Olympic Lifting @ StrengthWorks Gym

[kickbxingbboy]

was she doing like half power cleans? or like just weird shrugs

[vaj99]

That was a nice snatch!

[snakebranch]

This girl has excellent technique. I've seen her other videos, it's amazing to see someone small like that lift so much weight, boggles the mind.

[poog76]

SONG??

[GuiltyCol]

Well I'm sure I've been put in my strapless place, which is fair enough. Amanda is an impressive young lady and using the straps clearly works for her, so who am I to argue? I apologise to those who appear to have got upset.

Here's your chance at revenge, I did my first ever Olympic lifting in a competition setting at the weekend, your (most likely enthusiastic) criticism is welcomed. Do read the notes first tho: (Can't seem to post a url, so you'll have to Click my name)

[coachswords]

FOR ALL THE COMMENTS ABOUT STRAPS!! AMANADA IS USING THE STRAPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF TRAINING HER BODY! SHE IS A INTERNATIONAL LIFTER FOR THE USA AND DOESN'T NEED TO STRENGTH TRAIN THE GRIP, HER GOALS ARE TO LIFT HEAVY WEIGHTS EXPLOSIVELY AND THE USE OF STRAPS DURING TRAINING HELPS HER FOCUS SOULY ON THE SKILL FOR SPEED. Straps are very beneficial for training any athlete who wants to become more explosive!

TIM SWORDS

USA INTERNATIONAL COACH

[StrengthWorksGym]

Tim you are officially my hero! -ZK

[olychick]

GuiltyCol,

as a coach for the USOC,

I'm curious...what is functional training? On the other hand, what is non-functional training?

[coachswords]

functional training is a more sports specific approach to the athletes needs. exercises that promote improved performance on the field, court, track etc... exercises that provide strength, speed, balance, increased flexibilty, focus, explosive power etc....

non-functional strength would be a isolated approach to training. more of a body building style. simple movements that are performed slower.

remember slow breeds slow!!! why do simple movements when my sport requires speed and power!!

[olychick]

Tim,

Bo here,

That was a joke. The point is....its all functional. There is no such thing as functional and non functional. Even simple movements are functional. They involve movement. I agree on the purposes, there are all kinds of purposes....injury prevention, power, stability, preperation for more advance movements etc. I was only trying to mess with the guy.

oh, you happen to be a hero of mine as well,

we will see you at the trials!!!

[StrengthWorksGym]

Bo, you are a funny guy. can't wait to meet you. -ZK

[GuiltyCol]

I know I'm taking the bait, but.... ;-)

My definition of non-functional is simple: any movement that you don't find in a real world setting, i.e. outside the gym. Hence I class things like bicep curls as non-functional. It's an isolationist body builder exercise only.

[grambo22]

If you compete in oly lifting how can you not know that straps are a legit tool for saving your grip in multiple rep movements, especially pulls and lifts from the hang? As long as you can grip your 1RM in the snatch and clean+jerk, that is all that matters to a competitive lifter. You would fry your grip in many training sessions too early if you didn't use straps on heavy pulls and multiples.

[WILLICICCI911]

I'm impressed. BEAUTIFUL form!

[jjamieson2]

Very impressive! nice tech work.

[GuiltyCol]

Nice snatches, shame about the wrist straps. Why build in a weakness and dependency like that? Sure it helps you lift more, but if you can't do it without aids? It just feels like cheating to me.

[StrengthWorksGym]

training is training and competition is competition. to respond to "building in a weakness" why focus on such a smal link in the chain, when the goal is improved competence in the technical aspects of the lift? to add credence to this approach, i will make note of the fact that the lifter in the video is competitive at the WORLD level, so any weaknesses or deficiencies that she has "built in" haven't held her back to any significant degree. thanks for the comment.

[GuiltyCol]

Fair comment, I suppose it depends what you're training for. If it's to lift weights competitively, then fair enough, use all the aids that are allowed (I noticed in another video of hers she had a belt on too).

For me, I train to be functionally competent in real life. You wouldn't have nice wrist straps when trying to lift up the burning car that's just run over your wife's legs for example. That's what I meant about building in a weakness.

...

[GuiltyCol]

...

Ok, it's a silly example maybe, but one that's not unheard of. Horses for courses. It doesn't make these videos and the achievements they show any less impressive though, thanks for posting. :-)

[StrengthWorksGym]

if you are interested in "functional training" then i think you would be happier viewing a number of the other videos that we have posted. to look at a video of a competitive lifter and attempt to comment on/judge it based on a paradigm that has been established for a non related subset of training culture seems a bit short sighted. thank you for taking the time to view our videos... best of luck in your own training and if you are ever in the valley of the sun drop in for a visit.

[grambo22]

Ahh the lifting a burning car/boulder off your friend thing, must be from CrossFit, heard that one many times (note I train CrossFit right now, but that narrow functional definition is straight up retarded).

[tubeuser999]

LOL at GuiltyCol calling it cheating for using wraps. I would bet any money that this girl could outlift you easily. What a dork. Like you are some champion lifter or something.

[GuiltyCol]

If you read the comments, you'll see that I was looking at this video from a functional perspective, which is not what this woman is doing, she's doing it for competition. That's fair enough.

My personal preference is when I pick something up, I can do so under my own steam without aids. If my grip is too weak to lift something, then I don't see the point of going heavier until I've sorted my grip strength out to match the rest of my body.

[tubeuser999]

No, you're just the type of person that always has to criticize others, especially when they are doing something you never could.

[GuiltyCol]

Not so actually. You'll note my original post was actually asking questions as to why, and simply stating how it feels to me. The answer to my question was given, which was basically it was competition training, over functional training, which is a perfectly good answer.

It's only you who has a school boy name calling attitude round here, I wish I had your wit and intelligence. Neither to I have the ego to get into a p1ssing match on who can lift the most.

[arnoud57]

Straps have nothing to do with a grip weakness, torn callouses and other skin injuries can mess up an entire week of training when it comes to olympic lifting, I'm increasingly annoyed by comments about straps, because all the critics never did one full olympic lifting session themselves. Train cleans, snatches, pulls and then you'll understand the need for straps...

[chiefwr88]

theres almost no world class lifter, EVER that doesnt use straps at some point in training, most always use them for pulls or anything from the hang.

[aidanphilipson]

very quick good action