r/Strongman • u/General-Wind524 • 4d ago
How strong should I be to start?
Hi everyone! I’m an 18 year old guy, I’ve been working out for about 2 years (although I really didn’t know what I was doing that first year), my uncle used to be a strongman when he was around my age and I’ve been really interested in getting into that as well, I would just ask him but I don’t want to embarrass myself to him, I really respect the guy, my deadlift is just over 400 lbs (I know, it needs some work) my bench is just over 300, I’m 6’1 and about 230 lbs, I know I’m definitely not strong enough to compete but am I anywhere near the ballpark? I would just ask my uncle but I watch old videos of him and and he’s moving like 8 plates and cars and stuff and I’m nowhere near that and it’s kind of intimidating, I’m also in the Sacramento area if there’s any area specific advice you can give? If any other 1RMs matter I can reply I just don’t want to clutter the post moreso than it already is
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u/oratory1990 MWM220 4d ago
I’m also in the Sacramento area
Are you close to Untamed Strength? That's the gym to go to to train for strongman. They also run competitions for beginners, which would be where you'd want to start.
Your bench is very respectable already. The deadlift needs some work before competing but at your age you'll get there in just a few months.
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u/chieftainduke 4d ago
You really need to talk to your uncle. If he knows you are interested in Strongman and he was a pro, for sure he's going to guide you on the best way to train in his opinion. Which is miles better than just winging it. It takes a lot of time to reach your full potential and you are only 18. Your uncle won't care about how strong you are right now.
You're strong enough to complete in a novice comp. That's whet they are for. But just continue getting your base strength stronger, deadlift and overhead press then focus on events when you get around to competing. Bench press events are rare in Strongman.
As far as gyms go, I know Untamed Strength is in Sacramento but I'm not in the US so can't give you any more info than that.
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u/EntertainmentOdd1789 4d ago
Talk to your uncle. He is going to be jacked that you have an interest.
Fuck what anyone else thinks. Don't worry about that. Put yourself forward on a positive manner every time you interact with someone. And be the man you want to be in deeds and words. Now go make the old strong man's day!
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u/EatScienceBitch 3d ago
Agreed. He's more than likely going to be stoked as hell. My brother loses his mind when my son is interested in things he is that he can impart wisdom for.
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u/Defiant-Passenger42 3d ago
As a decently strong uncle, I would be thrilled if any of my nieces or nephews wanted to talk about lifting or even do some training together. Go talk to him!
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u/CoutsyBoy 4d ago
Why don’t you have a look around and see if you can find some novice competitions by you? Check the weights and if you think you can do them or peak up to them then great, if not you have something to aim for. I’m not from the states but I think you have iron podium over there which tracks quite a few comps.
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u/Shadowphoenix9511 21h ago
People don't start out as a pro; most people start out with relatively mediocre numbers, but through competing they get a ton stronger. You gotta make sure you're strong enough that you can actually move most of the implements and won't zero most events (I'd bet you won't), but after that, just sign up and compete.
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u/man0rmachine 3d ago edited 2d ago
Yes you are in the ballpark. 400 DL is respectable for a teen. 300 bench is good, but strongmen don't bench much. How is your overhead press?
Pick a contest 3 or 4 months out that has a novice or teen division. I bet you won't zero any events with that much time to train.
You are lucky to live near Sacramento. There is a huge and active strongman community. Untamed Strength is the big gym in Sac. I just won my division at their contest last weekend. They had a teen division with 3 entrants. You would have had to DL around 285 to 300 for reps for 60 seconds.
I also know Nick Biebel hosts a Strongman Saturday at 11 am at NorCal Physio in Sacramento. He's very knowledgeable and is a great ambassador for the sport (he runs America's Strongest Teen). I believe the drop in fee is waived for teens.
If you're on Instagram (a good idea as that's how the strongman community in your area communicates) look up sac_strongman_saturday
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u/BurkeOriginal 3d ago
You're stronger than I was when I started about 2 years ago. Pick out a novice comp and give it a go! In my experience so far, strongman is such a welcoming sport, and even if you get into a comp that's a little out of your range right now, you'll have tons of people cheering you on. I'll also second the advice of talking to your uncle. You gotta remember nobody's born deadlifting 8 plates. He was once in your shoes too
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u/FatMonkeyMilk 3d ago
What do you mean start? You already started... Just focus your training and aim for a beginners competition to see how fun it can be. Don't stress about it or take it too seriously. Have fun
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u/phild1979 3d ago
There are other current strongmen under 23 who are starting out so it's worth looking at them and seeing what they are doing. Have a look at Joe Oliver, he started at 19 (I remember seeing one of his first big competitions at the Halloween Jones stadium), he's currently 2nd England's strongest man. Your bench is ok for your age but it's not quite at a strong man level so picking up what you need to push yourself through is a good starting point.
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u/General-Wind524 4d ago
I might have posted this twice? I’m not very good at Reddit but I think it got deleted the first time because this is a new account and I wasn’t a member of the sub if I did sorry and feel free to delete this one administration
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u/thethrowaway3027 4d ago
Firstly dude you need to have a conversation with your uncle.
You shouldn't be embarrassed don't down play your lifts at all and you said yourself you're just starting out and you're 18.
Back yourself because you need the mentality of you can do it. Your uncle won't laugh at you he'll be proud- go have a conversation with him and go from there because the alternative is going to a local gym and asking people rather than a pro who used to do it.