Confused about power lifting

I have become intrested in powerlifting mainly because i utilize most of the big lifts in my bodybuilding routine such as deadlift, squat, bench press, military press.  What I don't understand is that if powerlifters are lifting heavy weights, why doesn't size just come with using these heavy weights?  Why is the powerlifting about strength over size?  The principal for getting bigger is to lift heavy.  Can anyone explain

anyone please?

there are different repetion ranges for different goals a bodybuilder would use a rep range between 8-12 sometimes even up to 15 reps in a single set and this is to promote muscle growth, however in powerlifting the rep range doesnt usually exceed 5 or 6 at maximum this is to imply enough stress onto the muscle to force it to get stronger so next time it has to do the same excersise it has less difficulty next time round.

215 lbs
5'10''

Ado answered a big part of it...the body's responses to training are specific.
 

I have become intrested in powerlifting mainly because i utilize most of the big lifts in my bodybuilding routine such as deadlift, squat, bench press, military press.  What I don't understand is that if powerlifters are lifting heavy weights, why doesn't size just come with using these heavy weights? 

Strength is a particular neural (nervous system) response...in which the body gets better at recruiting muscle fibers for max force production.
 

 Why is the powerlifting about strength over size? 

The correlation between strength and muscle size is really very weak.  More and larger muscle fibers does mean more fibers to recruit but it does not mean your nervous system is better at recruiting them.
 
Powerlifters are really focused on developing maximal strength and power and so they don't necessarily care to eat the way a bodybuilder would.
 
Bodybuilding is a very specialized sport.  We are physique athletes.  We specialize in developing optimal muscularity with minimal fat.
 

 The principal for getting bigger is to lift heavy.  Can anyone explain

Not true actually.  That is for getting stronger. The principal for getting a bigger EGO is to lift heavy.  To build larger muscles you have to check the ego at the door.   You need to drop the amount of weight you use and put more mental focus into better lifting.
 
However, cycling through strength training to raise your weights and work the muscle fibers optimally is certainly worth while!!!
 
Anyway..look at this post for other information related to set/rep ranges and other parts of optimal muscle development...
http://www.discussbodybuilding.com/For_Gaining_Mass/m_111173/tm.htm
 
This probably busted a myth for you..the old "Heavy weights equal big muscles" myth.

 

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thanks, i appreciate the help

Very true- But it's also true that size can come with lifting heavy- Many people say that the five rep range is more for building strength, but plenty of people have used the Max OT routine, which has you lifting in the four to six rep range, to put on a nice amount of mass too- Myself included. The definite difference between someone on Max OT and a powerlifter should be the diet- If your goal is to gain mass, you have to eat to support the growth of more muscle, plain and simple. If your goal is simply to increase strength, there's no real need to eat an overabundance of calories. As Dan said, strength can be developed as more of a mind/body connection in a sense- A neural response to recruit as many muscle fibers from different groups to work together in harmony to lift the most amount of weight possible- This sort of training won't necessarily promote muscle growth, especially if you're not feeding your body enough to grow. However, if you do this type of training, AND eat a healthy muscle building diet, you should see some nice muscle gain.

Yeah, lifting to get stronger eventually does make you bigger....Ever watch world's strongest man contests?  Not a one of them is big.  But there are some very small ppl who can lift some incredible amounts of weight because they've established the powerlifter's muscle connection, which is as dan says, maximum muscle fiber recruitment.

One other point is that the different styles of lifting reach the muscles differently and so neglecting heavier weights will mean you might miss building some of the TypeIIb fibers that need the maximal intensity to recruit and push to the point of growth.

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