West Side Barbell Podcast with Tony Ramos and George Halbert

Introduction

• Evolution in training is crucial.
• Introduction to George Halbert, his journey into powerlifting.
• George's initial experience with weightlifting started in high school.

George's Early Powerlifting Journey

• First exposure through wrestling.
• Initial bench press was 95 pounds and gradually increased.
• Consistency was key for George; he trained without missing workouts.
• By graduation, benched 380 pounds at 167 lbs bodyweight.

Transition to Westside Barbell

• Met Westside Barbell at a bench press meet.
• George was initially advised against joining by another gym owner.
• First workout at Westside was intense and transformative.

Westside Barbell Atmosphere

• Intensity and support among members.
• George describes initial workout experiences and atmosphere.
• Louie Simmons' influence and unique methods.

Training Philosophy

• George learned about speed work from Louie’s articles.
• Overcoming plateaus through constant evolution of training methods.
• Training focus was on continuously getting stronger.
• George emphasizes the importance of speed and its correlation with making gains.

Breaking World Records

• George broke his first world record in the 220 weight class with a 657 lbs bench press.
• Training evolved with input from J.M. Blakely.
• George valued training and the process over the records themselves.

Challenges and Learning

• Transition from being a chest-dominant presser to using triceps more.
• Introduction to exercises like floor presses and board presses.
• Importance of understanding how different muscles work within a lift.

Contribution of Louie Simmons

• Louie’s genius in incorporating different ideas and training methods.
• Training atmosphere contributed significantly to personal growth.
• George learned from failed initial attempts and evolved his methods.

Evolution of Training Methods

• Use of bands for training speed and stability.
• The role of training partners and their influence.
• Importance of having strong training partners and building a strong team.

Personal Reflections

• George's journey characterized by persistence and learning.
• Emphasizes patience, knowledge, and determination.
• George attributes much of his success to the culture and opportunities at Westside Barbell.

Conclusion

• Both Tony and George share stories about personal growth and learning at Westside Barbell.
• George acknowledges Louie’s role in his development and success.
• Importance of lifting culture, consistency, and teamwork in achieving success.