Archetypes of lifting.
Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, defined archetypes as universal symbols and patterns present in the collective unconscious of humans.
In the few years I’ve spent lifting, researching fitness, counting calories, and healing from gym injuries, I’ve noticed that while my peers lift with all kinds of purposes, they have concrete distinctions and overlaps. The breathless minutes between sets of repetitions are often filled with deep conversations as muscles go cold and the reasons we first picked up the weights begin to flood the soul.
I watched a video essay titled The Archetypes of Fighting that explored the patterns of behavior across boxing, mixed martial arts, and more forms of combat. As a fan of both cage fighting and psychology, I ate this analysis up immediately. The parallels observed between Muhammad Ali in boxing and Khabib Nurmagomedov in mixed martial arts being packaged as the archetype of The Crusader that fights for a higher purpose was deeply fascinating to me.
Now, I’m just one person at a non-commercial gym in Northern California, so this doesn’t encapsulate the archetypes present across all of Olympic weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, or any sport related to picking heavy things up and putting them back down.
I’m just having fun with some observations I’ve made.
So! Without further ado, here are some archetypes of lifting:
The Wanderer.
With no singular driving reason, The Wanderer awkwardly joins a gym and begins picking up the weights simply because enough people told them that it’s a worthwhile endeavor and just “what healthy people do.” Perhaps small parts of them want to run a mile in under six minutes, look like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a couple of years, or keep feeling attractive for their special someone. The Wanderer is neither strictly disciplined nor lacking conviction, they simply work out when they can. Their workouts are neither optimized nor misled; they know what they’re doing, but they have much to learn. Eventually, The Wanderer either cancels their gym membership for a couple of years or stays and grows out of the archetype either by their interests gravitating towards a sport of lifting (e.g., bodybuilding or powerlifting) or a catastrophic life event (e.g., a big breakup or a death in the family.)
The Sculptor.
Often a bodybuilder, The Sculptor doesn’t chase the big numbers but instead directs their focus towards attaining what they deem an aesthetically pleasing body. They learn what movements strain their muscles the best and stick to them, carving their desired body out of flesh and discipline. The Sculptor still enjoys the occasional beer with friends (what’s the point of looking good without a night on the town, right?) but you’ll often find them munching on protein bars, ground turkey, and mixed greens with a smile on their face. The origins of The Sculptor are often childhoods plagued by body shaming. Someone in their lives decided they were too big or too small. In response, they became an ancient Greek sculpture.
The Purist.
Subreddits? Weightlifting forums? YouTube tutorials? Macronutrients? Nonsense! The Purist cares none for the intricacies of optimization and instead approaches their lifting journey with a mindset of “If it works, it works.” Partaking in what’s often called “bro science”, The Purist doesn’t care whether it’s chest, back, or leg day; they have two objectives:
Pick heavy things up, put heavy things down, and repeat until the end of time.
Cheeseburger.
The Purist is laidback, easygoing, and a reminder that we’re more than grams of carbs and protein. You’ll never find them asking if the gym rat lunch outing will have keto options. They lift simply because it’s fun and allows them to eat whatever they want.
The Specialist.
Often a powerlifter, The Specialist seeks mastery over the most notable lifts such as the bench press, squat, and deadlift. They share many parallels with The Sculptor, however, while The Sculptor attains secrets to the body, The Specialist attains secrets to the weights, forever learning the smallest of intricacies that allow them to lift the heaviest they can. Do you know those movie scenes where the puzzle guarding the ancient secret is solved by a small nudging of a rock and suddenly the whole world seems to shift? The Specialist is that small nudging of a rock. Whether it’s a slight shifting of their feet, a different method of breathing and bracing, or a different timing of when to eat lunch, The Specialist solves all puzzles to lifting given enough time. The Specialist shares the same relaxedness in demeanor as The Purist but delves into the science behind lifting to learn more about what works and what doesn’t. They are the ones who blur the lines between hobby and sport.
The Werewolf.
Hungry for greatness, the weights are simply a means to an end for The Werewolf. Where one lifter says “That’s enough for today,” the Werewolf says “Give me more.” All lifters occasionally experience a certain feeling in the air; the warmups are perfect, the weights feel light, and today’s lunch was the perfect fuel. For The Werewolf, this is a “full moon”, and the beast inside is never denied. The gym is normally in for a treat and receives a boost in strength from The Werewolf’s presence when this happens. They are driven by the need to be the best they can be, because what else would they be in life? The limits of fitness are discovered and broken by The Werewolf. No one pushes you like The Werewolf does.
The Sage.
For many, strength is a lifetime goal, and this is embodied best by none other than The Sage. Often a much older man with grey hair, The Sage has wisdom the kiddos don’t. They’ve been in the gym long enough to see all the archetypes come and go. The Sage has already accomplished most of what they intend with their grown bodies, so a good workout for them is instead filled with accomplishments of the youngins around them. Sages in the making are often younger personal trainers wielding the secrets of fitness in the palms of their hands. They spend the most time in the gym, so if you’re having a bad day, be prepared for The Sage to check up on you.
The Flagellant.
Also known as The Demon or The Villain, The Flagellant uses the pain of lifting weights to reflect the pain inside their psyches. This is often the gymgoer with a hoodie and headphones whose workouts prompt questions of “Who hurt you?” The Flagellant experienced betrayal or tragedy at the hands of another and strives towards a glow-up to regain power over their lives. This archetype is seldom sustainable and is often a transient mode of being that provides focus away from inner strife, but it does produce some of the most grueling and rewarding workouts. Every gym session for The Flagellant is a suicide mission. Don’t ever bother The Flagellant. It’s a bad move.
The Hero.
Often growing out from The Flagellant, The Hero embraces inner peace and lifts with optimistic acceptance of life’s troubles. Where The Flagellant’s lifting is a vessel for violence against the world, The Hero’s is of mastery over the mind, body, and soul. The Hero attains a greater understanding of themselves through the long hours spent loading up bars with 45 lb. plates. They haven’t spent enough years in the gym to match The Sage’s wisdom, but their outlook on life is often wise beyond their years and serves as a beacon for gymgoers around them.
The Hero embodies this moment from The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse:
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Kind.”
As I continue to lift, I’ve found myself experiencing many of the archetypes I’ve observed so far. They come and go with life’s troubles, but I feel the archetype of The Hero starting to take over as I continue to make peace with the past.
Lifting used to be many things for me.
Desire.
Desperation.
Vengeance.
Mourning.
Obsession.
Escape.
Chaos.
Violence.
Pain.
Wrath.
Lately, it’s been something much more worthwhile to me as the years go by.
Bliss. Simple, accepted, and embraced bliss.