Eric Stone: Tell us a bit about yourself, how old you are, what you do, where you live, where you grew up and anything else you'd like to add about life outside powerlifting:

Joe Mukite: Married to a great woman with four kids. I'm 37, and am a Residential General Contractor. I live 30 miles northwest of Chicago in Plato Township. I grew up in Elgin, a very mixed cultural city and I wouldn't have changed that for the world. My family and God are first, powerlifting is second, I am third.

ES: What are some of your best lifts in powerlifting in competition and training, and at what weight?

JM: Wisconsin's Best Bench with 455 @ 147.5 (two layer denim, night before weigh in), 440 at AAPF Nationals 2003, 470 in the gym, 385 touch and go, 350 raw with a pause.

ES: What are some of your proudest accomplishments in powerlifting?

JM: 365 @ 132 when I was 19 (single layer poly), breaking the AAPF record of 358 with a 363 at 19 years later, triple body weight, The Arnold Classic, BenchAmerica.

ES: What is your best moment in powerlifting?

JM: Bombing out in the APF State meet and hitting 455 (3X-triple body weight) three weeks later in Wisconsin's Best Bench. Then repeating history in The WPO and Muncie, IN.


ES: How did you get involved in powerlifting?

JM: I've been lifting for 25 years since I was 12 when my older brother, Jim, introduced me to the sport. Jim was the smallest guy on the NIU football team at 5'9" and 190 pounds but was the strongest. He squatted 550+, benched 440, and deadlifted 600 lbs all raw. He played noseguard and started as a freshman. He went on to win their California Bowl his senior year but got hurt midway through the season. His replacement was drafted that year by the LA Raiders. He was my inspiration.

ES: What type of training do you do?

JM: I mix it up pretty good. It depends on what type of meet I am training for and their shirt rules. Typically, I am doing upper body two days a week and legs one day (although I am not a full powerlifter). My workouts are intense both physically and mentally. I always wear my headset for focus and a mouthpiece so I don't break my teeth. Other than that, if anyone is interested they can e-mail me.

ES: Who are some of the people who have most influenced your training and powerlifting career in general?

JM: Of course, my brother, anyone on the top 100 list, Randy Egli from Peoria, IL, and everyone who told me I'd never break the record.

ES: How important do you think training partners are?

JM: Huge. They keep consistency, push you that one extra, and save your life when you miss a lift (Thanks Mr. Hummel).

ES: How long do you see yourself continuing powerlifting? For as long as you possibly can?

JM: Absolutely. Even if I never competed again, I would still powerlift. Weightlifting is a just a part of my everyday life. I can have a bad day but then I workout and I'm fine and motivated.


ES: What is your opinion of the supportive equipment used in powerlifting these days? Too much, or fine how it is?

JM: You had to ask. I knew you would. Hmmm. Before I answer let me tell you I have lifted in a single, double, triple, poly, denim, canvas, open back, close back, partial open back. My personal favorite to put on is no doubt an open back denim. My best lift is in an open back two layer denim. At present, with the equipment getting thicker, more inventive, and more layers, all the records are being broken which brings some excitement to the sport. The problem is that it will end. Soon enough, the equipment will be manipulated out and we're back where we started. There are other problems too with so many different shirts.  It is impossible for a real competitor to know who the strongest guy really is. BenchAmerica was a first attempt at restricting some rules to create a fair platform for all. If you noticed, 95% of the lifts were under previous bests. We believe that is because of the bench shirt restriction to two layers with no inserts and actually following through with a tough equipment check. We called and wrote all the lifters to warn them. Officially, we found only two shirts that didn't comply. The lifters were prepared to be fair and we were happy about that.

To conclude that answer, I think eventually there will be more restrictions on shirts as the sponsor and TV money gets involved. It really shouldn't bother the lifters who are truly the best but more so the ones that manipulate the rules. I, just as much as anyone, want to bench more but only if it is real.

ES: You made some comments in Monster Muscle that upset some lifters from BenchAmerica. Do you wish you would have said things differently or not at all?

JM: Good question, but no. Monster Muscle asked me to write an article on the future of BenchAmerica - not on the results. I did call everyone that lifted at BenchAmerica a champion. Remember, BenchAmerica was/is an attempt for a level playground and for the first year we did a great job without losing the interest of some of the best benchers. I merely reflected the opinions of our PR firm, Fox Sports Net, big sponsors that told us no, and the high schools that we want more involved with the sport.

My last comment-
Scot Mendelson called me after that magazine was out and personally thanked me for letting him be a part of the meet. The best bencher in the world took no offense. He was very upfront about the rules prior to and during the meet. We had several conversations about gear and he just wanted it to be fairly judged raw, single, double or no checks. He just wanted to prove he was the best in any set of rules. This was more important to him that how much he lifted. I think he has proven over and over he is the best. I truly respect him - he has a heart of a champion. A lifter who knows he is the best, will rise for the challenge.

ES: In the article, you stated that BenchAmerica is more likely to move in the direction of single layer  polyester shirts and drug testing. What is the progress in these issues in regards to BenchAmerica II, and do you think you will lose some lifters from BenchAmerica with these changes?

JM: I can't answer this question in full yet but it is our intention to create a fairer platform. In dealing with bench shirts, the more layers the more weight. I also know of lifters that get 100 pounds or more from their shirt. Yes, you have to work on it - it just doesn't go up. It took me a year to make some huge gains when I went open back double denim. It was great to do more weight and get 3X. I was proud because at one point, I was #1 but then I realized that there were lifters that hadn't used two ply that may be stronger than me. It bothered me when I was ranked #2 when PLUSA came out and there were guys down the list that could have been stronger than me but were not as high on the list because they competed under tougher rules.

Is single ply poly or denim the answer? Probably not but it will bring a lifter closer to his/her natural lift. It is hard to manipulate a single layer; therefore the playground may be more level. Again with this, who cares how strict we are on the shirt if they are truly the best? Is this sport only about how much you can bench or who is truly the strongest. What does it mean if you can bench 700 with a two ply and win if your raw bench is lower than the guy who took second? Along with being an athlete goes honor and integrity. How honorable is winning when you're not the best? Once again, I mention Scot Mendelson - he went out and broke the record in every class including Raw. In the future if a guy beats Scot's 875 (with equipment) won't you want to know his weigh in time, equipment, tested, and how much he can do raw? And he if can't beat Scot raw, then is he still the strongest? Not in my book. His assisted bench may be and it's still impressive but he is not stronger than Scot you can't argue that.

As far as testing, this has been a war in powerlifting for years. My personal opinion is what a person chooses to do with his/her life is up to them. I am lifetime clean myself but that is my choice. I have friends of both sides. I do not believe you are bad if you use performance drugs. I can say it is not healthy but neither is drinking and smoking and those two things are legal so I won't argue the health issue.

However, there are two points that really stand out to me: comparison of strength and the perception of the American public on steroids. I have been told it's a possible 15% gain in my lift - wow. So 455 to 523? At 148? Okay, I still choose not to but as a point of relevance, the top 100 ranking doesn't mean a whole lot to me. Different shirts, different weigh ins, tested and not where would you rank otherwise. Would that list make more sense if they weighted our lift and ranked us? Powerlifting is not a fair sport - there are too many intangibles. Most professional sports have one set of rules. Honestly don't kid yourself, if you use a bench shirt, weigh in at 48 hours, and use performance drugs and rank #1, you may not be the strongest guy out there. You are the strongest without restrictions. People can hate me for saying that but our sport is so under the radar that anything goes. On the other hand, yes, I am sure some athletes in professional sports people are caught cheating and some are not but the ratio is so much lower than ours.

Every lifter has the right to defend himself by saying it's their choice but they'd be naive to believe that they are really the strongest without all the manipulation. And arguing that other sanctions rules are beat all the time like, "The IPF is full of drug users" or "Anyone can beat the test" is not a good defense. Try that in the court of law. The fact is they test all the winners with the full IOC in every class along with a steroid panel for random others. The IOC is the standard for the Olympics and is the best test available in the world. Could somebody beat it, I am sure but not many. Try it yourself - go to your doctor and ask to take the test and check you results. The argument of saying that people beat it is not a reason to say, "Fine, then I guess I'll just use" or "Those records don't count." If IOC testing was done in all meets, there would only be a few that could cheat. So 25,000 powerlifters in America at present 60% are clean and 40% use. With IOC testing, it would be more like 95% clean and 5% cheat. I like those odds a lot better.

Let me sum that up: non tested meets, multiple ply, late weigh-ins - are they wrong? No, but, do they fairly reflect the strongest athlete? NO. Until the day comes that one standard is set for all powerlifters, no one will know the answer. There is a difference between lifting the most and being the best. We have too many lifters on each side of the fence that right now so at present, we don't know. Would the guys that choose to lift under the maximum rules, be #1 if they lifted under stricter rules? We'll find out. I think many of them would be but some of them wouldn't even come close. And I think there's a good chance I'll hear from the ones that are most threatened after this article posts.

So is BenchAmerica testing and limiting shirts even more next year probably, but we will single no one out. We will have our own ranking system on our website based on the rules of our meet kind of like college football based on what division you are in. It may not be perfectly fair presently, but more fair than the top 100 list.

If we test, it will be done independently. It will most likely be the steroid panel and not the full IOC test. Our goal is not to come after anyone but rather give them a chance. With the right amount of time, any lifter will be able to compete. We are seeking National TV and prize money and have strong indications that it will happen. Now at BenchAmerica, all lifters will lift under restricted rules, get national exposure and win money. The amount I can not disclose yet, but it will be more than $1000. In addition, there will be a women's division.


ES: There was an unprecedented amount of cooperation among Chicago powerlifters in BenchAmerica. Do you see this type of cooperation continuing in BenchAmericaII, or are there too many differences for different groups to get along?

JM: I was ever so grateful for all the different people that came together for BenchAmerica. I can't tell you what it meant to me to see Ernie Frantz (APF/AAPF), Dennis Brady (USAPL), and Ed Coan (USPF) all on the same platform. There were many differences but in addition to them, even all the lifters from eight different sanctions got along. Most impressive, Glen Woychik/Team Wisconsin - they committed to make this event happen and deserve much of the credit.

Last year was an attempt to unite everyone for one day under one set of rules. I think as year's progress, there will always be those who don't want to come together, however, it is my belief that the unity will grow over time. Our sport deserves more and teaming up can make the difference.

ES: What is your opinion of the professional movement in powerlifting like the WPO and the Mountaineer Cup? Would you like to see BenchAmerica move in that direction?

JM: I assume we are talking about prize money - absolutely. BenchAmerica II is pushing for that during the next few months as well as getting bigger sponsors on board for future years. I think you have to give credit to the WPO and the Mountaineer cup for taking powerlifting to the next level. These two may have some different rules, but when money is involved, we tend to bend a little. I could bet that in most professional sports that all athletes do not agree with all rules but the money keeps them quiet.

Since I compete in the WPO I know that competition better than the Mountaineer Cup although I have heard great things about that including getting on ESPN. With the WPO, I think KK has taken his dream and is making it happen and it has grown huge in such a short time. That's what money can do for our sport along with some strong motivation. I've been fortunate enough to have conversation with KK and the amazing thing about him as that he just eats and breathe powerlifting and he makes sense. He got criticized at times by lifters but he kept his dream and stayed focused and now many lifters benefit because of that. The WPO making into the Arnold is big and KK makes it even bigger.

BenchAmerica, with its own set of rules, has the same passion.

ES: Did you feel BenchAmerica was a success? Do you feel this is an event which can continue far into the future?

JM: I did in many ways and in some cases not. We had thousands of fans, on TV in seventeen states, primetime, exposed over 4 million people in Chicago including educating the media. Since BenchAmerica, I have gotten several calls from high schools and media for articles and orientations. A year ago, the media didn't care a whole lot when I first told them about BenchAmerica. I had to fight to get coverage. They also told me we would never get very many fans but we did, along with TV. Can you say over 100,000? And this was a first attempt. Just imagine, now that we have made a foundation, how big we can grow. At present we are working on a five year plan for all avenues on BA including: fairness and exposure to the lifters and sanctions, prize money, fans, sponsors, and National TV.

ES: What do you think about the Olympic movement in powerlifting? A possibility? Worth Striving for?

JM: I'd love it along with a million other powerlifters. Hopefully events like BA will help expose powerlifting, assuming we all come together, and create a reason that the rest of the world wants to go head to head with us. At present, there are so many differences among powerlifters but it will happen in given time. I have already received words from several outside of America that asked if we could have a BenchAmerica Worlds for all lifters. Knowing that there is that kind of interest, it can happen. At present, because of Olympic rules, I think the IPF is closest formatted for what the rules would be although it wouldn't be an IPF meet.

I find it interesting that we all have our differences and fight about it on a daily basis. If powerlifting made the Olympics, you'd see so many guys changing to try to get in it because of what it means. Prize money can have similar effects to lifters, fans, TV and the same movement would happen.

ES: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview Joe! You are an asset to Chicago powerlifting. Is there anything else you would like to add?

JM: I appreciate your compliment and thank you for this opportunity to discuss your topics.  I went through a lot of opposition promoting BenchAmerica. It's different being on the other side and I hated so many things I heard but the one thing that stuck out was that America is waiting for us to prove ourselves as an official sport where unity presides among all. When that day arrives, there will be unlimited opportunity for powerlifters. We have signed a deal (that is a five year plan) with The Sports Loop marketing group, in Chicago, that will help us gain national recognition, major sponsors, and build our fan base. We are just beginning but they have got some great ideas to help our sport. For BenchAmerica, the idea is to be The All-star meet where the best lifters lift and the fans go wild!

In closing, I am proud of what we all did at BenchAmerica. I look forward to the progression of the sport through the future BenchAmericas and all the sanctions and lifters involved. The goal for BenchAmerica is to be an Official All-star platform for all lifters and sanctions, grow our fan base, media, and sponsors. I wish all the lifters the best in your personal goals as well as qualifying for the BenchAmerica where once a year, you can either compete with or be determined the best in America, no questions asked.

I have said enough. Keep an eye out for BAII in Monster Muscle and PLUSA in December and January as well as our website.