Q&A with Powerlifter Matt Kroczaleski!

[huge285]

Ask World Record Holder at 220lb Matt Kroczaleski all your POWERLIFTING questions. This guy's squatted over 1000lb........... he's a practicing pharmacist, and he's guarded President Clinton while in the Marines!

[tjoe]

nice addition Dave!

[tjoe]

Matt - Nice to have you aboard! How about some background. I would like to know what helped you through any sticking points you may have had on the big 3 (training, nutrition, rest, supplementation, whatever helped).

[zachdg]

whats up Kroc?? are you still training in Detroit? i live in Dearborn and have trained at the powerhouse up in clinton township hoping to catch up with you or Justin Harris

[crashcrew56]

Matt it's great to have you on here,

I have a quick question, why don't you wear knee wraps when you squat?

[robert da strongman]

welcome Matt!!

[salleluj]

You gotta get Kroc on Heavy Muscle Radio!! Watching an interview with him a few years back is what really got me into lifting to begin with. Can't wait to see all the info he's got to add.

[Matt Kroc]

Thanks guys I'm pleased to be here and hope to be a useful addition.

And now to answer your questions.

I don't wear knee wraps in competition any more because they're for pussies. Well that and because with the wide stance style and sitting way back in a powerlifting style squat the knee wraps benefit you less than if used in a narrower style squat where the knees come forward more and the quads perform a larger percentage of the work. This is due to the greater degree of knee flexion when performing an olympic style squat versus that of an extremely wide stance powerlifting style squat. Also not having to deal with all of the hassles of knee wraps during a competition can be a great benefit as well. If the lifter in front of you dumps the bar or if there is a misload or a number of other things occur that can alter the timing of your squat attempt you don't have to concern yourself with things like your legs going numb. Bascially, not using the wraps allows you to focus solely on performing the lift without having to concern yourself with the numerous hassles of the wraps. Still that being said, if I was squatting with a narrow style I would revert to using the wraps once again because of the greater increase in poundage lifted that can be achieved with that style and an extremely tight wrap.

I mainly train in my home gym which is located in my three car garage in Grand Ledge, Michigan and is loaded with competition style powerlifting equipment like a competition bench, monolift, specialty squat, bench and deadlift bars, custom made dumbbell handles that can hold over 300lbs each, sections of telephone pole that I use for lunges, and many other pieces of unusual equipment. However, Justin Harris is a good friend of mine and we do like to get together and train whenever our busy schedules allow it and when I travel out his way to train with him we usually hit the Powerhouse in Clinton Township. BTW the August issue of Muscle & Fitness featured an article on the top ten most hardcore gyms in the US and I was pleased to have my home gym make that list.

I will give you guys some more background on myself soon but I figured that would be a little lengthy to include in this thread. Thanks again for welcoming me on here and I look forward to being able to contribute.

[crashcrew56]

What's the next meet you are planning on competing in?

[Matt Kroc]

Since I just recently achieved my goal of getting the all time total world record for the 220lb class I am taking some time to just add size and strength. I normally walk around in the 250s right now and I want to push my body weight up to around 270lbs and then cut to make the 242s and go after the total record there. I am actually considering doing a bodybuilding show in the mean time since that would be congruent with my current goals for adding size.

[Crashdoll]

Cool to see you on here Matt!

[dropshot001]

awesome!

[robert da strongman]

Matt,
did you lift competitively in the corps?

[Kev]

Hey Matt, what did you find most useful in bringing up your raw bench?

[crashcrew56]

How often do you train your lifts with equipment on?

[robert da strongman]

http://www.elitefts.com/documents/product_of_your_desires.htm


awesome read

[Ryan Bracewell]

Matt, What are the different types of squats that you like to rotate into your routine?

[WELSHPOWER]

hello matt,

just wondering if you think bands and chains are that important in training for powerlifting?

[New2thegame]

Matt,

What or who introduced you to Powerlifting?

[Colossal]

Come back Matt!!

A lot of lifters look up to you and you really are a positive figure in our sport.

[crashcrew56]

How often do you train your deadlift? What special exercises have you done that has helped to improve your deadlift the most?

[Mr Atlas]

Hey Matt,

what are your favourite cycles for AAS?

[Gunners]

Is this thread dead already lol?

[Team Baze]

haha. he answered one question...

[michal]

Hello nice information power lifting here. Keep it up.!

[georgeman22]

Very good and informative for all especially for new comers to enhance their knowledge.

[georgeman22]

And keep doing well. Good luck.

[r3xhenry]

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[TheRage93]

haha. he answered one question...
I just LOL'd haha.