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bring long socks to the competition and wear them during the deadlift. Not only have

numerous federations already made this a requirement, but “that guy” (it’s usually me)
will inevitably show up and spurt blood all over the bar. Needless to say, the last thing
you want to do is worry about smearing his blood into your cut-up shins while trying to
break a deadlift record.

Lifting belt: There has always been a great deal of controversy in regards to the use of

lifting belts.
“Are they safe?” “Are they effective?” “Will they impede progress?”
Personally, I’m of the opinion that if used correctly, they can drastically improve strength
and performance and decrease the risk of injury. However, when abused, lifters can
become dependent on the belt and may inadvertently neglect important components of

their training. Having said all that, most lifters can lift significantly more weight with a
belt on than they can without one. As such, if you're going to compete in powerlifting, I
strongly encourage you to invest in a nice belt, use it appropriately, and wear it while

competing.