Powerlifting success transcends mere physical prowess; the mental game is equally vital. In this article, we explore how Westside Barbell cultivates a champion’s mentality, delving into the psychology of powerlifting and its impact on achieving peak performance.
Building Mental Grit
Westside Barbell emphasizes surrounding yourself with positive, competitive training partners who push you to your limits. Trash talk and a relentless pursuit of victory fuel the training environment.
Respect Through Intensity
Respect isn’t about coddling your partner. It’s about pushing each other to new heights. Westside’s Louie Simmons exemplifies this – he expects complete dedication from his trainees.
The Drive to Win
The desire to be the best, regardless of age, fuels the competitive spirit at Westside. This constant striving keeps athletes hungry and focused on improvement.
Psychological Aspects in Training
Dr. Mel Siff and Dr. Yuri Verkhoshansky’s concept of “Supertraining” highlights the key psychological aspects:
- Motivation – Set clear goals and maintain a burning desire to achieve them.
- Aggression – Channel your competitive drive into focused intensity during training.
- Focus and Concentration – Block out distractions and be fully present in each lift.
- Pain Tolerance – Push through discomfort and fatigue to reach your full potential.
- Stress Management – Learn to manage pre-competition jitters and stay calm under pressure.
Beyond the Physical: Methods for Power
Westside Barbell utilizes three key training methods:
- Accentuation: Target specific weak points in a lift by focusing on exercises that emphasize that portion of the movement.
- Peak Contraction: Train with exercises that maximize force generation at the weakest point in the range of motion.
- Accommodating Resistance: Employ bands or chains to create variable resistance throughout the lift, mimicking the body’s strength curve and challenging the nervous system.
Reactive Training: Building Power
Reactive training methods like “powermetrics” (using bands and chains) create contrasting resistance throughout the lift. This challenges the nervous system and builds explosive power.
The Takeaway
Developing a champion’s mindset is crucial for powerlifting success. Surround yourself with the right people, cultivate a relentless drive to win, and master the mental skills needed to perform at your peak. Combine this with effective training methods like accommodating resistance, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving your psychology of powerlifting goals.
Check out our previous post about Overcome Accommodation with Accommodating Resistance.