A few months ago, I introduced to you guys Ryan Kennelly, who recently benched 800 in competition. For those of you who didn't read his profile here's a recap. He's 28 years old and weighs around 290. He also at the end of 2001 came out of nowhere and hit 800 biting everyone in the ass that was trying to get 800. Ryan did a photo shoot in a recent issue of MonsterMuscle Magazine. Ryan is also carries 18" forearms that are capable of benching 500 alone. Ryan is the one true monster bencher who has a book coming out next month, which talks about his way of training. Go to his site at www.benchmonster.com for more info. I'll have more news in the powerlifting world coming next month including the controversy going on in the bench race. Until next time, enjoy the interview!

CD: Thanks for a chance to interview you, Ryan. Please give the readers a description of yourself?

RK: I'm 6'2, 295 pounds, 28 years old and work as a Part time personal trainer. I live in Moses Lake Washington population 15000. Hobbies include lifting, fishing, ultimate-fighting, and personal training. I have been married to my wife Melissa for two years, and have no kids...yet?

CD: How long have you been into powerlifting?

RK: I have been powerlifting now for 6 years, lifting weights for 11.

CD: Have you always been strong?

RK: No! When I was a senior in high school my max bench was 211 at 175.

CD: Tell us about your childhood and how you got into powerlifting?

RK: Growing up in the 80's my Dad was a powerlifter, and I was a soccer player but went to some of my dads powerlifting meets. He also had a home gym in our house, and in the summer during summer vacation my friends and I would see who could lift the most weights. So that's how it began. But it was a local gym record board that set me into orbit. My local gym had a record board and the biggest bench was 380, and I wanted to beat that real bad, because of the guy who had it I didn't like very much. He was the gym strong guy and bragged about himself and no one could beat him. So a year later I beat him by 25 pounds and I was hooked..

CD: How did it feel benching 800 so easy?

RK: Well it was kind of easy because right before I benched 800, I had just done 783 and it flew up, and I remember before going out for the 800, I thought to myself "its only 17 more pounds" and I knew it was going up! See the 800lbs bench at the end of the article!

CD: Is the bench your favorite lift out of the three?

RK: yes

CD: I recently got into NHB and I heard your into UFC, how did you get into that?

RK: Started back in 93' saw my first UFC. and later in 99' I went to the Lions Den in Dallas Texas and got some hands on experience full contact action.

CD: How do you think you stack up against other benchers?

RK: Don't care, this is just a hobby for me and all around fun to just compete against other benchers.

CD: They say tall lifters have long arms. How do you compensate for having long arms?

RK: Speed, I have a long travel, so I want to get to the end quickly. Working on my arch helps also.

CD: Do you believe with the arrival of professional power lifting, that powerlifting is moving in the right direction?

RK: Yes, just as long as its run professionally.

CD: I've always preached about having training partners. Do you have any training partners?

RK: I have two training partners I train with.

CD: Who did you look up to when you were coming up as a powerlifter?

RK: Ken Lain

CD: Are you personal training anyone right now?

RK: Yes, I have five clients who are getting ready for competitions in Feb, and May at this time.

CD: What was one of the challenges of coming up as a powerlifter?

RK: Finding training partners who were as serious as me.

CD: What would you say to a novice lifter or to a lifter whose just starting out in powerlifting?

RK: This doesn't happen over night. What you put in is what you get out, you train, eat, sleep, supplement, and stay away from life's bad influences, you will prevail in the end, and become a world champion.

CD: Please tell us about your new book and where to get it.

RK: It will be out as soon as Monster Muscle finishes publishing it, they said Dec. 2002' but now more like Feb. You can get it through my web-site www.benchmonster.com, or through Monster Muscle.

CD: Do you believe in combining powerlifting and bodybuilding?

RK: No. two different worlds to me.

CD: Do you believe in training in the methods of Westside Barbell?

RK: Yes, but the golden rule is "everything works but nothing will work forever". I believe in everything, as long as i'm making gains.

CD: What are your workouts like? How are they setup?

RK: Speed bench on Tuesday, and heavy benching on Sat. If you want great detail buy the book "The Kennelly Method".

CD: Do you train equally as hard on the bench and deadlift as you do on the squat?

RK: I don't deadlift at all heavy, just rep work with five hundred. I train hard and serious on the squat and bench though. Till I do a three lift meet, then I will hit them all with 110%.

CD: I talk to people all the time about how to get a big bench. What would you suggest to someone on how to get a big bench?

RK: Buy my book.

CD: As the ALL TIME MONSTER BENCHER...what's next for you?

RK: Pro wrestling?? I'll just keep going till my body says no more, but I don't see that happening soon, I'm only 28.

CD: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview. You are one of the many powerlifters I look up to with the upmost respect. It was a pleasure to this interview with you and I wish there were more like you in the sport. You truly are the one and only monster bencher!!!

RK: Thanx.