He Squatted 683 Pounds at 55 Years Old! | Grant Higa

Grant Higa (0:00)

There's one thing I'm pretty proud of, because to be able to squat near 700 pounds at 55, you know, I'm pretty excited and proud that I can still be able to do that.

Mark Bell (0:13)

How did you avoid taking performance enhancing drugs with like, it's swirling around you so much, or were you able to?

Grant Higa (0:21)

It just never was my thing. If you want to stay in this sport, no matter if it's powerlifting or strong man, don't be just a flash in the pan for a couple years. There's not too many over mid 50 year olds that can squat or deadlift almost 700 pounds. You know what I mean?

That's pretty cool in my opinion.

Mark Bell (0:41)

Grant Higa, great having you on the show today. I'm super excited and I'm also inspired by all the work that I'm seeing you put in over so many years.

What has it been like to be able to still hit the platform and be able to perform and be able to lift some of the weights you're able to lift now that you're 55 years old?

Grant Higa (1:00)

I think, first of all, being healthy and being able to move some heavy weight at my age is one thing I'm pretty proud of because to be able to squat near 700 pounds at 55, I'm pretty excited and proud that I can still be able to do that and stuff and also it was a good opportunity to break four American records and fortunately, I was able to get it done, bro. You know, so, but yeah.

Mark Bell (1:32)

How do you think? Do you think? Because I know like a long time ago, or not even that long ago, but you were doing Strongman for a long time too.

Yeah. Do you think the background in Strongman has helped you with longevity? And did you move from Strongman? Because Strongman in some ways is like, maybe a little bit harder to do from like a longevity standpoint.

Grant Higa (1:55)

Yeah. You know, I think, you know, I haven't done a Strongman contest in quite some time as far as like out of state and up, but it's more because of just my kid's schedule, you know? So like a lot of these big Strongman shows would happen in the summer and all that. And both of my daughters, you know, as you know, both played softball and are in their collegiate careers now. So I didn't want to miss any of that, you know? But I would try and just do whatever local powerlifting contests I could.

But off season, I definitely love training like Strongman stuff because I feel it, it kind of refreshes me, you know, instead of just doing squat bench deadlift, let's go carry some sandbags, let's go lift some natural stones and stuff like that. And I find that it keeps me fresh and makes me eager to go back into a powerlifting prep whenever I sign up for a contest.

Mark Bell (2:54)

When you think of some of the strongest people of all time, do you tend to think about people that are great in multiple aspects of strength? Like you got, you know, Mark Henry, for example, and Mark Henry, I know when a similar path as you, you've competed a lot in the USAPL and you've done drug-tested federations for a long time. But then you also have people like Mikhail Kokylev, who, you know, was doing weight lifting, strong man, power lifting, a little bit like Mark Henry.

When you think of some of the greats, some of the all-time greats, you kind of look at it that way or do you have, you know, you're just like a huge Ed Cohn fan or like, where do you kind of lie?

Grant Higa (3:33)

Who the hell is Ed Cohn?

Mark Bell (3:34)

I don't know who that is, Mark. He's some little guy with giant hands.

Grant Higa (3:38)

He might sneak out behind me.

Mark Bell (3:39)

Right? I know he's always on the attack.

Grant Higa (3:42)

Yeah, man. You got to watch that guy.

No, you know, like, I think for me at my age, having longevity and knowing that, hey, I can back squat or deadlift 600 pounds with no belt, with no problem, or even just do a 600 pound yoke or pick up a stone. I think, you know, like with those athletes that you mentioned, they are very inspirational to me. So hopefully, you know, I think strength is when you're ready, no matter what, like, nah, there's no way you can squat or deadlift 600 pounds like that. You know, let's go, give me a couple of warmups or, you know, you know how it is as a top strength athlete, you're ready to go and having that confidence of knowing that you're prepared, if called upon to do something like that. And it becomes, I think it's like riding a bike, in my opinion, you know, because like, sure, you know, you might have to work the kinks out a little bit, but I'm fortunate that I'm able to do it at 55, soon to be 56, you know, and it's exciting. I enjoy it, which is, I think is important, you know.