Lehew looks primed for private milestones this yr.
Blake Lehew has been a fixture in powerlifting for years. A former USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Juniors raw National Champion (2016) within the 74-kilogram weight class, Lehew now dominates at 82.5 kilograms. A stellar performance on the World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro, where the athlete attained the all-time heaviest total of 930-kilogram (2,050.3-pound), says as much. Judging by the most recent update on his training progress, Lehew seems poised for much more pending greatness.
On Feb. 26, 2023, Lehew posted an Instagram video where he successfully pulled a 385-kilogram (848-pound) beltless deadlift. The powerlifter accomplished his pull from a sumo stance with a standard grip, and he said he weighed 190 kilos on the time of the lift. What’s more, in response to Open Powerlifting, the deadlift matches Lehew’s all-time raw competition best, also achieved at the most recent American Pro.
“I think the belt is a thing of the past for deadlifts.”
The beltless pull aside, Lehew had nothing else adorned to help with the feat. He leaned fully on his strength to succeed in the lockout position.
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The essential good thing about a lifting belt is that it provides a rigid surface to brace against. Bracing is if you inhale to expand your entire core — front to back — for spinal stability and support. Your core is the middle of your entire body; whether it is loose during a lift, your form will crumble.
Take Lehew’s deadlift for instance. His back would round and fold under the bar’s weight if he didn’t brace properly. Elite lifters like Lehew have mastered their bracing technique. Still, belts allow you to brace tighter than you can in case you weren’t wearing one, which is why Lehew’s beltless 385-kilogram pull is so impressive. While it’s not entirely accurate to say he could pull more if he were wearing a belt, it’s clear that Lehew is strengthening his core and optimizing his technique — two aspects that do add as much as a stronger overall deadlift.
What’s Next for Lehew?
Within the caption of Lehew’s post, he alludes to an impending competition on his calendar. He has been hinting at these plans for the reason that start of 2023. On the time of this writing, it’s unclear which contest he’s referring to, as he has not offered specifics on his social media platforms. The “six weeks out” reference would line up with a date sometime around Easter Weekend 2023 in early April.
On condition that Lehew has mainly featured as a WRPF and United States Powerlifting Association competitor recently, there are a selection of possibilities.
Per the WRPF 2023 events calendar, there may be the WRPF Face Off on April 2, the Drug Tested Out For Blood 2, the Southwest Showdown, and the War for the Valley on April 15. In response to the USPA 2023 events calendar, the one date and contest roughly matching Lehew’s timeline is the 2023 USA Powerlifting Battle at Bionic Barbell on April 2.
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Whichever event Lehew finally ends up featuring in soon, it seems apparent he’ll be able to add one other illustrious accomplishment to his resume. He should probably expect nothing less as one in every of powerlifting’s current stronger stars.
Featured image: @deadliftingorangutan on Instagram