There are a few people strongly associated with CrossFit and Louie Simmons is one of them. Read more about his influence on CrossFit and what he’s up to today.
Louie Simmons: The Powerlifting Guru
Louie Simmons is a famous strength coach and power lifter. He is also a popular owner of a private powerlifting gym. Compared to the other Crossfit icons like Ben Smith, Matt Fraser, Louie Simmons, and Rich Froning Jr., Simmons has stayed longer in the field. Indeed, this American powerlifting champ has been competing for more than five decades now.
Impressive Numbers at the CrossFit Games
Throughout these years he has become an achiever in CrossFit considering his 920-pound squat, 600-pound bench press, and 722-pound deadlift. These achievements are collectively known as Elite, which she acquired in different weight sessions over nearly 40 years. Also, Simmons’ students in powerlifting continue to allude to his styles as essential to their training.
Regularly Features in Powerlifting USA
To date, feature and biography writers are more interested in his achievements in terms of his inventions and training styles than the awards he received for the 50 years he’s been in the business. In fact, his articles about training techniques had been regularly featured in a prestigious magazine called Powerlifting USA.
Expert in Powerlifting
As an expert in powerlifting and famous for his training methods, Simmons owns a private gym in Ohio called Westside Barbell. This means, he trains students on a membership basis and this membership is only by this powerlifting guru. Athletes who enroll in his gym belong not just to the CrossFit field but other sports too, including combat sports, football, and track and field, among others.
Unique Powerlifting Method
With over five decades as a powerlifter, this American athlete is the very person behind the popular Westside Barbell method which he obviously derived from the Westside Barbell gym.
Use of Chains + Bands in Lifting
This technique is most popular for its exercise selection procedures, the use of chains and bands, and periodization in strength training. He uses the same method to train athletes in other sports as mentioned earlier.
Special Barbell Workouts
Additionally, Simmons takes credit for the development and invention of ‘special’ barbell workouts executed to aim the weaknesses a competition particularly in powerlifts. In the 90s decade, the powerlifting guru reintroduced to athletes the use of resistance bands and chains to strength training. This is to enhance one’s strength curve.
Tips from the Expert
Louie Simmons is the right person to seek advice from, when it comes to CrossFit and powerlifting. In an interview, he shared some weightlifting tips.
First, is for one to have the capacity to lift, if possible, without any time-limit.
Second is the need to use bands when training with a barbell.
The third tip is for the CrossFit athletes to make a roomy or spacious base for easy and convenient moving during the entire training.
Fourth is to develop a plan or even plan a failure. This is to enhance one’s skill in organizing.
Fifth is to find your home base. Your lifting temple should be a place you feel comfortable at so that you can challenge your personal bests.
Next is to use the buddy system. If you don’t have a spotter, you won’t have the opportunity to push yourself beyond your limits.
And, lastly, all athletes should do the box squat. This according to the weightlifting expert, literally means, “Getting the box at knee level, then squatting down, then, back to it.”
Louie Simmons with Joe Rogan
Check out the interview here:
Louise Simmons and Westside Barbell
Simmons has developed (and more quite popular) a training system named after the Westside Barbell Gym. It’s also referred to as the conjugate method. There are a number of things that set this method apart from others, including:
- Specific exercise selections
- Periodization at least every 3 weeks
- Use of resistance bands
- Use of chains for exercises
- Altering of competition lifts (increasing or decreasing the range of motion for example, or with the use of specialty bars)
A number of athletes from a wide variety of disciplines have found success with this method including powerlifters, football players, track and field athletes, as well as those who do combat sports like MMA.
What about the Westside Barbell Gym?
This gym is synonymous with Louie Simmons and he calls it his training laboratory. Not just anyone can join though—it’s invite only. Athletes at this gym have broken numerous world records and won Olympic gold medals and it’s certainly geared towards the elite athlete.
They work on the belief that information about training methods should filter down from the athletes at the top, and not from the keyboard warriors who don’t have results to back up what they say.
10 Laws of Strength from Louise Simmons
Here are some tips and tricks to take away from the guru of coaching elite athletes who want to get some serious results.
#1: Find a Home Base
You’ll get better results if you find a home gym. Ideally, you’ll feel both challenged and comfortable at the same time. And you should also look for a place where most people are at your level, but there should be people who are better than you as well.
#2: Don’t Forget about the Buddy System
Without someone spotting you, it’s almost impossible to break out of your comfort zone. When you’re worried about physically harming yourself (dropping the bench press bar on your chest!), you certainly won’t be lifting enough weight to get some serious results.
#3: Set the Scene with Music
Your workout music should reflect your personality. Intense, calm, crazy, etc.
#4: Regularly go for the Max
Many athletes don’t push themselves hard enough on a consistent basic. At Westside Barbell, most athletes regularly beat their personal bests on specific exercises on a monthly, if not weekly basic. Keep pushing for bigger and better!
#5: Go for Small Gains
Some goals seem unattainable unless broken down into smaller increments. Even adding a couple of extra pounds to a specific exercise is enough, if you do this every single time that you work out!
#6: Get Beyond a Very Specific PR
You can achieve a personal best in a huge variety of things during a workout. Remember that for each competition lift, there are a ton of variations in terms of type of bar or band uses, grips, as well as range of motion. Aim to break your PR for each of these specific things too and then go for the classic PR in competitions, where is really counts!
#7: Target (and Crush your Weakness)
The best athletes overcome their weaknesses, and once they do this, they’re often unbeatable. Hate leg day? Learn to crush it.
#8: Think about all the Angles
If you do the same workouts and exercises regularly, your body will adapt and you won’t see as many gains. Approach specific exercises from a variety of ways in order to keep improving.
#9: Restoration is Key
Don’t forget about restoration and rejuvenation after a workout. Pay attention to your diet, consider things like acupuncture or massage and try foam rolling as well.
#10: Rest and Work
If you need to take a rest, then do it. But, if you don’t? Keep on working! Let your body be the guide to this.
More information here: Bodybuilding.com.
Have your Say about Louie Simmons
What do you think about Simmons and his training and coaching methods? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
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Louie Simmons from Westside Barbell
Anne Calderson
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