bodybuilder vs. powerlifter

[vinylgroover]

All you're saying, in this recurring statement, is that olys are leaner. No they don't have more muscle, they just have more muscle compared to fat. You're just talking about body fat %, and I think, to the best of my knowledge, you're the only one arguing that point.

One thing i don't understand, is that powerlifters keep harping on about how 'fat' they are. According to powerlifters, they have as much muscle as a bodybuilder or weightlifter, yet the fat obscures it. That's nonsense. Don't you guys have to make weight classes as well? What is the difference between an Olympic lifter and a powerlifter in terms of needing 'fat' to perform.

If it helps a powerlifter, why would it not help a weightlifter. Why does a weightlifter 'have' to be leaner?

I'm totally ignorant when it comes to powerlofting (or weightlifting for that matter), but it just doesn't make sense at all.

Can you see my point?

 

[crew9]

I think saying that a powerlifter can cut down and compete with a bodybuilder is a pretty ignorant statement. If thats true I could easily say that a bodybuilder could put on a lot of lbs. of fat and mop the floor with powerlifters. Yes some bodybuilders do have backgrounds in powerlifting. I can guarantee you though they didn't cut down from powerlifting and step on the pro circuit. Yes there are exceptions but most powerlifters cannot drop weight and compete with a bodybuilder.

 

[spatts]

One thing i don't understand, is that powerlifters keep harping on about how 'fat' they are. According to powerlifters, they have as much muscle as a bodybuilder or weightlifter, yet the fat obscures it. That's nonsense. Don't you guys have to make weight classes as well? What is the difference between an Olympic lifter and a powerlifter in terms of needing 'fat' to perform.

If it helps a powerlifter, why would it not help a weightlifter. Why does a weightlifter 'have' to be leaner?

I'm totally ignorant when it comes to powerlofting (or weightlifting for that matter), but it just doesn't make sense at all.

Can you see my point?

I think that I already answered this question....speed. Speaking from personal experience, there is a fine line where I'm so heavy I lose speed, and so light I lose weight leverage. As I put on LBM, I have to constantly keep track of this "breaking point." I think CCJ might even agree that it is easier to utilize the tool of speed when you're lighter...and olys are known for speed.

Crew9...you added to what was said, and then called it ignorant. No fair.

 

[vinylgroover]

I'm not convinced Spatts.

And.......the point of debating these things is to keep learning. I don't debate things here because i have nothing better to do

It's a shame we don't have weightlifters on here.

 

[casualbb]

I think there is ONE major difference between the two:

Major Difference:
Winning powerlifters are selected by muscle strength; winning bodybuilders are selected by muscle appearance.

World Champion powerlifters will have an extremeley high percentage of fast-twitch fibers and be genetically blessed with large frames and long tendon insertion distances.

World Champion bodybuilders will have gorgeous muscle shape, good proportions, and amazing symmetry.

Powerlifting and bodybuilding are only related in that both usually seek to increase muscle mass. Since muscle mass does directly cause strength, the biggest of both classes tend to be the strongest. But to compare them is silly because they have entirely different goals. The whole Platz vs. Hatfield debate is moot. Hatfield is a genetically gifted powerlifter, Platz a genetically gifted bodybuilder who also happens to be quite strong.

As to powerlifters dieting down for shows, I'd say that, on the whole, they don't compete. Why? They already have good genetics for strength. For them to have good genetics for muscle shape and body proportion on top of that is VERY unlikely.

-casualbb

 

[slobberknocker]

I'm not talking about anyone in particular, just in general: enough bullshit. Don't talk about it, be about it. If you say that a powerlifter could diet down and blow everybody off stage, do it. Go on a diet, compete in a show, and win. If you say that bodybuilders are just as strong as powerlifters, be about it. Compete in a meet, and win.



Also, it's not cool to talk shit about somebody unless you're standing face to face with them at the time, whether it be a member of this board, Mark Henry, or anyone else.


That's all.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes powerlifters have weight classes, but the range in the weight classes are typically a much larger range with fewer classes than Olympic lifters. That is one reason.

The main reason is, additional leverage from added mass can be used to your advantage to get weight off the floor, but added mass isn't going to help you get a weight to arms length over your head. And since this is generally the hardest part of the lift, its the most important.

Also, if you can jerk 250+ lbs to arms length overhead, you can probably make the first pull (up to about knee height, similar to a deadlift) of the clean or snatch very easily, so added leverage in deadlift isn't needed.

 

[fortifiediron]

Hey Tarheel nice sig.



Kc

 

[benchmonster]

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!

I forget what this damned thread even started about, but it gets increasingly frustrating.

OK, here goes. Powerlifting is about moving the maximum amount of weight possible in the 3 powerlifts. Nothing more. Powerlifting is not about hypertrophy, or getting cut or being lean, or for that matter being fat. It is about moving the most weight possible.

Olympic lifting is very similar to powerlifting in the sense that the only goal of the sport is to move maximal weights, this time in the 2 olympic lifts (snatch and clean and jerk)

Bodybuilding is about looking aesthetically pleasing to judges in a bodybuilding contest. That is all there is to it.

Strength sports (powerlifting, oly. lifting, strongman, highland games, field events, etc. . . ) have about as much in common with bodybuilding as Hydraulic Engineers have with Meteorologists. Sure they both go to school, or the gym, but that is about where the similarities end. Different goals and different ways of acheiving them.

And dude, muscular legs, back, shoulders and abs, with no arms or pecs is not a pleasing build, I am sorry.

2/3 of the body being developed is not a good thing for looks. If you are hung up on looks so much be a bodybuilder, or train to look like a model, or something. I don't have a thing against oly. lifters, and have a ton of respect for the hard work they do.

As for the whole olympic lifters being leaner than powerlifters debate, it is kind of a stupid depate when you truly compare apples to apples. Take the top 220 lb olympic lifter in the world, whoever that happens to be, and compare him with the top 220 lbs powerlifter, who happens to be at the moment, Chuck Vogelpohl. Both very lean.

You can't compare the bodyfat of an olympic level weightlifter with some guy you know who happens to be a powerlifter. Problem is, with this comparison there are a bunch of people around the country and world who are powerlifters, but the very few olympic lifters any of us are ever in contact with are olympic caliber.

Olympic caliber is like the top 1 or 2 percent in the world per a given weight class. Compare them to the top 1 or 2 percent of powerlifters in the world in a given weight class, and I will guarantee up to around the 275 class, you are going to find some very lean and muscular powerlifters.

Ed Coan at 220, or 242, best in the world, and very lean. Steve Goggins or Ano Turtainen at 275, both extremely lean. Ryan Kennely or Scott Mendelson at 308, both over 300 lbs sporting a 6 pack. How many guys you think there are running around like that in any sport? You would also be hard pressed to find someone more muscular at 220 lbs walking the planet right now than Kenny Patterson. These are big, strong, lean guys, and all happen to be in that rare category of men who are equivalent to an olympic caliber athlete.

B.