Sunday, October 18, 2020

Muscle Cars and Strength Athletes

The 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle. The quintessential muscle car.  Born in an era when cars were just cars. It contained no power windows, no power door locks, and rolled off the production line with more horsepower than cubic inches. With frame bending torque it would staple its passengers to their seats and made the kids hang onto the door handles. Simply put - it was a beast. A strong and powerful beast.

During the same era another beast existed. Its purpose was to be strong and powerful just as a muscle car. These beasts were warriors. Warriors not made of steel, but of living flesh. Steel was its enemy, but only during battle. During time of peace, an ally. These beasts were strength athletes. Strength athletes comprised of
weightlifters, powerlifters and strongmen. They could be found mastering their trades in cult like gyms. Gyms located in garages, basements, and dark rooms that resembled dungeons. The very same places where muscle cars are found.

Unfortunately, as the muscle car has been replaced by fashion, so has the strength athlete. Cars are now outfitted with GPS systems, fart-pipe exhausts, and with rims that resemble hats with propellers on them with no functional value. Similarly, strength athletes have been replaced by men whose physiques are "all show, and no go" and have no functional value what so ever. Furthermore, their dusty gyms have been replaced by commercial "fitness" centers whose interiors are painted by Barney and Friends. That must end right now and that is why Bowtie Gym was created.

Just as the founders of Chevrolet were inspired by a bowtie, the Bowtie Gym name is inspired by its permanent resident which is pictured above. A 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle. It's strong, powerful, and represents a philosophy that can only be found in the underground gyms that are located away from the likes of Barney and Friends.

Welcome to Bowtie Gym.

Friday, October 16, 2020

The State of the Gym

Pre-Construction.



Clean-Up.



Construction of Platform.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Current PR's

Competition PR's
Back Squat 1RM = 395 >>> December 12, 2010.
Bench Press 1RM = 302.5 >>> March 01, 2015.
Deadlift 1RM = 451 >>> March 01, 2015.

Training PR's
Back Squat 1RM = 405 >>> November 23, 2013.
Back Squat 375 x 5 x 3 sets >>> November 16, 2013.
Bench Press 1RM = 315 >>> November 23, 2013.
Bench Press 297.5 x 5 x 3 sets >>> April 06, 2013.
*Deadlift 1RM = 465 >>> November 23, 2013.
*Deadlift 416 x 5 x 1 set >>> January 05, 2016.

Press 167.5 x 5 x 3 sets >>> November 16, 2013.
Power Clean 1RM = 215 >>> December 23, 2011.
Power Clean 195 x 3 x 5 sets >>> February 15, 2011.
Power Snatch 1RM = 152 >>> June 24, 2011.
Chin-Ups BW x 14 x 1 sets, BW x 13 x 2 sets >>> December 12, 2011.
Pull-Ups BW x 13 x 3 sets >>> November 18, 2009.

*Performed with a double overhand grip.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Goals 2019

By year's end I will do the following in a powerlifting meet:
  1. Squat = 410
  2. Bench = 320
  3. Dead = 470
  4. Total = 1200
By year's end I will do the following in a weightlifting meet:
  1. Snatch = 85 kg
  2. Clean & Jerk = 125 kg
  3. Total = 210 kg