Olympic Lift teaching methodology

[david strecker]

Why are the Olympic lifts taught in the manner that they are by teaching the movement from Finish to Start vs Start to finish? Power lifting movement are not taught this way, but Olympic lifts are.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Because it works better this way. And the floor pull actually is taught first.

[stef]

Why are the Olympic lifts taught in the manner that they are by teaching the movement from Finish to Start vs Start to finish? Power lifting movement are not taught this way, but Olympic lifts are.

We don't. We use the same approach in each lift -- we teach positions in the lifts and moving between positions aka targets. Lifts that are eccentric-concentric start and finish in the same place -- so is it the finish or the start? But even so, squat teaching starts with the bottom position, then how to move up, unracking and moving into the start/finish is taught last. Bench Press shows the start/finish position, then the target at the bottom, then moving between the two. Press we show start position, then lockout, then how to move between the two. Deadlift start position, then finish, then lowering and resetting. Clean/snatch have already had the start position taught since lifters learn the deadlift first. We teach the finish position, then the middle position (jump/explosion), then tie middle to finish before start to middle to finish.

[GioFerrante]

Rip, It would be great if you could add the jerk to the updates to the blue book. Also instruction for progressing from the power clean/snatch to the full versions for competition. The videos online were helpful but it would be helpful to see it in the book too.

At least you can’t cheat these lifts in completion like the utterly useless competition rules for powerlifting - with 3 inch high squats and a sleeve to sleeve bench press grip for people 5 feet tall. I know you’ve declined to add it in the past since it’s a strength program and not an olympic lifting program, but It would be cool to learn the Olympic lifts from a trustworthy source for those of us interested in seeing how far we can get with the snatch and c&j.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Rip, It would be great if you could add the jerk to the updates to the blue book. Also instruction for progressing from the power clean/snatch to the full versions for competition.

No. They are not basic exercises, and they require special equipment. Outside the scope of the blue book.

[GioFerrante]

That’s unfortunate. I think it would be useful to a lot of folks. Perhaps an article?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Have the videos not been useful?

[GioFerrante]

Have the videos not been useful?

Absolutely they've been useful. Same for all the videos on the 5 main lifts, but reading the book was additionally useful for those.