Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Seriously... Why?

Why start an Olympic style weightlifting program?

I will break this down into 2 parts.  The first part being for the person thinking about getting into weightlifting competitively, the 2nd being for the person with no interest in competition, but maybe looking to get better at Crossfit, or maybe just wanting to look better naked.

Why do I love weightlifting competitively

For me personally, I really like laying my training out on the line.  A weightlifting meet isn't about making a heroic adrenaline fueled PR.  Its not Kevin James as a fat Math teacher who some how heroically beats up a profession MMA fighter despite his lack of experience, training and physical fitness.
(at least Rocky was a boxer before he took on Apollo, and he didn't even win in Rocky I... oops, spoiler alert)

 What a meet really is about is saying look at the training and hours I have put into these 2 movements.  It is saying, I am so confident in my training I can get in front of a crowd and hit these lifts.  I have prepared, and and adjusted, and prepared some more.  It isn't about the last ditch workouts you put in during your taper week (seriously don't do this) it is about the last 6 weeks you have been building up intensity from volume.

Another highlight for competing is that it truly is you against gravity.  Yes it is a "competition" and there are usually medals for the top 3 in each class, but the truth is you aren't lifting against anyone else.  You are doing your best and letting the chips fall where they fall.  You don't need to stress about anyone else.  You get to take care of you.

In the end, if you choose to compete, it truly is just you testing you.  I love the feeling.  Some people don't and that is okay.  Not everyone has to test themselves to feel validated in their training.  I like it, and I am willing to bet that if you sign up and give it a try, you might like it too.

Now on to the non weightlifting competitors, the... I wanna get better at crossfitters. 

Rudy from Outlaw Crossfit has summed it up really well on why crossfitters should perform the Olympic lifts and learn them well.  Sometime he is a jack ass, but he got it right on this particular essay. Just click here to read his essay "why olympic lifting". But if you want the short and sweet of it, it basically says there is a lot of olympic weightlifting in any sort of competitive crossfit realm and if you aren't good at it you are leaving results on the table.
Moving your body and a loaded barbell simultaneously through space to make them both do what your brain wants will make you a better athlete.  Both spatial awareness, and  force production will improve after making your competition lifts better.
That's a lot of force production. 

Learning to perform the classic lifts well will also make you a safer crossfitter.  The rate of injury in this sport is very low.  Lower than soccer... seriously, the sport where if they get close to each other, they lay down on the pitch and cry has a much much higher injury rate than weightlifting.
He got REALLY REALLY close to me!
The big caveat to the above statement though is you have to put in the effort to learning how to move properly.  I still have to concentrate on my squat and moving properly.  It takes effort, but strengthening good positions under heavy weight is really really good for you.  You have to be willing to watch yourself on video, take cues from your coach, and most importantly temporarily sacrifice heavy weight now, for good movement and heavier weight down the road.

Athletes of other sports have successfully implemented weightlifting into their programs.  A high bar close stance squat translates incredibly well into most other athletic endeavors.  Sports that require hip extension (see: everything ever) will benefit from a weightlifting program.  I personally know Olympic caliber runners (both steeple chase, marathon distance, and milers) who now use olympic weightlifting to supplement their training.  They have reported less knee pain and faster recovery after starting the weightlifting training.   I now this is anecdotal evidence, but if an athlete training for the Olympics tells me something is working for her, then I am inclined to listen.

My last point comes from the Eleiko slogan.... "strong is happy".  Humans were meant to run, jump, wrestle, throw, and lift.  If you make your body stronger, your body will be happier. There is even research that shows stronger muscles actually help with hormonal balance in the body, but I don't know enough on the subject to make any sort of claim here.  I will say there is a very strong feeling of satisfaction knowing you worked to make yourself better and seeing results.  I want everyone to know the feeling of hoisting a weight over your head that you previously couldn't do.

So to sum up:
A weightlifting program gives you a plan to follow with an end goal in mind.  There is no guesswork on whether or not you should be doing something.  You can move better, you can make your body stronger, you can prove yourself in a meet...... or you can just look better naked. 
Image result for sir mix a lot
Sir mix Alot knows the benefits of  weightlifting

Pick a reason and get on the platform.