BT: CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?

Jesse Kellum: My name is Jesse Kellum, I am 37 yrs. old, a Tulane University graduate, and I am married with 5 kids.

BT: WHAT ARE YOUR BEST LIFTS?

Jesse Kellum: My best lifts at 198-

Squat- 909 (all time record)
Bench press- 652
Total- 2234 (all time record)

My best lifts at 220-

Squat- 931
Bench press- 735 (all time record)
Total 2390 (WPO Record).

BT: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COMPETITING?

Jesse Kellum: I have been competing since 1979.



BT: WHAT TRAINING STYLE DO YOU USE?

Jesse Kellum: KELLUM STYLE!!! I have developed my own unique style while incorporating "good ideas" from all sorts of other people. Ex: Use of bands from Louie Simmons.

(Note: For info on training with bands visit: http://www.criticalbench.com/bungeebands.htm)

BT: HOW IMPORTANT ARE TRAINING PARTNERS TO YOU?

Jesse Kellum: Training partners are a must

BT: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A POWERLIFTER?

Jesse Kellum: My dad used to compete and got me into it.

BT: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE BEGINNERS MAKE?

Jesse Kellum: Beginners don't work on their flexibility enough. Beginners should also get a good coach to show them how to perform the lifts correctly.

BT: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE POWERLIFTING EXPERIENCES?

Jesse Kellum: Breaking Coan's all-time total record at the wpo in N.O. in front of my friends and family. I was blessed by God there. Breaking Halbert's all-time bench at 220. Getting best lifter at the worlds in Africa and Canada. Winning the Arnold classic full meet and then winning the bench meet the next day.

BT: WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS?

Jesse Kellum: My goal is to break Ed Coan's total at 220. Bench press, 705 at 198. And to bench press over 750 at 220.

BT: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN IT COMES TO UPPING YOUR LIFTS?

Jesse Kellum: Training smart, consistent, intense, and giving God the glory for your victories.

BT: WHAT DOES YOUR DIET CONSIST OF?

Jesse Kellum: I usually eat pretty clean-lots of tuna, filet, chicken, cheese, skim milk, peanut butter, protein supp. I eat sushi 5 x a week.

BT: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR POWERLIFTING?

Jesse Kellum: Quotes: “I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.”

BT: WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AVERAGE LIFTER AND A CHAMPION?

Jesse Kellum: The difference is, a champion trains like their life is on the line during every workout.

BT: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE RAW/GEAR DEBATE DRUG/DRUG FREE DEBATE?

Jesse Kellum: I think gear adds a lot to the sport. They give the lifters $$ and the sport. I think most people want to see big weights lifted and gear helps us to achieve that. Gear also protects lifters from injury. But if someone offers big $$ for a raw meet. then I will enter. Drugs/No drugs-whatever floats your boat-who am I to judge?

BT: CAN YOU TELL READERS ABOUT KELLUM STYLE -- ONE OF THE BEST TRAINING METHODS OUT THERE?

Jesse Kellum: Kellum style is a whole different system that I have based on lots of singles. On the bench, My father and I invented the "board press as it is called now today. We've been doing this since 1980 and I am the one who introduced them to Lou Simmons.

An example would be, let's say for bench, to do 8-12 singles off of different board levels. I also re-invented the floor press, which is widely used today. And I do lot's of them. I don't want to tell too much because I will be coming out with a training manual/video pretty soon. The system works pretty good- I train August Clark 505 bench at 148 and 446 at 132. Also Kenny Palazola 600 bench press at 198 in his 2nd meet.

BT: WHAT HAS POWERLIFTING TAUGHT YOU?

Jesse Kellum: To be disciplined in what you do and to "refuse to lose"

BT: WHAT DOES POWERLIFTING MEAN TO YOU?

Jesse Kellum: Powerlifting has been a huge part of my life. It's made me the man that I am today.

BT: ANY FINAL WORDS?

Jesse Kellum: I want to thank god first, then my wife Carol for all the support. Then I want to thank my kids. I also want to thank my dad, Tom, for being my biggest fan and supporter for over 20 years. Lastly, I want to thank Kieran Kidder for bringing $$$ and "hype" into the sport which keeps guys like me motivated to train and compete.

If you enjoyed this interview you'll love the Critical Bench Program. It is a power program designed to help you increase your one rep max by an average of fifty pounds during the ten week training cycle. It is different from other programs because you are provided with the actual weights you will be using on bench day and given a full body lifting split to follow. Over 5000 powerlifters, weekend warriors, and athletes have had success with our system. Get more in depth information by visiting: CriticalBench.com