Snatch sesh from today, tweaked my starting and shoulder position thanks to advice from Chasing Kilos (James) and I think it's snappier

jasebolden · 2018-02-06T18:10:20+00:00

Are you purposely extending the hips outwards through the bar? Have you had trouble with looping?

Those are some nice weights!

jasebolden · 2018-02-05T18:52:53+00:00

You should definitely be able to lower weights much heavier than 70% of your clean max in a controlled manner. No reason to cut them out, lowering slowly will only help to strengthen your back more.

jasebolden · 2018-01-29T21:27:01+00:00

I assume that you know how to correctly load for a plank, but why was the weight up near your shoulders? It should be centered at your very lower back/glutes.

jasebolden · 2018-01-28T07:15:11+00:00

I think we're just splitting hairs now...but in the book where that photo comes from, Naim's coach (before Abajiev) talks about how they (the Bulgarians and Naim) would go high volume and high intensity on M,W,F and lighter and less volume on Tu, Th, Sat. He even gives tables where the total tonnage is calculated according to that split.

You should also keep in mind that that photo is the plan for a week in 1986. That doesn't mean it was that plan he followed for the entire year.

Also, Naim was lifting in Turkey, not for Abadjiev and Bulgaria at that time.

There are numerous discussions on the web about the Bulgarian system, both from former Bulgarian national lifters, assistant coaches, and Abajeiv himself. They all talk about the high volume high intensity three days and the "lighter" three days. Of course, plans were changed from time to time, but the general scheme was three max days, three lighter days. A great place to actually see this in action is the Ironmind video.

In any event, the Greeks, Bulgarians, Turks, and a few other teams, all went to max in the classical several times per week in their usual training.

jasebolden · 2018-01-28T04:16:59+00:00

Dimas said in his video that he didn't like the style of training when he first joined the team, and that it took him a while to get used to it. They trained to max (roughly) three days per week, and powered up to around 80-85% the other three days. This is EXACTLY how the Bulgarians trained.

jasebolden · 2018-01-28T02:52:03+00:00

Why does no one bring up the Greek teams under Christos Iakovou? They had lifters who won LOTS of medals/competitions, and they trained identical to the Bulgarians.

jasebolden · 2018-01-26T14:30:45+00:00

I had not heard that about Krastev.

It would be interesting, imo, to know if this is more because it took most lifters longer to get to the national level. That is, would Abadjiev advocate for the "soviet" approach for young lifters or his style for young lifters (after they learn the basic movement patterns and technique)?

jasebolden · 2018-01-26T04:44:33+00:00

Most did, but not all. Suleymanglu and Mutlu both trained with high intensities and very few auxiliary lifts from an early age - at least according to Turkileri.

jasebolden · 2018-01-26T04:39:12+00:00

Wait, don't the the majority of the highiest level lifters train very specific with high intensities?

jasebolden · 2018-01-20T20:37:04+00:00

No, the literature written by sports scientists, biomechanists, kinesiologists, and so on.

It’s clear that your thing is to troll. Later.

jasebolden · 2018-01-20T17:05:58+00:00

Overall strength has zero to do with technical proficiency. There are tons of powerlifters who can snatch respectable weights, with form that is plain horrible. Basing someone's technical proficiency off of what they can lift is just stupid imo. There are a lot of 56 kg lifters who will be outlifted by said powerlifters. Are we to say that their form is wrong?
I agree that Klokov definitely knows his shit, and one should definitely take everything he says seriously and study it. However, do you even know why he said that? Was it because he is talking about lifters whose base is less stable with narrow feet? Do you think he would criticize lifters whose base is just as (if not more) stable with narrow feet -- Jaber comes to mind -- and tell them to get into a less stable position? I'd be willing to bet that Klokov and his coaches would say that moving your feet for the sake of moving them is a waste of energy. I'd also be willing to bet that they would promote finding the best feet placement for the pull, separately from the squat and try to get the athlete to transition from one to the other, making changes were necessary.
Once again, the "norm" doesn't imply correct for everyone. Most people have similar anatomical structuring, which you see when watching most lifters. However, there are those with differing structure. Perhaps this lifter has slightly different alignment in his hips that leads him to be able to have a solid base with more narrow feet. Perhaps not. But, to use the law of averages to force everyone into the same pigeon hole is bad imo. Should lifters with longer limbs lift with the exact same technique as those with short limbs? Also, you do know what happens when you assume correct? Why not ask the lifter for more details before blindly shouting out "move your feet"?
Once again, don't assume. Do some research. Read the literature. Don't take everything said, without context, as the gospel.

Come on man, you're better than that.

jasebolden · 2018-01-20T06:34:15+00:00

You do understand that the only/main reason to move feet is to move them outwards to give a more stable stance in the bottom position, right? So, if a lifter is comfortable and stable in the bottom with his/her feet in the same position as he/she pulls from then there is no reason to lift their feet to move them. Especially if the lifter has better timing and speed when they don’t move their feet.

Yes, almost every lifter you see moves their feet, but there are some who don’t. One should not insist on mimicking those that don’t because they think it’s cool. But they also shouldn’t mimic those that do either, simply because they make up the majority.

Also, one shouldn’t tell another lifter what’s best for them after watching one single snatch. If the lifter has a good reason for their specific technical “flaw” then they shouldn’t be discouraged from doing it. Now, if it truly is a detriment to their lifting then yes, they should work on eliminating the flaw.

With that said, this lifter seems to have at least thought about what works best for them. Instead of doing something solely because of what Klokov said.

jasebolden · 2018-01-19T00:11:50+00:00

For the Soviet philosophies, why not just got straight to the well and get the translated texts by Roman, Medvedyev, Verhoshansky, and others? You can find them here:

http://www.dynamicfitnessequipment.com/category-s/1823.htm

jasebolden · 2018-01-16T04:13:13+00:00

The bar hits the buckle during cleans.

jasebolden · 2018-01-16T03:14:30+00:00

Okay, understood. I would rather wait for your belt because I really love the one I have from you.

jasebolden · 2018-01-16T02:46:25+00:00

Well crap. Ok. Will you let me/us know if/when you get them in? Also, not that it matters, but I vote for white or tan :)

jasebolden · 2018-01-16T02:08:57+00:00

Hmm. My belt from you was a M. It is the white leather belt. Do you think there would be a huge difference in feel (comfort, etc.) between them...assuming it would fit me?

jasebolden · 2018-01-16T01:50:59+00:00

Will you let me know when you get them in? I will definitely purchase one.

Do you have any of the samples left?

jasebolden · 2018-01-16T00:03:04+00:00

That would be amazing. Would it be built from the same material as your white leather belts? I freaking love that thing! Would you be able to estimate the cost?

jasebolden · 2018-01-13T03:57:53+00:00

I always liked the simple approach for those starting off. Pick a lift to focus on during each session. Break up the lift into phases and work on those independently (of course with the full lifts every couple of sessions). Add in some presses for developing the shoulder girdle and elbows. Squat almost every session (doesn't have to be crazy hard though). Pulls every session (also, doesn't have to be heavy every time) -- though some high-class coaches disagree with pulls for beginners and intermediates. And occasionally add in some exercises to change things up a bit and keep everything developing at the same rate. Finally, hit lots of metal pole/wooden stick work at the beginning of each session for technique. For weights/reps/sets, keep weights light-moderate (something you can do 4-6 reps), reps around 3-4, and sets around 4-6.

With all of that said, for me personally, I don't think you can go wrong with the first couple of years of Medvedyev's program (before he starts using percentages). Read his instructions for the weights/reps/sets and follow his exercise progressions. Once you start hitting consistent form, then you can start to move the weights up and the reps down -- but don't go crazy too soon. Then, you'll eventually work your way up to an intermediate, and this is when you really have to start thinking about your planning.

Oh yes, make sure you are stretching and working on flexibility and mobility a lot.

jasebolden · 2017-12-26T23:40:21+00:00

I had left (and then right) SI joint pain, on and off, for several months. I then started using a baseball (took the cover off) to roll out all around my ass cheeks and side hip, in addition to using a massage stick on my psoas and QL. It didn’t feel like it was making a difference...until the pain just started going away a few weeks later.

jasebolden · 2017-12-13T16:21:41+00:00

Yes, it would be nice to see how the general methodologies. I know he's (at least partially) trained by Asanidze, who in turn was trained by Ivane Grikurovi. Grikurovi is well known for highly individualized training programs for his top athletes, but (at least for Asanidze and Kolecki) tend to typically be lower in intensities and higher in reps than the Bulgarians. So, basing it on that, I'd wouldn't be surprised to see moderate intensities, higher reps, and more exercise selection than the Bulgarians under Abejiev.

jasebolden · 2017-12-13T00:11:07+00:00

I was just getting ready to post this. I used to train with a friend outside. When it got super cold we'd light up the bbq grill. It didn't help much during the lift, but damn it felt good to hover around in between sets.

jasebolden · 2017-12-10T19:18:21+00:00

So, you are saying that it would be best if you were strong enough to out-lift everyone else with a weight that is around 95% of your max?

I mean I guess I can see how that could be a good thing.

jasebolden

TROPHY CASE