Olympic Lifters

[tweakxc03]

Rip:

In your book, you talk about the hips not rising up on the initial pull from the floor, as it is a waste of energy, etc, etc.

When I watch videos of competitive olympic lifters (C&J), it looks like they are keeping their butt lower down and their back angle more vertical on the setup. Am I correct in thinking that their positioning is mostly because of favorable anthropometry, rather than a difference in technique?

[Mark Rippetoe]

And then what happens to their back angle when the pull starts/plates leave the floor?

[abenn]

I'm hijacking this, if OP don't mind. (and to answer Rip's question for you the hips rise to where they would be in his method anyway).

Rip, I keep hearing from the guys at my gym that I miss snatch attempts because of the hips high position. I am losing the bar in front of me at the bottom of the snatch. One guy says that it is because of the low-bar style squat I use and the hips high start. The reasoning is that because the hips pull back and away (like in a low bar) in the catch and my torso isn't vertical enough. According to him it's the low bar that is causing an "incorrect movement pattern" for the overhead. Is this a reasonable argument? I just think it's probably because I suck at the lifts.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Send me a video, but I'll bet it's your rack, i.e. not shrugging to meet the bar.

[Steve Hill]

And then what happens to their back angle when the pull starts/plates leave the floor?

Krastev knows of what you speak.

[tweakxc03]

I understand that the back angle becomes more horizontal until they reach the correct starting position as outlined. A more correct way to phrase my question was:
Why do they start in the low hips, more vertical back angle position in their set up? Why not just start in the position as you described from the beginning?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Like Dimas does? Excellent question. I think it is because they are taught otherwise.

[Carnivroar]

I think that's just a resting position. If you watch the videos, the bar doesn't leave the floor until everything is in place.

[Mark Rippetoe]

You're wrong, Carny. They are taught to try to pull from this position.

[mstrofbass]

Odd...I kinda figured this would have been discussed on here once or twice.

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