Olympic Weightlifting consists of the Snatch and Clean & Jerk. That’s it. In layman’s terms, it is the method of training the human body to lift a weight from the ground to overhead position as efficiently as possible, either using one continuous movement (Snatch), or two connected movements (Clean + Jerk).
In simplicity there is the possibility for elegance in methodology. Training these two lifts as the main focus is a pursuit of artistic mastery, which can be an enjoyable process for the artistic-minded person. Since perfection is unattainable, you will never get bored of developing these skills, however this also means that if you have perfectionist tendencies, you may find them frustrating for the same reason.
Thanks to CrossFit’s popularity and strong Weightlifting bias inherent in the model, there has been a recent surge of interest in Weightlifting worldwide. More and more people appreciate the value of Speed, Power and Flexibility, which are at the core of Weightlifting and the main models of Fitness (per CrossFit’s definitions), what they mean for their physical health, and the enjoyment of their practice.
I think good CrossFit training has provided a particularly unique environment for developing the lifts. A formal Weightlifting meet is quiet and stoic, it’s all about the lifting, rules, and traditions. The stress levels of the athletes and coaches are palpable. The pace is closer to Baseball, where the average person may find it boring and slow if they don’t know a lot of the situational rules.
A CrossFit class or event is loud like a party, and often the Olympic Lifts are done as a part of a larger workout or event with multiple parts. Variety is king. This has its pros and cons of course, as our intention is finite and adding complexity dilutes the ability to focus on any one thing. Summarily, this creates an environment where doing the lifts really well becomes almost impossible, and there is a certain amount of technique degradation or “slop” that is considered acceptable. From the spectator perspective, this facilitates drama well — it can be exciting to watch someone gut it out to make a lift with sub par technique. But it can also scare people away from Weightlifting — especially the older population — as it sets an example that Weightlifting is exclusive to young athletes who like taking risks.
What can we learn from this? You can go your own way. I like Weightlifting as training, for myself and my clients. The Speed, Power, Flexibility, and Coordination demands of the Olympic Lifts are without peer outside of Gymnastics. But unlike Gymnastics, you can start training the full lifts pretty much right away, and with comparatively little equipment. You can do it in your garage or backyard. That’s what we do. Based on my life experience training, coaching, and comparing methods, I think it has the unique ability to unlock athletic potential in people who otherwise would not consider themselves athletic. It levels the playing field of accessibility for what it means to be an athlete.
I like being able to play your favorite music while you lift, focus on one thing at a time, take rest, and stop at your 80-90% line of your comfort today. I like having a model that has a starting point everyone can access, and the potential for a lifetime of growth with no finish line. I like being able to complement with and sometimes pivot to the Power Lifts as needed to build strength that can then be translated to better Olympic Lifting, or for those who find the skill of the Olympic Lifts intimidating. There are so many beautiful little ways we can write your next chapter of predictable growth towards becoming a stronger and more dynamic human being, in ways that translate into better health and longevity, and a lifetime of enjoying movement.
Coach Mauricio