Great Training Partners
Big Joe Williams
This past weekend, I was reminded what it's like to have a great training partner.
I met "Big" Joe Williams back in 2000 as we had both joined the Ball State Powerlifting team that year. I was a weak guy trying to get stronger; he was a converted bodybuilder that was looking for something new to try.
We started training together after our first powerlifting meet, the Blacksmith Open. It was over Christmas break, and I clearly remember some ridiculous training sessions. We would train sometimes 2.5-3 hours (hey, nobody ever said it was always the smartest training!), and barely say anything at all outside of coaching cues and words of encouragement.
I would come home, and my then girlfriend (now wife) would ask, "How's Joe doing? What's he been up to lately?"
The crazy thing was, we would spent 2-3 hours together 3-4 days a week, but we really didn't know much about each other at all!
That's also what made it great.
We weren't focused on making small talk, chatting about the weekend, or anything in between.
Our one and only goal was to push each other and see what we could accomplish.
I don't really remember what we hit over the course of the next year or two, but I know that both of our numbers steadily climbed. And how could they not? When your focus is that dialed-in, that laser-like, you really don't have any other option but to succeed.
That's what a great training partner can do for you.
My clearest memory of Joe competing was at the Blacksmith Open the next year, when he benched 353 and deadlift 501 pounds at a bodyweight of 165.
The craziest event was actually in between the two, on his final bench attempt. Joe was a really strong guy, and he took 369 down and brought it up to within an inch of lockout. At that point, the bar rolled in his wrists and actually came crashing down on his chest!
Needless to say, we were all a little freaked out. Not a big deal to him, though, he came back and pulled a new PR of 5 bills!
Have you ever had a great training partner? Someone who virtually guaranteed you of having great workouts when you trained together? If so, I'd love to hear any stories or anecdotes below.
Have a great week!
MR
BTW - Joe, if you ever read this, thanks for all the great sessions buddy. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you.
Comments on This Entry
Posted by Craig at 10:50PM on March 08, 2010
I had a training partner for a year or two who went by the nickname Judas. I'm pretty selective when it comes to training partners and would generally tell people that I worked out by myself but could give them some program advice if they wanted.
The first day that Judas worked out with me was in the afternoon on a typically hot day in the Philippine Islands. Our gym was a barbell on an outdoor concrete floor and a welded, rusty pullup bar.
We were doing combos and Judas jumped in using the same weight that I had been working up to for a few weeks.
Somewhere in the middle of it, Judas dropped the bar, walked off the concrete, puked in the rocks and wordlessly walked back to the bar and finished his set.
He was my training partner for quite a while after that and the result was some of the best performance gains of my life.
Posted by Travis Johnson at 03:22AM on March 09, 2010
Great story Mike...I was just thinking today that it would be nice to have a decent training partner. I do everything on my own these days, and while I manage to push myself fairly hard I know it would be better if I had someone there working with me.
Craig: Loved the puking story. I used to train with a guy many years ago, and I remember on one of our first times out we were running these mean stairs...probably like 10 flights or more, straight up (no corners) and angled super steep...and my man got to the top leaned over and puked and then wanted to do some more. I still look back on that with a smile and heaps of respect.
Posted by Lance Goyke at 10:43PM on March 09, 2010
My training partner is kind of an idiot. And currently incapacitated.
But I guess I make it work.
I've heard it's important to train with people who are better than you at things. That's why I've stayed so weak all this time.