Lifter of the Month April-May 2016

April-May 2016 - Reginald Jiles

Please introduce yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where were you born? Etc. Give the readers some background about yourself.

I am Reginald Jiles most people call me Brazy. I was born in New Castle (Birmingham) AL., where I grew up and attended Gardendale High School. After high school I played football at Miles College and graduated with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business. After college I spent the next 6years playing arena football for a host of teams including the Georgia Force and Dallas Desperados. It was about 2yrs after football and life was very boring, and I was in the gym working out and remembered my old trainer Reggie Ball Sr. talking about his powerlifting years, and at that moment I decided to start competing. Two months later I entered the SPF Alabama State Championship and won.

Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both and what weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?I have always competed raw in the super heavyweight division.

What was your last competition and how did you do?

My last competition was Dec 2015 in the USAPL Georgia and Southern States Championship. I placed 1st in the SHW division but was beat out for best by my teammate Perry Ellis.

When was your first competition?

My first competition was 2011 in the Alabama State Championship. 1St place Best Lifter.

How did you improve from your first competition to your most recent?

My first competition I went in just off of pure talent I didn't know a lot about powerlifting techniques or really how to train for a competition. I just lifted as if I were in the off season of football and somehow it worked out for me. Since then I have had the pleasure of being coached by Steven Goggins and now I'm learning the true sport of powerlifting and enjoying ever bit of it.

What is your next competition?

I hoping to compete around July and after that get prepared for USAPL nationals.

What do you plan on doing differently for that meet if anything?

The one thing I'm really gonna do differently is clean up my diet a little bit. I'm a big guy but I really don't eat nearly enough food for what I do.

Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?

I'm in Rome Ga. right now. When I'm not training at Gogginsforce in Marietta I train at Rome Athletic Club where I am also a personal trainer there

What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

Other than powerlfiting I don't do to much more. I spend time with my son Erinn and I do a bit of reading.

Who is your role model and why?

Hands down it's Muhammad Ali, need I say more.

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I like the blues and right now I learning to play the harmonica.

Is there anything about powerlifting you would like to change or wish was different?

Yes, I'm still not a big fan of the whole pound for pound crap, I feel the strongest person should win, for instance if a big ass tree fell on my leg I wouldn't be calling for the strongest pound for pound I'd want the man or woman that could lift that sh#@ of my leg.

What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?I work in radio (broadcasting, production, promotions etc.) I'm also a certified personal trainer, and I also work in security at a mental hospital. It really doesn't interfere with powerlifting but has made for some long days.

How did you get into powerlifting and how many years have you been competing?

When I stopped playing football around 2009 life got very boring. I've always played sports and without that edge I was literally going crazy. One day I was lifting and thought about one of my old trainers Reggie Ball Sr. talking about his powerlfiting days and I made the decision right then I would compete and a few months later it all began. That in 2011

Are you involved in powerlifting in any way besides as a competitor?

I help spot and load at meets, that about it for now, but I am getting ready to take the test to be a judge soon.

What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers? And how do your best training numbers compare to your best competition numbers?

My biggest numbers have been at the gym and not in competition which sucks, but after all the football injuries I'm finally healed up and working with Steve I'm sure my numbers are about to shoot out of the roof.

What advice would you give a new lifter just starting out?

Be as technique sound as possible and don't try lift weight your not physically ready for, be patient your strength will come.

What are your short term goals now as a lifter?

Get my bench back over 500 I've done 525 in the gym but never in a competition.

What are some long term goals you would like to achieve?

To be one of the top elite lifters in the world.

Who is your favorite powerlifter of all time?

None other than the legend himself Steve Goggins.

Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session?

I just try to train smart, I've learned to listen to my body a lot better, because I was the type to lift heavy all the time I just didn't believe in light days, but now I cycle up for a while then bring the weight back down and work up again it seems to working good.

What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three and why?

I don't really have a favorite hell I just like lifting heavy weights.

Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?Ray Williams, I like his style I heard him tell his trainer at a meet. “I don't care how much it is just put it on the bar and I'll lift it.” At that point I was hyped up.

Do you have any rivals in powerlifting?

I wouldn't say I have any rivals but there are two people that I am doing all I can to hunt down and is my teammate Perry Ellis and Ray Williams they are two of the best in the sport and that's the level lifter I want to be.

If we're sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it's been for you, what would be the reason?

Winning nationals would be a great year for me.

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