rj strong ranked #12 in the usa in the 242 class!

[Doc.Sust]

congrats bro, thatis great! i have cracked the top 100 a few times, but never in the top twenty. that is something to be proud of. we add a few more pounds to that total and you could hit the top spot, #1!!!

[RJstrong]

congrats bro, thatis great! i have cracked the top 100 a few times, but never in the top twenty. that is something to be proud of. we add a few more pounds to that total and you could hit the top spot, #1!!!

Hey thanx Doc... I appreciate it! The hard work is paying off... and that top spot is looking very appealing!

[power65]

Congrats RJ. Nothing like seeing all of your hard work pay off. I know you must be very pround and rightly so. Thanks for the motivation.

[Sasso09]

that guys a beast.

[kdawg21]

thats freaking great, now I have a role model...... It was Louie Simmons, now its RJ

[Doc.Sust]

Hey thanx Doc... I appreciate it! The hard work is paying off... and that top spot is looking very appealing!

very appealing and you are very capable of it.give it hell, get you squat over 900lbs and the rest will fall into place. imagine if we could push your dead to 800lbs too!!! damn it would be one hellof a total

[RJstrong]

very appealing and you are very capable of it.give it hell, get you squat over 900lbs and the rest will fall into place. imagine if we could push your dead to 800lbs too!!! damn it would be one hellof a total

I appreciate the encouragement, it feels good having people in your corner...thanx Doc! I hope to take this to another level... I am going to work on my gear situation and get better suited for the squat and deadlift... I'm going to start working on lifting in a deadlift suit (consistently)... if nothing else to help level the playing field. I bought a titan f6 double ply shirt while I was in Vegas that will end up becoming my 3rd attempt shirt... so all in all a good weekend for me and I feel like I know exactly what I need to do gear wise to maximize my strength... so expect bigger numbers from me in the future!

[cmillett]

congrats bro,keep doing what your doing .

[RJstrong]

congrats bro,keep doing what your doing .

thanks bro... I appreciate it!

[Doc.Sust]

I appreciate the encouragement, it feels good having people in your corner...thanx Doc! I hope to take this to another level... I am going to work on my gear situation and get better suited for the squat and deadlift... I'm going to start working on lifting in a deadlift suit (consistently)... if nothing else to help level the playing field. I bought a titan f6 double ply shirt while I was in Vegas that will end up becoming my 3rd attempt shirt... so all in all a good weekend for me and I feel like I know exactly what I need to do gear wise to maximize my strength... so expect bigger numbers from me in the future!

i just got adouble ply f6 as well . onr HELL of a shirt. i think it is stronger than the double denim by far! lets talk equipment, what suit do you use for the squat? alos, in the deadlift, what form do you use sumo or conventional? i have bee using a titan boss suit lately for both, i got the velcro straps version so i could lossen them so i could get down in the deadlift. my recomendation for the dead is, pulling the suit every time you dead! even yoyur warm ups with 135lbs, practice getting into position, it is all about trying to get comfortable and down low enough without throwing your groove off.i think as far as poly suits , the boss is the best, the metal gear is pretty much the same,. i never used a canvas squat suit but it seems to me that most of the big squatters use the canvas and get alot out of the suits. canvas works good for the squat, and even some people use it for the dead too.

[Velkar182]

I am super impressed. It is good to see such a nice guy make it to the top level. I got my issue of PL USA yesterday, but I didn't know if it was you. The only bummer is that 2200 will only bump you up one space. But on the brighter side, as have heard, you haven't gone completely crazy with the equipment, right? I look forward to you movin up this next year. Take it to them RJ!

[RJstrong]

I am super impressed. It is good to see such a nice guy make it to the top level. I got my issue of PL USA yesterday, but I didn't know if it was you. The only bummer is that 2200 will only bump you up one space. But on the brighter side, as have heard, you haven't gone completely crazy with the equipment, right? I look forward to you movin up this next year. Take it to them RJ!

thanx my man I appreciate the kind words.

[RJstrong]

i just got adouble ply f6 as well . onr HELL of a shirt. i think it is stronger than the double denim by far! lets talk equipment, what suit do you use for the squat? alos, in the deadlift, what form do you use sumo or conventional? i have bee using a titan boss suit lately for both, i got the velcro straps version so i could lossen them so i could get down in the deadlift. my recomendation for the dead is, pulling the suit every time you dead! even yoyur warm ups with 135lbs, practice getting into position, it is all about trying to get comfortable and down low enough without throwing your groove off.i think as far as poly suits , the boss is the best, the metal gear is pretty much the same,. i never used a canvas squat suit but it seems to me that most of the big squatters use the canvas and get alot out of the suits. canvas works good for the squat, and even some people use it for the dead too.

squat: I currently use titan boss/inzer groove pants (I can easily break parallel with 500lbs)... I would like to get a boss with adjustable straps and a pair of predators or titan groove briefs.
bench: I currently use ragex for opener and 2nd attempt and an inzer double denim for my 3rd... I just bought the titan double f6 so I feel good about my gear situation here
deadlift:??? I've been toying around in my titan boss but just decided not to use a suit for Seniors... I'm not sure here? I'm thinking the metal deadlift suit or maybe just keep working my current titan boss?

[*Narkissos*]

Lemme me add my congrats bro well done

[RJstrong]

Lemme me add my congrats bro well done

thanx Nark!

[Doc.Sust]

squat: I currently use titan boss/inzer groove pants (I can easily break parallel with 500lbs)... I would like to get a boss with adjustable straps and a pair of predators or titan groove briefs.
bench: I currently use ragex for opener and 2nd attempt and an inzer double denim for my 3rd... I just bought the titan double f6 so I feel good about my gear situation here
deadlift:??? I've been toying around in my titan boss but just decided not to use a suit for Seniors... I'm not sure here? I'm thinking the metal deadlift suit or maybe just keep working my current titan boss?

ok my thoughts are this, get a pair of either the titan boss briefs or a pair of karin's canvas briefs. i think karins briefs are less expensive and will give you tremendous stoping power. i also like the idead of using both poly and canvas, this way you get the best of both worlds IMO. for the press, sounds like you have that down, now with the dead, you have to practice in the suit again and again even when warming up, i hate pulling in the suit but it does help once you find a groove. the adjustable straps make a huge difference for the deadlift.without the velcro, i wouldnt be able to pull in the suit. keep working with the boss, i was told many times it was very similar to the metal suit. if you did decide to get a metal suit, if you pull sumo, they recomend the pro squater as the suit to deadlift in,if you plan on pulling conv, than the pro deadlifter is suposedly better. i am not a huge inzer fan, but they have a new dead suit made from rage x material, it is called the fusion, the people at monster muscle were pushing the suit alot, but they are sponsered by inzer so you never know what the story is, titan recently improved there dead suit, but a friend of mine got it and said it didnt give him very much. i hope this helps

[RJstrong]

ok my thoughts are this, get a pair of either the titan boss briefs or a pair of karin's canvas briefs. i think karins briefs are less expensive and will give you tremendous stoping power. i also like the idead of using both poly and canvas, this way you get the best of both worlds IMO. for the press, sounds like you have that down, now with the dead, you have to practice in the suit again and again even when warming up, i hate pulling in the suit but it does help once you find a groove. the adjustable straps make a huge difference for the deadlift.without the velcro, i wouldnt be able to pull in the suit. keep working with the boss, i was told many times it was very similar to the metal suit. if you did decide to get a metal suit, if you pull sumo, they recomend the pro squater as the suit to deadlift in,if you plan on pulling conv, than the pro deadlifter is suposedly better. i am not a huge inzer fan, but they have a new dead suit made from rage x material, it is called the fusion, the people at monster muscle were pushing the suit alot, but they are sponsered by inzer so you never know what the story is, titan recently improved there dead suit, but a friend of mine got it and said it didnt give him very much. i hope this helps

Thanks again... I like the ideas you have suggested especially the poly/canvas combo... I really hadn't considered that although it seems so logical... I will keep you posted on the gear purchases... It may be a couple of weeks to recover from Vegas before I can buy everything LOL... but with your help I think I have a quality game plan!

[RJstrong]

thats freaking great, now I have a role model...... It was Louie Simmons, now its RJ

thanx for the sarcasm... it's almost appreciated...

[artica]

RJ, first of all congrats on the PLUSA ranking. Great job at seniors as well.

As for the gear, I used a metal ace squatter for squats, rage x for bench and the new INZER fusion for deadlifts. The Fusion suit works but only off the floor, about 4 inches after the initial pop it's all you. With that said, if I could rebuy a suit I would go with the METAL Pro Deadlifter, actually Im converting to SUMO so maybe a PRO Squatter LOL. If you pull sumo then stick with the boss.
The briefs, I wear the predators, and those things are amazing. The best briefs around. Briefs because of no strap, don't work like suits, so the layers not being laminated actually help on the rebound a bit more as the two layers work seperately instead of in unison like the boss briefs. This makes for a bit more pop out of the hole.
A friend of mine, Eric Cressey, swears by the F6 double. I think the Rage X is the shit, but soon I will make the path down the denim road.

Good luck

[powerlifter]

Strong work - keep it up. Really well done.

[kdawg21]

Come on there is enough room for both of you

[Kärnfysikern]

thats pretty ****ing awsome

[RJstrong]

RJ, first of all congrats on the PLUSA ranking. Great job at seniors as well.

As for the gear, I used a metal ace squatter for squats, rage x for bench and the new INZER fusion for deadlifts. The Fusion suit works but only off the floor, about 4 inches after the initial pop it's all you. With that said, if I could rebuy a suit I would go with the METAL Pro Deadlifter, actually Im converting to SUMO so maybe a PRO Squatter LOL. If you pull sumo then stick with the boss.
The briefs, I wear the predators, and those things are amazing. The best briefs around. Briefs because of no strap, don't work like suits, so the layers not being laminated actually help on the rebound a bit more as the two layers work seperately instead of in unison like the boss briefs. This makes for a bit more pop out of the hole.
A friend of mine, Eric Cressey, swears by the F6 double. I think the Rage X is the shit, but soon I will make the path down the denim road.

Good luck

Thanx Artica... same to you... your a freak show man, I'm still amazed that Seniors was only your second meet... and to qualify for the WPO, well that's just sick! I'm looking forward to watching your lifting in the future... you have tons of potential so keep up the hard work!
I'm diggin' your ideas here... I have a lifter that just got the ACE seems to be workin insanely for him and same deal with the predators... I think I'm leaning towards those as far as briefs. I pull conventional so the Metal seems to be a good option.
I feel the same about my rage x... ever since I got one I have been automatic with 600+ benches and seem to be getting stronger with it still... but I am looking forward to trying out the f6. I think you will like denim... my biggest gym numbers have been in denim... I just don't do will with it in competition for some reason???
Anyway good to hear from ya... and I appreciate the help!

[RJstrong]

Strong work - keep it up. Really well done.

thanks... hopefully I can keep movin up the ranks.

[RJstrong]

thats pretty ****ing awsome

I appreciate that Johan!

[RJstrong]

Come on there is enough room for both of you

as long as you keep me as your #1 american idol... then I'm OK with it

post #666 I hope this isn't a bad sign kdawg

[Doc.Sust]

Thanks again... I like the ideas you have suggested especially the poly/canvas combo... I really hadn't considered that although it seems so logical... I will keep you posted on the gear purchases... It may be a couple of weeks to recover from Vegas before I can buy everything LOL... but with your help I think I have a quality game plan!

glad i could help.

[Doc.Sust]

RJ, first of all congrats on the PLUSA ranking. Great job at seniors as well.

As for the gear, I used a metal ace squatter for squats, rage x for bench and the new INZER fusion for deadlifts. The Fusion suit works but only off the floor, about 4 inches after the initial pop it's all you. With that said, if I could rebuy a suit I would go with the METAL Pro Deadlifter, actually Im converting to SUMO so maybe a PRO Squatter LOL. If you pull sumo then stick with the boss.
The briefs, I wear the predators, and those things are amazing. The best briefs around. Briefs because of no strap, don't work like suits, so the layers not being laminated actually help on the rebound a bit more as the two layers work seperately instead of in unison like the boss briefs. This makes for a bit more pop out of the hole.
A friend of mine, Eric Cressey, swears by the F6 double. I think the Rage X is the shit, but soon I will make the path down the denim road.

Good luck

artica have you tried to pull sumo in the fusion? if so how did the suit work for the sumo lift? sgt rock swears that the fusion helps a sumo deadlifter more than a conventional,BUT on the irongladiators web site, they say the suit was designed for a conventional pull so i dont know what to believe. also do you were the predators under the dealift suit when you compete?

[RJstrong]

ya... I'm curious about the preds under the deadlift suit as well? thanx in advance.

[artica]

doc sust. and RJstrong,

I don't wear the briefs under the fusion for conventional pulling. I havn't even tried that yet, I doubt it helps though, briefs work at the hips, and a conventional pull is all lower back. Hmmmmmmm

Im switching over to sumo to try and get more out of gear from my pulls. I'll try the fusion soon while pulling sumo and give you an update on how that went.

[Doc.Sust]

doc sust. and RJstrong,

I don't wear the briefs under the fusion for conventional pulling. I havn't even tried that yet, I doubt it helps though, briefs work at the hips, and a conventional pull is all lower back. Hmmmmmmm

Im switching over to sumo to try and get more out of gear from my pulls. I'll try the fusion soon while pulling sumo and give you an update on how that went.

thanks atica, i am curious to see if all the hype around the fusion for sumo is real or fake, let me know when you try it out. as far as the predators under the suit, it may be too much support, but it also may not be, i have sumo deadlifted with boss briefs under a wk suit and had good results. give it a shot

[goldenear]

deadlift:??? I've been toying around in my titan boss but just decided not to use a suit for Seniors... I'm not sure here? I'm thinking the metal deadlift suit or maybe just keep working my current titan boss?

I can't see how you could setup properly with a dialed-in boss suit, even pulling sumo. I have a hard enough time using just the custom DL suit when it's really tight, but that's all I used when I pulled an all time top 20 WR 830@242 last Aug.

As far as adding briefs, I've got a cheap pair of Titan's single ply legless briefs that I used under the custom DL suit when I dropped weight. They snugged it up nicely and added a bit more gas off the deck. But as soon as I gained some size, I had to drop them because they were screwing up my setup. So if your suit is a bit loose, you can add briefs and they'll be nice. Right now, the same DL suit I've used for the past four years (had the straps lengthened once) is so tight, that I'd have to be insane to try briefs. But it also kinda depends on your setup. If you grab and pull yourself down to your established setup depth, then you might be able to get away with it. I dive-bomb my setup so it just doesn't work for me.

[RJstrong]

my titan boss is more of a snug fit rather than tight so I have no problem getting down to the bar.

[Doc.Sust]

I can't see how you could setup properly with a dialed-in boss suit, even pulling sumo. I have a hard enough time using just the custom DL suit when it's really tight, but that's all I used when I pulled an all time top 20 WR 830@242 last Aug.

As far as adding briefs, I've got a cheap pair of Titan's single ply legless briefs that I used under the custom DL suit when I dropped weight. They snugged it up nicely and added a bit more gas off the deck. But as soon as I gained some size, I had to drop them because they were screwing up my setup. So if your suit is a bit loose, you can add briefs and they'll be nice. Right now, the same DL suit I've used for the past four years (had the straps lengthened once) is so tight, that I'd have to be insane to try briefs. But it also kinda depends on your setup. If you grab and pull yourself down to your established setup depth, then you might be able to get away with it. I dive-bomb my setup so it just doesn't work for me.

do you pull sumo or conv?

[goldenear]

^^^sumo

[Doc.Sust]

titan just made a newdead suit specific for sumo deadlifters. i here alot of good things about it lately.

[Doc.Sust]

iw ill be testing this special titan sumo dead uit on saturday. i wil report back and tell everyone if it is worth the hype