I . A . W . A .

I.A.W.A. (UK) is the United Kingdom body, affiliated to the world body for All-Round Weightlifting - I.A.W.A..

The International All-round Weightlifting Association and the I.A.W.A. (UK) were formed in 1987. This was to continue the long standing tradition of old-time, All-Round Weightlifters like Cyr, Sandow, Goerner, Inch, Pullum, Walker, Grimek and many, many other strongmen and strongwomen. They were also formed to keep alive weightlifting heritage and to continue to maintain records on the lifts in a totally drug-free environment (drug testing is important to the I.A.W.A).

All-Round Weightlifting today brings together lifters from every type of lifting, Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting and All-Round Weightlifting, with a common bond - The joy of lifting iron in its purest form. The lifts officially recognised must now number over 150, and include every type of lift, from overhead lifting to harness and chain lifting.

A full competition calendar provides plenty of opportunity to lift, for lifters of all standards. From novice to competent international and in all categories and body weight divisions for; Juniors, Ladies, Men and Master Lifters of both sexes (over '40's).

British Championships and World Championships are held every year to find the best All-Round Weightlifters.

History
In the late 19th century, weightlifting was in its heyday. Strongmen and weightlifters were much higher on the celebrity ladder than today. From the Bavarian Beer Gardens to the London stage, weightlifting was a great source of entertainment, many lifters had strong followings, people would travel across Europe to watch their favourites compete head to head against others who maybe claimed to be the strongest man alive. Much to the surprise of many today, women also had their champions, many strongwomen, weightlifters and wrestlers are well documented to have achieved great things, well before the turn of the century.

The Olympic Games revival in 1896 saw weightlifting included and eventually a set of lifts were decided upon, and became known as the Olympic Set. Later in the 20th century, Powerlifting was founded and became very popular with the masses. The overall result was that eventually by the 1970's, only Olympic lifting and Powerlifting were being practised on any large scale. The whole heart and origins of weightlifting were starting to be long forgotten, seen only in books or magazines and remembered fondly by the older generations of weightlifters.

Fortunately there were always a few purists who fought to keep the third element of weightlifting alive:- ALL ROUND WEIGHTLIFTING! Without which, of course, no other type of lifting would have ever been born.

In the early 1980's, a group of enthusiasts realised that the only way forward was to break away from the old associations (and for more than one reason too!). If All Round Lifting was to survive and be remembered and revived as it should be, then someone had to make it happen, and they did.

The English group was well established by 1985, and made contact with a similar group in the U.S.A.. 1985 saw the first International All Round match between the two nations, albeit a postal match, but that sowed the seeds. By 1987, the International Group was well and truly formed as The International All Round Weightlifting Association, and the first Open World Championships were held in Leicester, England.

It has been an enjoyable journey since those early days, with World Open Championships held every year (1999, was in Perth, Australia, and 2000 is in Boston, U.S.A.) and the very popular Gold Cup, World Record Breakers event has also been an annual event since 1991. We have come a long way, in 1999, we were able to claim thirteen years and thirteen nations represented in competition throughout the period. Though we still have a long way to go, with the help and support of the good and able people who believe in I.A.W.A., right now, we shall continue to grow and excel in the mixture of new and old-time lifts, that were the iron games history.

January/February, 2000 saw Steve Gardner completely re-edit and compile a very comprehensive I.A.W.A.(U.K.) Rule book. These can be purchased via the General Secretary, Mr. Frank Allen, for a nominal cost.