Spotlight: New EFS Log Addition – Q&A with Powerlifter Dave Kirschen

Q: Give us some background info. How and when did you get into Powerlifting?

I started lifting weights when I was about 13 years old. Since I didn’t know much about powerlifting, I followed a bodybuilding-style split because that is what I had more exposure to. I even did a few bodybuilding shows in my late teens and early twenties. In about 1998, my boss at the time, a strength coach named George Bardis convinced me to give powerlifting a shot. Shortly after my first meet, I met my first real training partner Rocco Capoccia who introduced me to the Westside Template. Rocco and I even made a few trips out to Westside to train.

Q: What are your PR numbers and what achievements are you most proud of?

My PRs are currently a 771 squat, 545 bench, 600 deadlift and 1901 total at 181 pounds. I also have a 750 squat, 575, bench 605 deadlift and 1925 total at 198 pounds. My proudest accomplishment would have to be my first elite total back in 2004. It was at the APF Senior Nationals in Baton Rouge, LA. I needed to hit 1645 pounds 181 body weight for my elite and I wound up with 1736. This total also included my first 700-plus squat (706). This meet remains special to me because Dave Tate and Louie Simmons were both there and I got to thank them personally for all the help they had given me over the years.

Q: What is you favorite lift and why?

I like the squat because the technique comes very naturally to me. It’s also my favorite lift to coach.

Q: What are your current goals?

I’ll be looking to improve on my 198 numbers at the upcoming Lexen Extreme Pro/Elite Coalition meet. My biggest goal for this meet is to finally hit an 800 pound squat. Assuming I make it, the next goal will be a 2000 total. Going forward, I’m a little unsure as to whether I will want to go back down in weight to total 2000 at 181 or stay heavier and see what I can do.

Q: What are you current training methods?

I guess you could call it a modified Westside template. I don’t like to just say that I train “WESTSIDE” because I don’t actually train there. If there is interest, I’d like to write a full article detailing our training program. For now, the short answer is that we have one main squat day per week. Throughout the month, we’ll rotate in accommodating resistance off the box (speed and max effort),  special bar work and full gear squats. We use a similar template for the bench press. Most of us do assistance work on our own throughout the week. Since I manage a gym, I’m able to get these in at work.

Q: What are you best/worst/funniest moments in the sport?

Next to my first elite total, which I mentioned before, my best moment in the sport has got to be Dave Tate emailing me to tell me that he was taking me on as a sponsored lifter. I’ve been reading EliteFTS for over 10 years and it is an unbelievable honor to represent this company. I really hope I can do it justice.

I really haven’t had any particularly bad moments in powerlifitng. We all have our ups and downs competing in a sport but for the most part, I’ve had a great time. I did feel bad to see two well known powerlifting gyms fold over the last couple of years. Southside Gym in Connecticut, and Iron Island Gym in Oceanside, NY. It’s notoriously hard to find commercial gyms that tolerate, let alone cater to powerlifters. I have some great memories from those places. It was sad to see them go.

One of the funniest things I’ve seen in recent years was my training partner, Anthony try to side-step the ramp to the stage at York Barbell. They had just announced that his opener was loaded and he tripped and hit the deck in full gear. He looked like a turtle on his back! To his credit, he got up and smashed the weight!

Q: Have you dealt with any injuries?

I’ve been relatively lucky. I have a partially detached right pec, but it doesn’t really seem to affect my bench. Now that I’ve been in the sport a while, I do notice more minor tweaks and pulls than I used to but it’s all part of training heavy.

Q: Take us through a typical day for you.

Most days I’m up at around 5AM to either open the gym or train clients. On Mondays, I’ll work all morning and then bench in the evening. Most other weekdays, I’ll work late and sneak my assistance work in at some time during the workday. Sundays are devoted to squatting.  Other than that, I’m at home spending time with my fiancé Liz.

Q: Tell us about your training partners and what it’s like to train with them.

I currently train at Eastside Barbell in Palisades Park, NJ, owned by John Bott. John programs most of our training and put together the meet cycle we currently use. We have a small but very dedicated group of lifters including Mike Stuchiner (known to many as Mike Paper), Chris DelPreore, Danny Diemert, Andy Williams and Anthony Ditillo. Each member of the group currently squats over 700 pounds and has totaled elite. We are also working with a novice lifter named Eric. It’s a very tight-knit group where no single lifter is above the group. To lift there, you must contribute. That means showing up consistently, spotting, loading and helping at meets.

Because of my current work schedule, I currently bench with a group of lifters at Apollon Gym in Edison, NJ. These lifters include Justin Enes, Cody Nyegaard Anthony Ditillo (also from Eastside) and Steve. I’ll learn Steve’s last name when he starts wearing gear!

Q: What is your diet like? What is your favorite binge?

I try to eat lots of whole, nutritious foods. I eat lots of red meat, fish, chicken and vegetables. I rarely eat fast food, and I avoid wheat because I’m mildly allergic to it. Since I’m trying to keep my weight up for my next meet, there’s really not much of a difference between a binge and my current diet right now!

Q: Do you take any supplements?

Nothing special, I take creatine, fish oil and I’ll also take zinc and magnesium before bed to help me sleep.

Q: Who do you admire most, who inspires you?

I admire the guys who’ve been in it for a long time and still attack the iron. This includes guys like my training partners John Bott and Mike Stuchiner, Billy Mimnaugh, Chuck Vogelpohl, and Louie.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to the average lifter (not necessarily a powerlifter), what would it be?

Stay consistent and lift within your abilities. My training partners and I are always amazed at how little respect some lifters have for weight. This is why you see so many novice lifters wearing gear they can’t handle, or bombing out of meet after meet. You also see it with non-competitive lifters who would rather load up a leg press with 1000 pounds to do half reps than full squat 225 pounds.

Q: What will you bring to EFS, and why should our readers be interested in you?

I’ve been lucky enough to have learned from some of the greatest lifters and coaches in the world, and at this point in my career, I’d like to pass it along to those who are coming up in the sport. I’m not the strongest guy on the site by a mile, but I’ve managed to total Pro despite average genetics with smart training and consistency.

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