What is strong?

[craig kruse]

Regardless of weight class what do people think is considered strong in the normal lifts and events?

My opinion

Bench Press- 405
Squat- 600
Deadlift- 600
Strict Press- 250
Push Press or Jerk- 300
Stones- 300
Farmers Walk- 275 for 100 feet

[D.Norris]

My opinion

Raw lifts
Bench Press- 500+
Squat- 700+
Deadlift- 700+
Strict Press- 300+
Push Press or Jerk- 350+
Stones- 350+
Farmers Walk- 300+ for 100 feet

[Tony Christopher]

But I'll break this down into "average Joe strong" (i.e. the lifts an average person / weekend warrior will consider strong) and "strength athlete strong".

Average Joe Strong:

Crushing and apple or tearing a phone book.
Bench Press- 3 plates (315) or 2 plates (225) x 6 reps
Curl - 100 x 6 reps
Squat- 405 (1/2 squat OK)
Deadlift- 405
Strict Press- Anything above bodyweight or 200, whichever is lower.
Push Press or Jerk- Won't know the difference, a press is a press.
Stones- What are those?
Farmers Walk- 200 for 50 feet.

Strength Athlete Strong

Closing a CoC #3.
Bench Press- 405 RAW - gear is for losers (strongman strong) 495 RAW or 585 Geared (Powerlifter Strong)
Curl: Who cares?
Squat- 675 Raw (strongman) 855 Suited (Powerlifting)
Deadlift- 600
Strict Press- Doesn't matter so much, 225 for reps.
Push Press or Jerk- 315 on both a bar and a log (forget the log for powerlifters). 230kg C&J for a Oly lifter (Superheavyweight).
Stones- Anything over 300 (powerlifting) Placing all 5 with #5 being at least 350 (Strongman).
Farmers Walk- 330 (150kg) for 75 feet (Strongman only, powerlifters don't care)

[ColinStubbert]

I think there are three levels of being really strong, 1, strongest guy in your province/state, strongest guy in your country, and one of the strongest people in the world.

The latter 2 have already been stated, so I'd say that being the strongest in your state/province is probably

Bench Press- 350-405
Squat- 550-600
Deadlift- 505-600
Strict Press- 250
Push Press or Jerk- 250-300
Stones- 300
Farmers Walk- 275 for 100 feet

[Jared Enderton]

umm... man I have a long way to go... I think people who lift just above average weight are pretty strong, simply because I never get to see HUGE weights get pushed around... but I have lots of gaining to do.

[Paul Savage]

tony - 'crushing' an apple as you said, and not spliting it with your finger tips, is actually not so easy, ive heard john brookfield has a vid of him doing it, but ive basically only seen it done by myself, so its not common

im not sure about my opinion on this question, but i think most people would say that if you can grab a bar with 10 wheels on it an stand up, your pretty strong

[Matt Reynolds]

I think there are three levels of being really strong, 1, strongest guy in your province/state, strongest guy in your country, and one of the strongest people in the world.

The latter 2 have already been stated, so I'd say that being the strongest in your state/province is probably

Bench Press- 350-405
Squat- 550-600
Deadlift- 505-600
Strict Press- 250
Push Press or Jerk- 250-300
Stones- 300
Farmers Walk- 275 for 100 feet

90% of the guys who have trained at my house over the past 5 years can do every one of the aforementioned nunbers Colin, so I doubt that makes you the strongest guy in your state. I agree with Norris...

Olympic Squat: 600, Parallel squat 700
Front Squat: 500
Deadlift: 700 (600 is pathetic for a strongman)
Bench Press: 500
Overhead: 350
Clean: 405
Stone: 400
Farmers: 350 for 50 feet no drops

Matt

[Mac Smith]

What is strong:

Taking care of yourself and your family.
Not moochin off your parents or the state.
Graduating from school (high school or college)
Being a good citizen.
Living by the golden rule!!!

Otherwise physical strength is based on individual preference. I think that anyone who spends time in the gym trying to make themselves a better person or athlete is strong. Hell even Max is strong IMO, because he's overcoming his shortcomings and achieving his goals!!!

Ok let me get off my soapbox. To each his own!!!

[Kevin Klavetter]

What is strong:

Taking care of yourself and your family.
Not moochin off your parents or the state.
Graduating from school (high school or college)
Being a good citizen.
Living by the golden rule!!!

Otherwise physical strength is based on individual preference. I think that anyone who spends time in the gym trying to make themselves a better person or athlete is strong. Hell even Max is strong IMO, because he's overcoming his shortcomings and achieving his goals!!!

Ok let me get off my soapbox. To each his own!!!

Well said! It is best to always keep the bigger picture in mind.

[James Whisman]

What is strong:

Taking care of yourself and your family.
Not moochin off your parents or the state.
Graduating from school (high school or college)
Being a good citizen.
Living by the golden rule!!!

Otherwise physical strength is based on individual preference. I think that anyone who spends time in the gym trying to make themselves a better person or athlete is strong. Hell even Max is strong IMO, because he's overcoming his shortcomings and achieving his goals!!!

Ok let me get off my soapbox. To each his own!!!


Very profound and well put

[Mike Pelosi]

Strong to me is:

Setting a challenging goal, not necessarily winning or coming into a certain spot at a contest, and then achieving that goal.

[Eric Jett]

What is strong:

Taking care of yourself and your family.
Not moochin off your parents or the state.
Graduating from school (high school or college)
Being a good citizen.
Living by the golden rule!!!

Otherwise physical strength is based on individual preference. I think that anyone who spends time in the gym trying to make themselves a better person or athlete is strong. Hell even Max is strong IMO, because he's overcoming his shortcomings and achieving his goals!!!

Ok let me get off my soapbox. To each his own!!!

I agree...

[Mac Smith]

90% of the guys who have trained at my house over the past 5 years can do every one of the aforementioned nunbers Colin, so I doubt that makes you the strongest guy in your state. I agree with Norris...

Olympic Squat: 600, Parallel squat 700
Front Squat: 500
Deadlift: 700 (600 is pathetic for a strongman)
Bench Press: 500
Overhead: 350
Clean: 405
Stone: 400
Farmers: 350 for 50 feet no drops

Matt


By the way, I can do most of this (except the clean and I've never tried a 400lb stone, but I will this weekend). But unlike D. Norris, I will always use my wraps and sleeves because I'm not going to have my 11th knee surgery because of my ego!

Anyway, I might be a little strong! :EL:

[chrisklavette]

I as well agree with Mac's post. As far as physical strength, it is all relative. I am strong by the standards of most all the people I see everyday but when I come onto this board I am a light weight weakling. Another factor to consider. Are we talking brute strength or strongman type of strength?
BTW IMHO pulling 500 is strong above that is getting into elite territory. I know that many of you have performed well over this and many of you have seen everyone of your training partners little sisters pull much more than this but a 500 pull is still better than a lot will ever get.

[John VanDemark]

Strong IS:

Bench 400+
DL 500+
Squat 500+
Strict Overhead 225+

This is definately a strong person! Anything over is "damn strong!"

Your average gym rat is looking for:

Bench 3 plates
DL 4 plates
Squat 5 plates
Overhead 2 plates

I say "plates" in stead of "weight" because most just want to see more volume on the bar. They may shoot for numbers but they are looking to put up something that just "looks" big.

Just my $.02.

[SAM SOLOMI]

my opinion:

bench 400
dead 600
squat 600
overhead 300
stones 330
farmers 300/hand for 50m no drops
closing a CoC#3

[Timmy Scoy]

tony - 'crushing' an apple as you said, and not spliting it with your finger tips, is actually not so easy, ive heard john brookfield has a vid of him doing it, but ive basically only seen it done by myself, so its not common






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LcqRcdijgE

[Tony Christopher]

There are a number of videos floating around of various people, including our own Sam Solomi, "making apple sauce". A woman by the name of Titania who is a mod on bodybuilding.com has one too.

Not sure if these folks "start" the apple by driving a couple of fingers into it first and then squeezing though.

I will admit, that though I can close a #2, when I just tried to crush an apple WITHOUT putting hole in it first, I couldn't do it.

[Jonathan Macfarlane]

Love the post that says 315lb log or push press for strongmen, 230kg CJ for Olympic lifters.

The amount of Oly lifters who have cj'd 500lbs isn't all that great. Sure it won't get you a medal at the Olympics, but it does put you at least in the top 10 in the world.

I probably agree most with D.Norris' post for strength numbers for a big guy. Lets face it, strong is a 500lb deadlift or 200kg squat. Thats not weak at all. But we're talking STRONG here, many years of training strong, not something a guy off the street can hope to achieve quickly.

[DaneGarreau]

The only problem with this thread.... no one has has put out numbers for the lighter weight classes, only the big boys.

[Smith, Andrew]

I'm tiny, but I WILL make the numbers considered "STRONG" regardless of what weightclass I'm in.
















Now, if I have somebody else picking up the other side of the weight, so be it.

[ADAMBAUER]

What is strong:

Taking care of yourself and your family.
Not moochin off your parents or the state.
Graduating from school (high school or college)
Being a good citizen.
Living by the golden rule!!!

Otherwise physical strength is based on individual preference. I think that anyone who spends time in the gym trying to make themselves a better person or athlete is strong. Hell even Max is strong IMO, because he's overcoming his shortcomings and achieving his goals!!!

Ok let me get off my soapbox. To each his own!!!

:YT:

Agreed! A mans strength lies in his mind, physical strength is based on the individuals idea of strong, but mental strength is totally different, when your body is telling you to quit (after all who in there right mind would want to pull a truck or repeatedly overhead press a log? Or squat half a ton? lol) But the mind kicks in and "says don't quit! You can do it! Suck it up and drive on!" Look at not only athletes but the soliders who are serving this nation, those who were kept as p.o.w. those who got through that are the strongest people I know. If any doubt read Faith of my Father by John McCain (regardless of political leanings it is truely inspiring).

[chrisklavette]

The only problem with this thread.... no one has has put out numbers for the lighter weight classes, only the big boys.
200lb+ log press
500+ deadlift
400+ squat
Loading a 275+ stone 48" platform

[MaxMisch]

I don't think people consider that there is a 175lb weight class @ some NAS shows and people who compete in that class aren't going to be putting up the same numbers as someone who weighs 230 or more.

[lhprop1]

I don't think people consider that there is a 175lb weight class @ some NAS shows and people who compete in that class aren't going to be putting up the same numbers as someone who weighs 230 or more.

I think they realize it, Max, but they are putting up numbers that they would have to see a person of similar size lift to consider them strong. My idea of strong looks more like this:

Squat/deadlift: 2.5x bodyweight.
Overhead press: 1.25 x bodyweight

One of the guys here once said, "If you can deadlift 600 and overhead press 300, you're strong." I think that pretty much sums it up. Regardless of bodyweight, either of those numbers will put you in the "strong" category in the eyes of the general public.

[Colin Gordon]

This is from something I downoaded ages ago, can't remeber where but it may have been DAn John's site.

How Good Am I?
These are all factors of bodyweight for men at or under 220#.
Use this a guide and help, not as a diabolical tool to beat yourself up over.
Lift ok Fit Guy Animal Holy S**t!!
Hi bar Squat* 1.25 1.5 2 2.5
Pwr Squat** 1.5 2 2.5 3
20 rp Squat 1 1.25 1.6 2
Deadlift 1.5 2 2.75 3.5
Bench press 1 1.15 1.55 2
Strict oh Press .5 .75 1 1.5
BB Curl .4 .5 .75 .9
Reverse Curl .35 .4 .6 .7
Pwr Clean .8 1.1 1.3 1.6
Comp. Clean 1.1 1.25 1.5 2
Pwr Snatch .6 .75 1 1.25
Comp. Snatch .6 .9 1.25 1.5
Chin ups reps. At all 6r 12r 25r+
* Hi-bar squat is with the bar high on the traps, done for full depth with no belt.
**The Pwr Squat is done to legal depth with belt but no suit or wraps.
*** Dumbell is not back-loaded, weight is even on both sides.

[MaxMisch]

Thanks for that post, Colin.

[Colin Gordon]

No probs, it's a shame it didn't copy over as well as I'd hoped. I probably did something stupid :BB:

[Scott Markowitz]

Strong is 10 pounds more than what I can do at the moment.

[Kevin Klavetter]

To paraphrase Forrest Gump...."Strong is as Strong Does".

[chrisklavette]

Being stronger than your old man is STRONG! :BP:

[SAM SOLOMI]

There are a number of videos floating around of various people, including our own Sam Solomi, "making apple sauce". A woman by the name of Titania who is a mod on bodybuilding.com has one too.

Not sure if these folks "start" the apple by driving a couple of fingers into it first and then squeezing though.

I will admit, that though I can close a #2, when I just tried to crush an apple WITHOUT putting hole in it first, I couldn't do it.

Titania is very strong. She has my vote for being the first girl to destroy a #3.

I cannot crush a decent sized apple without using fingertips. That being said i can split a potato down the middle with my fingertips. If anyone wants to do this practice closes of grippers with the fingertips on the handle like you would crush a potato and hold the spring with the other hand. When you can close a #2 in this way you are ready IMO.