Post by Tom Isbell on Feb 23, 2008 20:06:46 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]C.P.O.A. Interview
with Deadlift Specialist
Dean Nichols[/glow]
Interviewed by Tom Isbell
2-23-08
(CPOA)
Thank you for allowing me this privilege to interview you Dean. I have had the opportunity to get to know you but others may have not had that that chance. Lets start with telling us about yourself as a powerlifter.
(DN)
I have been powerlifting for 24 years but have only been actively competing for the last 2 years. I have competed in the W.N.P.F. for 2 years and have recently competed in the A.P.A. in 2008. I always compete in the raw, drug tested (SHW) class in deadlifting so I guess you could call me a specialist. I got into powerlifting due to my background of weight training for football.
(CPOA)
I had no idea that you have been lifting for 24 years! That is pretty impressive. Many of your competitors weren’t even born when you started lifting.
Have you always been big and strong and did you compete in any other sports while in high school or college?
(DN)
I wasn’t always this big. In high school I was 6”4” at around 220 lbs. And ended up around 320 lbs. In college due to the great food at the training tables there. I competed in football, basketball and track while in high school. I made all state in football and track with several all-star teams while playing for Bassett High School in Bassett Virginia. I played football for 2 years at Ferrum Jr. College for coach Hank Norton. I made several all-star teams and honorable all American Jr. College while there. I played 2 years at the University of Richmond and made a couple of all American honorable mention teams when I played football there. I have always been athletically inclined so I was fortunate enough to be able to play sports in particular football for a good part of my earlier years.
(CPOA)
What are your best lifts in competition and do you hold any state, American or World records?
(DN)
My best lifts in competition are 761 Lb. Deadlift raw, drug tested without a belt or any supported gear. I was in a bad truck accident a few years ago, which has caused my bench to suffer keeping me out of full meets. I have a world record along with the national record and the South Carolina state record in the open raw shw. Class in the W.N.P.F. and the all time South Carolina deadlift record of 761 lbs. I also hold the national record of 727 lbs. In the open raw shw. 40-44 class. All these lifts are in the drug tested division. I have competed in the A.P.A. and have set several records in this organization in the 341 lb class. They are as follows: 4 state records in the open, open raw, masters 45-49 and masters 45-49 raw. National records are as follows: 45-49 drug tested, 45-49 untested. World records are as follows: raw untested, raw drug tested, 45-49 raw tested and untested, All these records were for the deadlift so I hold 5 state records, 9 national records and 5 world records in various organizations. I am presently working on my squat and bench with hopes of doing some full meets in the future.
(CPOA)
What are your views on anabolic steroids in powerlifting and other sports?
(DN)
I am against the use of anabolic steroids in powerlifting or any sport for that matter. I have had various friends in the past use them and have paid the price. Some paid with death. I know that there will be those who say that my friends did not have their health problems due to steroid use or abuse but I witnessed the effects first hand and they did not. I have a saying I have always used “anything that has that dramatic of an effect on the outside of your body”… “just think what it is doing to the inside”. I have also heard the argument from friends and others that using levels out the playing field but I just tell them “maybe you have no business on that playing field”. I believe that God gave us all certain gifts and that we should try to enhance those naturally instead of taking the easy way out and giving in to the temptation of steroids. I am a Christian and my beliefs do not allow me to put something into my body, which may harm it. I have done enough of that in the past as a younger man. Finally I am not judging those that take steroids but we all have to face our maker some day and give testimony to what we did or didn’t do in life. Life isn’t always fair and some of us were meant to be powerlifters, some marathon runners etc.. By all means pursue your dreams but don’t take the short cut it just may be the wrong decision.
(CPOA)
You certainly hold a lot of records. I found your all time South Carolina shw. Deadlift record impressive because you did it raw and drug free. I heard you mention that you were a Christian. Does being a Christian help you as a powerlifter or do you feel like you have to balance being a powerlifter vs. being a Christian?
(DN)
God always comes first no mater what. If it wasn’t for Gods blessing me with certain gifts like having the strength to lift I would not have the opportunity to do what I am doing now. There are many times that I pray to God for his guidance in this sport. Everything is dedicated to His glory every workout, every lift and every record. Without God all these things would not be possible. Don’t get me wrong there are times when I slip and neglect to give God the credit and he always lets me know in his way when I haven’t. When I have a bad lift or hurt myself it helps being a Christian due to the fact that it keeps me from being depressed or as angry when something does not go my way. God is directing me in the direction he wants me to go. In 2006 I hurt my back really bad at the W.N.P.F. USA Nationals just 3 months before the World championships in Atlantic City New Jersey. Instead of getting depressed and giving up I competed with a bad back in the raw division and still won my class and best lifter award. Without my faith in God Doubt seriously that I would have pulled that weight. I wasn’t at my best but it gave me the confidence in myself that if I could be injured and do well as long as God was with me. I never pray to God to win but to lift to add to his glory. So to answer your question…When God is first in your life everything else seems to fit in as well.
(CPOA)
What is the most interesting or exciting thing that you have ever witnessed God do?
(DN)
I have been in two really bad car accidents and probably should have been killed in either of them. In one I went through the windshield of my car, got a concussion and several stitches but no broken bones. The second I was in a bad truck accident, fractured my left elbow and tore my tricep but again no major injuries. There have been times when I wanted to go somewhere or do something when something comes up to prevent me from doing it. Once I was delayed from leaving for an hour and a major wreck of several vehicles happened causing several deaths. If I had not been delayed I would have been involved. I have no doubt God prevented me from leaving keeping me safe. There have been other instances that God has helped me and I thank him every day for his intervention.
(CPOA)
What style of workout do you prefer and do you workout alone or with others?
(DN)
I workout alone. I seem to chase off my training partners due to the intensity of my workouts ha ha. My workouts are always cycled according to how I feel that day. I prefer 4 week mini cycles. For example, week 1 deads max up to 705 week 2 max deads715-720, week 3 up to 735-740, week 4 new max 750 or whatever I feel like I can pull. Starting over week 5 with 5 lbs. heavier than week 1 and so on for each progressive week. After 3 cycles I take a week off then start again. This workout works well for my squats and deadlifts but for bench not as well. I try to maintain all workouts at 80 percent or better. I like the way Kaz used to train as heavy as possible with very little variation in the workout. This takes extreme mental focus but this seems to work best for me. I stick with the tried and true methods like Kaz or John Kuc used to use. On days that I feel under the weather I take off the day trying to listen to my body. I workout 5 or 5 days a week for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
(CPOA)
Who is your favorite person from the Bible and why?
(DN)
When I was younger it was Sampson for obvious reasons but now it is Jesus Christ. I can think of no one that is stronger than him. He bore all the sins of the world as his burden to save us and I can think of no one who is more deserving to be called a hero than Him. He is the epitome of what is right and good in all the history of the world.
(CPOA)
Who are some of the people that you lookup to and respect in your personal life and in powerlifting?
(DN)
My father and my mother are the first on the list. Next I would say one of my college head coaches (Hank Norton) who inspired in me never to quit and coach (thingy Hensley) from high school who taught me a lot about integrity and how to win and lose with honor and class. I liked Jon Kuc because of his deadlifting ability and intensity. I also have a lot of respect for Tee Myers who either you like or don’t but always have been helpful to me and has always pushed me to higher levels.
(CPOA)
It has been a pleasure interviewing you Dean. You are a very interesting person and a great powerlifter. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and granting us this interview. In closing are there any final comments, suggestions or advice to our readers?
(DN)
You should always put God first in your life. He will take care of the rest. Always believe in yourself and never give up on what is important to you. I think my favorite quote is from Abraham Lincoln. It basically states better to be thought of as a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt. I want to thank you for interviewing me Tom and hopefully someone out there will benefit from it in a positive way.
Thanks again,
Dean
with Deadlift Specialist
Dean Nichols[/glow]
Interviewed by Tom Isbell
2-23-08
(CPOA)
Thank you for allowing me this privilege to interview you Dean. I have had the opportunity to get to know you but others may have not had that that chance. Lets start with telling us about yourself as a powerlifter.
(DN)
I have been powerlifting for 24 years but have only been actively competing for the last 2 years. I have competed in the W.N.P.F. for 2 years and have recently competed in the A.P.A. in 2008. I always compete in the raw, drug tested (SHW) class in deadlifting so I guess you could call me a specialist. I got into powerlifting due to my background of weight training for football.
(CPOA)
I had no idea that you have been lifting for 24 years! That is pretty impressive. Many of your competitors weren’t even born when you started lifting.
Have you always been big and strong and did you compete in any other sports while in high school or college?
(DN)
I wasn’t always this big. In high school I was 6”4” at around 220 lbs. And ended up around 320 lbs. In college due to the great food at the training tables there. I competed in football, basketball and track while in high school. I made all state in football and track with several all-star teams while playing for Bassett High School in Bassett Virginia. I played football for 2 years at Ferrum Jr. College for coach Hank Norton. I made several all-star teams and honorable all American Jr. College while there. I played 2 years at the University of Richmond and made a couple of all American honorable mention teams when I played football there. I have always been athletically inclined so I was fortunate enough to be able to play sports in particular football for a good part of my earlier years.
(CPOA)
What are your best lifts in competition and do you hold any state, American or World records?
(DN)
My best lifts in competition are 761 Lb. Deadlift raw, drug tested without a belt or any supported gear. I was in a bad truck accident a few years ago, which has caused my bench to suffer keeping me out of full meets. I have a world record along with the national record and the South Carolina state record in the open raw shw. Class in the W.N.P.F. and the all time South Carolina deadlift record of 761 lbs. I also hold the national record of 727 lbs. In the open raw shw. 40-44 class. All these lifts are in the drug tested division. I have competed in the A.P.A. and have set several records in this organization in the 341 lb class. They are as follows: 4 state records in the open, open raw, masters 45-49 and masters 45-49 raw. National records are as follows: 45-49 drug tested, 45-49 untested. World records are as follows: raw untested, raw drug tested, 45-49 raw tested and untested, All these records were for the deadlift so I hold 5 state records, 9 national records and 5 world records in various organizations. I am presently working on my squat and bench with hopes of doing some full meets in the future.
(CPOA)
What are your views on anabolic steroids in powerlifting and other sports?
(DN)
I am against the use of anabolic steroids in powerlifting or any sport for that matter. I have had various friends in the past use them and have paid the price. Some paid with death. I know that there will be those who say that my friends did not have their health problems due to steroid use or abuse but I witnessed the effects first hand and they did not. I have a saying I have always used “anything that has that dramatic of an effect on the outside of your body”… “just think what it is doing to the inside”. I have also heard the argument from friends and others that using levels out the playing field but I just tell them “maybe you have no business on that playing field”. I believe that God gave us all certain gifts and that we should try to enhance those naturally instead of taking the easy way out and giving in to the temptation of steroids. I am a Christian and my beliefs do not allow me to put something into my body, which may harm it. I have done enough of that in the past as a younger man. Finally I am not judging those that take steroids but we all have to face our maker some day and give testimony to what we did or didn’t do in life. Life isn’t always fair and some of us were meant to be powerlifters, some marathon runners etc.. By all means pursue your dreams but don’t take the short cut it just may be the wrong decision.
(CPOA)
You certainly hold a lot of records. I found your all time South Carolina shw. Deadlift record impressive because you did it raw and drug free. I heard you mention that you were a Christian. Does being a Christian help you as a powerlifter or do you feel like you have to balance being a powerlifter vs. being a Christian?
(DN)
God always comes first no mater what. If it wasn’t for Gods blessing me with certain gifts like having the strength to lift I would not have the opportunity to do what I am doing now. There are many times that I pray to God for his guidance in this sport. Everything is dedicated to His glory every workout, every lift and every record. Without God all these things would not be possible. Don’t get me wrong there are times when I slip and neglect to give God the credit and he always lets me know in his way when I haven’t. When I have a bad lift or hurt myself it helps being a Christian due to the fact that it keeps me from being depressed or as angry when something does not go my way. God is directing me in the direction he wants me to go. In 2006 I hurt my back really bad at the W.N.P.F. USA Nationals just 3 months before the World championships in Atlantic City New Jersey. Instead of getting depressed and giving up I competed with a bad back in the raw division and still won my class and best lifter award. Without my faith in God Doubt seriously that I would have pulled that weight. I wasn’t at my best but it gave me the confidence in myself that if I could be injured and do well as long as God was with me. I never pray to God to win but to lift to add to his glory. So to answer your question…When God is first in your life everything else seems to fit in as well.
(CPOA)
What is the most interesting or exciting thing that you have ever witnessed God do?
(DN)
I have been in two really bad car accidents and probably should have been killed in either of them. In one I went through the windshield of my car, got a concussion and several stitches but no broken bones. The second I was in a bad truck accident, fractured my left elbow and tore my tricep but again no major injuries. There have been times when I wanted to go somewhere or do something when something comes up to prevent me from doing it. Once I was delayed from leaving for an hour and a major wreck of several vehicles happened causing several deaths. If I had not been delayed I would have been involved. I have no doubt God prevented me from leaving keeping me safe. There have been other instances that God has helped me and I thank him every day for his intervention.
(CPOA)
What style of workout do you prefer and do you workout alone or with others?
(DN)
I workout alone. I seem to chase off my training partners due to the intensity of my workouts ha ha. My workouts are always cycled according to how I feel that day. I prefer 4 week mini cycles. For example, week 1 deads max up to 705 week 2 max deads715-720, week 3 up to 735-740, week 4 new max 750 or whatever I feel like I can pull. Starting over week 5 with 5 lbs. heavier than week 1 and so on for each progressive week. After 3 cycles I take a week off then start again. This workout works well for my squats and deadlifts but for bench not as well. I try to maintain all workouts at 80 percent or better. I like the way Kaz used to train as heavy as possible with very little variation in the workout. This takes extreme mental focus but this seems to work best for me. I stick with the tried and true methods like Kaz or John Kuc used to use. On days that I feel under the weather I take off the day trying to listen to my body. I workout 5 or 5 days a week for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
(CPOA)
Who is your favorite person from the Bible and why?
(DN)
When I was younger it was Sampson for obvious reasons but now it is Jesus Christ. I can think of no one that is stronger than him. He bore all the sins of the world as his burden to save us and I can think of no one who is more deserving to be called a hero than Him. He is the epitome of what is right and good in all the history of the world.
(CPOA)
Who are some of the people that you lookup to and respect in your personal life and in powerlifting?
(DN)
My father and my mother are the first on the list. Next I would say one of my college head coaches (Hank Norton) who inspired in me never to quit and coach (thingy Hensley) from high school who taught me a lot about integrity and how to win and lose with honor and class. I liked Jon Kuc because of his deadlifting ability and intensity. I also have a lot of respect for Tee Myers who either you like or don’t but always have been helpful to me and has always pushed me to higher levels.
(CPOA)
It has been a pleasure interviewing you Dean. You are a very interesting person and a great powerlifter. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and granting us this interview. In closing are there any final comments, suggestions or advice to our readers?
(DN)
You should always put God first in your life. He will take care of the rest. Always believe in yourself and never give up on what is important to you. I think my favorite quote is from Abraham Lincoln. It basically states better to be thought of as a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt. I want to thank you for interviewing me Tom and hopefully someone out there will benefit from it in a positive way.
Thanks again,
Dean
