JMSB Squat Off Rules, Regulations, and Schedule

Schedule/Rules

JMSB Squat Off

Saturday, April 5, 2014

These are the rules, if you don’t like them or don’t follow them then fuck you.  I reserve the right to make final decisions at any time.

-160 lbs Weight Class

Mancino

Baby Toes

IV. -237 lbs Weight Class

Dimbo Slice

Meat

Old Man Moore
Joe "George Costanza" Mancini

I.     Weigh Ins

A.   Held at 12 pm in the Rec Center

B.    Lifters MUST declare their opening lift at the weigh ins

C.    Once a lifter declares his opening lift, that attempt cannot be changed

II.   Competition

A.   -160 lbs weight class will begin their warmups at 2 pm

B.    Competitors should get there before 2 pm if they want to foam roll, bike, etc.

C.    Must be warming up with a bar on your back by 2 pm

D.   -237 lbs weight class will begin warmups as soon as the last -160 lbs competitor finishes his final attempt

E.    Athletes get 3 attempts each

F.    1:30 minutes will be given between attempts, 3 minutes if you are following your own lift

G.   Lifter order will be determined by weight, attempts must remain the same weight or increases, at no time will you be able to attempt a weight less than you or your competitor has attempted.  Aka the weight on the bar will always remain the same or increase

H.   2^nd and 3^rd attempts must be declared within 1:00 of opening attempt

I.      Once a lifter has declared his 2^nd attempt, he cannot change his attempt

J.     However, a lifter may change his third attempt ONCE

K.   For the -160 lbs weight class, two platforms will be set up for warmups and a third will be designated for competition attempts

L.    For the -237 lbs weight class, four platforms will be set up for warmups and a fourth will be designated for competition attempts

III. Judges/Squat Rules

A.   Head judge will sit directly in the front, with a second and third judge on each side of the lifter

B.    Head judge gives directions to the lifter

C.    Each judge will declare a good lift or no lift, lifter must receive a good lift from 2/3 of the judges to receive credit for the lift

D.   Lifter will unrack the bar, step back, and come to a complete stop before attempting the lift

E.    When the lifter has come to a complete stop, the head judge will say “Squat,” and give the down hand signal

F.    At this point the lifter will descend into the squat

G.   Top of the thigh at the hip joint must be lower than the top of the thigh at the knee joint at the bottom of the squat to receive a good lift

H.   If at any point in the process of standing up the bar reverses directions and begins to go back down, the lift is no good

I.      As long as the bar is either at a standstill or still moving up, the lifter may continue to complete the lift

J.     The lifter must stand up completely, completely extending at the knee and hip joint

K.   Lifter must come to a complete stop, fully erect at the top of the lift

L.    Head judge will then say “Rack it,” and give a forward hand signal to tell the lifter to rack the barbell

M.  Failure to follow these rules or comply with the orders of the head judge will result in a no lift

VI. Equipment

A.   Belts are allowed

B.    Neoprene knee sleeves and Ace wraps are permitted

C.    Powerlifting knee wraps are NOT permitted

D.   NO sweatpants or long pants are permitted

E.    Lifter must wear shorts, compression shorts, or a singlet in order to allow judges to make accurate determinations about squat depth

F.    Lifting straps used to hold the barbell are permitted (yup this one is for me)

Realization

I have yet to accomplish any of my goals.  Even as I fight back through seemingly countless surgeries and post videos of post surgery PRs and what not, I have not come anywhere close to reaching my potential as a coach or weightlifter.  I have a vision, and though I am just beginning to truly realize it, I wake up every morning and seize the opportunity to move a step closer towards my goals.   Open a gym, get back on the platform, defy my body and those who think I should give up my athletic pursuits, enter and win a weightlifting meet, and help to make those around me better themselves in the gym and reach a better quality of life are all goals that I will achieve in time.  However, recent events have made me consider exactly why I do what I do.

Since I started this blog over two years ago, and began gathering a group of athletes and like-minded individuals to train with me and join me on this journey, there have always been those who mocked me and hated on what I do.  Likewise, there have been those who have supported me in every step.  People like my mother, my father, my brother, my close friends Mike Mancino, Nick Alvarez, Brian Pisano, Dykota Hillman, Nick “Meat” Leonte, Dimi Artale, Mike Santos and so many others have embraced my passion for strength training and made it a part of their lives, pushing me and inspiring me on a daily basis. 

At the same time, there are voices whispering behind my back, laughing at my “obsession,” mocking our pride in personal records and hard, chalk-covered squat sessions early in the morning.  To those who try to bring us down to their level, I have no time, and no patience.  They are not like us.  They have no passion, they have no drive, they don’t possess the burning desire to challenge themselves and reach their full potential on a daily basis.  They also don’t feel the pride and fulfillment that my athletes and I feel when we reach the goals we set for ourselves.  They will never understand us, and to be honest, I could care less.

I’m not here to show off.  I’m not here to make my athletes or myself out to be better then anyone else.  I do what I do because it brings me happiness, it brings me fulfillment, and most importantly, it has helped those around me find the same.  If I can have a positive impact on even one person’s life, then my pursuits have been worthwhile.  So for those who spit behind our backs, we are ahead of you, and I will never let someone else’s negativity deprive myself or my athletes of the motivation that lifts us out of bed every morning with one thing on our minds:  greatness.  Not greatness in the eyes of others, but greatness in our own eyes.  The hard work, the sweat, the PRs, the failure, the obsessive drive for success has never been about proving a point, but about reaching one’s full potential, regardless of what that may be.

No matter what your passion is, regardless of what it is, do what you love and do it to the best of your abilities.  Inspire and encourage others, bring them up instead of putting them down, and celebrate your victories with them.  When you think you’ve gone far enough, go further.  When you question if you’re overdoing something, do it more.  Embrace the journey and relish the successes and failures it brings you.  Along the way, cherish the relationships you build with those who think like you and support you, and smile at those who spew negativity at you, for they will never know what you know.

Remember, “Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing.  Moderation is for cowards,”—Lone Survivor

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