Marc "Spud" Bartley

age:        37
occupation:    Gym Owner and Trainer
hobbies:        Laying around as much as possible
family:        Mother-Rachel,Father-Douglas,Brother-Shelby,Girlfriend-Susan
hometown:    Columbia, South Carolina
originally from:    Indiana

best competition lifts:
Squat 1058, Bench-700,Deadlift-716,Total-2463

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WEIGHT TRAINING ?
At age 13, like every other boy, because I wanted to be big and strong plus for the girls. The girls were probably the biggest reason.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST INVOLVEMENT WITH POWERLIFTING ?
Don Thompson invited me to train with him because he needed a training partner. I was also sick of the bodybuilding crap and wanted to wipe the slate clean and start over with lifting. I just wanted to be excited about lifting again, powerlifting certainly did that.
 
WHAT OTHER SPORTS HAVE YOU TRIED ?
Football, baseball, basketball. All the standard sports in America

HOW DID YOU TRAIN AT FIRST ?
All upper body stuff, bodybuilding basically, bench and arms Monday, Wednesday and Friday as that was the norm back in the 80's and is still used by alot of coachs today even with all the advancements. As got older, I found myself not able to grow as much muscle as everyone else so I concentrated on always be stronger than everyone around me.
Unfortunately, I followed Muscle and Fitness or as I call it Muscle and Fiction plus all the other crappy muscle mags and didn't try much of anything else until my 30's when I started Powerlifting.

STARTING WESTSIDE TRAINING WAS QUITE A CHANGE TRAINING WISE  ? WAS IT HARD TO ADAPT ?
No, not really as I was very hungry for something different and Westside Training seemed so organized and completely different than anything I had encountered previously. It was just the blind leading the blind and we did the training exactly as it was in print. We looked forward every month to Louie's articles and videos, etc. and tried to emulate whatever they did and make it our own.

YOUR LIFTS JUMPED UP PRETTY FAST DURING THE FIRST YEARS ( 2002-2004 ) ?
We actually started in 1998.I was in the 198lb. class at 8% bodyfat if you can believe that and I have pictures to prove it!!! We thought. at the time, that we could be lean and still lift big, not really. I stayed at 198lb to 220lb class until 2000 and then I jumped to 242lb class by 2002 and finally to the 275lb class in 2003. The 242lb class was when I really started hitting some big numbers. It was then I realized that I could reach all those goals that I dreamt about when I started but couldn't fathom at the time. What a moment ! It was also at this time I realized that anything is possible in whatever you try at and that applies to all aspects of our lives. After powerlifting, everything else is cake and ice cream.

IN YOUR LAST MEETS THE NUMBERS HAVE MOVED UP FAST SO YOU FOUND A GOOD WAY TO TRAIN. WHAT WERE THE MAJOR CHANGES RECENTLY ?
After I totally 2403lb in June 2004, I changed  to Metal Gear as EliteFTS and Metal Gear sponsored me. But, the gear was only a small part. In 2003 we started changing our system up. We still do alot of Westside type training, but we also started listening to other successful powerlifters and changed up. We take what we think will work, try it, if it works we keep it and if not we dump it but, the format stays the same though. Lots of 3 week waves and heavy, heavy and more heavy band tension.

WHAT TYPE OF GYM DO YOU HAVE  ?
I personally own a commercial gym with all the Westside equipment.. Reverse hypers, monolifts..all the bars etc. This is basically what pays the bills and I personally train people and athletes. I do the main training at Donnie's Maximus Compound where there are no distractions or phone calls.

HOW IS YOUR GYM GYM COMPARED TO WESTSIDE BARBELL ?
The Compund is fairly close to Westside on equipment.  Westside has some more stuff, but we have just as good a club just not as many elite members, yet !.We have 15-20 guys all moving up the ranks. It will just take a little longer to establish these younger lifters.

IT SURE SEEMS THAT LOUIE NEVER RUNS OUT OF IDEAS ?
You can never run out of ideas or trying new approaches. It's the only way to get better and that is what Louie trys to do. That's what we all try to do. If the same stuff worked all the time, everyone would be powerlifting. It's not easy in anyway, shape or form.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF KETTLEBELL TRAINING ?
We didn't.We kept hearing about them but kind of dismissed them for awhile. Then one of my clients brought in the Kettlebell Challenge from Pavel and Dragon Door Publications. I ordered a couple for an old powerlifter we named Mr. Haney off the Green Acres sitcom from the 1960s. We played with them for awhile but nothing serious until Don got hurt and sought Pavel for some advice. From there, we got invited to a Russian Kettlebell Certification by Pavel and Dragon Door CEO John DuCane in Minnesota where we got our eyes open to one of the oldest training implements ever invented, the Kettlebell. It was a great time that also reenergized my ideas about training.

WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE HAS IT MADE ?
My endurance went up 30% and my flexibility increased by 20-25% in 3 days of exhaustive and intense training after the seminar. My strength also went up about 5%.
 
WHAT TYPE OF KETTLEBELL STUFF DO YOU DO ?
Swings(both regular and soaped-up hands style, arm bars, windmills, bent presses, bear crawls and some bottoms up pressing.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM KETTLEBELLS TRAINING ?
Anybody who touches them.

YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A HYBRID SQUAT ROUTINE THAT  EMPPLYS BOTH BOX AND REGULAR SQUATS.HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT IDEA?
I didn't. Like all training, somebody else down the line tried it in another fashion. We just took different strategies and put them together into 3 week waves that happened to work very well together and produce quick results for most lifters who try it. Plus, what we were doing before had stopped working so it became a neccessity in order to stay competitive.
 
HOW HAS IT WORKED FOR YOU?
So far so good. I think the 3 weeks waves keep the body and mind fresh without too much adaptation. Also, the break-up of such varying extremes works the squat at all levels. The heavy band tension works the lockout and speed out of the hole. The heavy 3s and 5s with briefs keep you honest and give you the time under tension you need to deal mentally with the squat both holding and finishing and of course the singles with full gear give you time in the suit and confidence when you go to the meet.

HOW ABOUT OTHERS?
Great results so far. We have 4 1000lbs plus squatters, 2 or 3 900lbs squatters, 3 800lb squatters. We should add another 1000lbs squatter at the WPC championships in Finland if he holds together and doesn't crack under the pressure. 

WHAT BENEFITS DO YOU SEE THAT HAS COMPARED TO BOX SQUATTING ONLY?
That's a tough question because for the first 4 years of our powerlifting careers we were zealous about box squatting, I mean we never missed ! I think that for beginners and intermediate lifters  box squatting every week is a necessity to hone the form and build a solid foundation. Once a lifter gets to the 700-800lb range, then hybriding a system like this is the best way to go and the lifter's body will be able to handle the heavy loads constantly for alot of years. You see a lot of guys now putting up big numbers because of the gear or whatever then "poof", they tear something badly and are never heard from again so "pay your dues”.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT USING BANDS AND CHAINS IN TRAINING?
Without them, reaching true potential will be a much harder job. Not that you can't do it the old fashioned way, I just don't think you can simulate the load patterns that bands and chains produce.For example, with bands and chains you can have 10-20% over your 1 RM at the top end of a movement and 80-90% of your 1RM at the bottom of the movement making the load liftable.You just can't do that with free weights plus bands and chains represent a load more accurately when you are using gear.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WPO COMING TO EUROPE?
It's awesome!! It should have happened a long time ago. Hopefully, it will be a huge success so it will continue to happen in the future.

HOW MANY AMERICANS DO YOU THINK ARE COMPETING?
NOT ENOUGH!!!! Sometimes we are slow to take advantage of great opportunities like this one that may never come around again. You only live once!

WHAT'S YOUR GOAL AT THE WPO EUROPEAN MEET ?
Not to bomb out!!! I don't like to comment on future events so we'll just wait and see. Sorry, not all Americans talk trash. I try to be humble and accept all the gifts I am given in this life.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF POWERLIFTING?
Honestly, I don't ever see the sport uniting and that is sad. But, the sport will continue on and it will always have a following as everyone loves to see the big lifts and competition. Powerlifting is a very empowering force for anyone who really pursues it. You often find out who you really are and  how STRONG both physically and mentally you really can become!!!

NAME 3 MOST COMMON TRAINING MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE?
1. They train too much. Volume does not begin strength.
2. Too much gear too early. Gear is like growing up, it takes a very long time and often we don't get there.
3.Having a 500lb squat and l000lb EGO. Be humble and earn your spot. You are not entitled to anything is this life. Life and everything that goes with it is a gift !

YOUR ADVICE FOR THE BEGINNER?
1. Read and absord as much information as possible. Do your homework ! This will make or break your career.
2.Follow the paths provided for you by such people such as Louie Simmons, EliteFTS and other great powerlifters. Once you have done your apprenticeship, then you can move on to your own protocols and advanced systems.
3.DON'T MAKE EXCUSEs ! Excuses are made by people who don't do their homework and are lazy! Champions shut their "Pie Hole" and go to work !

YOUR FAVOURITE ME EXERCISES, PICK 3 SQ&DL AND 3 BP EXERCISES ?
1. Heavy band tension squats with briefs,
2. 3s and 5s regular squats wtih briefs,
3. Buffalo bars squats(any type),
1. Rack pulls,
2. Good mornings suspended,
3. Lightened band pulls (band is at the top making the load lighter at the bottom.),
1. Fat bar floor press with 2 chains,
2. Two board presses with shirt on,
3.Heavy band tension pressing.

YOUR BEST RESULTS IN SAMPLE ME LIFTS ? ( 3-5 SQ&DL AND 3-5 BP, JUST EXAMPLES )
1. 505x1 with 3 blues and 1 purple each side.,
2. 905x3 with briefs only,
3. Raw 705 x6 with buffalo bar,
1.850x3 no gear,
2. 735x1 no gear,
3. 750 x1 no gear,
1. 535 x1 raw plus 2 chains each side,
2. 765 x1with shirt,
3. 145x3 raw with 1 blue band doubled up on each side. 

WHAT TYPE OF GEAR HAVE YOU USED IN THOSE ?
Just Titan and Metal briefs on the equipped squats.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GEAR IN GENERAL ?
I think the gear is great. It makes lifting fun because you never know what's going to happen in a meet.

ANY THOUHTS ABOUT THE STATUS OF POWERLIFTING IN GENERAL ? ( federations, meets, testing, gear )
Honestly, you are going to have dissention no matter where you go in this sport. With people in general, there are always going to be factions saying this or that about gear, testing, rules etc. and all of it boils down to ego. I think all those things people complain just fuel the sport to higher levels by pushing everyone to try harder to overcome barriers so I think that is a good thing. And guess what ? It ain't going to change, ever. So, I say do whatever it takes for you personally and have FUN.
 
WHAT NEGATIVE THINGS WOULD YOU REMOVE ?
All the whining and crying over everything.

GEAR AND EQUIPMENT HAVE CERTAINLY EVOLVED GREATLY DURING LAST YEARS ?
Yes, but you still have to lift the weights !

GEAR HAS BEEN HERE FOREVER BUT THE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP FAST SPECIALLY IN THE SQUAT AND BENCH, WHAT DO SEE THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THAT ?
Better training approaches and the hybriding of different systems. Additionally, peoples' ideas of barriers like 2400lb total or 1000lb squat have changed or another way to put it is that the limitations of the past are no longer limitations.

NOW THEY HAVE GONE UP IN THE DEADLIFT TOO ?
Same as above.

WHAT TYPE OF GEAR DO YOU USE PERSONALLY ?
Squat-Metal Pro and Titan briefs(but I am converting to Metal briefs as well),Bench-Karins Double Denim until I can get the Metal Pro Bencher to work and the Metal Deadlifter.

BEING A  HEAVYWEIGHT YOU DON`T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WEIGHT TOO MUCH ?
Yes I do have to try keep things under control. I haven't done a good job of that and currently I am 290lb, down from 300lbs, trying to get back to the 275lbs. I will get there somehow. I sure do miss chocolate right now!

HOW DO YOU SEE A VALUE OF PROPER NUTRITION FOR POWERLIFTERS ?
It's just as important as the lifting itself I believe. It's like putting water in the gas tank of your car. The car will not run properly so if you eat bad all the time, how can you expect your body to run at its best when you need it on the platform. I think proper nutrition will add 2-5% to your performance. I try to eat as clean as possible 4-6 weeks before the depending on my weight. I also increase water consumption to 1 and 1/2 gallons (6 liters) of water per day.

DO YOU USE ANY SUPPLEMENTS ?
Vitamins, tribulus products, creatine and glutamine and I use essential oils as well.

WHAT LIFTERS DO LOOK UP TO AND WHY ?
Garry Frank-He is just one gigantic man who commands respect. Steve Goggins for his tenacity and ability to stay in the game all these years competing at the level he does. Louie for loving and contributing so much to this sport and being a great lifter as well. Chuck Volgepuhl for being the "starving dog" and always competing with everthing he got. There are lots of others as well, it would just take forever to name them. Oh, I have to recognize my training partner, Donnie Thompson, without him I probably wouldn't have found this wonderful sport and for always providing the ammunition that kept me going all these years. The chase has always been more important than the outcome.

HOW DO SPEND YOUR SPARE TIME BETWEEN WORK AND TRAINING ?
There's not much difference between work and training, they often mix with each other so I am constantly in it. When I do have time, I spend it like most lazy Americans, on the couch watching TV !

ANY FINAL COMMENTS ?
I don't think so. This has to be the longest interview I have ever done and the most comprehensive !  Just thanks for the opportunity. I greatly appreciate talking to YA'LL.