Tonight's Bench Session

[Rob Thomas]

Here's a video clip of tonights benching session. I went 222kgs, 232kgs and 242kgs. The 232 felt fine so I wanted to go for a PB (my PB is 235) so I jumped to 242 when really, I should have gone for 237.

Keep an eye out for my mate's little air guitar dance behind my back on the first lift - that's the Poj and he's a real head case.

http://www.rtcomputersystems.com/gym/videos/BenchSession29_11_05.wmv

[Tony Zhang]

Great lift!!!

[Alex Gold]

You're wearing that shirt way too high, and it looks like you're lowering the bar too high too, hard to tell from that angle though. Try to bench in more of an arc.

[Phil E]

Awesome lifting, Rob!

I've spotted what went wrong with the 242 lift: you had sweet child of mine playing instead of welcome to the jungle. Sort out the music and you'll nail it next time!

[Rob Thomas]

You're wearing that shirt way too high, and it looks like you're lowering the bar too high too, hard to tell from that angle though. Try to bench in more of an arc.

What do you mean by wearing it too high Alex? I'm still trying to get used to it so any advice is welcome. I felt that the 232 was lowered in more or less the right place but the 242 actually felt high and I had a little wobble at the top before lowering it which put me off aswell.

[Rob Thomas]

Awesome lifting, Rob!

I've spotted what went wrong with the 242 lift: you had sweet child of mine playing instead of welcome to the jungle. Sort out the music and you'll nail it next time!

Damn, you're right Phil, I'll have a word with the DJ next time to make sure he gets it right!

[Mike Adams]

Nice benching Rob. The first 2 were nice and solid. Look like you lost the line a bit on the 3rd.
Is that the Titan Fury you're talking of selling?
You talking of getting into a 56/54 .. what do you actually measure? I ask this as i measure 58 but presume I need something smaller .. not sure how it works.

[Rob Thomas]

Hi Mike, yeah I lost it on the last one!

No that's not the shirt I'm selling, that's the size 56 I'm wearing there. The size 58 doesn't have any writing on it as it was custom made for Dean Bowring (I think).

I think my chest is around about 57".

[Justin Hurley]

Nice pressing.

You couldn't wear the shirt any lower if you wanted to. Iv'e seen it on you. You need a bigger / scopped neck to get the collar lower.

I do think your lowering the bar too high also, use your gut, take a few inches out of the press. No offence fatty....LOL

[Rob Thomas]

Nice pressing.

You couldn't wear the shirt any lower if you wanted to. Iv'e seen it on you. You need a bigger / scopped neck to get the collar lower.

I do think your lowering the bar too high also, use your gut, take a few inches out of the press. No offence fatty....LOL

ha ha ha! I think you're only allowed to lower it as far as the sternum under IPF rules - but I'm not sure about that. I remember talking to Dean Bowring about it at the Commonwealths and he said that his bench had dropped a bit since he was forced to bench a little higher than he was used to. He must be used to the new way now though as he benched 282.5 last week!!!!

[JkEane_*]

welcome to the jungle, paradise city, sweet child o mine.

O man....my ears cant take any more, great music. :D
Great lifts....i couldnt deadlift that. Awesome strength.

[Phil R]

not to bad at all slim,
yeah got to agree you should have gone 237.5 on the last one never mind though, you better hold bsck a bit if you want a big bench on the 11th

[Westside]

Good lifting Robt! You are right. Gut pressing is not legal in IPF contests. Im not shure, but your shirt looked a little loose. What is the minimum weight to get the bar to touch.

[chris jenkins]

Looking strong Rob mate, you will be hitting big numbers on your bench soon.....

[Rob Thomas]

Good lifting Robt! You are right. Gut pressing is not legal in IPF contests. Im not shure, but your shirt looked a little loose. What is the minimum weight to get the bar to touch.

I can just about pull 210kgs to my chest with it on. I know it's a bit loose but I'm still very new to lifting in a shirt and I plan to get a tighter one in a few months time - perhaps for the British Bench Press Championships in early february.

[chris jenkins]

I think you have the genetics to hit 260kgs

[cuntos]

Good video Rob, maybe you shuold position the camera differently next time so we can actually see what you're doing. I'm going to sort-of disagree with Chris... I reckon you can go a lot higher than 260 in time (and wearing the right shirt). You look big and solid enough (fat - LOL - no I mean in the joints, etc) to handle 300k eventually.

I like the way the spotters did fuck all when you failed with 242! :p

I'll see you at the British Bench in Feb if I don't eat too many pies between now and then.

[Rob Thomas]

Cheers Chris.

I've told the spotters to just leave the weights fall if I fail, that way it keeps their mits off the bar. I've dropped 320kgs from my shoulders onto the supportive bars before when doing rack walkouts and the bars handled that ok so I'm pretty confident about them holding out!

That's the only place where I can position the camera - it's on the tumble dryer!

[chris jenkins]

Sorry red eye, 260+ lol

[Rob Thomas]

Sorry red eye, 260+ lol

I know what you meant mate!

[cuntos]

My eye's red again after what Bill and Ted would have called some most egregious lifting at the weekend...