To get warmed up in the gym, Branden Ha tosses around 315 pounds on the bench press.
When he wants to get serious, he starts ripping through sets of 365.
Ha decided to really get serious Nov. 5 in Las Vegas. Competing at the world powerlifting championships, the 5-foot-2 Ha set three successive records in his raw (nonshirt) open division (165 pounds), maxing out at 424 pounds.
“The judges, the owner of the association were like, ‘Wow, where did this guy come from?’ ”
One answer would be Hilo, and another could be nowhere, because Ha only started lifting competitively this year.
Height was a detriment to the 1995 Waiakea graduate in some sports, especially his favorite back then: basketball.
“I used to boogie-board; I was 130 soaking wet,” Ha said.
But his short arms and stocky build were always a boon when it came to lifting weights, an endeavor he started before his junior year in high school.
“I didn’t have strong legs or a strong back in school, but benching was popular,” Ha said. “Everyone always asks, ‘How much can you bench?’ ”
A lot has usually been his answer.
“In the gym I was usually the strongest guy for my size,” Ha said. “Many people told me I should enter competitions.”
One of those people was Hilo powerlifter Keith Daniels, who saw Ha’s raw potential and enhanced his training methods.
Ha qualified for worlds by setting a national record at an Oahu qualifier in August, putting up 385 pounds to win the 165 class in the 35-39 age group.
The mark earned him a berth at worlds, but Ha couldn’t have made the trip to Las Vegas without the support of his uncle, Richard Ha.
His wife, Annaliza, and children Landen, 10, and Lasaea, 8, didn’t make the trip, but they were with him in spirit during his four lifts.
Under the watchful eyes of three judges and surrounded by five spotters, Ha opened with a 385. He broke the world record on his second attempt by lifting 402, and then bettered it with lifts of 413 and 424.
Nobody else in his class cleared 402.
“As soon as I go, I just block things out,” Ha said. “I just thought of my wife and kids back home. My wife has been supportive all the way through.”
After receiving a hero’s welcome at Hilo International Airport, Ha has returned to his daily routine. He works out for fun at any of a number of local gyms and as part of his job lugging 40-pound bags at Island Princess Macnut Farm.
Ha was told he had 10 more pounds in him during his last lift at the world championships, so his next goal is to reach 435.
“It’s tough, but records can be broken (by others), and that’s the scary part,” Ha said. “I’m not taking anything for granted.”
Most of all, Ha is glad he’s accomplished a feat his children can look up to.
“My son is on a basketball team that is losing because they’re all first-timers,” Ha said. “Landen asks my wife, ‘How come daddy always winning and I’m always losing?’
“She said, your dad trains really hard and when he puts his mind to it he does it.”