Jeff Robison Interview

September 2013 - Jeff Robison

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

  2. I am 39 years old and live in Duluth, GA. I have been competing on and off since I was 15 years old. I have been married to the most wonderful wife Jennifer for 17 years and have 3 beautiful children. Just a regular guy who loves lifting.

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

  4. I live in Duluth and train at Quest Nutrition.

  5. What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

  6. I work a lot and just support my children in their sports and activities mostly.

  7. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have 3 things, what would they be?

  8. Food, Water, and my family. I am a family man through and through. They are all I would need.

  9. Who is your role model and why?

  10. I look up to the people who are just out there doing their best every day and admire others who serve others. Teachers, nurses, and military folks.

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

  12. I am a world class Scrabble player.

  13. If you could ask anyone from history any question, who would it be and what would you ask?

  14. Ummm…..

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

  16. Unification at least one major organization. There is room for everyone tested, non tested, raw to mutli ply. I support all different styles of powerlifting but just wish judging was consistent across the board and one organization to get ALL the best lifters on one platform at the same time.

  17. What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?

  18. I own my business so I can be flexible if needed. I also do personal training so normally I can make the time to train.

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

  20. I was introduced to Brian Pruett and Sherman Ledford who took me under their guidance. I started competing with success right way at age 15.

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

  22. I am a state judge, try to volunteer at meets, and have really enjoyed training other lifters who want to compete in powerlifting. At Raw Nationals I was probably happier than my two clients when they won their divisions.

  23. What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers?

  24. 766 squat, 492 bench, 705 pull. Excited to surpass all of those next month as a master lifter.

  25. What titles, records and achievements have you accumulated during your powerlifting career?

  26. Teenage Nationals, High School Nationals, Teenage World Champ, 2x Collegiate All American, A few state titles, 2x American Open Champ, and recently Masters National Champion.

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

  28. I am pretty old school. Get in hit some heavy 5’s and 3’s an accessory movement or two and get out. Brooks Conway and Sherman Ledford set up most of my training. As of late if I am not feeling it I just call it a day and don’t think twice about it. You have to listen when your body is screaming at you.

  29. 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?

  30. I am now competing in single ply gear. I like raw lifting as well and did the Arnold Classic twice as a raw lifter. 264lb division at national meets.

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

  32. Squats., I am good at them. Nothing like loading a max load and doing work with it.

  33. Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?

  34. I have been doing this a long time and seen the best of the best. They are just impressive for different reasons. I would say Curtis Leslie was just off the charts for the time he was lifting and the minimal equipment he wore compared to todays equipment.

  35. Who is your greatest rival?

  36. Father time. I am starting to feel the 24 years of competitive lifting. However, I have never had a major injury!!

  37. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time?

  38. Ed Coan, Steve Goggins, or Dave Pasanella

  39. When was your last competition & how did it go?

  40. 2013 USAPL Masters Nationals. I won my division and qualified for the IPF Masters Worlds.

  41. Do you have any upcoming competitions? If so, when and where?

  42. IPF Masters Worlds in September in Orlando.

  43. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition? Describe each aspect that you focus on as you prepare for a competition.

  44. I lay out my program about 10 weeks out and just try to improve my weaknesses which will build a bigger total. In the gym I focus on intensity and just one or two major keys on each lift.

  45. Is there anything you will do differently to prepare for your next competition that is different from your last one?

  46. My last one turned out pretty good so I will stay the course. Just focus on triceps for the bench and pulling big.

  47. How many competitions do you compete in each year?

  48. 1-2 I only want to do meets that matter to me at this point. I’ve got nothing to prove to anybody at this point. Just do my best and see what happens.

  49. What advice & tips would you give to a powerlifter that is just beginning? If you are just beginning, what advice have you received from other lifters or coaches?

  50. FIND A COACH!!! I was fortunate to train with world champions and world class coaches from day one. I cannot tell you how many bad habits probably never developed. Powerlifting has a lot of little components that can make or break a lifter.

  51. Has powerlifting had a big impact on your life? If so, how?

  52. Honestly, it has impacted everything. Most of my good friends are lifters. I learned early on the harder I worked the better I did at anything in life. Competition is good it brings the best out of everyone. I have had some great trips that revolved around lifting.

  53. Do you stay in touch with lifters you compete against?

  54. Sure, I am facebook friends with most of them.

  55. What is your #1 or most prestigious meet you ever competed at in your career?

  56. The different nationals. The coolest was the Arnold Classic, just an amazing atmosphere 100,000 meatheads in Columbus OH for one weekend. Prestige will be the IPF Worlds – the pinnacle of the sport. If I am fortunate enough to win that will be the best accomplishment.

  57. Do you compete in any other strength sports such as Olympic lifting, strongman, highland games, etc?

  58. I have piddled with Strongman and Highland games. It is amazing how similar yet so different they are. Had a blast doing both.

  59. What is your favorite memory from any powerlifting competition or event?

  60. Just the great people I have met.

  61. Do you see yourself still competing in ten years? If so, what are your goals for ten years from now?

  62. Not sure, but will probably be involved coaching and still helping out. I have threatened to hang up the singlet after this next meet.

  63. Do you have any funny or interesting powerlifting stories that you can share with us?

  64. I do find it interesting how in this sport on meet day you will have Dr’s, Lawyers, Plumbers, and high school drop outs, old and young, men and women all getting together and cheering each other on to do their best. I have seen it so many times when a competitor is loudly cheering on their competition on a last pull to beat them!!! Powerlifting is an incredibly supportive sport. World champs hanging with novice lifters and giving them advice and support.

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

  66. My family would still be doing great, and I would be IPF World Champion.

  67. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in your Powerlifting career?

  68. There are a lot. Sherman Ledford has impacted me the most with training, advice, and encouragement. All my training partners, it takes a village to raise lifters the right way!!

  69. Is there anything else you would like to add?

  70. I would like to give a huge thank you to my wife of 17 years for supporting me over the years.

  71. Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming powerlifting endeavors!

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