I should have just forced myself to squat more, but...here I am, with some catching up to do.

I was good for 315x10 before...I just can't recall if I had wraps at the time. A 315x20 squat is great - especially if your depth was good. Good stuff.

[Matt]

My best for reps Back squat at around 97kg BW
420 x 19 (21 I think only My memory ain't great)  Full deep reps & It wasn't easy .
At 50+ age.

Damn well wish I could do the same now.

You got a reps PR at age 50+??

[robcguns]

You got a reps PR at age 50+??

Illuminati is an animal.

[Matt]

On “vacation” to attend my folks’ 60th anniversary …

Wow! Good for them. My grandma just turned 91 on the 8th. She lives up the street from me, and is my only living grandparent. She made it to her 56th wedding anniversary before my grandpa died in 2012.

A full 60 years is a long marriage. I wonder how people do it. Good for them. That's great that you are still on good terms with them.

Best in-comp squat is 660 (obviously no drugs), and in gym, 705.

Amazing! Geez...I didn't realize you squatted that.  I must have confused your 635 story. Maybe it was an attempt to go several levels deeper than usual. I know you are a big advocate of full depth squatting.

Best with 315 is 31. Went down for 32 … and never returned upright with it. Hahaha Ass-to-Asia, muthas!

LOL. I knew it. 😆

A friend of mine [picture bove] squatted 315x30, and he was maybe a 550 squatter to parallel at his best. His 30 reps were parallel.

I figured you would have been squatting much lower. Depth makes a huge difference - not only is the range of motion longer, but IMO, getting out of the hole is the hardest part. So 315x31 ass-to-the-grass would be a lot harder than 315x30 to parallel.

Ed Coan was the master at BARELY breaking parallel [he purposely did that, to maximize his squat while still getting green lights].

What do you think of Coan's squat depth, Fortress?

And you mentioned competing - was that at a full powerlifting meet? I'm assuming so.

What are your best bench and deadlift, Fortress?