Topic: Snatch technique question

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I don't see any arm bending in this clean so if there is any it is minor. There does seem to be a very slight hitch in the clean pull though it could be just a hiccup in the video stream. Its hard to tell but part of the reason you didn't squat all the way down in the clean could be your stance being too narrow.

[Brooke Burkhalter]

Thanks Chris. Arm bend may be minimal. I slowed it down and do ahave a slight hitch. It doesn't look like it is pronounced and the bar doesn't descend but it is not smooth. I did some research and found one reason this may happen is because of rushing the first pull, pulling too fast off the floor. I did some really light power cleans this morning working an being smooth and gradually accelerating and it seemed to help.

Does anyone know of another possible reason there may be a hitch in the pull and how to correct?

Thanks guys!

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

I did some research and found one reason this may happen is because of rushing the first pull, pulling too fast off the floor...Does anyone know of another possible reason there may be a hitch in the pull and how to correct?

I believe the opposite is true. Most of the time I find that hitches are caused because of the effort to pull less than full force off the floor and then turn it on all at once at some point in the pull- before/at the finish. I disagree with the entire concept of pulling less than full force from the floor. I believe in constant acceleration with a final burst at the finish. I also believe this effort to pull less than full force tends to make lifters finish at a point before full extension.

[Brian Bies]

I'm not very experienced, but I like snatch dropunders to make me feel more comfortable in that rock-bottom position.  And also lots of overhead squats in the warmup.  I'll subscribe to your videos, as a fellow lone lifter I understand how tough it can be.  Keep up the good work!

[Brooke Burkhalter]

Chris, makes sense when you describe it like that. I've read somewhere of people comparing the lifts to the jump events in track with regard to acceleration and not purposefully lifting slow. Perhaps working on smooth and constant acceleration is a better task.

Brian, thanks for the encouragement.

[Carl Darby]

Yes I see what you are talking about with the hitch and arm bend as the bar passes your knees on the clean. Your elbows bend and you very slightly shrug your shoulders as your hips come forward and your shoulders move back. I am no expert, having been entirely self coached for my 36 years of lifting, but what helps me avoid that is to focus on bringing my hips in to the bar and keeping my shoulders forward once the bar passes my knees.

[Jalaine Ulsh]

Yes, you see many others do it too.

It's why many go w/ a wider foot stance than used to be the norm, since the feet don't jump out as much as w/ the triple-joint-extension.

Like I said, it really sends you down as the bar goes up -- works for power SN w/ lighter wt, but much more conducive for full SN.

It does have a slight tendency to kick the bar fwd, but you can correct that before long.

Dave - can this tendency to kick the bar forward be the reason for losing the bar behind on misses?

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

David,
 Can you explain the "hip loading" your describing (with Kolecki)?  I am making my way through this thread and I hope not to distract from Brooke's progress or intent, but I want to understand what that means.

All the best,
 Arden

Both Ryan and Dave make very good points.

I would add that it may help to watch vid of the Chinese, Georgian, and other top lifters who ENGAGE their hip thrust in a way that BOTH...

... kicks the barbell upward and the body downward.

THAT'S what makes a full SN.

I have been amazed by the results of my re-education on this point of tech (in the last 2 mo) after more than 2 decades of enjoying this sport.

Such action is the HEART of quickness.

I have also been getting great effect from the kind of hip-loading that Kolecki is such a great example of.