Dr. Patrick Anderson
December 2010 - Dr. Patrick Anderson
1. Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?
Dallas, Georgia about an hour west of Atlanta. I train in the basement of my clinic, Anderson Specific Chiropractic.
2. What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I met my wife Marianne in 1971, when we were both infants.
3. What is your occupation?
I am an Upper Cervical Doctor and have an office in Dallas with my brother Dr. Mike Anderson
4. Do you find that your occupation interferes with competing or visa versa?
I have been very blessed in that I own my business which allows me to control my schedule and is beneficial when getting close to meets. Also, I get to be in an air conditioned indoor environment and don’t have any intense physical activity associated with my career. I have many friends in powerlifting who work demanding physical jobs and are subject to difficult weather conditions and I have great respect for their ability to train and make gains.
5. How many years have you been competing?
It will be 24 years in February. My 1st meet was the 1987 ADFPA Maryland State Teenage Championships. My lifts were 330 SQ 205 BP 380 DL 915 Total at 181.
6. How did you get into powerlifting?
My brother, Dr. Mike Anderson started lifting for football in high school. We lived in Maryland at the time and he met the 1st IPF SHW World Champion, Hugh Cassidy. Hugh got him into a powerlifting meet and he was hooked. When I was 14, I also started lifting for football and competed in both throughout high school. After high school, I competed solely in powerlifting and have ever since.
7. What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers?
At the 2009 IPF Worlds in Delhi India, weighing 283, I was able to go 9/9 with all PR’s.
782 SQ 584 BP 677 DL 2044 Total
I have also done 611 in a local bench meet.
8. What titles, records and achievements did you accumulate in your powerlifting career?
I won the 1990 ADFPA Teenage Nationals. I got 6th place at the 1994 IPF Junior Worlds at 275 and 8th place at the 2009 IPF Open Worlds at SHW. I’ve won state titles and held state records in Maryland, Missouri and Georgia. Currently, I have been able to lift at 275 at the last nine USAPL Nationals and increase my total each year. This is the longest active streak in powerlifting.
9. Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session?
I would call it Power Specific training, which simply means the only concern that I have in any of my training is how will it help specifically my platform total. My basic philosophies are based on optimizing my technique to maximize my meet performance. I prefer to train without gear for multiple sets with low reps and using compensatory acceleration as much as possible. This is done with between 40-60% of my meet single. I then fine tune my motor skills by using multiple singles with gear to prepare for the meet at around 80-90% of my meet single.
10. Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both?
Currently I only compete in gear. Before I would compete without equipment, I would want to take a year or so to adjust my techniques and training to maximize my performance without gear and I’m not willing to do that at this point.
11. What weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?
Open division, 275 LB class. I went up to SHW for the Worlds last year because we already had two lifters in my weight class. Also, I will be turning 40 next year and competing in both the Masters and Open from that point forward.
12. What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three?
Squat is my favorite and always has been, I have always taken pride in being consistent in performing meet squats successfully. I haven’t had a Squat turned down since 2006 and I haven’t been unable to complete a Squat since 2004. Statistically, I am a better bencher than squatter but I just enjoy the pressure of hitting a PR on my 3rd attempt Squat.
13. Who is the most impressive lifter you competed against?
Well I lifted in the same weight class as Ed Coan at the 1996 USPF Seniors so that is an easy one, although he beat me by over 600 LBS so I wouldn’t really say I “competed” against him.
14. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time?
Ed Coan…The 1991 USPF Seniors in Dallas, Texas were the 1st Seniors that I ever attended and he totaled 2400 at 220 with no bench shirt and just a belt in the deadlift. I believe the greatest meet performance in powerlifting history.
15. Do you have any upcoming competitions? If so, when and where?
The 2010 IPF Worlds in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
16. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition?
I videotape all of my training and watch them frequently to improve my technique.
17. How many meets do you compete in a year?
Usually two meets a year, one local meet and then the Nationals. The last two years it has been the Nationals and the Worlds.
18. What is your greatest memory from competing?
Going 9/9 with 4 PR’s at the 2009 IPF Worlds in Delhi, India. To have the best meet of my entire career at the biggest meet in all of Powerlifting is something that I will always remember.
19. What advice & tips would you give to a powerlifter that is just beginning?
Start training without gear for at least a year. Focus mainly on technique and not on how much you are lifting. Videotape as much of your training as possible. Read everything that you can get your hands on about powerlifting. Find training partners who will judge you stricter than the judges in meets.
20. How has powerlifting changed your life?
It has presented me with the opportunity to travel the world both as a coach and a lifter. Indonesia, South Africa, India, Denmark, Czech Republic and Slovakia are all places that I might not have ever seen if it wasn’t for powerlifting. Also, the hundreds of people that I’ve met and many new friends that powerlifting has brought into my life. Finally, the discipline that powerlifting training has taught me is incorporated into all facets of my life.
21. What is your #1 or most prestigious meet you ever competed in your career?
IPF Open Worlds
22. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in your Powerlifting career?
My parents for helping me through school which allowed me to have time to pursue powerlifting. All of my many training partners over the years, in Maryland the guys from Dumbarton Barbell Club especially Bob Newcomb and Bob Myers. Iain Burgess for opening the Maryland Athletic Club and creating a great power gym where I got an up close view of some of Kirk Karwoski’s greatest Squat workouts. Jeff Lewis in Missouri, for giving me the opportunity to go to my first IPF Worlds in 1994 as his coach. In Georgia, Sherman Ledford at Quest, Jon Grove and the guys at NGBB that have spotted me over the years. My current training partner Russ Keith, who will be competing in his first national meet at the Masters in May. My brother Mike, who got me started in powerlifting, has been my coach and training partner for nearly 24 years and for setting PR’s that ensure I can’t retire until they have all been exceeded in competition. My amazingly patient and supportive wife Marianne, who deals with my (PMS) pre-meet syndrome and is always encouraging me to achieve my goals. Most importantly, I would like to thank God for the blessings of strength and health that he has given me and the opportunity to display those gifts to the best of my ability.
23. Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you to Josh Rohr for asking me to do this interview.
Patrick, Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming powerlifting endeavors!