Going from a Deadlift to a tall position back into a full ass-to-grass squat in a matter of seconds will teach you about the importance of being flexible. There is simply no way you can perform them without mobility. Unless you are a weightlifter, there’s no point in performing the Olympic Lifts right?
The Olympic lifts (Oly Lifts) are the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk, two lifts that every 4 years the world watches in awe as some of the strongest people on the planet hoist unimaginable weight overhead.
So do the Olympic lifts have any benefit to you? Should you invest the time into learning the lifts or is it wasting your time? Here are 5 reasons you should be putting olympic lifting in your program.
BODY COMPOSITION
Both Olympic lifts and their variations use almost every single muscle in the body. From the moment you grab the bar to the finish, you’ve engaged a huge amount of muscle in a short space of time. In fact, the amount of calories you can burn with weightlifting is compared to high intensity interval training (HIIT).
Weightlifting is actually awesome for shedding body fat!
BETTER CARDIO
The more muscle you engage the more your cardiac system has to work. It’s not uncommon after a set of Clean and Jerks to be sweating buckets and trying to catch your breath.
Your cardio should incorporate a mixture of long stints and short powerful bursts. The Oly lifts well and truly help when it comes to the short powerful forms of cardio training.
HARD TO OVERTRAIN
When you are learning the lifts with a coach, you are moving with very light loads and perfecting technique. So whilst you may not be loading your body up, you are developing coordination, speed, balance, accuracy and agility. Putting this between some of your heavier sessions allows you to work hard with lighter weights.
If you are more advanced and are moving with heavy weights, you can’t force out any assisted reps and rely on what your body can do. Overtraining is nearly impossible when Oly lifting is incorporated into your training.
IMPROVE YOUR SPORT
Even social sports can be competitive, and most require some form of explosive power. Imagine adding 100 yards to your drive when you play golf, or being fast enough to turn, jump and block an incoming shot.
Oly lifting is proven to improve your power, so you are fast and explosive when it counts.
MORE MOBILITY
Going from a Deadlift to a tall position back into a full ass-to-grass squat in a matter of seconds will teach you about the importance of being flexible. There is simply no way you can perform them without mobility. The beauty is that Olympic lifting alone can help improve the mobility and health of your lower back, knees, hips, shoulders and thoracic spine.
So, does Olympic weightlifting benefit none weightlifters?
Hell yes it does!
To start using Oly Lifting in your current program set aside one session a week and work with a coach. They can spend the time teaching and correcting your form.
Not only will you learn some awesome new skills that make you feel like a badass, but you will improve your fitness overall.
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