Mark Rippetoe explains the main reason why we (the USA) suck at olympic weightlifting

[glennpendlay]

The average 77 lifter in china (well there average is on a different level then any of our lifters) can squat around 600...so I wouldn't say our strength matches there's

I dont remember anyone who said it was.

[feces99]

We should be working more on front squats than on back squats. A lifter should always be able to front squat 90% of their back squat. That's a major difference between the rest of the world and us.

[glennpendlay]

We should be working more on front squats than on back squats. A lifter should always be able to front squat 90% of their back squat. That's a major difference between the rest of the world and us.

I think that is way too much of a generalization... I have coached many who had front squats at or over 90%.

[olyw8lifter]

I think the biggest issue is not the level of strength per se, but how the lifters express it. Watching the squats from the Chinese and other EE lifters, they squat fast and controlled. There is no hitching in the sticking point, heck, there is no sticking point. Compare that to the American lifters you see squatting bug weights, their hips shoot back and then in during the heaviest sets. Not smooth or controlled. And definitely not fast up!! Just my thoughts!!

[WHT_LIGHTNING]

I think one of the biggest reasons we "suck" is exposure. It's hard to even find a coach to learn the lifts, hell most of the US doesn't even know what a snatch is....

Yes, you can learn the lifts yourself, but how many globo gyms have platforms, bumpers etc???????????

If they did, maybe I would have started at 20 and not 25...

[HesterW]

I think one of the biggest reasons we "suck" is exposure. It's hard to even find a coach to learn the lifts, hell most of the US doesn't even know what a snatch is....

Yes, you can learn the lifts yourself, but how many globo gyms have platforms, bumpers etc???????????

If they did, maybe I would have started at 20 and not 25...

This.

[Reidy]

Was out to lunch with some co-workers today and guy I work with mentioned he was thinking about doing CrossFit but didn't really know what it was. Just said he "wants to get ripped." Anyway, I mentioned that they do a let of metcon stuff mixed in with the Oly lifts, "like the snatch." He responds, "what's that?" and the guy sitting next to me goes "I know what it is," and proceeded to mimic a clean and jerk.

Sigh.

[fraverdenstreet]

^ i lol'ed at that story

[bigkarl]

He used this same argument with Big Shane and he basically just said "yeah, uh huh" to every one of Rip's points. I like Rippetoe, but max effort bench, squat, dead lift and military press training is not the cure all for every athlete.

[Engineer_Guy]

I like Rippetoe, but max effort bench, low bar squat, dead lift and military press training is not the cure all for every athlete.

Fixed it for you

[Conquer92]

Fixed it for you

haha its true, rip is a huge fan of lowbar squats.

[scarboro]

I think the biggest issue is not the level of strength per se, but how the lifters express it. Watching the squats from the Chinese and other EE lifters, they squat fast and controlled. There is no hitching in the sticking point, heck, there is no sticking point. Compare that to the American lifters you see squatting bug weights, their hips shoot back and then in during the heaviest sets. Not smooth or controlled. And definitely not fast up!! Just my thoughts!!

You sure it's not just the weight being light? Most of the vids of the chinese lifters squatting are at probably 80% so obviously it will look fast.

[olyw8lifter]

You sure it's not just the weight being light? Most of the vids of the chinese lifters squatting are at probably 80% so obviously it will look fast.

It might be, but I've been lifting with Alex Lee lately and that's a big thing he talks about. He is being coached by Shahin Nassarinia (spelling??) who put up a 187.5/220 as a 94 lifter. Shahin talks about that too, making the squatting look effortless, i.e. positions and not letting your hips shoot back/up.

[scarboro]

It might be, but I've been lifting with Alex Lee lately and that's a big thing he talks about. He is being coached by Shahin Nassarinia (spelling??) who put up a 187.5/220 as a 94 lifter. Shahin talks about that too, making the squatting look effortless, i.e. positions and not letting your hips shoot back/up.

The position makes alot of sense. Hips in between legs and vertical torso would translate better to a front squat/clean recovery and quad dominance. Maybe a lifter can squat say 250kg very fast but it doesn't mean he'd squat his max at a constant speed. More likely than not if it's still fast/constant it's not enough weight and they're sandbagging themselves. I'd love to see one of these talked about big squats from chinese/ee lifters. If they exist they'd probably be mindblowing.

[Conquer92]

Speaking of squat form, i absolutely love this video. So much control, everything is incredibly stable, and the hips barely even move. Torso doesnt even dare drop.

[NorwichGrad]

Was out to lunch with some co-workers today and guy I work with mentioned he was thinking about doing CrossFit but didn't really know what it was. Just said he "wants to get ripped." Anyway, I mentioned that they do a let of metcon stuff mixed in with the Oly lifts, "like the snatch." He responds, "what's that?" and the guy sitting next to me goes "I know what it is," and proceeded to mimic a clean and jerk.

Sigh.

Hahaha. Look on the bright side. The Oly lifts are becoming popular in the States. Hopefully the day will come when you dont get asked how much u bench when u tell em ur a weightlifter.lol

[Engineer_Guy]

haha its true, rip is a huge fan of lowbar squats.

Yea he likes them...a little too much.

[feces99]

http://goheavy.com/forums/olympic/index.cgi/read/662833

[MegaDave]

So what is wrong with getting stronger in order to help improve the snatch and clean/jerk?

[chigiskov]

So what is wrong with getting stronger in order to help improve the snatch and clean/jerk?

Nothing.

[glennpendlay]

So what is wrong with getting stronger in order to help improve the snatch and clean/jerk?

Nothing wrong with trying to get stronger. Every weightlifter I know is trying to get stronger, busting his ass to get stronger.

[NorwichGrad]

So what is wrong with getting stronger in order to help improve the snatch and clean/jerk?

Getting stronger is a must. All Olyers I know strength-train in addition to doing technique work. In fact, I dont know of any Olyer, recreational or top level, who only works on technique. If Olyers dont train for strength they might as well "staple their nutsack to their left thigh." (I'm borrowing one of Coach Rip's favorite quotes and tossing it back at him cuz Olyers do train to get stronger.)

[forcefedfreak]

I'm still confused as to why the **** anyone still gives a **** what Mark Rippetoe has to say about anything?

[crackyflipside]

My coach has brought up Pan am champs and Olympic medalists since they were 10 years old in weightlifting.

1. Until puberty, all children do general calisthenics and ONLY form is taught for weightlifting. The competitions for these children are judged by technical mastery; not weight lifted. The children scoring the highest technical skill are advanced when they hit puberty.
2. Once the selected lifters hit puberty they are training 6-12 sessions a week. All basic living expenses are provided and lifting becomes a full-time job. Lifter is also paid to go to university to study.
3. Only the best of the weight classes from each regional school can go to nationals. Everything is a tiered system, including coaching. You have to work your way up getting champions to get up to the national school as a coach.
4. Once you make it to the national school, you got state sponsored scientists working around the clock keeping you in top sporting form and keeping you clean when WADA officials show up to test you. They also travel with you to international competition to make sure you test clean.

[scarboro]

4. Once you make it to the national school, you got state sponsored scientists working around the clock keeping you in top sporting form and keeping you clean when WADA officials show up to test you. They also travel with you to international competition to make sure you test clean.

This I did not know about... They basically have cycle coaches/doctors lol.

[bcop]

I'm still confused as to why the **** anyone still gives a **** what Mark Rippetoe has to say about anything?

Because he is a very good strength coach who has helped many people get stronger.

[forcefedfreak]

Because he is a very good strength coach who has helped many people get stronger.

I lol'd

[Doncanutcho]

My coach has brought up Pan am champs and Olympic medalists since they were 10 years old in weightlifting.

1. Until puberty, all children do general calisthenics and ONLY form is taught for weightlifting. The competitions for these children are judged by technical mastery; not weight lifted. The children scoring the highest technical skill are advanced when they hit puberty.
2. Once the selected lifters hit puberty they are training 6-12 sessions a week. All basic living expenses are provided and lifting becomes a full-time job. Lifter is also paid to go to university to study.
3. Only the best of the weight classes from each regional school can go to nationals. Everything is a tiered system, including coaching. You have to work your way up getting champions to get up to the national school as a coach.
4. Once you make it to the national school, you got state sponsored scientists working around the clock keeping you in top sporting form and keeping you clean when WADA officials show up to test you. They also travel with you to international competition to make sure you test clean.

this is about how it works in china

now combine that with a genetical pool of billions of people...

[WHT_LIGHTNING]

This I did not know about... They basically have cycle coaches/doctors lol.

I assumed that the top guys did/do

[WHT_LIGHTNING]

these dudes clearly know what's up