The Poliquin Principles

QUESTION: I want to get into powerlifting. What books, magazines and resources would you recommend?

ANSWER: The issue is that there are several different powerlifting organizations and the rules vary with the major organizations.

Ed Coan is one of the great powerlifters of all time, breaking more than 70 world records and being the lightest lifter to total 2,400 in the three lifts. Coan did his most impressive lifting in the 220-pound weight class, and his best lifts include a 2,463 total, 578 bench, 1,038 squat and a 901 deadlift. Coan said he preferred to lift in competitions sanctioned by the International Powerlifting Federation, which follows more of the traditional rules in powerlifting and doesn’t allow for the use of extreme equipment that is supported by other organizations. This fact makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

In May of 2010 I invited Coan to do a presentation at our Eleiko Strength Summit at the Poliquin Strength Institute in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Coan shared his simple yet effective approach to training, which includes focusing on perfect technique in every lift. For insight into this remarkable athlete’s training philosophy and his accomplishments that made him a legend in the sport, pick up a copy of Coan: The Man, the Myth, the Method by Marty Gallagher.

Of course, no discussion about powerlifting would be complete without mentioning Louie Simmons of the Westside Barbell Club, one of the most accomplished powerlifting coaches in the history of the sport. Simmons’s lifters compete in competitions that permit the most liberal use of equipment. Using such equipment, especially the ever-evolving bench shirts, can be quite complex. Simmons has written profusely on how to train with this new lifting gear and under the rules of these organizations, so I would recommend his books and DVDs on the subject.

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