Jim Grandick Interview
Jim Grandick Interview:
Jim thanks for agreeing to take the time to conduct this interview.
IG: Tell us a little bit about yourself, both in and out of the weight room. What do you do? Where do you live? What got you started?
My name is Jim Grandick. I am 37 years old. I live in Omaha, NE with my wife Kris. I work for American Nutrition Wholesalers. We are the largest distributor of American Bodybuilding products in the Midwest.I am a Navy/Gulf War Veteran. I have a degree in exercise science and sports management. I have always been involved in athletics. I was a gymnast from age 7 until 18 and I have tried most other sports along the way. I got interested in competing in powerlifting in 2001 at APF Seniors in Daytona. My wife Kris and Becca Swanson were competing and I went along with our coach Rick Hussey to help. I got to see Garry Frank total 2600+ for the first time. I was hooked. I converted over from bodybuilding and did my first full meet in October 2001 and totaled 1747@275. I have been going none stop ever since at Big Iron Gym.
IG: If you could start over, knowing everything you do now, what would you change as a beginner and intermediate lifter?
I don’t know if I’d change anything. I went from being a pretty strong raw bodybuilder to starting out with single ply gear. We did not know much about gear until we started going to the bigger meets. I then made the transition to canvas and denim and so on. I am now learning to master all the newer gear. I think today’s beginners try to go to big to fast. They jump right into the extreme gear and get themselves hurt. Building a good raw base I feel is the most important factor for being consistent and injury free.
IG: What is your favorite style of training, whether it is one distinct training system or a hybrid of many?
Big Iron’s HARD and HEAVY Training. It’s heavy periodization training . We go kind of old school mid evil. Heavy full range reps in gear and overload reps. Practice like you play. We concentrate on doing each lift like we were doing it in a meet. We don’t use boxes or chains. Accessory work is highly stressed.
IG: Where would you like to see the sport go? Do you envision and support a mainstream or “Pro-Powerlifting” organization?
Personally I like the fact there is a federation for any type of powerlifting you want to do. Double or single ply or raw, Monolift or backing weight out, tested or non tested. There is something for everyone. People should find a federation they like, with the rules they like and lift there. I lift in the WPO/ APF/WPC. I would love to see the WPO take off and be a huge mainstream success kind of like how the UFC took off. Who knows maybe powerlifting will get to be a fixture on ESPN, but for me powerlifting has never been about money just about competing and trying to better your own numbers.
IG: What is your greatest memory or moment in powerlifting, and what is your worst?
My greatest powerlifting memory is winning the 2005 APF Senior Nationals. I had a stacked weight class at 275 and I managed to put together a good meet (except deadlifts) to take the win. That was the one meet I wanted to win in my career since that was the main spark to get into powerlifting. As far as worst moments there really hasn’t been many. The only thing I can come up with is my squat performance at WPO finals. I should have hit a lot more.
IG: What are your goals; where do you see yourself in powerlifting five or ten years from now?
My goals now are to squat 1100 and bench 800 in competition and try to get my deadlift to move. I feel a 2600 total on the way. I would also like to win the WPO finals before I hang it up. I can’t see myself competing much more than 5 years at my age. In 10 years I will probably be coaching or judging, but doing something to stay in the sport.
IG: Can you share with us some of your most impressive numbers, both in the gym and at competitions?
My best gym squat is 1105 and in competition I have hit 1047. My best gym bench is 805 and in competition it is 782 which is a WPO World Record. My best deadlift is 771 in competition. Best total 2575 @267lbs with is the all-time World Record at 275.
IG: Who are your idols in the sport? Who do you look up to and aspire to be?
Some people I look up to are Garry Frank, Brent Mikesell, Steve Goggins, Ed Coan, Chuck Vogelpohl, Kirk Karwoski , Scot MendelsonandMarc Bartley. I aspire to be the best 275lb powerlifter in the world.
IG: What kind of equipment do you use, and why?
I am sponsored by John Inzer and use a Leviathan canvas squat suit w/Predator briefs, double ply Rage X open back bench shirt and the new fusion deadlift suit. Inzer is the best without question. My total has gone up a hundred pounds after I exclusively started using Inzer gear.
IG: What are the best ways to build a big squat, a monster press and a huge deadlift, in your experience?
Consistency in training is the key to any big lift there is no magic exercise or suit to get you there quick. Pick a training style that works for you and keep going until you reach your goals. Never settle with what you have already done. Always strive for more! The one thing that has helped me is that I do a lot of meets. Sometimes up to seven a year. It always keeps me motivated and I am always training for something.
IG: Anything else you'd like to share or add for the readers?
I would not be were I am in this sport without the support my wife Kris, My coach the great Rick Hussey, and my teammates who stand by me all the time. They are all great lifters themselves. I am so lucky to have such a great group of people to train with. I can’t thank them all but I do want to mention some names Tony Acome, Mike Taylor, Justin Graalfs, Nick Hatch, Becca Swanson, Shawn Frankl, and Aaron Wilson all these lifters push me to be the best.
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