Old school powerlifting base before adding gear - still the best foundation

Started powerlifting in the early 2000s before touching anything. Two years of nothing but squat bench deadlift. That base is why I can still move serious weight 20 years later. Guys jumping to gear at 18 months in are missing the point. The compounds amplify what you already have. If the foundation is garbage the gear just inflates garbage faster. Competed raw to 220 then crossed over to physique. Both worlds benefit from that strength base.

Agree completely on the foundation point. Too many guys these days go from 1 year of training straight to gear and wonder why the gains are not what they expected. The gear builds on what is already there. Two years minimum of serious natty training before touching anything.