Intermediate programming and the Olympic lifts

[Kerpal]

Mr. Rippetoe -

I have reached the limit of simple linear progression and I was hoping you could critique my intermediate routine, based on the Texas Method.

I am 5'11, weigh about 185 lbs and my current numbers are:

Deadlift: 430 lbs
Squat: 365 lbs
Front squat: 235 lbs x 3 (just started doing these)
Power clean: 225 lbs
Power clean & jerk: 195 lbs (just started doing these)
Bench press: 200 lbs
Overhead press: 150 lbs
Power snatch: 140 lbs x 2 (just started doing these)
Chin ups: 18 x bodyweight

The program:

Monday:

Power clean and jerk 8x1
Overhead press or Bench press 5x5
Back squat 5x5

Wednesday:

Power snatch 8x2
Overhead press or Bench press 2x5 @ 85% of Monday
Bench press or Overhead press 3x5
Front squat 3x3

Friday:

Squat speed work or Squat 1/2/3 RM
Overhead press 1/2/3 RM or Bench Press 1/2/3 RM
Deadlift 1x5
Weighted pullup/chinup 3x5 or Bodyweight chinup/pullup 3 sets to failure

I just joined a gym with bumper plates and a platform so I was very excited to be able to do the Olympic lifts, but I wasn't really sure how to incorporate them into the program, so I hope this will work.

Right now I'm doing a power snatch because I'm too scared to drop into a full squat with a weight overhead, and a power clean & jerk because after power cleaning for so long I'm having a hard time making myself drop into a full front squat position during the clean. Any idea how I can fix this? I get the feeling your answer to the first problem is going to be "stop being a pussy", but what about the clean & jerk?

[Mark Rippetoe]

If you really want to do the 2 lifts, they need to be done twice a week at least. They are very technical and require more practice than training. In the context of your 3-day schedule, I'd snatch Monday, C&J Wednesday, and do both on Friday, with perhaps an alternation between the Monday and Wednesday lifts each week. Keep your strength base trained like you have been doing, and add the 2 lifts to the program. And you'd better try to get some coaching on the more technical aspects of this project, like the full squat snatch.