Welcome to a new monthly segment for Barbell Beauties! Technique for More Weight! To get the details about what we’re trying to do with these check out the very first post.
The videos below are from #ProjectLiftReview on Instagram. #ProjectLiftReview is an opportunity to tag your lifts in the gym and receive a one-minute review in our daily drawling.
Pulling the Bar High Vs. Changing Direction
In a past post, I highlighted how we can add more power and speed to our Olympic lifts by NOT shrugging. In this post, we’re going to see an athlete who shrugs and tries to pull the bar higher, and then we’ll see a video of an athlete pulling under the bar.
Our first athlete we’re going to highlight is Kristine. Take your time and watch this video. Here is what I want you to look at:
- Her positions when the bar is at the hip (hint: She’ll be up in her shoulders)
- What happens as the bar comes off the hip
- How she receives the bar
Could you see how Kristine wanted to try to pull the bar a little higher off the hip? Keep those positions in your mind because now we’re going to look at another athlete move through those same positions.
Again look for these positions:
- The bar at the hip (He’ll be long and not shrugged into the traps)
- What happens as the bar comes off the hip
- How he receives the bar
Did you see the difference in positions and how they moved? Did you see how SOLID Buster received the weight?
What Does this Mean for You?
If you’re currently trying to pull the bar high off the hip there is huge opportunity for you! But, the first step is awareness.
Awareness – Take your phone/camera and set it up at a front 45 degree angle and record a few lifts. Now take the time to review them. Did you see what you saw in the video above with Kristine?
A Deliberate and Intentional Focus in Training – If you saw yourself wanting to pull the bar high, or getting up into your shoulders early than there is an opportunity to correct it. The next step is to plan intentional time to work on it in training. Select drills that will help you address that area. Keep weights where you have enough control to move well.
Test and Re-Test – Start to add a little more weight, and keep videoing your lifts and give them a review. Have patience here. Many corrections won’t be fixed overnight, but with deliberate and intentional training you will start to move better!
Stronger, Faster and More Explosive
Our goal when it comes to improving the Olympic lifts is to be stronger, faster and more explosive. It takes deliberate and intentional training. Guidance will help and my hope is this article provides a little direction. If you’re at a loss don’t hesitate to take advantage of the #ProjectLiftReview on Instagram or the other remote options we have at Project Lift!
WOD Nation… question for you – What challenges do you face when it comes to your Olympic lifts? I’d love to hear more to help me shape this articles!
Drew is a co-owner or Project Lift and 14 year veteran of coaching athletes. As a coach, Drew has been a personal coach at the 2015 World Championship and has helped 2012 Olympian Holley Mangold through training from 2011 to 2016. He has also led multiple athletes to national competitions. As an athlete, Drew placed his highest of 4th at a national competition.
My challenge stems from having long, long femurs so my starting position and mobility when receiving the bar are limiting me.
Because of these proportions, I don’t have many athletes or coaches to look into that can help effectively.
Do you feel because a coach or athlete doesn’t have the same body proportions they can’t help you? Or, are you saying that you don’t have anyone to watch and mimic?
I encourage you to invest in a coach, get your questions answered and keep having fun with these movements!