Topic: Article submission from Arthur Chidlovski

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

http://www.shtanga.kcn.ru/priznaki.htm

It's in Russian and I'll try to do a fast translation. With your permission, I'll skip the intro where the author describes how non-weightlifters and fans stereotypically see olympic weightlifters. Then he presents the step-by-step pic of lifting by Duganov (split snatch); Stogov (clean and press); Plukfelder (split clean and jerk); Vlasov (clean); Zhabotinsky (clean and jerk); Kirzhinov (cj); Yurik Vardanyan (cj) and Chemerkin (jerk).

Here is what the author writes:
"Arching back, curved hands in the explosion stage, looking at the bar from below, holding the bar in front, obvious press-out - all these signs of bad techniques are being demonstrated by outstanding lifters above. Should we refuse to call them Olympic weightlifters? Of course, not. It's simple in order to determine who is a real weightlifter and who is not, one needs to take in consideration the weight being lifted in addition to how precise the technique is. Why should we look at both the weight being lifted and the techniques? It's very simple - because weightlifting is a sport specialization and high results can't be achieved without serious specialization, long and intensive training sessions. If an athlete achieved high results in weightlifting, it means that he seriously trained and specialized in weightlifting. Therefore, he's a lifter.

Polished classical techniques is, of course, a great thing to have. It pleases the eye of wl experts and it's one of the main ways to stay away from injuries. But lifting results depend not only on techniques but on many factors that are significant and can even be more significant than the techniques.

If the sum of all these factors of success is 100% then the break-down, in my opinion can be the following: ability to work hard, enthusiasm - approx. 15%; knowledge and experience of the coach - 10 %; financial well-being of an athlete - 15 %; training experience of an athlete (especially, the age he began to lift) - 20%; usage of anabolics - 20 %; genetics - 15 %. Polished techniques actually adds not that much - 5 %, although indirectly, because good technique allows escape from injuries and therefore increase experience/number of years in training, the significance of correct techniques can reach up to 15 %.

That's all - only 15 %. Therefore, good technique is a flashy sign of an olympic weightlifter but it's not the only component to determine who is the real lifter and who is not. The most important - how much do you lift. If the weights are heavy (class A +), then even with a clumsy signs in moves and fixation, you are a real lifter. You are one of us."