160 pounds guy bench presses 405 pounds

[snackwitch]

I saw this youtube video of a 160 lb guy benching 405 lbs and I was blown away:



That guy is an animal! I thought 300 lbs was impressive for a 160 lb pound guy.

In your opinion, can the average joe get to that level (with the right training) or is that genetics the major factor that allow a guy to get that strong?

[vibragreen]

I was expecting it to be some 5'4" guy, but I wasn't far off. Still that's extremely impressive and I find it hard to believe. After all I'm 6'0" and 140lbs and I find it hard to benchpress 110lbs.

[Aghori]

Wow, didn't look hard for him. He is past elite status according to Rippetoe

http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/BenchStandards.html

[FormerGymnast]

Is this for real. "Just some guys in a gym seeing how much they can lift." Big Nate seems to slide 475 lbs on the rack effortlessly before he lifts. Wondering if Digital Dreams Videography produced a little movie magic the way Arnold Schwarzenegger would do with wooden plates. Who would think you could find elite lifters in a 24 hour fitness gym.

[JasonLB]

I've seen quite a few bench similar numbers in my local 24 Hour Fitness. Big benches are relatively common... squat, deadlift, OHP... not so much. Still, the 405 at 160 was impressive.

[wrenchhands]

Seems like a lot of African Americans are just built in an epic, strong manner. Before people cry racism, hold up. Did American slave holders not pick and breed the strongest? I think that's a historical fact. All my black co-workers seem miles ahead in terms of strength, and it's natural. The only people I've seen in my gym really go beyond a 145 bench have been black, and they were crushing high weight.

PS,To the movie magic people, you can see the bar kinda wobble and bend.

[JasonLB]

I think that's a historical fact.

Is it? I've never seen anything to suggest it is. It get's repeated a lot, but I think it's probably bullshit. The guys in the above video just happen to be strong and black (I'm not even sure if the first guy is black), but I don't think that says anything about 18th century salve breeding habits. I think it says a lot about the effort they each put in as individuals, but that's about it...

[snackwitch]

Seems like a lot of African Americans are just built in an epic, strong manner. Before people cry racism, hold up. Did American slave holders not pick and breed the strongest? I think that's a historical fact. All my black co-workers seem miles ahead in terms of strength, and it's natural. The only people I've seen in my gym really go beyond a 145 bench have been black, and they were crushing high weight.

PS,To the movie magic people, you can see the bar kinda wobble and bend.

That is a weak argument. Black people are not the only ones who are strong. There is plenty of people of all different races that are strong. And there are a lot more people of all races that are weak, fat and out of shape.

If you take a closer look, the first guy (the 160 lb guy) is Asian.

Anyways my question for you guys was can any average guy get to that level (with the right training and time) or is this the result of genetic gifts?

[JasonLB]

Anyways my question for you guys was can any average guy get to that level (with the right training and time) or is this the result of genetic gifts?

Absolutely an "average" guy can get to that level. I'm sure you are going to see a lot of opinions that differ, but much of that has to do with perspective. Like I said, I've seen quite a few people put up similar numbers just at my local gym. So long as you put in consistent effort -- consistency being key -- over time you will at least get close. It may take you ten years, while other do it in 2 or 3 or 5 or whatever, but you will get there. Besides, you don't have any idea what your genetic potential is, so there's no use thinking about. People who do tend to use it as a cruch and/or excuse.

[wrenchhands]

http://civilwartalk.com/forums/civil-war-history-secession-politics/27326-slave-breeding-fact-fiction-2.html

There's a whole discussion there.

[JasonLB]

http://civilwartalk.com/forums/civil-war-history-secession-politics/27326-slave-breeding-fact-fiction-2.html

There's a whole discussion there.

This is hardly the place for this discussion -- open a topic in Off Topic if you really want to have this debate. But I read through the first 5 pages and all I see is speculation on the part of a bunch of amateur historians. The fact slave owners and sellers mentioned slaves specifically set aside for breeding purposes shouldn't come as a shock: it was profitable and necessary for most of the 19th century. And the criteria for what constitutes "breeding stock" isn't mentioned (except for age). So it still sounds like a bunch of pissed off white kids looking for excuses for why they aren't as strong as some of their black peers.

[wrenchhands]

What? I never said "White people can't be this strong genetically", nor do I think only black are this strong, nor do I think all black are strong, nor do I think people can't get strong with training. I'm just saying, it seems like african american men have a high aptitude for strength. As the video was of African American males benching, it seems to be on topic.

[atypical1]

I've seen quite a few bench similar numbers in my local 24 Hour Fitness. Big benches are relatively common... squat, deadlift, OHP... not so much. Still, the 405 at 160 was impressive.

I agree. Bench seems to be the weapon of choice at my local 24 Hour Fitness too. But if you put 6 plates on the bar and do a real squat people look at you like you've just walked on water

Don't get me wrong, that's impressive as hell but I'd like to see it in context with his other lifts too.

james

[HOBEL]

i think it was the creatine in his corn flakes. and big nate the last guy i hired him to make my vanity plates for my audi!!! and sure that asian guy can bench alot but can he drive????

i just figured seein how we all get uptight by pointing out obvious characteristics and then back off when we start labeling everything racial i would add my 2 cents and push the envelope in another direction.

[vibragreen]

According to those strength charts posted all my lifts are still between untrained and novice. I'm a little depressed now.