Next Level Generation Vol 2: Phillip Dodson (@far_beyond_driven__)

Today we introduce the other half of the two men tag team, Phil, who is "built like a brick shithouse" as commented by Bobby Fields. Like Nick, Phil competes in the USPA and is the current America record holder for the deadlift at the 110kg/242lbs calss for Junior men 18-19 and he talk about what motivates him and how he is far beyond driven. My questions will be in bold to make the reading easier.

Hello Phil, let us start by telling everyone where you are from and how old are you now, your current body weight as well as the gym you train at.

My name is Phillip Dodson, most people call me Phil. I grew up in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, but currently living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I'm 20 years old, current bodyweight is between 266 - 269 daily. I'm currently bulking for the winter and the goal is to get up to 275 so I have a few more pounds to go.

Can you tell me what are your numbers for the most recent meet/best meet as well as your best gym lifts (all time as well as coming into the meet)?

My most recent meets were 2 or 3 months ago. The lightest bodyweight I've competed at was 230lbs but for most of my meets I competed at about 240lbs, so I have only competed in the 242lb weight class. My best lifts at my meets were 375lb bench, 644lb deadlift, and 451lb squat (my squat sucks, I don't train squats enough) giving me a 1470 total. I currently hold the USPA American record for 18-19yr old 242lb weight class deadlift. I turned 20 about 6 months ago. In training (at 240lbs) I have successfully benched 385 touch and go, but haven't been able to get that in a meet yet. I haven't done any maximal lifts since gaining weight but I expect my lifts to have increased. At my next meet I'm hoping for atleast a 700lb deadlift, 405lb bench, and 500lb squat.

At what age did you started powerlifting and how long have you been powerlifting for? What got you into powerlifting?

I started messing around with weights at about 9 when my dad bought me a complete Olympic weight set and a complete set of dumbbells from 15lbs to 140lbs. I would do crazy workouts like benching a 10rep max for like 30 sets with minimal rest, then doing a 30rep max for 30 more sets also with minimal rest. I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I just wanted to lift, wether it was a good or bad workout plan. I also had no concept of diet until I was about 14. At about 14 I discovered the limitless workout information the internet possessed I started doing a lot of research and got on a good diet and workout plan, and also started meeting goals. 

 I think my biggest motivation to start lifting was my dad. He was always very muscular and strong as hell. He's about 5' 7" and was always very thick and broad with huge shoulders and big veiny forearms, and had a drastic "V" shape. He's extremely self motivated and puts 1000% effort into every thing he does. And he was always kickin my ass.

What is your current training program/training philosophy? What were you doing before to get you to your current level and moving forward from here, what are your plans (this can be goals/numbers you want to hit on the platform etc.)

I lifted intensely through highschool, graduating at 17yrs old, weighing about 225, and benching 345lbs, deadlifting 480lbs, and squatting 345lbs the week prior to graduation. I never specifically wanted to be a "powerlifter" but always wanted the physique of a bodybuilder and I based most of my training on accessory muscles, still benching but in a higher rep range. I never trained squats or deadlifts at all during highschool, or even after highschool. It wasn't until about a year ago that I started doing deadlifts and squats, I just never had a big interest in them for some reason.
Currently I'm bulking so my training involves alot more basic movements and volume, somewhat lower reps and moderately heavy weight. For example, my current chest day looks like this:

Flat bench: - 2 warm up sets (135x10)(225x10)
- 290x10 for 5 or 6 sets
- 280x10 for 5 or 6 sets
- 275x10 for 2 or 3 sets
- 265x10 for 2 or 3 sets
- 245x10 for 2 or 3 sets
- 225 to failure, usually about 10 reps tho

Heavy Flat Bench Flys for 5-6 sets
Heavy Incline Bench Flys for 5-6 sets
- This workout usually takes about 2 hours, and I'm always sore as fuck the next few days

I'm not going to lay out all my muscle groups and workouts, but hopefully u can see that it's decently heavy weight at a moderate rep range, with a lot of volume, consisting of very basic exercises. However when I'm cutting I usually add 2 or so more exercises at slightly higher reps, lower weight, and a little less volume to hone in on specific areas and details like the upper and mid sections of chest. Also when cutting my diet cleans up a bit and start some cardio. Right now my diet is pretty crazy, usually eating about 5-6000 calories a day. Daily I usually eat a supreme pizza (with stuffed crust haha), a gallon of milk, about 1.5lbs of chicken, and a TON of poptarts and candy!
My goals for the future are to continue to grow into a very large, aesthetically pleasing build and possibly even compete in a few bodybuilding competitions. I'll likely always compete in powerlifting meets in the off season just for fun. Although I train for physique purposes, I would like to have (within 10 years) an 800lb deadlift, 650lb squat, and 450lb bench.

What are some of the toughest obstacles you faced as a lifter or in life (if you don't mind sharing) and how you overcome them? (These can be injury related or a lift that is stalling)

So far I luckily haven't had any major obstacles to overcome. I haven't had any injuries or anything to get in the way of lifting. Im in college for Nursing so the only problem I face from time to time is making time for the gym while going to college and working, but usually it's nothing major that requires much time away from the weight room. I might have to skip a day or two at the gym every few weeks but nothing any worse than that yet.

What are some advice you would give to your younger self should you be able to go back in time or to other young powerlifters?

Some advice that I would give to my younger self would have been to start eating correctly and eat for purpose rather than pleasure, and also to train deadlifts and squats like crazy. Had I trained my deadlifts and squats from age 14, or even earlier, I would be willing to bet that now my deadlift would be around 800lbs and my squat around 650lbs by now. At my recent meets I had only been training squats and deadlifts for a few months, and still managed to get a decent deadlift. I know my lifts would drastically higher if I trained them for a few years prior to my meets.


Hobbies/life outside of gym? (other commitments because we all know that we are not in the gym 24/7 or are we? LOL).

I don't have a lot of free time so I really don't have any hobbies. I literally just eat, sleep, work, lift, and go to class. I have a beautiful girlfriend named Corri Parsons that I spend as much time with as possible, but even our time is very limited, usually only seeing each other once or twice a week. She's also a big motivator, she's an amazing girl, literally 1 in a million and I couldn't imagine life without her. I live with my best friend Nick Whitsel, also a U.S. Deadlift Record holder but for the 18-19yr old 198lb weight class. He has a hell of a future in the lifting society!

Phil and Nick are both record holders for the deadlift only category at 242/198lbs respectively. They train out of Penn State Harrisburg. Phil's Instagram is @far_beyond_driven__ (with two _ behind the driven)