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GOHEAVY.COM Debates Forum
Birthplace of Powerlifting? CA or PA? *LINK*
Posted By: Steve Denison (c-76-20-121-111.hsd1.ca.comcast.net)
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2007, @ 8:50 p.m.
I have California listed on my website as the birthplace of Powerlifting. Steve Mann claims the birth of Powerlifting started in Pennsylvania. Who's right?
I emailed John Sanchez to see what he knew as the unofficial Powerlifting historian.
Here's the response I got back from John Sanchez."If you want to stipulate that California was the 'birthplace', you can make this argument: As early as 1961, Gene Mozee applied for state powerlifting records to be kept in accordance with AAU directives that had been established in the 1958 national AAU convention. As far as I know, this was the first time such a move was made at the state level in order to formally sanction the power lifts, even though the sport wasn't officially 'born' until late 1964."
"Of course, if you want to classify 'birth of powerlifting' as any place/event where the 'power lifts' were first being performed, then this could have been anywhere where 'odd lifts' were being contested on an individual basis, mostly back east. Look to the old George Jowett ACWLA/ABBM federations from the 1920s if you want to argue that the power lifts were first 'born' back in Pennsylvania or thereabouts. A weak argument, I feel..."
"However, I'm sure Steve Mann is probably basing his claim on the fact that AAU big shot Bob Hoffman (ergo claims of Pennyslvania provenance) was the patron saint of the sport at the national level when it mattered most. He sponsored lifters, had a magazine devoted to exclusive coverage of the sport (Muscular Development), and a shitload of national champs under his wings during the mid 60s."
"Of course, one could also make the argument that AAU/Hoffman archnemesis Joe Weider did his part for powerlifting from his Woodland Hills California headquarters. He did sponsor the first international meet in 1970 and he did give a lot of exposure to the sport in his rags during the late 60's/early 70s, but Hoffman definitely preceded and outlasted him in that regard."
JPS
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