Paul Kelso's Powerlifting Timeline
It's Back! - John Wood re-introduces the Gerard Trap Bar
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The Trap Bar Puts you in a perfect position for deadlifting - Head up, back straight and weight in perfect alignment with the
body's natural center of balance. (Leistner Photo)
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From the article "Zap The Traps" by Paul Kelso featured in IRONMAN MAGAZINE" JULY 1988.
The increased range of motion made possible
with The Trap Bar
allows more overall muscles to be targeted during the rowing exercise.
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A recent photo of Al Gerard with the Trap Bar patent and trademark documents.
Trap Bar shrugs will build a strong, powerful back. The Trap Bar is more comfortable than a straight
bar, and easier to control than dumbbells for this important movement.
(Leistner Photo)
The New Trap Bar is loaded and waiting...
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The ONE Piece of Equipment
That Every Single Gym Needs...
THE TRAP BAR
IS BACK!
Let's talk about what it takes to get STRONG...
I'm not talking beach muscles or non-functional muscle but Real Strength Training - The kind of training
that builds strength, size and power. The kind of training that turns average people into super heroes. The kind of
training that would help you become a champion athlete in whatever sport you played...
The fact of the matter is that if you want that kind of strength you need to train the strongest muscles
of the body -- your hips, legs and back -- in the safest, most productive manner possible. The reason for
this is very simple: when you train these muscle groups correctly it increases your body's natural production
of testosterone and growth hormone.
This means increases in strength and power throughout your entire body - your legs become
stronger, your arms increase in size and your chest and back become broader.
- The Disadvantages of Training With a Straight Barbell -
Now, for many years serious trainees chose the deadlift with a straight barbell as their preferred exercise
for training these areas.
The results were very good, if not outstanding, but training with the barbell did have its disadvantages:
While deadlifting, the barbell would scrape against the shins, knees and thighs as it was lifted, even drawing blood in some cases
Not to mention that the barbell is also lifted out in front of the body, which increases stress on the back and knees
Shrugs and rows, two other very important and productive exercises, are also somewhat uncomfortable when performed with a straight
barbell
for the very same reasons
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Well about 20 years ago, Al Gerard, a powerlifter from North Carolina, was sick and tired of dealing with this situation.
He had to keep missing workouts because his back was so beat up from deadlifting with a straight bar -- but he had to keep
deadlifting if he wanted
to keep competing.
One day he had a great idea...
He created a sort of "frame" bar which he could stand in while deadlifting. This design moved the weight
in line with the body's natural center of gravity, instead of out in front of it, and more importantly it
took stress off the lower back... He began to train.
After several months of training with his new invention, Al found that he could now deadlift AND squat with more weight
even though he rarely trained those exercises with a barbell.
Al also could not help but notice his traps had grown substantially larger and more muscular and his grip
improved tremendously. He was undoubtedly on to something BIG -- and the Gerard Trap bar was born!
- A Great Idea Spreads -
The Gerard Trap Bar soon became one of the most well-known and valuable training tools for all kinds of athletes.
Dr. Ken Leistner trained many of his powerlifters on with the Trap Bar and they experienced incredible gains and increased totals.
Paul Kelso, another well-known strength author, adapted the Gerard Trap Bar to his awesome "Shrug" system and featured
it in many training articles throughout various publications.
"Do not consider the Trap Bar deadlift as just an alternative to the barbell squat.
It is an outstanding exercise in it's own right....The Trap Bar deadlift is the equal of the squat for many hardgainers...
In fact,
it has the potential to be the number one productive exercise for many hard gainers."
- Stuart McRobert in Beyond Brawn
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Brooks Kubik, easily one of the most influential strength authors of modern times lauded the Trap Bar throughout
his writings.
Many professional football teams started using the Trap Bar for shrugs in order to build all-important
neck strength for their players. Several high schools
replaced the straight bar with a trap bar for deadlift contests.
And, after not being able to deadlift previously with a barbell, many serious trainees around the country and the world
could now experience the awesome gains from deadlifting with a Trap Bar without having to deal with the discomfort of a straight
bar.
Al Gerard even patented the Trap Bar design and trademarked the "Trap Bar" name -- no one else may use
these marks without permission from Al Gerard.
For building hip and leg strength, there is simply nothing better than the Gerard Trap Bar. The Trap Bar is the
safest, most comfortable way to deadlift ever invented.
- The Return of The King -
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Trap Bar became unavailable for a period of about 8 years. The original manufacturer
had to bow out, and Al Gerard had his hands full with an unrelated project so the Trap Bar slipped under the radar.
That is, until one day...
I was back home and spied a Trap Bar sitting in the corner of the weight room and decided
to give it a spin just like the old days... Deadlifts, shrugs and rows were as good as ever and the
soreness the next day let me know that some Trap Bar Training would do my program pretty good...
Suddenly it occurred to me - why not make Trap Bar available again? Sure it had been a while but great
equipment never goes out of style.
I called up Al Gerard and told him my plans... he gave me the thumbs up.
Then I called a manufacturer friend of mine and sent them Al's plans - we wanted to make this according to
Al Gerard's exact specs. They crunched some numbers and put everything together -- the results were absolutely, dead-on perfect.
Now the Original Gerard Trap Bar makes its triumphant return!
- The "New" Original Gerard Trap Bar -
We have created the latest edition of the Trap Bar to Al Gerard's exact plans using only the highest quality components.
Every single aspect (material, knurling, angles, weight, length, handle diameter) is exactly as Al created it over two decades ago. --
Although there is one exception: the New Trap Bar is now zinc-plated (giving it a nifty gold color.)
According to our manufacturer, the zinc-plating is exceptional in terms of durability and ruggedness which
is why we chose it. We have also milled the bar ends down to the Olympic standard of 1.93 inches (that's right, we don't charge extra
just so your plates will fit.) Also, we have the loading ends chamfered (something
no other company in the industry does or has ever done.)
Keep in mind that over the years there have been several Trap Bar knockoffs and wannabes which were manufactured very cheaply
with low-grade steel and extremely low-quality chrome. While imitation is certainly a form of flattery, the copycatter's
efforts have been less than stellar.
The chrome flakes off in jagged edges which are very dangerous and will cut you.
Then, once the chrome does falls off, the
underlying steel will rust. -- This will not happen with our new zinc-plated model.
We want to make sure your equipment is built tough and lasts a lifetime which is why we went the extra mile
with the "New" Gerard Trap Bar.
Do yourself a big favor and be a part of Trap Bar training in the new Millennium - You may order your own Gerard
Trap Bar immediately by using the button below.
Train hard.
John Wood
Join the Trap Bar Revolution - Order Your Very Own Trap Bar Below:
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