Dr Mel Siff Blog

.

Here is some more feedback from various experts on weightlifting pulling
style (some names have temporarily been withheld until such time that the
persons concerned join our list):

1. This letter was sent to me by one of the most famous Eastern European
lifters, a legendary world champion and one of the few in the world who ever
managed to snatch twice bodyweight in the heavier divisions:

The topic of the week [on the weightlifting pull] was very interesting to me.
I do have only one problem with the flatfooted pull. As they say, “the
flatfooted pull will give you flatfooted results”. We certainly don’t want to
get that. We do know for a fact that the lifters are trying their best to get
to fully extended position before get under the bar. I do not see it
happening, by staying on your heels. Another small detail – if you go to an
extended position of your legs (on your toes), even before you start pulling
with the arms to direct the bar towards the final fixed position, you
will.gain 6-9 cm in height. In my opinion, at a max lift, this will give you
the winning edge. Try a vertical jump off your heels!!!

I was a little bit offended by anyone calling this technique archaic. After
the 2+2=4 [basic method of pulling] was discovered, we haven’t seen any other
[proven] options. Looks like it was good enough [for most of the world's top
lifters].

—————–

2. Bud Charniga, former top US lifter and translator of many Russian books
and articles:

< Mel: I think your alternative # 3 is the closest.>

—————-

3. One of the world’s best-known biomechanists working in the field of
weightlifting wrote:

Although I have not done any research directly related to this issue, I can
say that I have watch and analyzed 100’s of national and world champions
competing using film and or video. This includes many (100+) national and
world records — the most recent videos at the world level include the 1998
Worlds and 1999 Jr. Worlds. I have also watched in person and or on film /
video 1000s of lifts. I would estimate that 99% of successful national and
world level lifts (in competition) that I have seen were done using moderate
to maximal plantarflexion during SN and CL pulls.

I know of no biomechanical reason how NOT using the powerful plantarflexion
muscles through the full range of ankle joint movement could increase pulling
force or duration. I would be interested to see some theoretical explanation
as to how this might be possible. Obviously the elite athletes know by
experience how to pull with maximal force, and they use the ankle joint!!

A simple experiment is to try to pedal a bicycle or jump off the ground with
heel contact only (eliminating plantarflexion)

Dr Mel Siff
Denver, USA
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/

For more information on Facts and Fallacies of Fitness by Dr Mel Siff please click here

Tags: Bodyweight, Dr Mel Siff, Facts And Fallacies Of Fitness, Heels, Lifter, Lifters, olympic lifting, Olympic Weightlifting, pulling technique, pulls, Russian Books, Super Training, Supertraining, Vertical Jump, Weightlifting