Powerlifting Questionnaire - 7/18/05

1. What is your name, age and profession?

Mike Cordova, 31, CPA

2. Give us a BRIEF lifting history including your best lifts/total.

I have been lifting since high school.  I started competing in 2001.  My best lifts are Squat 630, Bench 518, Dead 570 at 242.

3. Give us a brief template of your training week.

I go speed day for bench on Tuesday with ME on Sat.  I lift legs Mon, back Wed, arms Thurs.

4. What kind of workout did you do when you first got into lifting and how old were you?

General periodization in high school.

5. What kind of powerlifting workout did you do when you first started competing?

I used a 6, 3, 1 workout for 9 weeks adjusting down every 3 weeks.

6. What kind of powerlifting equipment (bench shirt, squat suit, etc.) do you use?

I have used a single Rage X, and a Hardcore, but I am now moving to the F6.

7. What powerlifting equipment would you like to try?

Anything that wouldn’t cost me any more money.

8. What is the best advice anyone has ever given you about lifting?

Shutup and lift.

9. What is the worst advice you’ve ever been given?

Basic BB BS, lifting heavy that much doesn’t do anything for you.

10. What is the worst injury you’ve had and what did you do to overcome it?

My past 1.5 years have been rough.  I have gone through a nasty case of a blow appendix, I had my gallbladder out in January and blew out my left Achilles tendon 3 weeks later.  I am just starting to run again and it is still if I sit too long, but… I’m alive.

11. What is the worst sticking point (on any on the lifts) that you had to overcome and what did you do to correct it?

I don’t know that I have hit it yet.

12. What exercises do you believe have increased your bench, squat and deadlift?

Bench- speed day with a  variety of chains and bands
Squat-box squats
Dead-pulling from knee level

13. What does your diet consist of?

Protein and more protein.

14. What kind of supplements do you use?

Protein, creatine and glutamine

15. Where do you get your training information?

I pick the great minds of Big Dave, Rondito, Stump, and anything on the Internet

16. What changes would you like to see in powerlifting?

I would like to see one pro (or nontested) fed and one amateur fed, each with a raw, single ply, double ply, misc. divisions.

17. If you’ve ever had to cut weight for a powerlifting contest, what did you do?

Yes.  I cut water the last couple of days to drop the 7-10 pounds to hit 242.5.

18. Is there anyone you would like to thank?

I’ve got to thank Stump and Moose for getting me back into the sport.  I also have to hit Big Dave for his help as well.  And I couldn’t forget my beautiful wife for all her support when there is so much to do at home.