Interview With Bench Press Berzerker Brad Heck
Interviewed By Ben Tatar of CriticalBench.com - October 2008

CRITICAL BENCH: We're here with bench press champ Brad Heck. Brad was a world record holder in the 181 lb class and is now testing his merit in the 165 lb class. Thanks for this interview opportunity, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Brad Heck: I am 30 years old and sell real estate in Omaha Nebraska. I competed for the first time on my 15th birthday April 3, 1993. I was hooked.

CRITICAL BENCH: You have left your mark on the 181lbs division by owning it over the last few years. Now you are moving down to the 165lbs weight division. Tell us about your goals in the 165 division.

Brad Heck: I was kind of forced into the 181 weight class when the WPO changed the lightweight division to 181 and under. Guys like Joe Mazza and I were forced to try and gain weight. The weight gain was affecting my health and nothing seemed to go right after I hit my 705 at seniors in 07. Rick Hussey thought it would be a good idea for me to drop some weight and take another crack at 165. The past year I have had a few injuries and it really hasn't been fun for me. I lost my drive. As for goals I would really like to hit 705 but anything over 579 is a personal best so you can't be disappointed with that. The way to the top is to beat yourself and eventually you will get there.

CRITICAL BENCH: A few years ago, the 800lbs bench mark was a number that nobody could beat in any weight class! Now Jason Coker is about to shatter it as 181lbs.. Brad, what is it like knowing and training with Jason? How does Jason help you become one of the very best benchers out there?

Brad Heck: Jason is a naturally gifted bencher. With the coaching of Rick Hussey he is going to be tough for anyone to beat. Jason is huge motivation. We had a great battle at the 07 Arnold where I barely beat him. 1.1lb on a fourth attempt. I still give him shit about that. I could mail him the record breakers with one stamp....lol... Big Iron is the best gym in the world right now with Coker, Frankl, and Cartinian all close to my bodyweight it will be hard not to get better.. The only place for me to run is down because there is not a chance I can beat Frankl. Coker is going to ruin the 181s for everyone and Cartinian after only a few months under Ricks coaching is already benching my best but in a full meet.

CRITICAL BENCH: Big Iron is producing some amazing lifters. What makes Rick one of the best coaches having helped you, Jason Coker and Becca Swanson for example? What does Rick do that other powerlifting coaches don't do?

Brad Heck: Rick has always helped lifters even before Big Iron. Rick grabbed Becca when she was young and lift by lift, step by step created the strongest woman in the world. Rick has an eye for what a lifter can do. He is a true coach. He calls every number in our heavy days. He has a plan for every lifter and if the weights aren't there that day he will back you off and take it easy. If you look strong he will push you. Most people don't know when to push it and when to back off. Rick takes that out of our hands and makes the decision for us. We NEVER miss a weight in training because of this. Rick also spends just as much time with the beginner lifters as he does with the best in the gym. When he's frustrated with us he jokes and says "I will just grab new lifters from rehab and prison and create a new team."

CRITICAL BENCH: That is inspiring how Rick helps lifters before they are big time. Hey, anyways, I saw your 2007 Arnold show down against Coker a few years back! That was an INSANE competition and I saw you beat Coker. That was by far the most amazing bench press show down that I have ever seen. I remember Fry was in that one too. What was it like winning the 2007 Arnold and setting the record as you and Coker kept taking turns beating the record, until one man was left standing?

Brad Heck: When I was in drug rehab for oxycontin in 2003, I set a goal for myself to win the Arnold and break the world record. There was no better way to win then on a fourth attempt by 1.1 lb. It's like hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to win by one. It's what you day dream about. I was lucky to win it then since it was the last year for the WPO at the Arnold.

CRITICAL BENCH: We know that you have competed against Coker and Jay Fry but tell us about your friendship with them away from powerlifting.

Brad Heck: Fry and I met at the WPO Bench Bash for cash in 2005 in Chicago. I got humbled fast at that meet when I got 4th behind Bolt, Fry, and James "chubby" Burdette. I was the only one that didn't bench 600 plus. Rick called me Number 4 for about 6 months after this. We became good friends when he was working out here for about a month. Jay's a good friend.

Coker and I met back in 2001 when he came up to Omaha with Travis Mash and did a meet. Not many people knew that Coker and I were good friends leading up to the Arnold in 07. Jason had hit 711@198 when Kidder gave him a special invite to the Arnold to compete at 181. Jason actually called me and asked me if I would be offended if he competed because he knew it was a goal of mine to win. He said he wouldn't do it if I didn't want him to. Obviously I told him to do it. I wouldn't have wanted to win like that. Thankfully I was on my A game that day. If it was today its pretty clear the outcome would be different. But it's not today and I won..hahahaha!

CRITICAL BENCH: Do you train a lot like Coker or Fry or do you train very differently?

Brad Heck: Fry was training BIG style so he could learn the shirt after he was working here. Now that he knows the shirt he trains his own way. He has obviously figured out what works for him.

Coker's just retard strong and does his own thing. He gets some advice from Shawn Frankl and I that we learned from Rick. I'm pretty excited to see what he can do under Ricks coaching.

CRITICAL BENCH: What are your favorite exercises for a bigger bench?

Brad Heck:
1) Benching heavy in a shirt with real weights

2) Doing bands from the top with a close grip in a shirt to a 3 board.

Rick got me training heavy back after I got beat in Chicago in 2005. Rack pulls, rows and pull downs.

Focusing on back helped my bench more than anything

CRITICAL BENCH: What are your 10 biggest tips for a bigger bench?

Brad Heck:
1. Train with Real weights
2. Train in a shirt every bench workout
3. Train heavy tris 3 days after bench day
4. Train your close grip (tris) in a shirt
5. Learn the shirt
6. Wear Inzer
7. Be consistent and don't miss workouts
8. Have reliable training partners
9. Be consistent with supplements and your diet
10. Don't go out drinking and partying while getting ready for a meet.

CRITICAL BENCH: Which experience was more intense; setting a world record or having Fry break your record? Explain your reactions to both experiences.

Brad Heck: It was pretty awesome when I broke the record. When Kilts set that record it seemed like a tough one to beat.

By the time Jay finally broke my record..lol.. I was injured and worn out so I really didn't care. The record was a goal of mine and doesn't define me as a person. Most people in my daily life at work or places I frequent don't even know I compete. It's really not something that is comfortable to bring up.. What do you say? "Hey I'm the world record holder"...lol... nobody would believe it anyway.

CRITICAL BENCH: What was it like being the world record holder when you were on top for well over a year?

Brad Heck: The record was more of a personal goal. Nothing really changed when I got the record. I was still Brad and I still had to work everyday. It's hard to feel special at my gym when the guy pulling my shirt on is Shawn Frankl and Richie Briggs is holding a board.

CRITICAL BENCH: I see what you mean. Care to share your bench workout routine?

Brad Heck: As of lately on Saturdays I bench in my shirt. Rick has me train boards. We stagger between full rage through the 2 board. Afterwards I train incline and machine presses.

Our bench workout goes hand in hand with our tri workout that we do 3 days after bench. We train bands from the top, close grip in a shirt to the 3 board.

CRITICAL BENCH: Tell us about your diet.

Brad Heck: It was crap up until after seniors. A buddy of mine talked to me about doing my supplements and diet to help me drop from 210 to 188 where I'm at now. My plan is to get to 180 so I can cut to 165. Lyle Latimer from * Latimerfitness.com*and his wife Christy cleaned my diet up and put me on some supplements. I have been able to keep all my strength while losing weight. We cut a lot of the sugars and fast food out and switched my weight gainers to a low sugar weight gainer. Everyone should check out their website. They do diets that are easy and design it to your needs. I owe them a lot so it would be cool if people would check out what they are doing. The 165 weight class will be a piece of cake with their help.

CRITICAL BENCH: What do you think are the biggest mistakes that other lifters make when going for a bigger bench press?

Brad Heck: I made it too. Do not chase a number. Go for a personal best every meet. Compete often. Don't wait until your "strong" enough. The only way top get to the top is to beat your own best until you get there.

CRITICAL BENCH: So far in your bench journey what has been your favorite moment?

Brad Heck: The Arnold 2007. That was my day. There will never be a feeling to match that. Everything I dreamed about came true that day.

CRITICAL BENCH: Brad, what goes through your mind before a big bench? Do you have anything you bring with you to meets for good luck?

Brad Heck: I try to stay relaxed. I have a cheer bear teddy bear and a hulk doll that I bring with me to every meet. Two x girlfriends gave them to me before meets years ago and I have kept bringing them with me.

CRITICAL BENCH: How does your family feel about your powerlifting and your powerlifting accomplishments?

Brad Heck: My mom worries that I'm going to hurt myself. Her, dad and my brother were at the Arnold in 2005, my brother was there in 06 and 07 with my mom. I'm very lucky to have their support. My parents have always been supportive in everything that my brother and I wanted to do. My brother actually got me into working out. Genetically he is stronger but just chooses not to use it like me.

CRITICAL BENCH: What are your future goals?

Brad Heck: I want to get healthy. I lost sight of that trying to stay on top. I would like to bench 700+ at 165.

CRITICAL BENCH: What an awesome interview. It has been great talking to you today and hearing about your powerlifting journey. In closing who would you like to thank?

Brad Heck: My coach, my team (none of us could do anything without our team), my family, Lyle and Christy Latimer for helping me get my weight down in a healthy way and all my friends that support me. I would also like to thank John Inzer for providing me with the best equipment.

Brad Heck 705 Bench Weighing 181

Brad Heck 666 Bench @ 181

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