Dresdin Archibald (pictured below) is a 63-year-old accountant from Canada. He started weight training in 1963 at age fourteen, moving over to the Olympic lifts in 1966, and continues training to this day. In his early days, he also did a bit of powerlifting, marking his 46th birthday with a 300kg squat.
Dresdin has been an international referee since 1970. He is still very active, producing a Referee’s Manual every Olympiad. He has officiated at the Commonwealth Games, helped organize international level competitions, and served on the Canadian Olympic Committee.
This unparalleled experience allows Dresdin to make brilliant observations and comparisons across many aspects of weightlifting. Coupled with his analytical background and his time within the lifting game, we are presented with his unique perspective on weightlifting and strength sports. Here are twelve of Dresdin’s articles to educate and fascinate you.
10 Myths About Olympic Weightlifting That Need to Stop
Weightlifting is often misunderstood by the general public and, sadly, by people in other sports as well. Here are the top ten biggest myths about weightlifting, and why they’re totally untrue.
What Your Deadlift to Squat Ratio Can Tell You About Your Olympic Lifts
We’ve talked about the ratios of the deadlift and squat in relationship to your Olympic lifts, but what about in relation to each other? If you can squat X, how much should you be able to deadlift?
How to Properly Analyze the Performance of a Weightlifter
You might think accounting and weightlifting have nothing in common, but they both come down to numbers. If you aren’t analyzing all your training numbers, you’re wasting time and energy.
Psychology in the Weightlifting Arena (Part 1 of a Series)
I have always thought that you lift as you live (and think). In the weeks to come I will put that into the context of your progress through not only your sports but perhaps of life itself.
The Value of Competition: What Weightlifters Know That the Hippies Didn’t
At times during my active weightlifting career I was asked why I competed. What could I possibly get out of it? I got something people who are afraid to compete will never ever have in their lives.
Choosing the Best Weight Class For Lifting
Early on in my weightlifting career I became loyal to the 82.5kg weight class – to the detriment of my entire competitive career. Learn from my mistakes and choose the right weight class for you.
Correlation and Causation: What Pubs and Churches Have to Do With Your Clean and Jerk
Your performance in one lift, even a similar one, does not necessarily correlate to your performance in another. Let me tell you a story about pubs and churches to explain.
The Expression of Strength, Part 1 – Absolute Strength
Absolute strength can be subdivided into concentric, eccentric, and static strength. But just what are these different expressions of strength?
A Jerk Is a Jerk (and a Press Is a Press)
Overhead presses and jerks be easily confused even though they use entirely different muscles. To the layman and novice trainees they are very similar but to insiders they are in fact very different.
Does Race or Ethnicity Matter in Athletics?
Do some countries have a genetic advantage when it comes to certain sports? Do Eastern Europeans do well at weightlifting because they’re short? Are they even short? Read on for my analysis.
How to Take Our Goals From Dreams to Reality
Success in the gym is a little like grade school, we have to take it one level at a time or be overwhelmed by the enormity of our goal. Plus, we have to really, really want it.
An Analysis of Body Types in Weightlifting
What does being an endo-, ecto-, or mesomorph have to do with your weightlifting? Quite possibly a lot. Learn about the body types and the impact each has on weightlifting performance.
