Olympic Weightlifting....
... or as its know in other countries: Weightlifting.
CrossFit is confusing to some people because we use powerlifting, olympic weightlifting, odd object lifting, powerlifting, gymnastics... the list is almost endless.
Not only do we use the main movements but we use accessory movements from each discipline.
The question comes down to what's what?
The Olympic lifts are the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk.
That's it; just two lifts that are competitive lifts at the Olympics.
The accessory lifts for the Snatch are:
Hang snatch
Power snatch
Hang power Snatch
Overhead squat- OHS
Muscle Snatch
Snatch deadlift
High bar Backsquat
...and that's just naming a few!
The accessory lifts for the Clean and Jerk are:
Clean
Power clean
Hang power clean
Muscle clean
Split jerk
Push jerk
Press
Push press
Front squat
This is not a full list there are more but these are the ones you will most often see us use to build your technical ability.
Olympic Weightlifting, in my opinion, is beautiful and technical.
What I love about the Oly lifts is that being strong is majorly important but you have nothing on the Olympic lifts if you don't have technique.
There are many methods of teaching, learning and improving technique.
One of the more popular methods is the Bulgarian method.
My point of reference are from this site.
They have amazing videos about Olympic Weightlifting here and here.
I've had the privilege of being taught by Greg and Aimee who own and run this weightlifting gym in CA.
Their site is very helpful and they are specialist in the field of Olympic weightlifting.
I've also had the great experience of being coached by Fred Lowe and Coach Burgener and his daughter Sage.
You should friend them on Facebook!
I'm enamored with Olympic Weighlifting, I spend hours watching videos, reading and thinking about how to better explain, coach and cue the Oly lifts.
In my opinion the Olympic lifts teach us to move better, they make us stronger and faster.
The Olympic lifts teach us patience, and how to rely on skill because forcing or muscling the Olympic lifts has little pay off in the big picture.
One of the most satisfying feelings has nothing to do with how much weight is on the bar, it's the feeling of the movement flowing together.
That feeling of the bar just moving from the floor to overhead in one seamless movement.
All the moving parts of your body controlling that barbell just came together long enough and with the strength to make the magic of the movement happen!
You've just earned that weight on the barbell, it's an amazing feeling.
If Olympic Weightlifting intimidates you, or if you have questions... please don't hesitate to ask me!
Jennifer Conlin
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