Weightlifting is an Olympic sport in which the goal is to lift a barbell overhead in one smooth movement or in two connected movements. But it isn’t just about how many kilos you lift. What matters is the ability to produce a lot of force in a short time and to time the work of your legs, trunk and arms correctly.
Weightlifting in conditioning
That’s exactly why elements of weightlifting are often used in athletes’ conditioning too. Movements like the clean, the jerk, the high pull or various pull variations can develop the ability to produce force quickly, which matters, for example, in sprinting, jumping or changing direction.
Research shows that weightlifting training and its derivatives can be an effective tool for developing strength, power and speed, and in some parameters they can bring similar or better results than traditional strength or plyometric training.
How we teach weightlifting
However, weightlifting is one of the more technically demanding forms of training. That’s why we teach it gradually, from simpler movements and basic positions to more complex exercises. Not everyone has to do the competition snatch or clean and jerk. It’s often enough to use the variations that best match the goal and abilities of the specific person.
At Cvičisko, you can use weightlifting as a standalone training discipline, but also as part of strength, speed and strength or conditioning training.
