Topic: Videos: IronMind Teasers

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Shaun,

Yes, this is possible. I have more footage of Bulgarians doing back squats, including some big names, but that doesn't mean they do them regularly or that the team didn't stop doing them for a while. Still, there seems to me to be very little evidence that the Bulgarians abandoned back squats or that this was an effective tactic, and I stand by my opinion/recommendation that people not embrace such a strategy just because people say such things about the Bulgarians. But, thats just my opinion.

Cheers

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I tentatively believe this whole idea of dropping back squats is a misunderstanding. I agree completely that the front squat is generally a better indicator of potential in the clean and jerk and even snatch than the back squat. I figure it all started like this. Someone asked Coach Abajiev, in English, about back squatting- in the context of Abajiev's general direction of training philosophy of becoming more specific and eliminating exercises not considered central/specific/essential. The question was stated one way. The interpreter heard something slightly different. The interpreter translated it slightly different. Then, Abajiev answered, from one weightlifter to another. Was the translator a weightlifter? Did Abajiev's response mean to the translator what it would to an elite weightlifting coach? Was English or Bulgarian the native language of the translator? I imagine Abajiev shrugged off the importance of the 1RM back squat, as all elite weightlifting coaches that I know would to some extent or another, and emphasized the front squat, as all elite coaches I know would I think. I believe 2.5kgs in the front squat is worth 10-15 in the back squat. I agree that it is a better indicator of readiness for the snatch and clean and jerk. But, in my opinion, big back squats are necessary for the biggest possible front squats. A complex topic...

It really would be amazingly interesting to hear from the source directly on this matter. I requested an interview with Coach Abajiev for WE a few weeks ago and am awaiting a final response. Anyway, just my thoughts on the topic- sorry for rambling.

Cheers

[Dave Almeida]

Chris,

  That would be very cool if you got an interview with Coach Abadjiev. In the recent MILO with Ilya on the cover they interviewed his coach about how Ilya trains and how his coach trains the team. Alexy Ni (the coach) said that his athletes rarely back squat. It was very interesting to see how they structure their training program. I believe he took that front squat philosophy from the Turkish team as they have a new coach that from previously a member of the Turkish coaching staff.

[Mike Wittmer]

Just to add to the above, regarding Bulgarian training and the supposed near total devotion to the actual lifts:  At the 2004 junior world championships in Minsk, Belarus, I saw the two Bulgarian SHWs doing heavy pulls, 175 in the snatch and 215 in the clean, for TRIPLES, two sets each with the top weight, TWO days out from the competition.  Does anyone know anybody that does heavy pulls, for reps, two days before the competition?  Go figure. 

[Leighton Dougall]

In my opinion, the pirated clips of ironmind videos that have pretty much circulated the globe have resulted in heaps of people buying ironmind tapes that otherwise wouldn't have, and also probably exposed normal strength trainees to weightlifting that wouldn't have had a clue what it was otherwise. They helped inspire me into the sport from rugby. In saying that I don't condone taking large chunks of these videos and posting them without permission from Mr Strossen. I emailed Randy recently when I bought 2 more dvd's and told him to get another training hall vid from the worlds this year and get Ilin and Kolecki going head to head, but he's filming the womens competitions so doesn't get a chance to film the training hall these days. Here's hoping he gets another new training hall vid soon.

I think we should badger him to make another video this year, because he won't be allowed at the olympics next year most likely with advertising and copyright laws and all that jazz.

Leighton

[Dave Almeida]

And I thought I was the only one who emailed Strossen about getting training hall tapes from this years worlds. He wouldn't even give me a real answer which I don't understand why haha. Do you know why he's only filming the women's competitions? That doesn't make much sense to me as I would assume he would make much more off of men's training hall tapes but maybe i'm wrong. It has been years since he has released one so I have a feeling he won't be doing them anymore although I really hope he does get new ones since it is basically a completely different generation of lifters now.


  I own the 1998 Bulgarian Training hall tape and at one point while he has the camera on Vanev you can see a lifter doing pulls on the platform next to him. I wonder if Abajiev structures the lifts / squats portion and whatever else is done is up to the athletes? I got the feeling from watching the tape that a lot is up to the athletes and it isn't a very structured program as far as "this is how many lifts you are going to do with this amount of weight". By the way, the 1998 Bulgarian Training Hall video is a must have if you are going to get an Ironmind tape.

[Leighton Dougall]

What I meant was he is filming the womens competition at the time when he previously would have been in the training hall videoing the men training. I think he only used to tape the mens competition. I'm not sure whether he will do another one or whether there are copyright problems or some such obstacles which make it more difficult these days. I know the 96 Atlanta tape was canned because of this.

Leighton

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I just added the 1995 Senior Worlds teaser. I hope you all enjoy it.