25 Jul Byrd: Big Benches and Squats

Finally broke the 2,500 total mark at the Arnold, but like any lifter I feel there is more left in the tank. Currently training for the RPS South Florida Conquest on September 3rd. I will be lifting in the 275 class against several other solid lifters. I will need to have a solid meet, but I have high expectations of a good PR total!

Well bench day last week was a shit show. No way to dance around it, my head was up my ass, I missed lifts, it was ugly. Cant blame it on anything or anyone but me. It finally took for my last set for me to get things right. What a lot of people dont understand is that equipped lifting has such a small margin of error, and if things are not right, it can get ugly. I really appreciate the support of my team for spotting and saving my beautiful face just a few times last week!

720×1 from the 1board #1020life #powerrackstrength #prs #inzer #strong #whythehelldiditagcrossfit #crossfit #raw #equipped #Mass #meet #mcgill #muscle #strong #powerlifter #powerlift #powerlifting #bench #benchpress #squat #deadlift #total #meet #arnold #worlds

A post shared by Jonathan Byrd (@onlythestrong275) on Jul 19, 2016 at 4:11pm PDT

Raw work:
worked up to 410
shirt on
1×2@550 4board
1×2@650 3board
1×1@720 2board
1×1@750 2board miss
switched shirts
1×1@650 2board
1×1@720 1board (approx opener)

Squat day:
Walking around I have no real pain in my hip or quad tendon, but for some reason it has showed up again squatting. As the weights got heavier I moved my stance out and was in less pain. Perfect time for a deload, so I will get some therapy and be ready for squats again in 14 days. I will not get under a bar to squat at all this coming week, its about what you do on the platform, not in the gym!

Top sets were

900 last warm up. #1020life #powerrackstrength #prs #inzer #strong #whythehelldiditagcrossfit #crossfit #raw #equipped #Mass #meet #mcgill #muscle #strong #powerlifter #powerlift #powerlifting #bench #benchpress #squat #deadlift #total #meet #arnold #worlds

A post shared by Jonathan Byrd (@onlythestrong275) on Jul 24, 2016 at 6:05pm PDT

900 last warm up

6 weeks out, this is 1020 which moved pretty well. Adjusting to the weights finally. Heavy bench Monday then a deload to get healthier! #whydidntIgetinvited? #1020life #powerrackstrength #prs #inzer #strong #whythehelldiditagcrossfit #crossfit #raw #equipped #Mass #meet #mcgill #muscle #strong #powerlifter #powerlift #powerlifting #bench #benchpress #squat #deadlift #total #meet #arnold #worlds #rps #southflorida

A post shared by Jonathan Byrd (@onlythestrong275) on Jul 23, 2016 at 10:28am PDT

1020 top set

Things seem to be on track. The heat was a killer! I ended up showering outside with a water hose after it was all said and done. It was much needed to cool down. Reminded me of the brutal summer football sessions!

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Jonathan Byrd

Jonathan Byrd is a competitive powerlifter, with over 16 years of training experience. Byrd has been ranked nationally for the past 6 years under multiple categories. His total has ranked as high as second nationally in the 275 class. He currently has a best total of 2500lbs. Best individual lifts include a 1040lb squat, a 750lb bench press, and 735lb deadlift. His 1040lb squat ranks him 26th all-time squats at the 308 class. Jonathan currently trains out of Team Samson Gym in Jacksonville, FL. Before powerlifting Jonathan was a college athlete at Methodist University as both an all-conference football player and track athlete. Following graduation he played four years of arena football in various leagues.

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