Kendrick Brings Back Gold

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PR Friday
Post your PR’s to comments.

Kendrick Farris, an 85 kg American lifter, won a gold medal at the Pan-American Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He hit a 159kg snatch and a 203kg clean and jerk that broke his own American record. Kendrick aims to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic games, and the hype is big since it’s been a while since American lifters did much in international competition. Farris’ Pan-Am total (362kg) was an improvement over the 358kg total he posted at this year’s Arnold Classic.
(not really impressed with the announcer in this video)



Kendrick went for 211 kilos on his third attempt, but apparently barely missed the jerk. It’s a bummer because he has made this lift in training as well as cleaning 218 (which would be a world record in the 85kg weight class) and barely missing the jerk. See the videos below.





You’ll notice that he squats his jerks, which is pretty damn impressive. Familiarize yourself with him now so that we can all root for him to make history in London in 2012.
Congratulations to two other American lifters who medaled at the Pan-Ams; Sarah Robles won silver in the 75+ class, and Donny Shankle won bronze in the 105 class.
Edit: Pat Judge won a bronze medal in the 105+ class. Sorry to leave you out, Pat. He missed a 218kg clean and jerk to win gold.

See the USA Weightlifting website for the results of other American lifters at the Pan-Ams.

62 thoughts on “Kendrick Brings Back Gold”

  1. Gotta love that squat jerk. After watching this I decided I wanted to try it and realized that I actually have the flexibility to squat jerk as well. All that’s left is to debut it as my next meet….

  2. Very impressive lifts. Very motivating, too. Congrats to Kendrick, and best of luck pursuing the Olympic dream.

    I think I’m most impressed with his strength and stability in the bottom of the squat, because this is where I struggle with my own lifts. I feel I have the hip drive to force the bar up, but I don’t have the speed and flexibility to get under the bar.

    I’d ask how to fix this, but I feel the answer probably starts with “squat” and ends with “deeper”…

  3. The interesting part of last weekend’s Pam-American meet happened outside…the following was posted on the Penlay Forum by Team USA Coach Glenn Penlay on Tuesday night after the meet concluded on Sunday.

    “Hello all. I have been having a really, really tough time accessing this forum for the last few days. The short version of what has happened is this, a volcano erupted, then a tropical storm hit. The airport in Guatemala city was shut down indefinately, and the situation there was deteriorating, with large parts of the city without water, electricity, or in some cases even food. The State department at first advised against leaving for another airport because of the danger of kidnapping and stuff in rural Guatemala and El Salvador. But with the situation in Guatemala city expected to get worse, they said get out. We headed out for the San Salvador airport in El Salvador. We were supposed to have an armed escort the whole way, but they abandoned us at the border… we got through anyway without too much incident. Right now I am sitting in a motel room in San Salvador, behind a 12 foot wall with electrified razor wire on top, so I feel pretty safe. I am supposed to fly out in the morning. I will try to give a more complete report on what happened on this trip when I get back on US soil and have better internet access.”

  4. In other news….. 70’s big dessert right here. My apologies for the 90’s small website, but I’ll be sure to order this the next time I hit PF Changs.

    http://www.fitnessmantra.info/2007/12/15/pf-changs-great-wall-of-chocolate-portion-out-of-control/

    “In fact, the head waiter told me they have a stretcher on standby and Stamford Hospital’s Emergency Ward on speed dial just in case someone decides to test the limits of their arteries with this brown bombshell.”

  5. imagine how strong his biceps are pulling with bent arms.

    justin, after bouncing out of the hole and finishing the squat up, most lifters if not all seem to bounce the bar in their shoulders, is it because they adjust their grip for the jerk?

    More than likely.

    Kendrick isn’t pulling with bent arms.

    –Justin

  6. Pat Judge also got a bronze at the Pan Ams.

    That’s right. Forgot that. Apologies. It was late and I was skimming sources.

    –Justin

  8. “(not really impressed with the announcer in this video)”

    Understatement of the year here. That announcer was horrendous! Damn impressive squat jerk.

  9. I’ve heard much worse announcers. A lot of people unfamiliar with weightlifting wander into the Arnold venue, and the announcers try to keep everything general and light.

  10. Does anyone know why he switched from the splot style he used to use for the jerk? The obvious answer is to lift more weight, yeah, but I remember reading once that he had tried to switch to the squat jerk and didn’t like it. But apparently he’s got it down this time – looks awesome. I only ask because the splot was so crazy looking.

  11. Between listening to that announcer and having a crying baby super-glued to the side of my head, I’d go with the baby.

    We love you Kendrick.

  15. I saw Kendrick and Sarah lift at the Arnold this year and both were damn impressive. Kendrick came within a whiskers hair of hitting a 205kg C+J so I knew he had more in him. I expect he’ll do big things in 2012. He’s our best hope for a medal since Shane Hamman.

  19. deus – That was a beastly squat! Looked like you had 2 more reps in you, easy. Keep the vids coming!

    PR Friday – I hit several PR’s this week, finally. Again, not super impressive for some of you freaks, but considering my shoulder situation, I’m stoked. Press 3×5: 75kg (165lbs), Bench 3×5 237.2lbs, Push Press 105kg (231lbs), mustache = awesome.

    Off to backpack Big Bend for a week, which will set me back a bit progress-wise, but it’ll be worth it. I’ll do a minor reset when I get back, and hopefully be able to squat/dead again.

  22. PR’d in body weight!
    up to 225 lbs. amazing how easy the lifts are getting with my increased body weight. 25 pounds to go

    BS 275x5x3
    PC 175x3x5
    BP 230x5x3
    P 145x5x3
    D 365x10x1

  23. “(not really impressed with the announcer in this video)”

    That announcer is Derrick Crass, 1984 and 1988 Olympian. He was chosen to announce that session by popular vote, due to his knowledge of individual lifters. Some lifters like subdued announcers; some like wild and crazy. Kendrick prefers subdued, so that’s whay my dad gave him. Just sayin’…different strokes…

  24. justin,

    do you think that, if Kendrick wins a gold at the olympics, weightlifting in USA will start to develop further more and more the government will start subsidizing weightlifting as a sport?

    I don’t know, dude. The thing that has to happen first is for people to know he did it after he did it. He’s gotta do it first. I hope he does.

    –Justin

  26. man, kendrick is from where i grew up and trains there, if only i had been interested in olympic lifting, or any lifting for that matter when i was younger…

  27. Rachel, your post is one of the best burns ever to be on this site. Awesome! Glad to have you here – a quick youtube search shows that you’re probably stronger than a lot of the guys.

    But you have to admit, if you visualize Norm MacDonald saying “That’s called a power jerk!…it’s very…powerful” at about 1:40 into the vid, it’s pretty funny. ;) No harm meant to your Dad, but for those of us that don’t know the whole background, just taking that out of context, well, I laughed, at least.

  28. Friday PRs
    P.C. 185x5x3
    B.S. 235x3x5
    B.W. 192 soo close to manhood at 40:)

    Thanks for your site Justin, Gant, AC etc. Finally quit xfit insanity this winter. Inspired by S.S.cert. last August started at 165lb / 6′. After months of being stubborn/stupid trying to gain weight and strength while doing “metcon” and long ski days finally gave in to reality and used my 40th birthday as a start to my new full on S.S. novice program and using your site for inspiration. Thanks again!

  29. i didn’t have any pr’s because i’m on a stupid deload(spring football practices for the last 6 weeks), but i started GOMAD on monday and bought weightlifting shoes yesterday. i’m 7 pounds heavier. pr?

    I’ll accept.

    –Justin

  30. I think kendrick’s biggest problem in getting gold is his snatch.

    Rybakou has a dangerously good snatch, perhaps the best snatcher of all time.

    He can often total a gold, with a sub 200 CandJ, just by virtue of his snatch.

    Here’s Rybakou looking sharp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZsp1PvDtN0

    A formidable opponent, indeed.

    –Justin

  31. PR:
    Bright red singlet, check
    NASA Membership card, check
    Registered as a Novice, check

    First powerlifting meet tomorrow in Hereford, TX. It’s an NASA meet. Pretty stoked!

  33. Squat: 235
    Press: 115
    Bench: 160
    Dead: 265

    Decent lifting week. Attempted to overanalyze nutrition due to my wrestling stuff and probably ended up hindering gains. Attempted 245 pounds on tuesday and failed it but I think it was due to going down to fast on it. Hit 235 on the saturday prior with minimal struggle. Reset on thursday so hopefully will get it down.

    On a nonpr note a few of my wrestling buddys have started reading the articles on the site and some have considered purchasing SS and doing gomad. The Tx wrestling scene is flooded with underweight guys or guys who are big but not strong so attempting to spread the 70s big love across the state in an attempt to help make shows a lot better.

  35. Since it’s PR friday could you guys take a look at my squats today and let me know what you think. Bit of background; I started “Starting Strength” 4 weeks ago today, was 137lbs and now 150lbs, squat was 115×5 and the video posted is 185×5. I’ve been eating like crazy, figured I would say that before someone else does.

    http://frankdimeofitnesss.blogspot.com/2010/06/bryan-at-work.html

    Things I see wrong:
    – Full depth wasn’t reached. 2″ to 4″ short on some of the reps; Wednesday 180lb reached full depth but the 185 just crushed me.
    -Head needs to stay pointed down.
    -I loose my back angle in the last two reps.
    -Hows my speed? Should I bomb down more?

  37. This week really pissed me off. Monday nobody showed up to unlock the gym so I pushed my car down and back in the school parking lot a couple times. Wednesday and Friday were subpar.

    All I’ve got is some skinny PR’s:
    Dips +50x8x5
    Pullups BWx22

  38. PRs

    SQ 3×5 @ 77.5kg (171lb)
    tried 80kg the next day but could only manage a triple and a double
    DL 1×5 @ 100kg! (220lb) 10kg PR from last week
    BW 80kg (176lb)

    still treading water on press, some tard snapped one of the 5kg plates in half the other day so I’m struggling to hit 40kg but the next weight I can go down to is 27.5 : (

  39. Been working full time at a cement plant for the summer for a bit now. Shoveling iron particulate and jackhammering concrete for 8 hours a day has set me back, alot. Resetting my linear progression, might be good anyways.

    Hey Brent, niccceee.

  40. Three PR’s

    Squat 182kg for a single

    Turned 27 yrs old today

    Girlfriend got me a 70s Big shirt for my birthday.

    My before and after pics are going to fucking blow you away. Stay tuned…

  44. Hey long time (and by long I mean 2 months maybe) reader first time poster just registered for PR Friday. Pretty good day for me broke the 300 barrier with a 305 squat (high bar).

    BW 166
    Squat 305 5×3 (high bar)
    DL 300×5
    Bench 135 5×3 (resetting)
    Press 125 5×3
    Power clean 205 3×5 (with inconsistent landing…catching with feet too wide)

  45. Grrr, slightly injured this week.

    Squat: 3 x 5 x 260

    I injured my bottom left rib or intercoastal cartilage due… not sure if it’s the belt, or the form. Air squats are fine unbelted, but my belt hurts even if I put it low and not tight. I’m wondering if I should trim it to 3 inches, and if I should squat unbelted for a while as it heals…
    Any ideas? I’m 5’8″, are 4″ belts often too big for guys my height?

  46. Jmont,
    Where do you wrestle? I’m running a teen strength camp this summer in Amarillo, and so far all the guys are wrestlers and are doing GOMAD. I got a couple that started before summer and ones already gained 25 pounds and the other started a little later and he’s put on about 15. I make all of them watch Alexander Karelin videos. All of their coaches are telling them they need to drop weight and condition but so far they are all sticking to the program and making good progress. Fighting anorexia one kid at a time up here. Haha

  47. Hit PR’s across the board in my fourth week on a linear progression.

    The biggest was a 315x5x3 squat(up from 245x5x3 one month ago),and a bodyweight pr of 212 (up from ~185 one month ago). I still feel like I have a solid month left or so before I need a reset, so the chase for 365x5x3 is on.

  49. Ryan,

    I wrestle all over Texas mainly and have done shows in other states as well. Just to clarify I do Professional Wrestling ala WWE/Hulk Hogan and whatnot… not greco roman, freestyle or olympic and what not. I used to do a lot of shows in Amarillo for NWA Southwest’s Professional Wrestling Federation which holds shows across from a amusement park in a shopping center of sorts I believe every saturday night.

    Ive been doing shows for a few years but became interested in lifting last summer. Attempted P90x which I wasnt crazy over but leaned me out a little bit, joined a local gym which was full of dipshits who didnt know anything, roid monkeys and hot chicks… my former roommate told me about crossfit and I gained some interest in it but didnt know dick about lifting. Through the crossfit website I learned of Rip and the WFAC which is a convenient five minutes away from home. Joined in late april and havent looked back. Just to clarify im not anorexic (wish I was as id much rather have to pack on weight than be in middle awkward phase) just needed to make a change in my life habits and I legitimately hate guys who run around with 8 pack abs and look like abercrombie models… upon finding this site and learning its ok to be a big guy and lifting children, talking of manly things, mustaches, bears and aviators are acceptable my life was semicomplete.

    Trying to currently be the change thats needed in Texas wrestling. Guys are either way to small/fat or if they do lift are 90s small or 80s roid big. Very few guys I know who actually are interested in making a change but hoping my quest for strength, size and muscle mass changes a lot of peoples mind as a lot of guys I work with think roids are the only way to get strong and succeed. The biggest problem is you can pay any jabroni $25, theyll teach you the moves, tell you a few things about wrestling, youll go buy some clothes from hot topic or mma shorts (not wrestling tights mind you) and then you can be called a wrestler. So its overflooded with guys who dont belong.

    Sorry to rant… wanted to clarify the topic. Amatuer wrestling seems flooded with guys who need milk everyday and about 40 pounds per person. As does mma.

  50. LOL @ Captain Ronn. If you think that’s awkward, I’m also the editor of Strength+, the magazine that some people on here ripped in to. Oh, and my long-time boyfriend, Mark Cannella, just so happens to be the Meet Director for the Arnold Weightlifting Championships (Yes, the same meet my dad announced Kendrick’s session at). Have I mentioned weightlifting is a small world? Haha. At least I haven’t seen anyone stick their fingernails into Mark and the Arnold, but I’m sure it will happen eventually.

    Jacob – Touche’ on the power jerk comment. It *was* a head shaker. But, to make one other note on that, the video was spliced and cut out the rest of his comments between Kendrick’s lifts. They weren’t all statements of the obvious. I know. I was there. :)

    As for my lifts, I might be stronger. I don’t know. Here are my best lifts, in case anyone wonders what a girl thinks she’s doing trying to hang with the big boys around here:

    75k weight class
    Snatch: 94k (207 lbs)
    CJ: 120k (264 lbs)
    Front Squat: 135k (297 lbs)
    Back Squat: 162k (357 lbs)

    I have no idea what I can squat powerlifting style…I only squat ass to grass (or platform).

    Glad we can have a laugh about it. I hope all of the weaker readers will use these numbers as motivation.

    –Justin

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