Powerlifting. The Sport. The Product.
During the month of November 2011, freshly engaged to be married, Tatiana and I entered our first powerlifting meet in Las Vegas, NV. Truthfully, we didn’t know much about the sport but we decided we would embark on the journey anyway. Stumbling into a gym months prior, we came in contact with Jason Kelske of Game Time Strength (Los Angeles, CA) and the rest was history. Sort of.
Before long, Tatiana and I were both clients of “GTS” and soon after I became a coach under Jason. What ensued was 3-5 powerlifting meets a year for the next 4+ years. It certainly wasn’t seamless and without setback (injury, growing pains, lack of motivation, war wounds etc.) — but looking back over the last 10-15 years, it has certainly produced gratitude, love and appreciation for all things fitness.
Fast forward to April 2025 and we’ll be competing in our first “full-power” (squat, bench, deadlift) powerlifting meet (USPA) in over 10 years. The event will take place at Level 5 gym in Sisters, OR (Ryan Hudson) facilitated by Nate and Megan Boley of Strength Warehouse (Bend, OR). We love Sisters and are always looking for a reason to visit; so two years ago we actually competed in this same competition in the “deadlift only” for Tatiana’s 40th birthday. During that visit, the Strength Warehouse & Level 5 teams really made an impact on us and we are excited to get back.
One of the biggest challenges of being an aging athlete is finding athletic things which can get us up, bring that fight or flight we used to experience before tip-off, opening pitch or that 4th & goal situation down by 6; allowing us to compete for something which will stretch us mentally, physically and spiritually. There are few things I’m able to do in my 40s which get my heart pounding like the game is on the line like digging through a grueling 8-12 week training cycle, throwing on a singlet and having a crowd of people put all eyes on the platform to see us attempting to complete 9 total reps of a weight that we’re not quite sure we’ll be able to successfully complete.
This I believe is the “Man in the Arena” Teddy Roosevelt spoke about. This sport allows us to “remain in the game.” It allows me as a father to show my children an example of setting a goal, sticking to the training plan in the gym and in the kitchen and doing hard things I truthfully don’t always want to do. It allows us to stay “in the mud” with our clients to better understand their struggles with fitness because as I often remind them, simply — “THIS IS HARD.” There’s no way around it. If it weren’t hard, I wouldn’t have a job.
What it’s also provided us as a family is time together. To have our kids with us in the gym has been extremely fruitful. They’re able to see healthy habits being performed as well as mom and dad working together for a common goal. Which leads me to my next point of emphasis: it’s allowed my wife and I to train and spend time together as well as providing me with opportunity to shepherd well as a husband and coach.
Finally, the most important aspect of this process has been that of our faith. As a family, we feel called to use this net the Lord has given us to sow seeds for His Kingdom. When I don’t feel like training or going to bed or getting up early, or spend time thoughtfully thinking through how to program training for ourselves and clients — I need to remember I am a STEWARD for the Creator of the universe. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
What began as a sport where I often found myself motivated by pride and self-gain, I’ve now come to feel the Lord’s presence on our every move. I’m beyond grateful for this net we’ve been given and I pray we would continue to be good stewards of the weapons in our hands.
Thank you all for taking part in this journey. If you’re interested in joining us in the near future for a local meet or receiving online training for one local to you, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Let’s go get it!!
For His Glory.