Olympic Lifts

Bill Starr explains how to incorporate isontonics and isometrics into your strength program.

The isometric concept was the brainchild of Dr. John Ziegler, a general practitioner from Olney, Md., who specialized in physical rehabilitation.

Isometrics, along with the more advanced combination of isotonics-isometrics, swept across the country almost overnight. Then in the mid-’60s, the isotonics/isometrics bubble exploded. Word had finally leaked out that… Continue Reading

At the recent CrossFit Tour stop in Big Sky, Mont., Olympic-weightlifting coach Mike Burgener hosted a clinic and of course handed out some burpees.

In this clip, he helps Olivia Swant of CrossFit Billings with her overhead squat. To start, she does an overhead squat with a PVC pipe.

“Oh, God,” Burgener says.

First, he checks her stance, grip and position. Then he finds the limits of her range of motion. After that, Burgener… Continue Reading

A group of five exercises will help improve the snatch, Olympic-weightlifting coach Mike Burgener says during this trainer course at CrossFit Invictus.

The exercises are: snatch push press, overhead squat with a Sots press if needed, pressing snatch balance, heaving snatch balance and snatch balance. All the movements are done from the rack.

This is where the down-and-up of the Burgener Warm-Up comes into play, Burgener says.

“There’s so many… Continue Reading

Among athletes, there are common errors when it comes to the Olympic lifts, says Caleb Williams, head coach at CrossFit Gwinnett in Buford, Ga.

As a 69-kg lifter, Williams placed second at the 2008 Olympic trials for weightlifting. He was also a member of the U.S. world team and of the U.S. Pan American team.

In this video, Williams works with CrossFit Johns Creek’s Dan Sturm and shows that… Continue Reading

Bill Starr offers up an air-superiority program based around squats and calf raises.

Being able to jump high is a great advantage in so many sports. After watching the NCAA basketball tournament, I am always impressed at how the men soar in the air. They not only climb ridiculously high, but they also seem to have the ability to hit a second gear and shoot up another few inches when they need… Continue Reading

Listen up and be ready to answer: Coach B is talking. During the CrossFit Experience at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games, Olympic-weightlifting coach Mike Burgener begins by naming the three fundamentals of teaching: the stance, the pulling position and the landing position.

The pulling position, which he also calls the jumping position, is not only good for jumping, but also pulling, pressing and jerking. The landing position is for… Continue Reading

In this video, Dan Sturm of CrossFit Johns Creek is doing the so-called jerk and split.

“What he’s working right now is just catching the jerk in the split position,” explains Caleb Williams, head coach at CrossFit Gwinnett in Buford, Ga. As a 69-kg lifter, Williams placed second at the 2008 Olympic trials for weightlifting. He was also a member of the U.S. world and Pan American teams.

During Olympic-lifting workouts… Continue Reading

CrossFit Games Masters athlete Jacinto Bonilla has shoulder pain, especially when he performs squat snatches. So Olympic-weightlifting coach Mike Burgener recommends he split snatch. The split snatch is often used by athletes who have flexibility issues and is more forgiving of technical errors.

“The pull’s exactly the same. You don’t pull a barbell up. You pull your body down into the split,” Burgener says while hosting… Continue Reading