Author Topic: Video: Kennedy's Gym (Morgantown, PA) Christmas Meet (Read 1175 times)

Paul LaDuke · « **on:** Dec 13, 2006, 09:38 PM »

Here is video of my 6 attempts at Kennedy's Gym Christmas Meet. I had a great time and can't wait til next year!

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Matt Denslinger · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 14, 2006, 10:03 PM »

Nice. How did you do overall?

Paul LaDuke · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 15, 2006, 08:59 AM »

There were only 2 of us in the 35-39 year old, 94 kg class. I finished 1st but most importantly I established meet PRs in the snatch, clean and jerk and total. I snatched 87.5 (I weighed in at just over 88kg) so almost a bodyweight snatch. I clean and jerked 110. My total improved by 5kg over my last competition. I missed snatching 90 kg (as you see in the video) because I didn't finish the pull. The bar was too far out front. I also need to work on my speed under the bar. If I wouldn't have missed the 1st jerk (107.5), I would have gone for 112.5kg. Not sure I would have got that weight because I was beginning to feel a bit tired by that point.

Jack Dluzen · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 16, 2006, 11:22 AM »

MORE PEOPLE IN THE PA. AND SURROUNDING AREAS SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS MEET ! IT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO GROW BIGGER , ! GOOD MEET PAUL!

Jim Storch · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 17, 2006, 12:40 AM »

You are good for more in both lifts!

Move faster under the weights. Gravity is NOT fast enough, you must actively move under the bar (after you finish going up (in the Pull (sn/clean) or in the drive (jerk))). You can move faster upward too.

Dip straighter in your jerks. It looks like you "slouch" forward when you dip. You should feel the weight "toward" your heals when you dip and then drive the weight up.

Recover from the split with more control and a tighter lockout.

After having said all of that, you still did good!

What is your best front squat?
If you can stand with it, you can clean 10 to 20 kilos more.

Paul LaDuke · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 17, 2006, 01:29 PM »

Jim,

Thanks for the great advice! Â

I have been working on the speed under the bar. Â You are absolutely right that I can do that faster. Â Any suggestions there? Â I won't be competing again for several months so now is a great time to tackle this problem. Â I was thinking of keeping with loads in the 70-80% range with 18-24 reps per w/o and really concentrate on my speed under the bar. Â Any other thoughts or successes?

My jerk is my weakest lift. Â I can clean close to 120kg but you saw my struggle with the 110kg jerk. Â I think the biggest part is a lack of upper body strength as I have focused so much on my leg strength and my snatch. Â I will be adding some bench press work and more push press and BTN press to the regimine. Â I benched 315# raw about 5 years ago but can only bench about 265# give or take right now. Â If I could get back to that 300+#, who knows?

I hadn't heard your little tip about feeling the weight drop back towards my heels on the drive but it makes sense. Â I have lately concentrated on keeping my elbows high during the drive. Â It seems that allowing the elbows to drop is a symptom of the upper spine rounding resulting in a weaker drive and a poor upward trajectory. Â My concentrating keeping the elbows high seemed to keep the core and upper body tight. Â But still I would miss some jerks out front. Â Your hint should help - thanks. Â My 2nd jerk in the video is my best. Â The first one was horrible. Â I wasn't concentrating on the elbows high. Â My last jerk drive was good, I felt, but the leg split was awful. Â That is something I have been working on for just a few weeks. Â It has dramatically improved but I still need many quality reps to get that better.

I full front squatted 130kg about 2 weeks ago for 1 rep. Â I usually workout with 110kgs for 4-6 sets of 2 reps. Â My back squat is 175 kg but that would be just below parallel and not a full squat. Â Full squat is probably closer to 155kg.