A little debate over what strong is..

[koyongi]

I think the definitive answer to testing someone's strength is whether they can drag an airplane or not. Drag a plane and you're a badass, period.

(If we're testing Becky's strength she gets to pull a yacht instead)

Is the yacht in water? Can I just ride in it instead?

[babyslayer]

if you want to call him weak, hes weak, because he can only leg press 1000

if you want to call him strong, hes strong, because he can leg press 1000

[jeff00z28]

1000lb leg press isn't impressive regardless

[Link815]

Like someone said above, i believe only your total is a true indication of strength. some lifts you're going to be better at because of your personal leverages, and others average/not. with the total of 3 lifts requiring different optimal leverages, it's pretty fair and even

This. Deadlift isn't the only measure, I'm terrible at it, because I'm fat and unflexible. I'm built better for squatting. The number of people who can deadlift 460 is probably a heck of a lot more than the number that can squat 475.

[LSU1]

This. Deadlift isn't the only measure, I'm terrible at it, because I'm fat and unflexible. I'm built better for squatting. The number of people who can deadlift 460 is probably a heck of a lot more than the number that can squat 475.

thats a poor comparison of numbers.

for example, the highest raw deadlift is much higher than the highest raw squat. so obviously a 500 squat is more rare than a 500 deadlift, just like a 500 bench is more rare than a 500 squat.

i like deadlift for an excellent measure of strength because its the simplest lift, and consequently is the easiest to judge. no cheating, depth questions, etc....with the deadlift. either it comes up, or it doesnt.

[someonefat]

if you want to call him weak, hes weak, because he can only leg press 1000

if you want to call him strong, hes strong, because he can leg press 1000

how philosophical of you

[jk.law]

Weak because his low back/other squat muscles are the limiting factor...he won't be able to use his leg press "leg strength" anyway. You are only as strong as your weakest link.

Just like in MMA or anything in life. You can be super good at one thing...but if you aren't balanced then you'll lose.

That of course is assuming he does not have what it takes to squat. You can't tell if he does or not unless he does. So Weak/unknown I guess.

[Arlecchino]

**** the leg press

[someonefat]

Weak because his low back/other squat muscles are the limiting factor...he won't be able to use his leg press "leg strength" anyway. You are only as strong as your weakest link.

Just like in MMA or anything in life. You can be super good at one thing...but if you aren't balanced then you'll lose.

That of course is assuming he does not have what it takes to squat. You can't tell if he does or not unless he does. So Weak/unknown I guess.

plenty of fighters are only really good at one thing and do very well, as well as in life really good one thing can make ****load of money. If your michael phelps and can swim really great, then well gonna make millions.

[endpoint]

Let's have a test of busting down every door on one floor of an apartment building for time. First one done is strongest.

No, not the strongest...but the fastest.

If we had two Identical doors, and you couldn't break it...and i could I would have more powerful legs

[Big Sexy J]

I leg press after every squat session. (no homo)

[CleStrong]

There is simply no other exercise (and certainly no machine) that produces the level of central nervous system activity, improved balance and coordination, skeletal loading and bone density enhancement, muscular stimulation and growth, connective tissue stress and strength, psychological demand and toughness, and overall systemic conditioning than the correctly performed full squat

[PeonLover]

thats a poor comparison of numbers.

for example, the highest raw deadlift is much higher than the highest raw squat. so obviously a 500 squat is more rare than a 500 deadlift, just like a 500 bench is more rare than a 500 squat.

i like deadlift for an excellent measure of strength because its the simplest lift, and consequently is the easiest to judge. no cheating, depth questions, etc....with the deadlift. either it comes up, or it doesnt.

Pretty sure that the highest raw deadlift is < the highest raw squat (if you consider Mark Henry's squat raw) If not, then the heaviest raw squat ever is definitely within 40 pounds of KK's dead.

[al.strongman]

Like someone said above, i believe only your total is a true indication of strength. some lifts you're going to be better at because of your personal leverages, and others average/not. with the total of 3 lifts requiring different optimal leverages, it's pretty fair and even

I agree. IN order to determine who is Strong. You need more than just leg press or squats

[Fluster]

There is simply no other exercise (and certainly no machine) that produces the level of central nervous system activity, improved balance and coordination, skeletal loading and bone density enhancement, muscular stimulation and growth, connective tissue stress and strength, psychological demand and toughness, and overall systemic conditioning than the correctly performed full squat - Mark Rippetoe

Fixed for being a dirty quote stealer!

I jest, of course

[CleStrong]

Fixed for being a dirty quote stealer!

I jest, of course

Thanks for correcting.....but the point still stands. Leg press is no test of strength.
The only true test of strength is functional raw strength. If you cannot walk off the street and perform in your T and jeans...it doesn't matter.

[Drexx]

I like to consider myself very weak (reason why I've wanted to start PLing) and I could come close to 1000lb leg press. I've just never gone crazy on that thing because that's too many plates to put on/off, haha.

[southbankwulf]

most gym rats that train legs can leg press 1000lbs but not squat 400lb to depth so i wouldnt say it was strong.

[keydet74]

My friend and I were in a debate today while at the gym.

One of us declared that a person who doesnt like to squat but can leg press a half ton (1000lbs) is weak because anyone can "train" at leg press and its an isolated movement, etc.

The other stated that it does not mean they are weak, but just weak at squats and of course, voluntarily.


So what do you all think? Is someone who neglects squats (yes pussy, but do not let that effect your decision) but can leg press 1000lbs considered "weak"? or would you consider them "strong"?

Thanks guys.

First off this argument was never about whether the kid was weak but instead if the squat is a better measure of lower body strength than the leg press. Personally, I have seen a lot of guys load up the leg press and do large amounts of weight but when you get them to actually squat they struggle with a significantly lower weight. I feel if you are going to brag about your 1000lb leg press then you better be able to squat. The fact kid doesn't is what makes him weak.

[SuicideGripMe]

Id say he has a strong leg press?

[midian]

My friend and I were in a debate today while at the gym.

One of us declared that a person who doesnt like to squat but can leg press a half ton (1000lbs) is weak because anyone can "train" at leg press and its an isolated movement, etc.

The other stated that it does not mean they are weak, but just weak at squats and of course, voluntarily.


So what do you all think? Is someone who neglects squats (yes pussy, but do not let that effect your decision) but can leg press 1000lbs considered "weak"? or would you consider them "strong"?

Thanks guys.

Leg press is not an isolated movement: isolation movements are movements where you only move one joint.

Strong is relative to it's context. Explained: a 1000lbs leg press is strong compared to anything less, the person who does it is strong in the leg press compared to anyone who does less, ... Compare a person who squats 350 pounds with a person who lp 1000 pounds and i would consider the squatter overall stronger than the leg presser.

To rap it up, i actually consider someone that only leg presses lazy.


Ancient wisdom: "Leg press is to squat what dung is to Belgian chocolates."

[Retardo-pex]

I agree. IN order to determine who is Strong. You need more than just leg press or squats

True but why would total strength stop at just the big 3? For a powerlifter for sure, its our sport but toss in an awkward stone lift to overhead press and test a sttong powerlifting in this lift vs someone who only performs this lift in their workouts and the results probably favor the rock lifter over the s/b/dl'er.

You can still be strong if you have never performed the big 3 just not strong in the big 3 most likely. Hell if someone told me they never wanted to deadlift but could do a good bent row with 315 for reps I'd tell anyone who asked me that guy is strong.

[rob1992]

ive always considered strongman to be a good test of strength IMO

[jakobi]

well the strongest man is a strongman...Big Z....

ive always considered strongman to be a good test of strength IMO

[donw916]

**** the leg press

This is what I was thinking. I don't trust machines.

[Torrtrefireto]

Pretty sure that the highest raw deadlift is < the highest raw squat (if you consider Mark Henry's squat raw) If not, then the heaviest raw squat ever is definitely within 40 pounds of KK's dead.

What about Mark Henry's squat wasn't raw?
We do have to say though that Mark Henry weighed about 6π what KK does

[rob1992]

that documentary on strong people, cant remember the name, would be kinda appropriate for this, like that guy who drives a nail through the pan and wood, and those brothers would break stuff. surely you'd class all those things as strong too?

[jakobi]

strength is relative....

different kind of strength...would i say those guys are strong...yes....at what they're doing

there are guys that are strong in the gym but at construction they're weak as hell....ive seen small guys carry 2 sheets of 4x8 '3/4 plywoods easily while the big guys(gym rat) have trouble carrying one sheet.....but the small guys would be weak at the gym

that documentary on strong people, cant remember the name, would be kinda appropriate for this, like that guy who drives a nail through the pan and wood, and those brothers would break stuff. surely you'd class all those things as strong too?

[rob1992]

strength is relative....

different kind of strength...would i say those guys are strong...yes....at what they're doing

there are guys that are strong in the gym but at construction they're weak as hell....ive seen small guys carry 2 sheets of 4x8 '3/4 plywoods easily while the big guys(gym rat) have trouble carrying one sheet.....but the small guys would be weak at the gym

exactly, so people can be strong, but in many different things, so to compare them would be quite difficult

[swolegantor]

Powerlifting is not a test of strength, its a test of specialization.