Tuesday 8/24

As I teach the more advanced lifts to my athletes I can't help but notice the obvious frustration flash across more than one of their faces.  More often than not it occurs with the stronger athletes, the ones who usually excel at any challenge I give them. 

I explain that these lifts are not natural movements, they are not very easy to learn, and honestly really aren't that functional when it comes to sport specific training.  Even professional lifters have coaches that critique them continually through out their careers.  Years, sometimes decades, of coaching for just a couple of movements.  It's funny how some of my athletes think they can master it within 10 minutes. 

The above video shows just how precise these lifts are.  You'll notice that a small shift in position can determine whether a lift is successful or not. 

So why do them?  I do them because they are fun.  If I want to train a "triple extension" I can just to weighted squat jumps like DeFranco preaches, but that is not near as cool as doing a snatch. 

I strongly recommend having someone experienced teach you these lifts.  I read Greg Everett's Olympic Weightlifting for Coaches and it felt like I was reading Mandarin Chinese.  Find a coach, it's worth it in the long run.

In Austin?  Look up Oleg Kechko, a former Olympian and a great coach.