🏋️ so close to an 800 pound bench

Author

Robert Zeglinski
May 16, 2022

Hello there. Happy International Chest Training Day (however you celebrate). Here are some highlights in strong, strong people.

Strongman Ben Thompson gives us a deadlift worth every last dollar.

The 800-pound bench press club has a very exclusive membership (of just 1, so far). Powerlifter/bench extraordinaire Julius Maddox is on the edge of qualifying and bringing that total up to 2.

To make the gains we want, we need structure. You know what they say: If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail (your workout).

Enough of the prelude; let's dive right in.

Powerlifting

Julius Maddox Inches Closer To History

Powerlifter Julius Maddox bench presses 796 pounds

Image: @irregular_strength on Instagram

Julius Maddox isn't shy in sharing his ambition. The powerlifter has been pursuing an 800-pound bench press for years now. So much so that his recent Instagram feed is rife with countless bench press training sessions.

Hey, we've all been there: Get obsessed with anything enough, and it'll all be over your social media. Except we post infinite pics of our dogs and cats while Maddox logs eye-opening lift after eye-opening lift. Tomato, to-ma-toe.

On May 10, 2022, Maddox posted what might be his most impressive press feat yet. The bench press master locked out a 361-kilograms (796-pound) raw bench press. The figure puts a mere four pounds away from punching his ticket to that vaunted 800-pound club. Talk about a superheavyweight man on a mission.

Strongman

Ben Thompson's Silver Dollar Deadlift Is Worth the Price of Admission

Ben Thompson breaks the Silver Dollar deadlift world record

Image: @tbaydeadliftking on Instagram

If you're unfamiliar with the Silver Dollar deadlift, know that no one pinched pennies when they thought of the idea. The major difference between a Silver Dollar pull and a traditional pull from the floor is that an athlete starts with the weight on 18-inch boxes (or platforms or stands, etc.). Rest assured: It is still quite challenging.

Strongman Ben Thompson has to be grateful for the invention. Especially after an excellent showing during the 2022 World Deadlift Council (WDC) Silver Dollar Deadlift World Championships last weekend.

During the online-only competition, Thompson captured a 557.2-kilogram (1,272.5-pound) pull while wearing a lifting belt, wrist wraps, and using an overhand grip. The towering figure not only gave Thompson the overall win, it is also the new Silver-Dollar deadlift all-time World Record.

Okay, let's address the elephant in the room that everyone's definitely thinking about: Does he get an actual Silver Dollar for the win and the record? No? That's a shame. Okay, just checking. No worries!

Check out extra, needed context on Thompson's singular 18-inch deadlift feat.

Training

How Periodization Gives Your Workout Great Structure

An athlete mid-bench press rep

Image: NDAB Creativity

We've all been there. You go to the gym and get some cardio on the treadmill or elliptical to warm up. Later, you wing it, crush it with free weights, and eventually make the squat rack your home. All in a hard day's work.

But after some time, you start to hit a wall. Your progress and your notable gains inch to a crawl. What could possibly be holding you back? Have no fear, Dear Readers. We're here to save the day with training periodization, so you never get stuck in the muck again.

Periodization is when someone makes a training program that breaks down their routine into segments with different, unique goals over time. A plan can last weeks, months, or even years. We broke down the philosophy, from the different variations to how you can seamlessly implement strength, muscle, and power goals.

Everything Else

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