Please be gentle with my snatch..

Ok. I've been wanting to incorporate snatches into my routine as DL assistance (or speed work or whatever). Partly because the direct assistance (rack/box pulls) was getting stale, but mostly because they're so damn fun.

To learn the lift, I've been doing combinations of the full snatch from the high and low hang, power snatches from both hangs, and OH squats. I started out using a dowel (and still do for form reinforcement), and then the bar once I became comfy. A couple weeks ago I made some plywood dummy plates so I could start practicing the from the floor.

I realize that there are a zillion things that I could be doing wrong with these, but I've been reading the WLE, a couple of Cisseks (sp?) books, and the stuff here and on the web. I don't have access to a trainer, and I think I'm the only person in my gym that lifts a bar over my head. This is the first time I video'd these to help with form refinements.

I apologize to the bandwith-impaired. I'm open to suggestions for making this thing smaller (I've never done video editing). You'll need quicktime.
http://www.tcmahoney.com/support/dynamic/uploads/ 11.14.02.snatch3/sna...

I'm pretty sure my biggest issues now are with foot placement and balance when recieving the bar overhead. I'm sure a whole slew of new issues will arise once I actually put weight on the bar.

Thanks for any flames or comments.

Snatches are different, complicated and a challenge. I like 'em.

I worked on learning snatches last spring. I lifted at a gym that had 10 lb BFS rubber plates. They were real handy for me to work on snatches. I need to make some plywood 'plates' for other gyms.

Have you run across this one yet? http://www.ironmag.com/training.html

Keith mentioned to only things I know to say. It looks like you are flexing your arms like you should.

Jeff out ...

No, I think not.

:-

Don't you do that stuff? If so, where at? I think theres a group locally that has some pretty high profile competitions fairly regularly. I think they might be in or around the Lehigh Valley area of PA.

Well, not yet, anyway. If I can regain my health and strength, I may take a stab at it next year, but it might have to wait another year. 8-

I'm in Eastern/Central Mass, and there's several highland games in the Mass/NH/Maine area. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the fellers you'd see down your way would be some of the same as come here (especially the pros). I'll be in the masters group, and would compete in the lightweights if they had them in New England.

I keep running into ex-track and field athletes, particularly hammer and discus throwers (how often do you run into them in daily life?) who are looking for an athletic pursuit years out of college. The heavy events of highland games are perfect for them: the combination of strength and technique really suits their personalities, plus they already know how to spin (which I'll have to learn from scratch).

I'd strongly recommend anyone reading this to go see a highland games if they have the opportunity (but make sure they're having the heavy athletics!). Here's a web page that has most of the schedules in the (get this) whole wide world:
http://www.maclachlans.org/games.html

I think he's interested in coaching. It might be worth traveling for occasional sessions, but not as a way of life.

Yeah, thats what he means. PLing is my focus for now and probably will be for awhile. When I have more time and interest to dedicate to Oly lifting I'll definitely consider it. For now I'll continue to work on them using whatever support I can find in books and on the web. I should probably get the video that the WLE people have.