Dr Mel Siff Blog

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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 Read more…

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It was most interesting to note in the latest issue of the NSCA’s Journal of
Strength & Conditioning Research that several well-known Finnish scientists
have developed another weightlifting comparison formula after analysing those
developed by others such as Sinclair and myself. In certain places I have
considered it appropriate to comment on this paper, either to make
corrections or to simplify what was written.

I have included only the most relevant excerpts for my commentary – those who
wish to read the entire article can do so in the Journal.

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Kauhanen H, Komi PV & Haekkinen K. Standardization and validation of the body
weight adjustment regression equations in Olympic weightlifting.

J of Strength & Conditioning Research: Vol 16, No 1, pp 58-74

ABSTRACT

The problems in comparing the performances of Olympic weightlifters arise
from the fact that the relationship between body weight and weightlifting
results is not linear. In the present study, this relationship was examined
by using a nonparametric curve fitting technique of robust locally weighted
regression (LOWESS) on relatively large data sets of the weightlifting
results made in top international competitions. Power function formulas were Read more…

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For those who may not yet have studied some photographs of the flatfooted and
plantarflexed pulling styles as used by some of the world’s top lifters, go
to the following files in our Supertraining Files section:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/files/Pulls1.jpg

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/files/Pulls2.jpg
It was written:

> Also pulling is not as big a problem as other matters of technique,
> such as the jerk. Although clean and jerk performances have fallen
> since the 1980s, there are two two snatch records that have exceeded
> the old world records and lifters on average seem to have a higher
> snatch: C&J ration than before. As for the C&J, it is rare to see a
> lifter fail to rack the bar so the pull is rarely the limiting factor
> in the C&J.

Mel Siff:

> [The pull is a crucial aspect of lifting, especially in the snatch, since
> it decrees where and when you are able to drop under the bar to
> catch it and stabilise most efficiently. One cannot compare the lifts today Read more…

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Here is some information from a NSCA publication, which relates directly to
our recent discussion on the use of L-glutamine as a training supplement:

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Glutamine and Weightlifting Performance

Antonio, J., Sanders, M., Kalman, D., Woodgate, D. and C. Street. The Effects
of High Dose Glutamine Ingestion on Weightlifting Performance. Journal of
Strength and Conditioning Research 16(1):157-160. 2002.

Researchers at the University of Delaware investigated the effects of a high
dose of glutamine on weightlifting performance. Results showed that Read more…

Supertraining – Siff Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning – NSCA Periodization Training for Sport – Bompa Power: A Scientific Approach – Hatfield Secrets of Bodyweight Manipulation for Competative Sport – JM Blakley ...