Hard-Core Gym # 65
Southside Gym (B)
OK, I read in the Viagra-Spam emails that Paris Hilton went bra-less in jail, so I scored some photos for y'all and planned to talk about her new health-kick power routine. There's plenty of bare-action photos for everyone on the internet, and after our new powerlifter Paris served her hard-time in the slammer (JUST LIKE A NORMAL PERSON) she wanted a change of life-style that would make us all proud. Bless her heart! She planned to feed the homeless baby whales in Beverly Hills, and train like a powerlifter (or at least like a bulimic on crack), while drinking only flavored water and protein shakes. Alas, after the first few TV interviews - these big plans went the way of her prison diet - down the toilet.
So, now we gotta get back to the real world of working-class powerlifters, with round two of a popular name for a gym (SOUTHSIDE). Quick reminder; in 2004 we went to another SouthSide Gym, operated by hardworking Joe Sylvia who can deadlift over 500# with only 2 ½ fingers on one hand!! (Go Joe!) In 2004 we talked to Joe Sylvia, Billy Mimnaugh, and Vincent Dizenzo about SouthSide Gym - but this is a different gym named SOUTHSIDE BARBELL. We're gonna do things a little different this time, as we visit NJ power-coach Franz Alder in Egg Harbor, New Jersey.
NAME: SOUTHSIDE BARBELL
WHY? Because we could not call it Westside! (What are the odds that two HardCore Gyms would be called Southside? Please email me and tell me about more Southside Gyms if you know of any. RB)
AFFILATION- METAL MILITIA - ATLANTIC COUNTY CHAPTER NEW JERSEY approved by SEBASTIAN BURNS and BILL CRAWFORD. (Very good BP numbers coming from these MM guys. A couple of friends improved their PR benches this Sunday with MM help. More on this later, RB.)
ORGANIZATIONS WE LIFT IN AND HAVE LIFTED IN-- APF, AAPF, WNPF, IPA, NAACP, and AAU (Try to guess which one I added. RB)
NUMBERS-- WE HAVE 7 TO 12 LIFTERS AT ANY GIVEN TIME and WE ALWAYS WELCOME GUESTS. (Rob stressed that new guys were welcome to come train. Potential new lifters in the NJ area should email lifter Rob Fishbein at this email address: fish62301@aol.com)
WHY DID SOUTHSIDE BARBELL START? Opened in 1996 because at that time in our area there was no one interested in powerlifting. Our gym is together for the sole purpose of bringing more people into the sport. I believe in the history and tradition of powerlifting. Giving honor and remembering the people who went before us. I never let anyone forget the past lifters, because without them we would not have the sport we love today.
PROGRAM HISTORY-- Our programs basically follow SEBASTIAN BURNS UNDERGROUND STRENGTH VIDEOS FOR BENCH AND SQUAT TRAINING. If you ever get the chance to attend a METAL MILITIA BENCH SEMINAR you must. This style and program put 100 to 200 lbs on our lifters in the gym. (WOW.)
HOW SMALL IS TOO SMALL? GYM SIZE AND EQUIPMENT--- 400 square feet. DUMBELLS 5lbs to 100 lbs, a Monster Bench for people over 6'8" (can monsters like that fit in this gym?!)), Reverse Hyper Machine, Power Rack with 56" wide base, Crapinsik Monolift inside Power Rack, Band Attachment on bottom of Power Rack, Titanium Gut Buster Robot-Toys, 200 lbs of chains, Chest Support Row, Leg Press, Glute Ham Raise, Custom-Made METAL MILITIA Bench made by Bill Crawford, True Squat Machine, Seated Row Machine, Smith Machine, Grappler, Trap Bar, Cambered Bar, Bow Bar, Fat Bar, Fat Tire Beer, Mike McDonald Bar, EZ Curl Bar, Bar Mitzvah, Manta Ray Attachment, Sting Ray Costume, SQ Box, Bands, Boards, etc, etc. (Whew. I had to edit this list - hope I got it right. RB)
FREE WEIGHTS—let me summarize and just say YES, PLENTY. They have plenty of weights and plates plenty of BP shirts and Inzer Belts, plenty of Sq Suits, Wrist Wraps, etc. (All the assorted gym-trash that makes us all feel at home.) They have plenty of Olympic Bars ranging from 7 to 8' long.
The most important thing I have for teaching and promoting the sport is 100's of Video Tapes and DVD's - these run on the TV in the gym constantly, Videos are METAL MILITIA, WEST SIDE, Ed Coan and Captain Kirk videos, and we have tons of magazines in the gym. One picture is worth 1000 words to a young lifter, and very inspirational to experienced lifters to boot. (And one picture of Paris Hilton in jail is worth about $1000 on E-Bay, if you keep up with that sort of thing. RB)
GUEST LIFTERS AND SPECIAL FREINDS--BIGGEST GUEST LIFTER HAS BEEN TONY BARABACCIO WHO HAS A 900 PLUS SQUAT AND 700 PLUS BENCH AND IS IN THE TOP 100 SUPERHEAVYWEIGHTS IN PLUSA 2 YEARS RUNNING, TONY LOVES TO TEACH AND COACH ALL OUR LIFTERSA ND DAVE DETITTIO 1763 RAW TOTAL AND WHO WAS A COLLEGIATE ALL AMERICAN AT TEMPLE FOR POWERLIFTING. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR ASSOCIATION WITH IRON ASYLUM GYM, SANDI AND ZANE McCAUSLIN WHO ALONG WITH THEIR CHILDREN SARAH AND KERRI ARE A WORLD CLASS FAMILY.NOT ONLY IKN POWERLIFTINGBUT IN EVERY RESPECT.THERE LIFTING STANDS FOR ITSELF. ( ZANE 705 BENCH AND SANDI'S635 SQUAT)
LIFTERS IN OUR GYM--FRANZ ALDER 57 YEARS OLD, RECORD HOLDER AAU NEW JERSEY FOR DEADLIFT AND BENCH, WORLD RECORD HOLDER BENCH FOR WNPF, APF NY STATE RECORD HOLDER, TOP100 2 TIMES IN PLUSA RAW BENCH IN 1982 AND 1983.
NANCY ALDER CFT-SPN ISSA CERTIFIED NUTRUITIONIST, FITNESS TRAINER,AND COMPETIVE RUNNER AND HELPS ALL OF US CONTROL OUR WEIGHT LOSS OR GAIN DEPENDING WHAT CLASS WE ARE ENTERING
SAMMY SUMMERVILLE AKA THE TECHINICHAN ALWAYS IS COMPLEMENTED ON HIS GREAT FORM, IPA RECORD HOLDER AND WNPF RECORD HOLDER FOR 181 CLASS
ROB FISHBEIN POWERLIFTING NOW FOR 2 YEARS AND HAS A 1800 TOTAL TO HIS CREDIT.HIS BEST MEET LIFTS ARE 750 SQUAT AND 525 BENCH, AND HAS HIT 800 SQUAT SEVeRAL TIMES IN THE GYM. HE WILL BE IN THE TOP 100 275 CLASS THIS YEAR FOR SQUAT IN PLUSA AND IS PUSHING FOR A 2000 TOTAL THIS YEAR.
DR. BILL ROSS TOP 100 181 CLASS 457 BENCH AND WILL MAKE TOP 100 FOR 198 CLASS WITH 480 BENCH, VERY GOOD BENCHER.
DAVE CRAWFORD NUMEROUS WNPF RECORD HOLDER AND FORMEWR OLYMPIC LIFTER
PAT SCHELL CURRENT RECORD HOLDER 17-18 AAPF RAW BENCH 365 AND RAW DEADLIFT 555
MATT EINSENSTEIN HIT 600 IN THE GYM ON SQUAT AND HAS 400 RAW BENCH AND WILL BE ATTENDING THE UNIVERISTY OF HAWAII ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP FOR LINEBACKER
DAN BOLF 220 CLASS 600 PD DEADLIFT IN WNPF AND 375 BENCH
JOE TOUHY 58 YRS OLD VERY VERY STRONG 400 RAW BENCH AND 500 PD SQUAT
BILL SHEMMEL 1300 RAW TOTAL AND COMPETES IN THE WNPF IN 220 CLASS
Big thanks to Rob Fishbein for proving the scoop on this HardCore Gym in New Jersey, and we wish everyone at Southside Barbell good luck and white lights! Next month, we'll get a few updates and name changes on some old friends - so email me with any important changes at past HardCore Gyms. We'll also talk about wet swimmers in the gym, Jehovah Witnesses, and big German girls. Bless their hearts! There should be something to offend everyone, I promise.
On a personal note, I did a little meet two days ago and went up a weight class just for grins. (Insert big yawn here.) My first time lifting in the 220's was a bit of a disappointment (Sunday). I got a 468# BP, but missed 490# and was weaker than I had been in training. Natch. But, a bunch of my buddies lifted great - so here's to everyone at the TX Fire 'O' Powerlifting Meet! I learned a little about lifting fat and sassy the hard way, and strained my right bicep in the process. But I still had fun, and I'll overcome my nerves and lift better next time. I definitely enjoyed the fact that I DIDN'T HAVE TO DIET AT ALL. I was fully hydrated and full of food at the weigh-ins, and let me tell you - IT WAS NICE. That was the highlight of the meet for me!
Complaints and criticism: shredder
Comment and Gym info: rick@houseofpain.com
Photos and fan mail: Rick Brewer
HOUSE OF PAIN
P.O. Box 333
Fate, TX 75132
