JUNE, 2010 INTERVIEW OF JOSEPH P. BEHARI JR.
1. What have you been up to lately?
I just returned from a temporary move to Memphis, TN due to a contract engineering position. God blessed me with an awesome training partner while I was there.
2. How many years have you been competing?
I had my first competition in 1987 while in the Army over in Germany. I didn't compete again until 1991 and haven't missed a year since.
3. What is your biggest competition and training bench press?
I benched 485lbs (220kg) raw at the USA Nationals last year. In the gym, I easily benched 500lbs raw @ 272lbs. for the first time back in Feb. 2004. My best competition bench at that time was only 455lbs. My competition lifting has continued to improve.
4. What titles, records, ranking and achievements did you accumulate in your bench press career?
NASA
275lb. class: World Record - Powersports (unequipped) Masters I and Masters Pure bench press
308lb. class: American Record - Unequipped Masters I and Masters Pure bench press
308lb. class: World Record - Unequipped Open, Masters I and Masters Pure bench press
AAU
275lb. class: World Record - Unequipped Lifetime Open bench press
275lb. class: World Record - Unequipped Lifetime Sub Masters bench press
308lb. class: World Record - Unequipped Masters and Lifetime Masters 40-44 bench press
308lb. class: World Record - Unequipped Lifetime Sub Masters bench press
308lb. class: World Record - Lifetime Open bench press
WNPF Lifetime Drug Free Organization
SHW class: American Record - Unequipped Masters 40-44 bench press
USAPL
SHW class: Bench Press Nationals meet record holder - Unequipped Masters 40-44 bench press
5. Describe your training philosophy?
Train hard or go home. If I have an injury, I will try to work around it but still go to failure (without sacrificing good form). Variety is key; I have done sets of 15, 20, 25 and even 30 reps in the bench when a heavier weight would aggrevate the injury. Going heavy all the time will not continue to give great results. Your body will get accustomed to it, causing strength gains to plateau.
6. Do you compete equipped or unequipped (no suits) or both?
I stopped using equipment about 8 years ago and plan on continuing to lift raw.
7. Why do you compete in only bench press competitions or push-pull competitions,etc?
I had a lower back operation in 1998 where part of the L5 S1 disc was removed to relieve the pain resulting from that herniated disc pinching the sciatic nerve. I have spoken to several people who have had the same operation and within a few years have had the entire disc removed.
I inquired with John Comereski a few years after the partial laminectomy. John was an accomplished powerlifter and has a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology, several certifications including Master of Fitness Sciences, and has over 250 internationally published articles and 3 books. In the past, John wrote a monthly column for Muscle and Fitness Magazine and was NASCAR driver Mark Martin's personal trainer. His recommendations were to never deadlift in competition again and to keep the bar high on the traps and feet at a stance that is more like that of a bodybuilder than a powerlifter. I am unable to squat to proper depth with that stance as are many who have very large glutes.
I did start heavy deadlifting and wider stance full - depth squatting about a year ago. I haven't had any back issues at all so far. My deadlift style is now Sumo - very wide foot stance and hands closer than shoulder - width apart (only half of each hand is in contact with the knurled portion of the barbell). The last time I participated in a full meet was in 1993. I competed in my first full meet since then at the Tennesee State meet held May 22nd. I squatted 562lbs. raw using the "old school" white knee wraps with the 2 red bands. I purchased them at Sports Authority the day before the meet. I deadlifted 540lbs. raw Sumo Style. Needless to say, I have a long way to go to get these lifts up to being proportionate with my bench, which was only 457lbs. raw that day. Squatting before benching does seem to appreciably diminish my bench pressing ability.
8. What is the most impressive lifter you competed against?
While Dennis Cieri is not in my weight class, he is the most impressive bencher I have competed against for the Best Lifter of the Meet award at the WNPF Raw Worlds back in 2007. Needless to say, with a 530lb. bench press at only 207lbs bodyweight, it was a very humbling experience for me. What is even more impressive is that we are the same height (5'10"-5'11"). Dennis has benched 525lbs. in the 198lb. class. He is pound for pound perhaps the best raw drug - free bencher in the world. Most big benchers that are in the lighter weight classes are very short, having a huge advantage with short levers and much more muscle mass as compared to other average height lifters in their weight class.
9. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time?
I have to go on my soap box here. It is NOT Ed Coan as many say; while he is perhaps one of the strongest pound for pound, the lack of character shown by failing 3 drug tests in the same Fed. gets my thumbs down. He should have stayed away from tested competition. My choice is Paul Anderson.
10. How has the sport changed when you first started competing?
The strength benefits of assisted lifting have gotten so far out of hand that I know of several lifters that bench over 500lbs in gear and are not able to bench 315lbs raw. Squatting has also benefitted very well from assistance gear; Henry Thomason's equipped squat of 1003lbs. is about 250lbs. greater than his best raw squat. Don't get me wrong; I can only pray that I can someday squat and deadlift raw as well as Henry! The only lift that is not so enhanced by gear is the deadlift.
11. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition?
It depends on how my body is feeling. If I am experiencing joint pain, I won't go as heavy. I might not do anything heavier than what I can get for 5 reps. If my joints feel good, I will do a heavy and light day; going up to a 1 rep max. It definitely isn't a true max since I do more reps when warming up than I would at a meet, but it provides a conservative number for determining my opening attempts. To be honest, I really don't know what I am capable of until I am warming up. As you have pointed out, I warm up heavier (closer to my max) and perform more reps than what some would recommend.
12. Describe your nutritional intake for an upcoming competition?
Even at 42 years old, I still have difficulty consuming enough calories to maintain my bodyweight; let alone gaining some. Due to hereditarily high cholesterol and triglyceride Levels, I try to consume whole grain rather than processed foods for carbohydrates. During the last few months I started consuming a 1000 calorie a serving weight gainer which is low in fat (6 grams/serving) at least 4 times a week to try to add a few pounds. I take half a serving at a time; always after a workout, and most of the time an hour or two before the workout.
13. How many meets do you compete in a year?
I have done as few as 1 in a year and as many as 10 in 10 months. I would estimate an average of 5 or 6 per year since 1991. I competed in 4 different tested Feds during those 10 months while I was approaching 40. I got greedy; trying to break as many records as I could before leaving the sub-masters division. J.T., please don't do this! While I was able to get though all of those meets, I ended up with very sore shoulders for 2 months afterwards. For chest training without pain, I could only manage cable crossovers.
14. Who is your greatest competitor?
For the bench press it would be you and Cyrus Ford, even though I outweigh you guys a little, LOL. I am too wimpy in the squat and deadlift at this point to even think about considering myself a competitor in those lifts. For deadlifting, I do compete in the gym with my training partner Alex Hamblin, who I helped get started in the sport. We are close in this lift, but I outweigh him by 40+ lbs.
15. How does today’s judging compare to yesterday judging?
I think it is similar; I really can't see a difference.
16. There are probably 50 different federations. Do you think this is a good thing or bad thing?
It is bad in the sense that it is too easy to achieve a National or American or even a World Record in many of these Feds. That being said, those "unity" meets where they group together mostly tested Feds with untested (for at least the last 10 years) feds such as the USPF seems pointless. If you are using steroids or HGH you have a huge advantage (pun intended); stay out of tested Feds! I know of a certain record keeper who wouldn't keep separate records for AAU and USPF. "Users" competing against drug-free athletes in tested Feds is what hurts our sport.
17. Is the IPF World Championship still the top and most prestigious title to win?
Yes, if you are an equipped lifter. Unfortunately, as was mentioned by a member of the Executive Committee at the 2009 USAPL Bench Press Nationals, the international community does not recognize raw lifting. For raw competition, it is the raw powerlifting meet at the Arnold Classic.
18. Do you think drug testing is a good thing or bad thing?
It is necessary due to the few "cheaters" who try to have an unfair advantage. It is the only way to preserve any integrity in the sport. Again, back on my soapbox; in what other sport can an athlete fail a drug test on 3 separate occasions and still be considered such an icon!?! I can't think of any other; can you?
19. What is your greatest memory from competing?
The NASA Pro Powersports. This is where I see the greatest display of good sportsmanship; even with everyone competing against each other for cash (no weight classes), everyone encourages each other.
20. What advice & tips would you give to a beginner bench presser or powerlifter?
Listen and learn from the more experienced and accomplished lifters. Don't even think about using assisting gear until you have a few years and several meets under your belt.
21. How was powerlifting changed your life?
I was extremely shy in high school. Even after 3 years in the Army, I wasn't very comfortable in crowded or group situations, especially if at some point the focus would be on me. Powerlifting has helped to change that.
22. Do you stay in touch with lifters you compete against?
Some of them, especially now with Facebook.
23. When is your next meet and what numbers are you looking to put up?
I hope to achieve a 400 Wilks Value for a raw total at the 8th annual BIG K Powerlifting Championships on June 26th. This will involve achieving around a 1560lb. raw total.
24. While you were competing, what is your main goal?
I try to do my best lifting and to help others.
25. Any major injuries you sustain while competing or training for upcoming meet?
Since 1998, I haven't required any surgery to correct injury to tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone structure or spinal discs. I have had recurring elbow and shoulder pain from time to time.
26. What do you think about pro powerlifting or pro bench press meets that give out cash?
I feel they attract the top lifters; sometimes the best won't compete unless their travel costs are compensated for. In addition, some weight classes have very limited competition (particularly the very lightest and very heaviest). Since Pro Meets involve competition across weight classes, those issues are eliminated.
27. Why did you decide to compete?
Competition offers a greater incentive to push yourself harder in training so you can achieve greater lifting ability. Many of us may be the "Top Dog" in the gym we train at, but are humbled in competition.
28. What would you like to change about today’s bench press or powerlifting competitions?
I feel that for whatever style of lifting you choose (drug-free, touch and go bench press (no pause), raw, single ply equipped, multi-ply equipped) there is a Fed. for you, and lifters need to differentiate between them. It bugs me when another lifter compares an equipped lift with a raw lift without regard for how much of a potential difference there is between them. I would like to see steroid use treated the same as the use of cocaine or heroine with regard to criminal penalty and have drug tests for employment purposes include steroid testing.
29. What would you like to change about today’s bench press or powerlifting judging?
It would be nice to have some device to let the lifter know when they have broken parallel in the squat.
30. Which meet you competed in is your #1 or most prestigious meet?
Nasa Pro Power Sports
31. Why do you think some lifters are haters?
Jealousy.
32. Have you ever competed in any other strength sport like strongman, olympic lifting, highland games,etc. If so, what was it like? Do you plan to do it again?
Not yet, but Alex Hamblin and I are considering either a strongman or maybe a highland games event.
33. Do you compete mainly in one federation or several federations? If one, why that federation only?
I compete mostly in NASA, but also in the USAPL, AAU and the WNPF and WNPF Lifetime.
34. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in Powerlifting career?
Due to living and/or working in 13 different states and twice as many cities, many individuals have helped me along the way. Some of the most memorable are listed below:
As I have mentioned, John Comereski - his was the first meet I competed in after getting out of the Army. His advice helped me through a couple periods of injury.
Fred Bidwell, who lives in Palermo, NY (30 minutes north of Syracuse). I worked out with him from May 2005 to Jan. 2006. Fred would do cardio after every workout; even on leg day. During good weather it would be an 8-15 mile bike ride and in inclement weather it would be 30 minutes on an elliptical. At 260-290lbs., I could never keep up with him on a bike ride, so I ended up riding my a$$ off trying. Fred has been lifting continuously since age 13; he is now 57. At 5'8" and 220lbs with a 34" waist and 50" chest, he is perhaps one of the most fit people I know.
Mike Ferguson, my lifting partner while I was living in Tennessee. While he is a bodybuilder, Mike showed me some exercises that I needed to be doing to improve my deadlifting and bench pressing ability. Working out with him was some of the most intense training I have ever done.
THANK YOU
JOSEPH
TRAIN HARD
"BIG WILLIE" J.T. HALL
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