"Powerbuilding Is An Abomination" (but is it?)

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Pls stop fighting mom and dad it’s making me sad

I like Steve Shaw's take on powerbuilding. It's a passion for strength and getting every muscle in your body as big and strong as you can. It doesn't have to be about getting the highest total, but you can still train the big three for strength while putting on a lot of size. Like you said, most people aren't competing, so even if you don't maximize your 1RM strength, you're still going to put up good numbers on all your lifts and look great if you train hard and intelligently. Which is what most people want at the end of the day.

This topic is like the new "maingaining"; Folks arguing and disagreeing over nothing more than simple terminology.

i keep it simple: i do the big three in the low rep range because they're fun but at the same time most of my work is bb oriented. easy.

Thank you for such a reasonable response. Steve Shaw put it simply, he cares about both size and strength, that’s it. This whole thing felt like a made up debate for clicks to anyone who took a second to think about it… oh wait this is the internet and we don’t do that here.

Jokes on NH, I'm a Bodylifter

A little off-topic here but I’ve to say that you’re looking absolutely jacked. Your arms at 1:44 are looking especially gigantic. Chest, back and legs are also looking extremely huge. You’re a huge inspiration for all the natural lifters and you simply show what hard work, dedication and consistency can achieve. You’re a perfect example of that. Keep being incredibly phenomenal and big props to you for inspiring us all. Your physique is a masterpiece as it’s very great amount of muscle and quite healthy and sustainable body fat percentage that gives you a lean look without taking away from the size that is it still allows you to carry lots of muscle. It’s identical to legendary silver era bodybuilders where they’re lean but not too lean and also have plenty of muscle. It’s definitely my favourite look. Outstanding work! I’m truly grateful to you for all the helpful information, knowledge and valuable experience that you share with us. It’s quite amazing and really needed. Appreciate it so much. Thank you! 🙏💪

This is so dependent on definition. I think the harmful one, which NH is talking about is: 1 rm bench - then some triples - then "hypertrophy work" with same exercise and then halfass some pushdowns and lat rows... Which imo is very rare and most of the so called powerbuilders are just bodybuilders who focus little bit more on their strenght. So if people dont define what are they talking about, there will be another 10 response videos on this already beaten to death topic.

Plenty of people want to get bigger and stronger. So what if they don’t get “maximally” big or “maximally” strong? You can still get really big and strong! Nothing wrong with seeking a balance between those traits, the same way you seek balance between lifting and other life responsibilities

Closing in on that 255 bench rn can’t wait to be stronger than all pure natty YouTube bodybuilders!

Humble reminder that we are still waiting for that video on ab training from you.

I started lifting at 37, and for the past 5 years I have been powerbuilding. I love the SBDOhp, and use a 531with accessories after each compound for the day. I don't plan on competing in powerlifting or bodybuilding, I am just trying to get as strong as I can, and enjoy my training to keep doing it as long as I live. I have gotten to a 1305 total and that keeps me engaged to keep getting stronger. Lift for you and your goals and don't worry about what label people put on it. Happy lifting everyone!

As an ex competitive (drug free) power lifter we didn't just do the big 3 for example if you want a good bench you want a big strong back and triceps...

I think the initial issue is for people to be honest with themselves why they are starting weight training. In my experience when I was a kid their were two camps for dudes. Impress girls: Bodybuilder approach. Impress other guys: Power-builder approach. Both have tremendous value when first starting and as you stated specialization comes with experience.

This topic is more for gym rats. When you coach enough people , you realize the best method is a lifestyle approach with weight training and mobility. All forms can be utilized to teach the general public. The last part was the most important part : ‘be careful of anyone saying that they have the perfect program’.

Train how you want for YOUR goals. Why do people care so much about how other people train?

I'm actually impressed and thankful Geoffrey recognized how many people here are doing less than a plate on bench (no diss whatsoever ofc). We're so flooded with insane feats on social media, we really do lose track of reality. It's easily a single-digit percent of the people who WOULDN'T benefit from "powerbuilding" (and even that's up for debate as I've seen veterans with world-class strength use it)

What I love about your videos is the comedy. Seriously, the quips and jokes you put in, add so much character to the videos. Also, great and thought-provoking video. The problem I see with powerlifting is that it is in a similar situation as Olympic weightlifting. It is a specific competitive sport with lifts that don't necessarily transform to hypertrophy; but because of Youtube fitness history, it somehow became coupled with bodybuilding. We all know about the ultra-wide sumo deadlifts, the ultra-low bar French style squats and ultra-arched bench press (I call it the ultrifecta), but even the milder processes of optimizing the lift technique to be able to lift more seem to be counter to the idea of bodybuilding. Two examples that come to my mind. -I constantly see comments like how squatting below parallel is unnecessary because it counts if you get to parallel (despite the fact that a lot of people aren't going to powerlifting meets ever in their life...). -There was a Squat University video about how benching with a grip width that is twice the length between your outer clavicular edges is the most stable and will get you to lift the most weight. Why am I trying to optimize the power output instead of stimulus? What is also weird is this equivicating of "Powerlifting" and the concept of strength (and in some places like Reddit, the concept of fitness). Why are we trying to say 1RM in 3 lifts is the epitome of strength, just because these are the 3 lifts that are measured in powerlifting competitions. Anybody who tried to do the same thing with lifts like snatch and C&J would be laughed at or at least would be looked at with confusing stares, but somehow the 1 RM of 3 lifts that don't even encompass the entire body is okay.

i’m going for my first powerlifting competition in february, and before i hopped on alex bromley’s bullmastiff program (i’m on week 5 rn, loving it) i was running a self-made powerbuilding style program. the biggest difference i’ve noticed between powerbuilding and powerlifting is primarily muscle emphasis. i used to prioritize shoulders, bicep, and back in my program a lot for aesthetic purposes, and they didn’t interfere much with me slowly building up my sbd total. in this new phase of training, i’ve noticed alex programs like half the volume on all those vanity but not so much sbd relevant muscle groups that i’m used to, and spams the hell out of powerlifting-relevant groups like hamstrings. i miss my lateral raises and i’m worried my back is gonna disappear without pull ups (i do them on the side sometimes lmao) but in the “base” phase of powerlifting training before the “peak” phase a lot of the stuff feels pretty damn powerbuildy. lots of high volume work, accessories in the 8-12 range…