Not being able to drop the barbell at my gym

[Trainedge]

I'm primarily doing the clean and jerk and snatch in my workouts but my local gym doesn't have bumper plates so I can't drop the barbell at the end of the movement help? (I will rep for a good solution)

[NZDarren]

Then don't drop it, why do you have to drop it anyway?
Negative resistance is good, lower it and put it on the floor.

[Alexlexexx]

hmm..

ask for the equipment you need (including floors)

if they wont get you those, explain to them that you need to perform this exercise and cant do it safely unless your dropping the barbell, if they dont accept, change gym..


if you cant change gym try buying 2 thick rubber mats (>4 inches) and have those under the barbell..

[matjusm]

You can get by just fine without dropping the weight, there really is no need to. Just lower it down in a controlled manner (doesn't have to be super slow, just slow enough to not have it smash the floor).

[eyeoftheworld]

You can get by just fine without dropping the weight, there really is no need to. Just lower it down in a controlled manner (doesn't have to be super slow, just slow enough to not have it smash the floor).

You can, but you need to know how to lower the weights right and catch the barbell on your thighs (which hurts a bit).

[matjusm]

You can, but you need to know how to lower the weights right and catch the barbell on your thighs (which hurts a bit).

Since we're on the topic, here's how I do it with the clean:


My form on the exercise is pretty bad but this is what I have found to be an effective way of lowering the weight.

[eyeoftheworld]

Since we're on the topic, here's how I do it with the clean:


My form on the exercise is pretty bad but this is what I have found to be an effective way of lowering the weight.

This is the right idea but I have always been told to catch the weight on the thighs in a quarter-squat.

[ehlpitel]

Find a different gym.

That's pretty much it.

[Trainedge]

Find a different gym.

That's pretty much it.

There's no other gym in my area.

[ChadWilliam1]

There's no other gym in my area.

What is your area. I dont lower anything down ever, that is what gravity is for.

[ehlpitel]

If that's the case just lower the bar from the rack/over head position into your hips/thighs and lower the bar from there.

It's annoying but better than nothing.

Have you tried looking on the USA Weighlifting site to see if there are any clubs/teams/coaches in your area? They're not always set up in a traditional gym.

Good luck and don't get discouraged.

[Trainedge]

If that's the case just lower the bar from the rack/over head position into your hips/thighs and lower the bar from there.

It's annoying but better than nothing.

Have you tried looking on the USA Weighlifting site to see if there are any clubs/teams/coaches in your area? They're not always set up in a traditional gym.

Good luck and don't get discouraged.

I live in England and our country isn't
as big on fitness/bodybuilding and **** as yours.

[Fluster]

I live in England and our country isn't
as big on fitness/bodybuilding and **** as yours.

Bull, there are plenty of more hardcore gyms if you can be bothered to travel a bit, where are you?

[boykid28]

I'm primarily doing the clean and jerk and snatch in my workouts but my local gym doesn't have bumper plates so I can't drop the barbell at the end of the movement help? (I will rep for a good solution)

i lift at a gym where i cant drop the weights. either learn to lower the weights, buy bumper plates, or go somewhere else.

[Trainedge]

Bull, there are plenty of more hardcore gyms if you can be bothered to travel a bit, where are you?

About 20 miles south of London. There are a few gyms within travelling distance, but they're all just small **** ones that are part of health clubs.

[Fluster]

About 20 miles south of London. There are a few gyms within travelling distance, but they're all just small **** ones that are part of health clubs.

There's a good Oly club/gym in Woking, that can't be far from you.

http://www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/weightlifting

[gbg]

There's a good Oly club/gym in Woking, that can't be far from you.

http://www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/weightlifting

Fluster to the rescue!!!

[Trainedge]

There's a good Oly club/gym in Woking, that can't be far from you.

http://www.windowonwoking.org.uk/sites/weightlifting

Thanks, but unfortunately Im 16 so go everywhere by bike or bus and it's a bit too far. I am considering setting up a home gym and for a good 100kg Weight set (with barbell) it costs about £220.

[lwild]

I made pretty much the same thread before, and everyone said to catch it on your quads, which is what I've learned to do now. It's hurts and bruises but I just man up.

[Fluster]

Thanks, but unfortunately Im 16 so go everywhere by bike or bus and it's a bit too far. I am considering setting up a home gym and for a good 100kg Weight set (with barbell) it costs about £220.

See my post in your other thread - You can do it for less, especially on ebay and will recoup your costs within 6 months with the lack of gym fees.

I don't believe that you can't bus/train to Woking if you could actually be bothered. Hell, it'd only take me 45 minutes on the train and I'm much further away than you. I appreciate it's a bit of a hassle, but don't sit there whining about it when there are clearly viable options, especially ones with proper, professional coaching.

Like I said in the other thread, Christmas is coming, get your olds to think about helping you out with the home kit.

[Fluster]

I made pretty much the same thread before, and everyone said to catch it on your quads, which is what I've learned to do now. It's hurts and bruises but I just man up.

Join the club mate

[lwild]

Join the club mate

lol atleast yours are red mate, mine go a nice yellow/gray colour :/

[kohdii]

Either arrange a talk with your gym's manager and talk to him about getting the equipment, makeshift something with what you have available, or just lower it slowly. Eccentric movement is the movement that actually tears the muscle fibers.

[raffiki]

Thanks, but unfortunately Im 16 so go everywhere by bike or bus and it's a bit too far. I am considering setting up a home gym and for a good 100kg Weight set (with barbell) it costs about £220.

Since you have a bar and some plates you can just buy a pair of bumpers. You can start with a pair of these and buy another set when your strength increases.

http://www.strengthshop.co.uk/index....ate-black.html

[sammers62]

I made pretty much the same thread before, and everyone said to catch it on your quads, which is what I've learned to do now. It's hurts and bruises but I just man up.

Is that you, and are those Power Perfect 2's?
If they are do you like them?

[lwild]

Is that you, and are those Power Perfect 2's?
If they are do you like them?

Yep and Yep.

They're very nice! Very light and a good fit. Paid 90quid for them, worth it imo.

[ChadWilliam1]

OP I encourage you to buy a set. Dropping the weights prevents injury. Everybody misses lifts. I missed a snatch off my blocks last week and lost it behind me. I miss jerks all the time, and I start over.


You gotta do what you gotta do.

Op, search and search for the closer weightlifting gym in your area. If it is truely too far to get to. Contact the coach and explain your situation and ask him if there is any lifters in your area that you can either catch a ride with or perhaps have their own set. It seems to me in my area I know three other lifters with a set.

[eyeoftheworld]

OP I encourage you to buy a set. Dropping the weights prevents injury. Everybody misses lifts. I missed a snatch off my blocks last week and lost it behind me. I miss jerks all the time, and I start over.


You gotta do what you gotta do.

Op, search and search for the closer weightlifting gym in your area. If it is truely too far to get to. Contact the coach and explain your situation and ask him if there is any lifters in your area that you can either catch a ride with or perhaps have their own set. It seems to me in my area I know three other lifters with a set.

It is not ideal, but you could always use sub-maximal weights, focusing a little more on volume. Jim Schmitz has an article on Ironmind where you use less weight and build up from 3x2 to 5x2 with a given weight over a few weeks before adding 2.5kg and doing the same thing.

The thing is, you won't automatically get injured by lowering weights. As I said above, you just cannot go as heavy. Guys had lowered weights until the advent of bumpers in the 60s/70s. Just be careful.

Then again, as you say, if you miss a jerk (and you will because we all do) you may get thrown out depending on how stupid the gym staff is. One thing I can suggest is doing just cleans and then doing jerks off the rack. You will be a little more fresh that way. This is provided you do not get your own set and cannot find a better place to train.