The Benefits Of Olympic Style Weightlifting

In the Olympic games, weightlifting competitions consist of two lifts. The clean and jerk and the snatch. The clean and jerk, also referred to as c&j, is taking a barbell from the ground to above you head in two movements combined. First the weight is cleaned to the shoulders then the lifter drops under the weight and jerks it overhead.

The Snatch is a lift taken above the head just like the clean and jerk, but in one motion. The barbell starts on the floor and the lifter takes a much wider grip on the barbell then proceeds to take the barbell from the ground above head like an overhead squat. Then the lifter will then stand up with the weight above head.

The benefits of Olympic lifts are outlined in the book The Weightlifting Encyclopedia by Drechsler. The examples he has given about the benefits of doing Olympic lifts are:

1. The mere practice of the (Olympic) lifts [the snatch and the clean & jerk as well as related lifting techniques] teaches an athlete how to explode.

2. The practice of proper technique in the Olympic lifts, teaches an athlete to apply force with his or her muscle groups in the proper sequences.

3. In mastering the Olympic lifts, the athlete learns how to accelerate objects under varying degrees of resistance.

4. The athlete learns to receive force from another moving body effectively and becomes conditioned to accept such forces.

5. The athlete learns to move effectively from an eccentric contraction to a concentric one.

6. The actual movements performed while executing the Olympic lifts are among the most common and fundamental in sports.

7. Practicing the Olympic lifts trains an athlete’s explosive capabilities, and the lifts themselves measure the effectiveness of the athlete in generating explosive power to a greater degree than most other exercises they can practice.

8. The Olympic lifts are simply fun to do

It has also been well documented the amazing vertical jump these Olympic lifters have. This is incredible once you think that these guys don’t jump but can out jump the pro basketball players in the NBA. In the Mexico City Olympic Games Dr. Yessis did a field test with the Olympic lifters competing and the Olympic sprinters and jumpers. There were two tests, the 25m sprint and the vertical jump. It was documented that Olympic lifter’s out sprinted the Olympic sprinters in the 25m and out jumped the Olympic jumpers in the vertical jump! This is quite a feat for men 250-300lbs.

Olympic lifts have also been used to aid rehabilitation of people from injury. This is incredible when you consider the view most people have that Olympic lifting is dangerous