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"My success in overhead lifting using the Pushpress technique has been the foundation in my corporate work, my coaching, and my successful academic life enabling me to make connections with others, to instill confidence in others, and build trust with others in all of my daily relationships".
Three time World’s Strongest Man, Bill Kazmaier, calls Matt “The Pushpress King”.
The Greatest Powerlifter of All Time, Ed Coan, says, “Matt Poe pushpresses like most men benchpress”.
Matt Poe started lifting weights in 2nd grade and competing by the time he was 5 years old. He has won several powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman events throughout his career. Matt Poe had become known as one of the strongest men in the United States at age 33. As a college football letterman at the University of Tennessee, Matt held weightlifting records for three consecutive years in 1992,1993, and 1994.
In these same years, he was a member of the “Hall of Fame Bowl Team”, the “Citrus Bowl Team”, and the “Gator Bowl Team”. He was also an All Academic Southeastern Conference Athlete.
"Being a part of the University of Tennnessee football program under Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer was an honor, but God always had plans for me to powerlift to inspire others. I always new that I would be a professional lifter one day and that football was just a short stage of my life"---Coach Poe
Matt was mentored in weightlifting and powerlifting by his father, Martin Poe, who was an AAU Weightlifting Champion, Mr.Tennessee, Mr.Nashville, and a college and a professional strength and football coach. Matt's father was well known for walking off the street unannounced and winning countless weightlifting contests. He is still known for benching 565 RAW at 218 pounds as well as completing 2,500 full situps in a row. The late World Renowned and World Record Holder Chuck, “The Truck” Braxton was Matt’s primary coach and helped Matt to become one of America’s top lifters.
His past powerlifting coaches and mentors include Martin Poe, Chuck "The Truck" Braxton, E.J. Doc Kreis, Ed Coan, and John Stucky.
2005
After a 14 year break from powerlifting, at age 33, Matt entered the five event 2005 Atlantis Strongest Man in America Contest at the New England Powerlifting Championships in Boston, Massachusetts. He placed 4th in the professional open division. This day brought awareness to the entire powerlifting world of his innate ability to press overhead. His training partner Josh Bryant finished in first place at this same meet. Josh and Matt became well known at this time for training outside at Matt’s platform on his own back patio in Nashville, Tennessee.
Watch Video of Matt Poe at The 2005 Atlantis Strongest Man in America Contest, Boston, Massachusetts
His abilities in the “Pushpress” caught the attention of all spectators, competitors, and sponsors. The greatest powerlifter of all time and judge on this day, Ed Coan, said. “Matt showed a lot of courage and heart and his form on the pushpress was outstanding”. His “Pushpress” abilities have become the focus of many demonstrations and lifting shows across America and in his “Strength For The Game” show.
ARTICLE OF INTEREST > CLICK HERE FOR "Modern Day Rocky, Poe Uses Hard Work To Succeed"
2006
Matt later competed in the five event 2006 Texas Strongest Man Competition at the Mr. Universe Ronnie Coleman Classic in Dallas, Texas where he placed 3rd in the professional open division and became the undisputed first place “Pushpress” Champion in "The Shoulders Of Hercules Event" leaving his closest competitor 40 pounds behind his winning lift.
INTERVIEW OF INTEREST > WORLD RECORD HOLDER JOSH BRYAN'T THOUGHTS ON MATT POE
Watch Video of Matt Poe at The 2006 Texas Strongest Man Competition, Dallas, Texas
2007
In 2007, Matt Poe joined forces with University Medical Center's Orthopeadic Department of Lebanon, Tennessee in an effort to educate high school students on the dangers of steroids and alternatives to perfromance enhancement drugs. Matt would visit schools with an area orthopaedist, educate the crowd, and then end with an overhead demonstartion.
Novemeber 29, 2007 Matt and crew made their way to Watertown High School in Watertown, Tennessee in front of a full house packed in the gym.
Watch Video of Matt Poe's "Strength For The Game", Watertown, Tennessee
2008
Strength For The Game contiuned with partner University Medical Center in Lebanon, Tennessee.
February 1, 2008 was an in wightroom demonstration at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Watch Video of Matt Poe's "Strength For The Game", Lebanon, Tennessee
The World Renowned "Snake Press"
On August 8, 2008, Matt pushpressed for 4 repetitions one of the world’s largest Burmese Pythons (Big Bertha) over his head in an effort to inspire young athletes to become strong through hard work and executing the “last 1%”. This pushpress was the first of its type in history to ever be done by any lifter in the world with the weight totaling 367 pounds.
Watch Video of Matt Poe Pressing Burmese Python, Nashville Shores, Tennessee
PRESS RELEASE OF INTEREST > CLICK HERE FOR "MAN VS. SNAKE CHALLENGE"
2009-2010 - Another "Snake Press", Broken Back, and Road To Recovery
On August 8, 2009, Matt repeated a pushpress with one of the world's largest Albino Pythons executing a clean and pushpress totaling 329 pounds.
Watch Video of Matt Poe's Clean and Press of Albino Python, Nashville Shores, Tennessee
Matt sustained a debilitating back injury training for a deadlift demonstration on September 21, 2009. Matt could not walk for several weeks. The doctors said he would never overhead lift again in his career. Matt vowed to not only recover, but also to come back stronger than before his injury.
Matt spent 6 hours a day rehabilitating his injury. Starting at 45 pounds in the pushpress, Matt worked his way back up to 300 pounds in the pushpress by the 1st of March of 2010. Three weeks later Matt hit 375 pounds and found himself in December of 2010 with an invitation to lift in March's 2011 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic with The Omega Force Strength Team and Randy Richey in Columbus, Ohio.
2011 - The Comback At The Arnold Classic
In front of a crowd lied up in all directions on March _______ 2011 , Matt executed the first "Barrel Press" of its kind ever attempted by a lifter. The apparatus was specially made by Randy Richie for Matt's first appearance on stage since his injury.
Matt performed on day one executing a lift never done before, a drum lift weighing 300 pounds. He pushpressed this 300 pounds (11) times. On day two, he repped 300 pounds (12) times breaking the previous day's mark.
Watch Video of Matt Poe's Drumpress at the 2011 Arnold Classic Day 1 and Day 2, Columbus, Ohio
Watch Video of Matt Poe's Comback By Interview of Sportscaster Rudy Kalis, Nashville, Tennessee
ARTICLE OF INTEREST > CLICK HERE FOR "COMBACK DUTY"
Less than three months later in June, Matt set a new record in the drumpress at the 2011 Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois repping 310 pounds for (12) reps.
Watch Video of Matt Poe's Drumpress at the 2011 Superman Celebration, Metropolis, Illinois
He has donated his time on many occasions to fight against alcohol and drug abuse through commercials for “New Life Lodge” in Nashville and free weightlifting demonstrations for “Cumberland Heights” in Nashville as well as many other weightlifting demonstrations throughout the United States by way of his Strength For The Game Program.
INTERVIEW OF INTEREST > CLICK HERE FOR "POWERLIFTER WARNS OF STEROID DANGERS"
As time passed in 2011 and into 2012, Matt traveled across the United States with the Omega Force Power Team and did several corporate sponsored demonstrations and fundraisers. Matt competed twice in 2012 and was a top finisher in the pushpress and other overhead events. 2012 approached as a recovery year for his back, knees, bicep tendons, and elbows.
He set a barrel press record on October 26, 2012 of 320 pounds for 14 reps (see below) in front of his hometown in Nashville, Tennessee in an effort to raise money for childhood cancer through the Rally Foundation and Montgomery Bell Academy.
He recovered again with good friend Ernie "The Snakehunter" Lanier to set a new "Snake Press" record in 2013 at a Petco Sponsored event with one of the world's largest Albino Pythons at 16 feet long and 255 pounds plus a 45 pound bar.
Below are memorable events in 2011, 2012, and 2013 as well as press releases, and articles.
On April 29, 2011, Matt executed the barrel lift with 275 pounds for 17 reps in Bowling Green, Kentucky in front of the Hot Rods Minor League Baseball Team and a full house Kentucky crowd.
Watch the Video Here at Hot Rods Baseball Game
On September 26, 2011, Matt Poe executed a lift for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Chapter in Mount Juliet, Tennessee completing 310 pound barrels for 12 reps. In the spirit of "creating separation", the weather was cold, windy, and raining.
Watch the Video Here at Fellowship of Christian Athletes Chapter Meeting
As December 3, 2011 approached, Matt was invited by old lifing buddy and competitor former Head Strength Coach Brad Lokey of Cumberland Uinversity to "fire up and motivate" the college's athletes from all teams.
Watch Video Here Of Motivational Speech To Cumberland University's Athletic Teams
2012
2012 brought in many memories especially the honor of returning to his high school, Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee to set an all time record on the barrel press for 14 reps with 320 pounds, but not before returning to work again with professional wrestling. His last work was with the WWF and XFL as a crowd warmer and presenter of "Strength and Speed for the Game" for the fans.
On March 23, 2012 Matt took his barrel press to Top Rope in Tennessee to press in front of an uruly "National Wresting Alliance (NWA)" crowd. He pressed 275 pounds for 17 reps as friend Ernie Lanier brought the snakes out again to mezmorize the crowd.
Watch Video Here Of NWA Barrel Press
As charity again called, Matt traveled with the Omega Force Ministry to PROSPECT, INC. who provides support services and employment to people who have disabilities or other barriers to personal independence. Coach Poe executed 300 pounds for 10 reps for the demonstartion on September 10, 2012.
Watch Video Of Coach Poe's Demonstation of 300 Pound Barrel Press For 10 Reps
Matt's next recording setting barrell press came in front of a home crowd at his former high school in Nashville, Tennessee on October 26, 2012, three days after Matt's 40th birthday. The evening was promoted as a halftime show to raise money for the Rally Childhood Cancer Research Foundation. For every rep Matt executed on this lift, fans sponsored reps through dontations. October 26th, 2012 - Montgomery Bell Academy Barrel Lift.
Watch Video Of Coach Poe Pressing 320 Pound Barrels For 14 Reps
2013
On October 13, 2013 with two hours notice, Matt was invited to Lebanon, Tennessee, to lift another snake over his head for the patrons of a Petco store. Matt pressed the 16ft long, 255 pound Albino Burmese Python over his head for a total lift of 300 pounds. Ernie "The SnakeHunter" Lanier owned the snake which was one of the top ten biggest albino pythons in the world. The snakes name is Dolly. Matt Poe achieved aniother world record for a non-albino burmese and albino burmese pythons being pressed over head (367 pounds and 300 pounds respectively---includes a 67 pound and 45 pound lifting bar).
Watch Video Of Coach Poe Pressing The Albino Python Over His Head
2014 - THE BIRTH OF POE'S GYM WAS TAKING PLACE!
2015
Matt was invited to be a judge for the 2015 Strongest Man In Tennessee Contest on September 6, 2015. As result of a challange by the crowd, Matt, unprepared and of no intention to compete ot compete that day, walked onto the stage in the open class and defeated the entire class repping a 150 pound dumbbell 10 times exectuing a 1 armed clean and press reset in 60 seconds. He technichally "as a guest lifiter" won the overall event defeating every weight class and every competitor in the enitre meet. Then, he sat back down and judged the rest of the competition.
Matt's next stop (while buidling Poe's Gym) was at another charitable cause raising money for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Of Middle Tennessee on October 3, 2015. Coach Poe highlighted his patented "Turning Pushpress". Matt pressed the renowned Barrels over his head with 300 pounds for 10 reps and then turned a 360 and attempted an 11th rep!
Watch Matt Work With The BBS and Execute The Lift!
Matt was honred and humbled again by the invitation from The Ralley Foundation, Montgomery Bell Academy, and Ensworth High School to execute the Barrell Lift to riase money for Sam Garret, an MBA senior battleing cancer. The event took place on October 30. 2015 at halftime of the biggest city football rivalry against Montgomery Bell Acasemy and Ensworth High School. The halftime show was "hyped up" for several weeks befor before the event.
Below is Matt Poe speaking at the Montgomery Bell Academy Assembly the week of the game. Matt fires the school up by bending a frying pan!
Watch The Assembly Video and Matt Poe Bendng a Frying Pan!
The actual halftime was incredible with Mark Poe Builders as the lead sponosor along with over 20 more minor sponsors. All sponsors were placed on the sides of the Barrels with indvidual magnet logos (adding extra weight of course). Mike SImon, a MBA graduate, was the MC that night with a ton of special guests including Ernie "The Snakehunter Lanier" and Dr.Damon Petty to mention a few. Matt spread the word that this was going to be his last deminstration and no better place to have it than on the football field where he would shed blood before heading to the Hill as a teenager.
One of the most notible happenings that night was when Matt was actually repping the Barrels, Headmaster Brad Gioia was being interviewed live by the media about MBA. The broadcaster literally stopped the interview and ask Brad what all the noise was over on the other side of the field. Brad, with his always eloquent demeanor, explained the lift to perfection!!
Watch Matt Poe Press 300 Pound Barrels For 10 Reps For Sam Garret
Watch MBA's Headmaster Brad Gioia's Interview Get Sidetracked By The Barrel Lift For Sam Garret
2016
2017
2018
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