New Starting Strength Radio studio coming soon. [photo courtesy of Bre Hillen]

Starting Strength Dallas enjoys a day of fun in the sun at Oak Highland's Brewery. [photo courtesy of Brent Carter]

Build-out in progress at Starting Strength Oklahoma City. [photo courtesy of Colby Illif]

Maryanna Barcus pulls 165 kg (363.8 lbs) for her third attempt at the Testify Strengthlifting Challenge. Maryanna set a total of 377 kg with this lift and took home the Best Lifter Award for the women. [photo courtesy of Testify Strength & Conditioning]

Jamie Morrissey presses 50 kg for her third attempt at the Testify Strengthlifting Challenge. Jamie went 9-for-9 at her first strengthlifting meet, set PRs in the squat, press, and deadlift, and took 2nd place in the overall women's division. [photo courtesy of Testify Strength & Conditioning]

Sharon Foster pulls 118 kg (260.1 lbs) for a PR third attempt at the Testify Strengthlifting Challenge. Three generations of Fosters lifted together this weekend as Sharon's son, Ryan, and granddaughter, Madalyn, also joined her at the meet. Sharon took 1st place in the women's masters division, and Ryan took 2nd place in the overall men's division. [photo courtesy of Testify Strength & Conditioning]

Meet Results

2021 Testify Strengthlifting Challenge

Mark E. Hurling

I just stumbled across this earlier today: Jiu-Jitsu Officially Added As An Olympic Sport For 2024 Games

Given the direction we've seen of the feminization of the Olympics, it really surprised me. Particularly given the buzz over the last few years over taking out some forms of wrestling.

What surprised me still further were the rules of engagement:

“We went to great lengths to ensure that our sport would be treated with the respect it deserves,” Gracie said to Jiujitsutimes.com. “We will be using the current IBJJF no-gi rules with some minor modifications. For starters, open hand slaps will be allowed to simulate reality, as well as low kicks from the standing position. It’ll look a lot like the style of jiu-jitsu that my grandfather promoted all of his life.”

Now if they just spelled Jujitsu correctly.

Mark Rippetoe

I have an email to Sensei Gracie about this now. I told him you said that he must correct this immediately.

AndrewLewis

I'm very skeptical of this article based, primarily, on the following journalistic mishap: "'We went to great lengths to ensure that our sport would be treated with the respect it deserves,' Gracie said to Jiujitsutimes.com."

The chance that Jiujitsu Times got an interview with Carlos Gracie Sr. is slim.

This article is based almost entirely on the Jiujitsu Times article who are not known for their journalistic quality. They're known for short, opinion pieces. The links the Jiujitsu Times posted go to twitter with a single tweet of a link that goes to an unresponsive website.

This is total bullshit and all of those websites referencing The Jiujitsu Times article fell for the April Fool's Joke.

Mark E. Hurling

There are several ways to transliterate it into English. I like the simple way to sans an excess of vowels.

Mark Rippetoe

The Brazilians translated it. But it appears to be bullshit anyway.

Nick Delgadillo

We announced that we have a $400 TUBOW for sale on the same day, Mark! Get on the waiting list!!!

People get really excited about BJJ becoming an Olympic sport. I don't think there's a better way to more thoroughly fuck the whole thing up than allowing that to happen. The rules in Judo are completely fucked. And try to get excited about watching an Olympic Tae Kwon Do match - a sport where two dudes are supposed to literally kick the shit out of each other - where they have electronic scoring and the biggest danger to an opponent is twisting an ankle or tearing an ACL.

AndrewLewis

BJJ in the Olympics would ruin it more than it already is on the competitive scene. This used to be a sport entirely about fighting. Now, two people immediately sit down, one gets an advantage and then stalls for five minutes. That guy is then declared a champion of BJJ.

jimbronsdon

Rip, I'm the same age as you - soon to be 64. But I only came to lifting 3 years or so ago, starting with SS from the beginning. (After decades of back problems, it's been a Godsend.) I'm now working on a program Dr. Sullivan describes in The Barbell Prescription. 1 heavy day, 1 light day, and then I supplement with one or two accessory days, on a 3 week cycle. I've been much more consistent in the last 6 months and am making satisfactory progress. I have never tried for PRs, but my 5x3s are 305 DL, 250 Squat, 205 Press, 135 OH. I'm gonna go at it as long as I can, but what's a reasonable expectation for how long gains can continue?

Mark Rippetoe

Several years, if you don't do anything stupid. So, really, several months. Ha.

jimbronsdon

Thank you, Sir. You've been a blessing to me.

MashedTaters

I discovered, and began, SS when I was 63. I just turned 69, am completing my 6th year of SS, and am still getting stronger, slowly. I lost about a year due to shoulder surgery, and wasted probably 2 years program hopping.

Read this, and abide: Intermediate and Advanced Training: A Few Ideas