Defining ELITE levels of strength

[gymratluke]

At what point do you personally considered someone to be at an elite lvl of strength. Im talking on a lb for lb basis, what types of %'s would we be talking about? When I was asked this question here was my thoughts...

Squat 250%
Dead 250%
Bench 200%
Power Clean 150%
Push Press 150%


Im looking for different opinions, Im sure my numbers here will be on the low side, Im just curious to see how far I am off from what others think from other power sports. Im also speaking from a Natural perspective, I do think if using hormones I would say these numbers would all be a bit higher.

 

[jimbuick]

I'm so glad someone already answered this for me, so now I don't have to.


http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/1793

 

[gymratluke]

lol so Im pretty close on the PLing numbers

 

[jimbuick]

lol so Im pretty close on the PLing numbers

Probably.


Really the lift by lift doesn't matter, however you get those 3 to add up to a strong enough total is all that's important.

 

[Jcweinsx]

If you can hit those % you're strong.
Elite DL is 2.8x bw not 2.5. I checked the charts for 198 weight class. Not sure if it varies % by weight class.
Sq 2.5 and bench 2x are at the min # for elite.
Agree that high total b-sq-dl is better indicator than a guy who can bench a lot but cannot go heavy on the other movements.

 

[PhatBoy07]

Had this saved to my phone..... It may help.

 

[gymratluke]

I totally agree on the High Total thing...I was just wondering as to what people would seem to believe is an Elite lvl for certain lifts. I see on that last chart it has over 300% for Deadlift and over 200% on the Bench...thats pretty damn damn strong. And yeah I 280% or so seems to be the squat percentage. I would like to be considered as an Elite lvl lifter some day so Im gonna set myself some new higher goals. Im pretty dang close, at 195lbs I have about a 1400lb total, natural and raw

 

[Montego1]

I'm an elite deadlifter....yaaaaaay

 

[TheMovement]

Damn I got some serious work to do! Ty for the post OP and the info guys

 

[James Fuller]

those numbers on the last chart are pretty low. I think top 5 on the plw rankings would be considered "elite". so whatever those guys are doing

 

[napalm]

I've always used Kilgore and Rippetoe's weightlifting standards. Google it, it's a lot different than Jim's 100% raw numbers.

I use Kilgore and Rip's because there's a little science behind it and it's not tied to any federation.

They define elite as <1% of the training population will reach this level.

 

[James Fuller]

their starting strength chart?

 

[napalm]

their starting strength chart?

No, google Kilgore and rippetoe weight lifting standards

 

[James Fuller]

i did and im seeing alot of the same charts

 

[James Fuller]

http://macgyver.daug.net/sports/strength_standards_metric/strength_standards_metric.pdf

 

[napalm]

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-journal/WLSTANDARDS.pdf

Don't kill me because it says crossfit, I think it's pretty sound.

Is this the one you're referring to?

 

[James Fuller]

yea thats one of them

 

[napalm]

http://macgyver.daug.net/sports/strength_standards_metric/strength_standards_metric.pdf

Nope...

 

[napalm]

yea thats one of them

Very different than the one you posted...

 

[James Fuller]

the numbers still are the same or within a pound

 

[James Fuller]

and the numbers still seem way to low to be considered elite. atleast for the 165lbers anyways

 

[napalm]

the numbers still are the same or within a pound

Are the ones you posted in kilos?

 

[James Fuller]

yup

 

[napalm]

Looks like they are, my bad...

 

[James Fuller]

no worries

 

[napalm]

and the numbers still seem way to low to be considered elite. atleast for the 165lbers anyways

These numbers are obviously raw. I think a 1282 at 165 is mighty impressive.

I lift in the APF, the raw total American record is 1220 at 165 for 20-22 drug tested, 1445 for 33-39 tested and 1300 masters 1.

I think Kilgore and Rips numbers compare well.

 

[James Fuller]

yea i know its raw. i just hit a 1270 at my last meet would prolly have got higher if i didnt take such small jumps on bench. Thats only 12lbs away from being considered "elite" and im no where near the top of the 165lb class. think once the rankings get updated ill be around #18. Only think Im not elite in is deadlift and im considered advanced. which i disagree with because my deadlift sucks bad. cant even make the rankings with it. think lowest dl on mens current is like a 523

 

[napalm]

I don't know whether you realize it or not, but #18 Is most certainly near the top...

 

[James Fuller]

I still wouldnt consider that elite. Ive been doing powerlifting for barely over a year. theres no way i should be entitled to even consider myself elite in anything. I think the standards need to be raised. Actually have something to work for.

 

[asooneyeonig]

if you are number 18 in your organization and weight class, that is at least in the USA, and with how many hundreds of millions of people that is impressive and less than 1% of everyone.

even if you include other orgs around the globe, that may put you in the top 100 of the world out of 7 billion. that's like the top 1.4285 x 10-7 percent of the population, or 0.0000014285%. that is far less than 1%. even if i figured wrong and you are in the top 1,000 that is still a tiny percentage of 1% in the world. sounds pretty damn elite.


*edited and added*

keep in mind, if you hang out with a lot other powerlifters your view point may be skewed. i get reminded of this at times. i feel weak when im at the gym with all my buddies being being state and national level powerlifters and others being national level strongman competitors. compared to them i am full of weak sauce. to the rest of the mortals on this planet i am very strong. my roommate that bragged for years how strong his 300lbs is was put to shame when he went to the gym with me and he topped out during my warm up weights for all lifts.

 

[gymratluke]

if you are number 18 in your organization and weight class, that is at least in the USA, and with how many hundreds of millions of people that is impressive and less than 1% of everyone.even if you include other orgs around the globe, that may put you in the top 100 of the world out of 7 billion. that's like the top 1.4285 x 10-7 percent of the population, or 0.0000014285%. that is far less than 1%. even if i figured wrong and you are in the top 1,000 that is still a tiny percentage of 1% in the world. sounds pretty damn elite.*edited and added*keep in mind, if you hang out with a lot other powerlifters your view point may be skewed. i get reminded of this at times. i feel weak when im at the gym with all my buddies being being state and national level powerlifters and others being national level strongman competitors. compared to them i am full of weak sauce. to the rest of the mortals on this planet i am very strong. my roommate that bragged for years how strong his 300lbs is was put to shame when he went to the gym with me and he topped out during my warm up weights for all lifts.

Could not agree more with everything u have said...Id say top .5% percent or better is definitely an Elite lifter. And your last comment is the reason I asked this Q, I wanted to see opinions from people on all lvls and I knew the competitive PLers would definitely hold a higher standard

 

[James Fuller]

yea i get what your saying. im going off whatever powerliftingwatch.com says. theyre rankings havent updated since my last meet. but i would be #16 overall in raw w/ wraps. without wraps my squat maybe drops around 40lbs but still would be considered elite. I base myself off of vashon perryman. that guy is the top dog at 165. i consider him elite. and he totals like 300lbs more than me. Guess I just hold higher standards or whatever. I wouldnt consider myself elite until i crack into the top 5. just imo tho

 

[bolt10]

http://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for-raw-elite-uspa/

Nomz posted this somewhere else. This may be better for those of you in here who think the other list was too generous.

 

[Sean1332]

http://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for-raw-elite-uspa/ Nomz posted this somewhere else. This may be better for those of you in here who think the other list was too generous.

This list makes me feel like ****.

 

[napalm]

This list makes me feel like ****.

i kinda like it!

 

[herderdude]

i kinda like it!

Lol, because it has an old folks' category.

I never checked, but you must stack up pretty well in it, huh?

 

[napalm]

Lol, because it has an old folks' category. I never checked, but you must stack up pretty well in it, huh?

It gets a lot easier when you have M2 or next year M3 in front if your name APF M3 elite total is 1117 at 198 woo hoo!

 

[Torobestia]

http://www.lift.net/2013/05/09/classification-standards-for-raw-elite-uspa/

Nomz posted this somewhere else. This may be better for those of you in here who think the other list was too generous.

I like the idea of International Elite. Great idea to compile this list.

Maybe this is the crappy squatter in me, but the squats look really damn high, while the deadlifts look pretty low. I would expect an international elite 275 to deadlift above and beyond 700 flat, but it's in the high 6s.

 

[mazzaiii]

thanks for the update. looks like i have an elite total but not any elite lift. WTF?! LOL

guess ill keep working at it

 

[herderdude]

thanks for the update. looks like i have an elite total but not any elite lift. WTF?! LOL

guess ill keep working at it

The individual lift classifications account for specialists. Like your bench-only guys, or guys that are just better at one lift.