Westside Vs The World

I’ve watched Westside vs The World a few times now and each time I notice something new. For those that still haven’t watched it yet I recommend not reading any further, go and watch it and then head back here to see if you agree with my review/feelings.

Instead of doing a regular standard review and breakdown of the documentary I am just going to quickly give some of my thoughts.

Firstly, the impact the Louie Simmons, founder of Westside Barbell in Columbus Ohio, has had on current strength methods cannot be understated. He has influenced strength sports and training methods, no doubt in that, but I do feel there is a very cold selfish drive to Westside’s success. I think a comparison I would make is between him and Sir Alex Ferguson both driven for success and ruthless. It is apparent that once a lifter/member can not hit high numbers and be competitive they are of little use to him and often drift away or even kicked out of Westside. Sir Alex Ferguson was equally as ruthless throughout his managerial career. Both will go down in history as greats within their field because of their influence they have had in setting higher standards.

Westside seems to thrive on a dog eat dog culture. Members know what they are getting themselves in for. I have not heard never mind experienced a place like this. The bonds the brotherhood have are strong but can be broken.

From the documentary it appeared that ego was King. There’s competition within a gym that benefits all but when that spills over to rivalry there is going to be conflict, but this place seemed to thrive and excel the more intense it got until it imploded. A fine example of this was when Matt Wenning was unceremoniously kicked out because he was becoming too influential with other members and became a threat to Simmons’ leadership. Wenning would go onto break world records, one being at Westside Barbell meet – the implosion brought change. Something Simmons was more than able to do; just look at the reputation of Westside now, its back from the abyss.

My last reflection of the documentary is the passion and love that all members, even those kicked out, have for Westside. That culture, community and sense of belonging meant and means so much to them all and Simmons was the vehicle for engineering this milieu. He engenders and embodies everything that Westside is and that is often the case for the most successful gyms and for the gyms I have visited that I feel are above what you expect from a gym. They all have a leader who people respect and look up to, they might not always see eye to eye but that leader is the community they have created. They are the head of household and without them I doubt that their gyms would continue exist in the manner they do now.