Total to start competing?

[bradroepke]

Hey everyone. I have been lifting for about a year now, and I'm beginning to become really interested in powerlifting. Not anything extremely serious, but I think it would be a fun hobby.

At the local level, what are respectable totals? I feel like I can get my bench up to 300 and my squat to 450 relatively quick. I would like to compete at 198 with a 1250 ish total, but I don't want to get embarrassed.

[ErickStevens]

Just compete.

[arian11]

I believe 165 lbs at super heavyweight is the total needed to compete.

[WorldDomnit]

I compete at 198 with a 12-1250 total, I'm not embarrassed in the slightest especially when I come in the top 10 every meet, overall.

[davisj3537]

Totals don't mean s*** as long you are doing your best. If someone dogs on you cuz they have a bigger total they are a douche. Compete when you are ready.

[Fuarrrrrk]

Totals don't mean s*** as long you are doing your best. If someone dogs on you cuz they have a bigger total they are a douche. Compete when you are ready.

First time I've heard the term 'dogs on you' but this is exactly right.

I am in exactly same position looking to compete soon in raw events.

[dlt76028]

2000 raw or more

[baxtej44]

can you complete the squat, bench, and deadlift with an empty bar? if so, you can compete


==edit==
empty as in no plates on the collars.

[Oleh]

No one gives a **** about your numbers. You can do a meet with a empty bar if you want. Your first meet is about the experience not about the numbers. Go do it then start worrying. There's so much **** going on during the meet last thing you want to think about is breaking records or other unnecessary bs.

Dont worry about the numbers, go do a meet.

[scorpionsf]

remember, this is a sport measured in PR's, a sport in which you should be competing against YOURSELF

[ThickSoIid]

Nobody gives a f*ck about your total unless you are strong as f*ck. Go and compete.

[johndouglas78]

Just compete.

Yes, just compete.

[zmcdole]

remember, this is a sport measured in PR's, a sport in which you should be competing against YOURSELF

Yes and no. At 1st yeah it's about PRs. After that you should be looking to be competitive and win your class or start looking to make top 10, top 5, top 3, etc. Otherwise the sport is just watered down nothing and everyone gets a trophy.

OP, just go compete and get your feet wet. After that you can start trying to figure out what weight class you would be competitive in be at your strongest and go in that direction.

[takeittakeit]

Yes and no. At 1st yeah it's about PRs. After that you should be looking to be competitive and win your class or start looking to make top 10, top 5, top 3, etc. Otherwise the sport is just watered down nothing and everyone gets a trophy.

OP, just go compete and get your feet wet. After that you can start trying to figure out what weight class you would be competitive in be at your strongest and go in that direction.

I disagree. Telling someone to "start being competitive and try to win your class" is what leads to jackasses who go to local meets where they're the only person in their class, or they're up against absolute beginners. And/or they only enter the Subjunior multiple-amputee hermaphrodite syphillitic police and fire crossfit category exclusively, to make sure they don't have any real competition.

Compete against yourself. If and ONLY if you have the sack to actually sign up for national or world-level events in the Open category should you even start to consider "being competitive". And even then it's all just a crapshoot, because in any weight class, there will always be that one person (or two or three) who blow everyone else out of the water, and whether or not they decide to show at the meet you sign up for isn't your call.

Now, if you decide to become competitive and actively stalk those people with an eye towards beating them, more power to you. But odds are you won't, and never will. So just worry about besting your PRs.