Weightliftin and SS

[Egrof]

Coach, what would you recommend for an absolute novice who is interested in weightlifting?
I'm considering competing (amateur level of course) in the future and I wonder when should i start incorporating the lifts.
Even though I see that most of guys at the WL club here dropped almost all the basic compound lifts in order to specialize in the lifts I think I will take a more well-rounded approach even if it cost me in WL competition performance.
Thanks

[Mark Rippetoe]

It won't cost your performance at all. The silly insistence that Olympic weightlifting is a technique-dominant sport and that the snatch and the C&J are in and of themselves enough strength training are why this country gets handed its ass at international competitions. You are correct to approach it from a position of strength first, technique alongside.