Raw strength is not always the best indication of the true fitness level of an individual. Raw strength can be defined as simply the amount of weight a person is able to lift. A larger athlete is going to possess more natural raw strength than smaller players because every time he moves, his muscles are required to do more work. Smaller athletes are not required to move that kind of weight on a daily basis. Because of this, pound-for-pound strength is the best way to measure actual strength.
Military Exercises
Basic training for the armed forces have become known as one of the most grueling physical training routines in the world. When the military measures the strength of its members, it does not load weight onto a barbell; instead, it counts push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups done in a certain amount of time. The military understands that functional strength is more important than raw strength. On a lat pull machine, larger athletes may be able to do more weight, but their body weight can make repeated pull-ups impossible.
Weightlifting Competitions
Weightlifting competitions are held all over the world. The level of expertise ranges from high school powerlifting competitions for teenagers to professional athletes to Olympic weightlifters. At all of these levels, athletes are divided by either body weight or position, which generally follows certain weight trends. Taking the importance of body weight in relation to strength to an even greater level, many weightlifting competitions have developed formulas to measure how strong a person is relative to her weight. These formulas are used to select one lifter out of all of the weight classifications to be awarded the best lifter award as the strongest athlete, pound for pound, in attendance.
Visually Impressive
Being less analytical and using common sense, it can be visually impressive to see a smaller person lifting a larger amount of weight. Our eyes tell us in an instant that the smaller person that bench pressed 300 lbs. is more impressive than the big person pressing 325 lbs. We use ourselves as benchmarks for athletes we see perform feats of strength. Knowing our own level of strength, we look for athletes that are bigger than us that we can outlift.
Functional Strength
In some situations, the larger athlete can be considered stronger, even if both athletes are capable of lifting the same weight. This is most often found in sports competitions such as football or basketball, when players are pushing against each other. Body weight must be considered here when measuring strength because the larger player does not have as much weight to push than the smaller athlete. A 250-lb. linebacker may be stronger physically than a 325-lb. offensive tackle, but when the two collide, because of sheer mass, the tackle may prevail. In this situation, body weight factors into the equation in an opposite way than previously discussed.
References
- "Optimal Strength Training and Conditioning for Military, Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters"; Scott Shetler; 2011.
- "The Special Ops Workout: The Elite Exercise Program Inspired by the United States Special Operations Command" Stewart Smith and Mike Mejia; 2003.
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