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Home > Super Katana review (scoop neck)
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Super Katana (scoop neck) Reviews
Teale.
I tried out the new Super Katana A/S competition fit bench shirt yesterday.
In comparing the shirt to my Katana A/S competition shirt:
First and foremost is the extreme collar (this is where the shirt gets its "Super" name). The collar is very thick and wider than the original Katana. The collar is also scooped lower in the front and virtually matches the neckline in the back. Once the shirt was on (and it does go on exactly like the original Katana) I could see and feel the difference in the entire neckline. The neckline is wider and deeper almost exposing some front deltoids.
Once I had the shirt in place (not torqued, just in place) and belted, I got under the bar. This shirt is pretty tough and I had to definitely add more weight to the bar to get it close to touching (without sacrificing form and letting my shoulders relax). This shirt is a bit much for me to use to its full potential. I think If I pulled that scoop neckline down where it should be I wouldn't have been able to push the amount of weight needed to bring it down, back up again.
I'm looking forward to working with the shirt and getting stronger so I can get the most out of it.
UPDATED 9/22/2009
I ordered a custom Super Katana A/S competition fit (tightest fitting) bench shirt and have been training in it for 8 weeks. I wanted to write an update to my last review so you can see my progress in Titan’s newest model single-ply bench shirt.
During my 8 week training cycle I weighed about 125lbs. the shirt was a true competition fit, fitting quite snugly (but still only requiring minimal effort of one person to put it on me, +suit slip-ons). During the first 6 weeks of training, I used my custom Super Katana A/S Meet fit shirt. The last few weeks of training I switched to my competition fit shirt. I really had to concentrate on pinching my shoulders blades together, pulling my chest up and pulling the bar apart to get the weight to touch. A lot of training time was spent doing 2,3,4 board presses in the shirt too. This shirt is extreme and really is meant for a hard-core competitor. I really had a hard time touching in this tight fitting shirt and had several gym members and my coach (loudly) encouraging me that I could indeed touch the bar to my chest. I really thought that there was no possible way to get it to touch my chest without relaxing my shoulders (oh, big no-no). In order to successfully touch my chest: A. more weight needed to be added to the bar (yes, my body was strong enough to handle it, but my mind wasn’t as convinced). B. I had to totally concentrate on my form; Shoulder blades pinched together, elbows under the bar’s path, shoulders back, pulling chest up and “spreading” bar apart with my hands. C. Practice. You have got to train in the shirt throughout your training cycle. Period.
Okay, the big day approached: USAPL Bench Nationals in Columbus, OH. on September 12. I lost a few pounds and weighed in at 120.5lbs. (54.8kg). I won my weight class and set a new American and National and personal best record by finishing with a 276lb bench. Honestly, the loss of a few pounds made my competition fit shirt fit like a dream. Point being, the shirt does not need to fit like second skin to get the most out of it.
I also benched at the NASA Regional’s meet in Gallup, NM on September 19th and won my weight class with a 281.1lb bench weighing in at 121lbs. (55kg).This gave me a new American record and another personal best bench press.
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