What does everyone think of the following video? I can see a few problems. Click on the following hyperlink to view the video. NSCA Training Tip of the Month: The Clean
Main problem I can see is with the back position - the lifter is straightening his legs before extending his back.
Funny how one can sense power escaping during the lift! I guess there’s not enough weight on the bar, therefore pulling can be done from almost any position – he doesn’t have to pull hard enough. Although, I can also picture the opposite; when the bar gets heavy, his urge to straighten his legs before the second pull might be even stronger. If that’s his style, he will clean 10-15kg less than his potential (power clean).
It is correct technique to straighten the legs first (first pull) before repositioning. It isn’t like a deadlift.
I think it’s a pretty good example apart from slight arm bend before full extension and the fact that it’s a power clean with a squat not a clean.
The technique is quite good.
I don’t think that the lifter is getting very good extension. It is clear when you watch the feet.
But I would only nit pick over this if this was an Olympic Lifter.
If only olympic lifting to improve performance in another sport then all the essential components are there, flexability, contraction relaxation of the muscular apparatus.
i think that he could get under the weight more, instead of catching it in a half or quarter squat and then going into a full squat.
This is one way to do a clean, it would be a power clean, so catching it high would be fine if your goal is power development. To catch it in the bottom position is a technical clean, this is for technique and also for heavy tripples and singles.
but to maxamize power the full catch would be better.
ACBarchJr,
You’ve gained popularity recently and have some good insights into training, but you have to try to not be so rigid sometimes. Sometimes it’s not a question of better, it’s what’s more appropriate at a specific phase in development. There are many variations of the OL’s and most have value, assuming there’s a competent coach present. Please take this post for what it is (an attempt to take the thread in the right direction, and to not get too caught up in methodology) and do not read into emotion that is not there.
My Opinion:
His hips start fairly high so I’m assuming he has some mobility issues. Not much to the lift though, he’s probably moving at less than maximum for demonstration purposes. Looks fake not fluid, so that may very well be the problem. If anyone here has ever had video analysis done, you’ll realize that “stage fright” is very real. Sometimes lifters/sprinters try to be too pleasing with their technique and end up performing like s#%t. Just my 2 cents.
Im a newby when it comes to power cleans, but im pretty sure he can get his elbows a lot higher when he catches the bar. They’re way down there.
[QUOTE=SpeedKills]ACBarchJr,
You’ve gained popularity recently and have some good insights into training, but you have to try to not be so rigid sometimes. Sometimes it’s not a question of better, it’s what’s more appropriate at a specific phase in development. There are many variations of the OL’s and most have value, assuming there’s a competent coach present. Please take this post for what it is (an attempt to take the thread in the right direction, and to not get too caught up in methodology) and do not read into emotion that is not there.
From the books that i have on the NSCA and the videos and audio cds, none of them describe or show the cleans or snatch and their variations in a full catch. my point is, why doesnt the NSCA describe this even in a progression. i know that the lift shown can be a progression to the full catch, but why, at least from all the materials and seminars that i have been to concerning the NSCA is there no full catch. maybe thats a whole other thread, for the lift shown, he has descent form all things considered- its hard as hell to do the oly lifts with perfect form with light weight.
[QUOTE=SpeedKills]ACBarchJr,
You’ve gained popularity recently and have some good insights into training, but you have to try to not be so rigid sometimes. Sometimes it’s not a question of better, it’s what’s more appropriate at a specific phase in development. There are many variations of the OL’s and most have value, assuming there’s a competent coach present. Please take this post for what it is (an attempt to take the thread in the right direction, and to not get too caught up in methodology) and do not read into emotion that is not there.
often times emotions and tone of voice get lost in the translation. i quick to the point post may sound rude when actually i am just adding to the post with good intentions. if you look at what i wrote though it does make sense. if power development is your main goal, go with the full catch if all the progression lifts are in place. didnt mean any harm, just giving my opinion trying to add knowledge and gain it as well
[quote=“ACBarchJr”]
I understand you completely. I did the same thing to you that I thought you did to someone else. Thanks for pointing that out.
Unfortunately, the link takes me to an RDL instead of a clean. But it does bring up a question that has been nagging at me for some time now.
Why, or is it just me, that I find many coaches who teach a deep catch for the clean/snatch?
Isnt the purpose of the lift the longer extension of the hip/knee/ankle? A long, quick as possible extension.
Most times I will see an extension of the hip, partial extension at the knee, and no extension at the ankle before the lifter pulls himself under the bar for a front squat. Doesnt the defeat the purpose of the lift for a non-oly competitor?
Yes I see that now. They must have changed the link.
Taken from the National Strength & Conditioning Association Journal Volume 8, Number 3, June/July 1986.
One of the main advantages of the olympic lifts is the benifit to the neuro muscular system. More so for the muscles to incrase the ability to contract and relax in quick succession.
For catching in the bottom position the lifter would be increasing his overall strength and strength development throughout movement and in the muscles used. What we, at our gym, call a technical clean.
When doing a power clean the athlete is trying to achive optimum results in both strength and power. In my gym when we do a power clean we catch high then drop to the bottom and recover as quick as possible. Which has the advantage of an extra contraction relaxation moment in the lift.
When we work the clean we do technical cleans to develop strength and then we go for power cleans to convert the new strength to more power.
The benifit I see for sprinters is the increased ability to develop force from the relaxed position. When the knee is high before the downward motion to the ground.(Forgive my lack of correct terminology)
Perhapse I am wrong,I am not a sprint coach as of yet. But I am in the process of rectifing this.
But from what I read and what I see this is a benifit for the sprinter.