Old Forum Vam Dam Lift, Practice Session #2

[Steve Freides]

Practice #2 on the Van Dam lift - first one was a few days ago on 2" boxes, this time on 2 benches.   (I did these in my back yard in 2009, haven't done them since then, see my YouTube channel for the old videos.)

I will be doing this lift at a USAWA meet on November 30 and, G-d willing and the creek don't rise, I will be the first person after Rob Vam Dam to have an entry in the record books for the lift that's named after him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbtHFbaw-I4

 

[Mattsirpeace]

Steve, it sure looks like you'll get a performance on record.

What are the rules?  It's doable if the supports are under the meat of the calves.  As the supports get further out towards the ankles the isometric contraction in the adductors gets awful!

Let us know how it goes.

http://youtu.be/CeVMT9L5uOw

 

[Rickard]

That is one freaky lift!

 

[Steve Freides]

Matt, you can find the USAWA rule book here: http://www.usawa.com/rule-book - there's a PDF you can view online or download.  Just search for Van Dam and you'll find the rules for this lift - it's on Page 80, if memory serves.

The rules state that the bench must be 12" or higher, and that your knees have to be in space but you can contact the bench below the knees wherever you like.  It's probably a good practice technique to have the benches separated by more than is strictly necessary to increase the challenge of that part of the lift in training.

One of the more interesting aspects of the lift is that, once the weight starts to get a little heavier, is that you sink a little in the middle as you get the dumbbell off the ground - definitely good to stay tight throughout this lift.

-S-

 

[luciusluke]

Great stuff Steve, keep it up!

 

[Mattsirpeace]

Steve, thanks for posting.

It's a nice motivational nudge to know there is an official lift testing how much a person really owns the side splits.  The USAWAL looks like a great organization.  Cheers on competing.