A year of progress

This year has been a year of change. I have trained and competed exclusively raw, or with only a belt and wrist wraps. I haven’t closed the door on equipped lifting, but I have been excited by the growth of raw powerlifting and the opportunities have been there this year for me. I also started working with Mike Tuchsherer- from January 1st in fact. That has had a huge impact on my progress. I have also trained almost exclusively at home in my home-gym in a shed at my house. I remember someone telling me that only losers train in home gyms. With my tongue placed firmly against my cheek I christened by home gym ‘loser barbell’. I have discovered that you can make your home gym better than any other for getting you where you want. You put it together the way you want and set up you to suit you. I’m now set up for an even better year next year.

For me, the perfect home gym is built around a good power rack. I am lucky to have the Iron Cage. With that you can squat, bench, press and pull- against bands, off pins or out of slings. It’s big enough for lunges and strong enough for rack pulls.

I managed to get through 4 raw competitions this year: a local competition, which I just used as a practice event; the pacific invitational at the Australian raw nationals; the IPF raw worlds; the raw Oceanias. Over that time I’d estimate that my squat improved around 20kg, my bench about 10kg and my deadlift 20kg. I ended the year with best lifts of 330kg squat, 220kg bench and 317.5kg deadlift- and I know I’m good for more. The highlight undoubtedly was placing 3rd at the raw worlds. I also took out best overall open male lifter at the Australian nationals and the Oceanias.

How do you keep improving? I think its always important to evaluating your lifting and find ways of improving. My demands have continually changed and as a result I have had to keep changing the way I train. The main work has always been squat, bench and deadlift, but the reps have changed, the loading has changed and the assistance and accessory work keeps changing. This is because as you develop your needs change. It’s a continual ongoing process. My advice to others is to get others to assess, ideally a coach, or video and self-assess. To be able to keep moving forward you need to be driven and you have to shelve the ego. To get better you can never to satisfied with where you are; you are always focused on the path forward to bigger weights and better lifting.

My focus is already fixed on Suzdal Russia where the 2013 IPF raw worlds will be held. I’m lucky that I have Iron Edge in my camp. "Loser barbell" has ended up serving me well.

Stephen Pritchard