Roger Estep, Doug Young, and Westside Barbell | Mark Rippetoe Q and A

At the grand opening of Starting Strength Houston, Rip answers questions about Roger Estep, which lifters inspired him, his thoughts on Westside Barbell, and more.
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[@pablomarrero6062]

i thought he was going to go into the incredible hulk origin story when he mentioned radiation incident with Estep

[@Vamavid]

A microphone for the guy asking the question made a huuuuge difference!

[@HAL-dm1eh]

yes!!!

[@anthonyluisi7096]

Back in 1984 when I was in college. My good friend on the university varsity water polo team was the only man I knew who lifted weights against his coaches wishes . His bench press was 315 for reps and squatted 405 for 15-20 reps he was definitely ahead of his time .. He later became a US Navy SEAL Officer and had a stellar 20 plus year career as a Navy Seal Commander 👏👏👏👏

[@larrydickman1094]

Lifting heavy makes you good at military stuff.

[@EastCoastPGS]

@@larrydickman1094 Isha salo miquaganash dashdosh tune esele bewa kawia

[@mofojohnson1]

Such a great story teller

[@jesseroest2786]

The westside question was poorly phrased. I would have loved to hear the discussion around how Simmons conjugate system is only 10% used at Westside and 90% used by athletes, specifically local high schools and colleges. The question should have been what are your thoughts on dynamic effort work according to F=MA? Thoughts?

[@cherry_it_is]

rippetoe said the greatest thing simmons gave is the dynamic effort

[@ericdaniel323]

Practical Programming has a section on incorporating Dynamic Effort into your program (for advanced lifters).

[@MOSDEFemcees]

"what could you do that wouldn't work?" The same could be said for the novices rip trains. It more impressive when Westside gets an advanced lifter who is struggling with increasing their total and manages to put another 100+ on it. Again it's much harder to increase a seasoned lifters total than a novice's

[@ResistanceQuest]

It's a little like he's projecting the weaknesses of SS onto Westside after trying to state neutrally that what Westside does and SS does have nothing to do with one another

[@jabberwock14]

In reference to the inspiring lifters, did you ever look up to Bill Kazmaier? Do you think he really was the strongest that ever lived like he claimed?

[@donjuanmckenzie4897]

Probably at the time.

[@monkpunks]

I remember Roger.

[@tylorstreett7824]

I'm a climbing coach and I promote barbell training. My home gym has a great set up and teaching program for new lifters to learn technique and programming methodology.

[@adriansaninja]

The way rip says supple

[@louiseleuteri4120]

Met & was fortunate enough to meet & 'Hang around ' The Legendary Doug Young @ the 76 Sr.Nationals in Texas, and 76 World's in York, Pa. Because I was/am Lucky enough to know the 'King ', Larry Pacifico...Young looked like a Greek or Roman Statue in Living, Breathing Flesh and Blood..absolutely, Undisputed., however, no Disrespect whatsoever, but John Kuc., who I was also fortunate enough to know and witness Lifting, was 'The Man' @ 242 pounds during that Era (70s and 80s) , Kuc, 2204 @ 238 in 1980 World's, which I have on Video, was Unbeatable..Unbelievable Strength and Scary Power., had a 'Thousand Mile ' Stare...

[@johnbackos5192]

It took Ed Coan to break Kucs records

[@samuelclemons508]

Terry Todd told the same , exact story about Doug Young .

[@neckberg2413]

That coach is used to take terry todd's story very often.. I think he never met doug young and is just marketing

[@jonmichaelburgess2654]

@@neckberg2413 exactly. Doug Young was 5'11" not 6'3". Haha

[@jborsvold]

Finish your cookie Rip

[@ericdaniel323]

Doug Young's wikipedia's entry lists him at 5'11"

[@TruthTellert63]

That was his advertised height, but, in reality, he was more like 5' 9" or 5' 10" (5' 11" at the most). Rippetoe is "mis-remembering" -- he's probably thinking of Doug's older brother Bob, who was about 6' 2".

[@AllPainNoGains]

I think it's easy to confuse a picture of Estep for an old picture of 1980's Rip if you've never seen any old pictures of Rip and don't already know who Roger Estep was. It's believable that someone like Rip who claims to have squatted and deadlifted in the neighborhood of 600 pounds and benched nearly 400 could have looked somewhat like that, though if you look him up Roger Estep was far stronger than Rip ever claims to have been.

[@DanielCathers]

#pliability

[@HAL-dm1eh]

You have to also take into account that most of these elite level athletes, if not 100% of them are on steroids.

[@georgetubb9124]

And 12 hrs sleep etc

[@Yeomannn]

Doug Young was 5'11 tops.

[@aba192]

First

[@frankd8774]

I guess you can't help but have the best system if any time anyone gets better results, it is because of their athletic ability and never, ever has anything to do with their coaching and programming. I wonder why we don't see anyone at the top of anything that subscribes to the Starting Strength programming. What is it about your programming that attracts sub-optimal athletes only?

[@thissmoothie]

I think his point is that the way that athletes train is not a major factor in what gets them to the elite level. Training can help, but genetics are the limiting factor for everyone. Example: nobody can run as fast as Usain Bolt if they don't have a high proportion of fast twitch muscle fibres like him. No amount of great coaching or hard work can overcome that deficit in natural physical ability. I don't think even Rip would argue that a mediocre athlete could become elite by doing his programme.

[@harris2898]

Well, i get your point BUT you need to realize.. Rip teaches strength training. He does not teach powerlifting, he does not teach competitive weightlifting, he does not teach competitive anything really (unless im really mistaken, and that is possible). Therefore, the target group of his system of training (and his followers in general) are people who are trying to get strong and healthy. You don't see these kinds of people at the top ranks of athleticism. You see roided, half-human half monsters there. One of the most (if not the most) decorated weightlifters of all time, Pyrros Dimas, can hardly sit down on a chair at the age without pain or discomfort, only at the age of 49!! So yeah, you see better results but these are results of athleticism, not healthy, sustainable strength. That being said, is SS the best program of all time? No idea. It certainly seems to be working though.

[@welfarewednesday]

You misinterpreted his argument. He was stating west side gate keeps their training (having the 2000 total as a requirement) which is only attainable by top level strength athletes. If you only look at top level athletes and only put top level athletes on the program any program they are on will look effective. His argument is SS isn’t about the top 0.1% of athletes. It’s about the rest of them. It’s STARTING strength, as in for those starting strength training it’s foundational at its core not elite like westside.