Relative Strength or Absolute Strength

[IronManlet]

Originally Posted by Chillen

I personally Like to watch the All-around strength sort of events, and tailor my own workouts (to a degree around this premise).

Please no one take offense to what I am about to post. This is not my intent.

For example: a powerlifter might be able to bench press 600 lbs at a body weight of 280 lbs, but maybe he can only do 4 pull ups, and couldn't run a block to save his soul. At the end of that block, all that strength means NOTHING. Because he can not breath, and is basically useless. (This assumes no cardiovascular conditioning)

However:

A 175-180 lb guy (for example) can only bench 315, but he can bust out about 30 pull ups, run 2 miles rather effortlessly. And, at the end of those two miles, his relative strength is still there and can still use it.

So let me ask you, who is really stronger? Better yet, which person’s strength would you wish to have? Sorry, but I’d rather be the smaller guy, but this is just me.

This is just Personal preference. I support all personal goals. What ever they may be.

I think all-round strength is important, as you say. That's what I train for too.

Call it walking-around-strength, functional strength, or whatever you like. I don't have enough interest in any one sport to devote myself solely to increasing those lifts; so I aim to be able to squat, bench, overhead press, and deadlift a lot as well as clean-and-press, bust out chin-ups, and have a superhuman grip to boot.

Basically, I'm like the guy in my avatar. haha

[mab54]

Relative strength when dealing with bigger guys, absolute when dealing with smaller!

But to be honest it's all about absolute for me, I just enjoy seeing a giant pick up 1000 more then a 240 pound guy doing mid 700s.

[Chillen]

Originally Posted by TitanCT

chillen, no hate. but im over 200lbs. i dont run. thats what cars are for. =0 )

LoL.

[J_Byrd]

Originally Posted by Fazc

To me Lamar Gants close to 700lbs pull is just as impressive as KK's 900+. They're both just bull strong.

No doubt!

[J_Byrd]

Originally Posted by Chillen

I personally Like to watch the All-around strength sort of events, and tailor my own workouts (to a degree around this premise).

Please no one take offense to what I am about to post. This is not my intent.

For example: a powerlifter might be able to bench press 600 lbs at a body weight of 280 lbs, but maybe he can only do 4 pull ups, and couldn't run a block to save his soul. At the end of that block, all that strength means NOTHING. Because he can not breath, and is basically useless. (This assumes no cardiovascular conditioning)

However:

A 175-180 lb guy (for example) can only bench 315, but he can bust out about 30 pull ups, run 2 miles rather effortlessly. And, at the end of those two miles, his relative strength is still there and can still use it.

So let me ask you, who is really stronger? Better yet, which person’s strength would you wish to have? Sorry, but I’d rather be the smaller guy, but this is just me.

This is just Personal preference. I support all personal goals. What ever they may be.

Even on the verge of death a 600lb bencher should still be able to do 315 for 10+ reps Also what in the world is chasing him to make him run haha

[J_Byrd]

I think both have their place....Honeycutt and I go back and forth about who wins on the Wilks formula. I still win, then he says the formula is bullshit lol!

Strong is strong, don't care if your a 130lbs woman. People who know strength can put things like that into prospective. With that being said, weighing in at 400lbs and not being able to play with your kids just for strength doesn't interest me.

[Fazc]

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

Strong is strong, don't care if your a 130lbs woman. People who know strength can put things like that into prospective.

Good post.

[LtL]

I find both impressive but would lean more to absolute strength. I just find myself looking at lighter guys and wondering how much they would lift if they weren't limiting their calories and staying within that weightclass' limits. It might not be more, it might even be less but I'd like to see them try.

LtL

[gaspers04]

Absolute