Traditional Powerlifting vs. Athletic Strength Powerlifting

Traditional Powerlifting Competition:

SQUAT: The lifter takes the weighted bar from the uprights of the supporting rack. When set, the lifter receives the command, verbal and visual, to "squat", they then descend until the hip joint is lower that the top of the knees. The lifter then returns to an upright position. When the lifter receives the signal to "rack it", the weighted bar is returned to the uprights.

BENCH: While lying on the back the lifter removes a weighted bar, with assistance if necessary, from the upright supports of the bench, and lowers said bar to the chest. When the bar is motionless, a verbal command is given to "press", the bar is then pressed upward to full arms length and held. The command is given to "rack", the weight and the bar is returned to the uprights.

DEADLIFT: A weighted bar is placed on the platform before the lifter. The lifter bends/squats down to grasp the bar with both hands and attempts to stand erect. When completely erect, the command, verbal and visual, "down" is given and the bar is lowered under control to the platform.

TOTAL: While each of the above lifts may be contested individually in specialty meets, when all three are done in the same meet (Equipped or RAW) the bests successful attempts in each lift are added together for a total. The highest total in each weight class/age group category wins.


 

Athletic Strength Powerlifting Competition

The primary difference is the inclusion of the powerclean plus the number of repetitions that an athlete can do in the squat and or bench.

POWERCLEAN: A weighted bar is placed on the platform before the lifter. The lifter bends/squats down to grasp the bar with both hands and pulls the bar in a single movement form the platform to the shoulders while either splitting or bending the knees. When completely erect, the down command, verbal and visual, is given and the bar is lowered under control to the platform.