The power clean and power snatch teach the nervous system to pull fast, as the lifter accelerates the bar with good mechanics and precision. Rip discusses how they act as an important component in the program and why everyone that can productively use the lifts should incorporate them into their training.
Starting Strength Coach Josh Wells explains the critical role of the lats to lock the upper back in place and keep the bar against the body in the pull phase of the clean and the snatch.
A common error in the snatch is entering the final phase of acceleration early, at the mid-thigh "jumping position" learned for the clean. This leaves the bar far from the body as the pull is finished. Starting Strength Coaches Stef Bradford and Josh Wells show how to use alignment and balance to find and move between the correct jumping positions for the two lifts.
Rip describes the challenges involved in learning and coaching the Olympic lifts and why including them in your strength training program is worthwhile.
Starting Strength Coach John Dowdy breaks down the points of the power clean teaching progression to help you get started when you add it to your program.
Highlights from the StartingStrength Community. Browse archives.
