Power Clean versus Snatch

[Brandon Enos]

I would assume that you include the power clean in the program instead of the snatch because of technique concerns. Would you recommend someone with exposure to oly lifts and is following the program simply to increase their numbers to sub snatches for the clean? Or do you think a certain weight should be hit first, i.e. being able to perform a body weight power clean before advancing?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I wouldn't sub them completely, since if you do you don't get to clean. Just alternate them.

[Draco]

Or do you think a certain weight should be hit first, i.e. being able to perform a body weight power clean before advancing?

Yes, this is my question too. I want to learn power snatches at some point down the road, but how strong should my power clean be before I consider them? Like Brandon suggested, is being able to clean one's bodyweight a good marker?

[Mark Rippetoe]

There is nothing about snatches that requires that you be able to clean any particular weight before you learn them. How do you think junior Olympic weightlifters start?

[Polynomial]

Senor Rippetoe, what do you think about this in regards to power snatches:
It seems like they'd be less beneficial for novices than power cleans because proper form on a power snatch requires that the bar travel through a much longer range of motion, meaning that much lighter weights need to be used.

[Mark Rippetoe]

That's a valid observation, but not for a novice Olympic lifter.