January 01, 2006
Olympic weightlifters have been found to have higher vertical leaps and quicker 25-meter sprint times than any other athletes, including Olympic high-jumpers and sprinters.
The technical explanation for this is that the weightlifters have better "speed strength" than any other athletes. Speed-strength is defined as a combination of starting strength (ability to fire many muscle units instantaneously) and explosive strength (ability to keep these motor units firing once turned on).
The more useful explanation as to why they can out sprint and out leap all others is, quite simply, because they weightlift. (Weightlifting, remember, is the sport of Olympic lifting: the clean and jerk, and the snatch.)
So, weightlifting is unsurpassed in developing lightning-quick athletic movement and has enormous carryover to all explosive sport.
Free Download
Comment
Related Articles
In our August issue we explored the overhead squat, which we billed as "the ultimate core exercise, the heart of the snatch, and peerless in developing effective athletic movement." This… Continue Reading
Bill Starr breaks down one of the most difficult athletic movements you’ll ever perform. Put the pieces together to master the world’s fastest lift.
The full snatch is one of the most… Continue Reading
Olympic-weightlifting coach Mike Burgener says the three snatch positions are the high hang, mid-thigh and floor.
While the weight is somewhat balanced in the foot in the start position, the… Continue Reading
After 45 years of coaching Olympic weightlifting, Mike Burgener still assesses athletes the same way: stance, grip, position.
“You just eyeball it real quick and you make the changes right… Continue Reading
2 Comments on “The Scoop & The Second Pull”
1
wrote …
I was looking for an explicit breakdown of the mechanics of the clean before doing some limit training (clean 1-1-1-1-1-1-1) for the first time after doing the WODs as Rxd for the first month, and this article was exactly what I needed. I feel fortunate I read it before I hit this WOD today.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
2
wrote …
Wow. I have been oly lifting for several years now and I don't think I'm doing this. I think I've been using the same movement from the kettlebell swings.
Login to reply to this comment
Permalink
Leave a comment