Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Weightlifting Epiphanies interviews!
If you haven't already, you MUST drop by the Weightlifting Epiphanies blog to watch the video interviews filmed by Barry over the past little while. They provide an excellent and detailed insight into the training going on at California Strength with Glenn Pendlay and his athletes (including Donny Shankle, Max Aita, Caleb Ward, Jon North, Jo Ann Arnold, etc), and at Average Broz with John Broz and his athletes (including Pat Mendes, Rob Adell, etc.).
Along with the recent 211 clean and jerk by Kendrick Farris, and a 218 clean, some exciting things are certainly happening in the US. Here's Kendrick in action:
211 Clean + Jerk
218 (!) Clean, missed Jerk
One interesting thing about all the recent information pouring out of various quarters (including the ever-contentious back-and-forth on the goheavy.com Olympic weightlifting forum) is that it has revealed that wildly different programming can lead to similar results. Coach Broz, on various forums and Q&A sessions, has repeatedly said things like "This is the only way to train to become a champion", referring to 2-3 times a day, 6-7 days a week training focusing on JUST the lifts and back squats, without any planned cycling, training to max as often as possible.
On the other hand, when Kendrick's program was posted on the goheavy forum, it was shown that the cycle was divided into different phases, with each phase dedicated to different rep ranges, moving from 10's, to 5's, to 3's, and so on over the weeks and months. A wide variety of assistance exercises are employed, and everything is geared towards peaking for a meet. This is a RADICALLY different approach to cycling, intensity, and exercise selection, yet somehow or another Kendrick still managed to become a world-class lifter, approaching world record weights.
My own feeling is that the ATHLETE is a far more important variable than the specific program they are on. With the right genetics, drive to succeed, and of course the right coach to guide the athlete, the details of the programming are secondary, while the dedication and actual work completed are key.
I'll let you draw your own conclusions, though :)
If anyone out there is interested in seeing what I might be able to offer you, in programming, technique critique, or anything training-related, just email me at traintherightway@gmail.com
Along with the recent 211 clean and jerk by Kendrick Farris, and a 218 clean, some exciting things are certainly happening in the US. Here's Kendrick in action:
211 Clean + Jerk
218 (!) Clean, missed Jerk
One interesting thing about all the recent information pouring out of various quarters (including the ever-contentious back-and-forth on the goheavy.com Olympic weightlifting forum) is that it has revealed that wildly different programming can lead to similar results. Coach Broz, on various forums and Q&A sessions, has repeatedly said things like "This is the only way to train to become a champion", referring to 2-3 times a day, 6-7 days a week training focusing on JUST the lifts and back squats, without any planned cycling, training to max as often as possible.
On the other hand, when Kendrick's program was posted on the goheavy forum, it was shown that the cycle was divided into different phases, with each phase dedicated to different rep ranges, moving from 10's, to 5's, to 3's, and so on over the weeks and months. A wide variety of assistance exercises are employed, and everything is geared towards peaking for a meet. This is a RADICALLY different approach to cycling, intensity, and exercise selection, yet somehow or another Kendrick still managed to become a world-class lifter, approaching world record weights.
My own feeling is that the ATHLETE is a far more important variable than the specific program they are on. With the right genetics, drive to succeed, and of course the right coach to guide the athlete, the details of the programming are secondary, while the dedication and actual work completed are key.
I'll let you draw your own conclusions, though :)
If anyone out there is interested in seeing what I might be able to offer you, in programming, technique critique, or anything training-related, just email me at traintherightway@gmail.com
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I've noticed that Farris's lifting technique is a bit different than what's considered the standard textbook form. My observation has been that he jerks the weight off the ground when pulling instead of applying tension to the bar prior to the pull. Also, I think he could have of jerked the 218 using the split style jerk. Dimas jerked heavy weights just like Farris, but he never squatted as deep. All this makes me wonder if Farris could have moved more weight using a slightly different lifting technique.
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