Topic: Video: Chris LeRoux CJ 140@59

[Jim Hooper]

Okay Chris, I'll bite:  What's your new way of thinking about the snatch?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Second don't fool around when you are lifting.   Stay focused.  You don't want to hurt yourself and lose the strength you have because of a possible injury.   OK.   Just a friendly tap on the knuckles Chris.

LOL. Okay Owen, you have a point there.

Okay Chris, I'll bite:  What's your new way of thinking about the snatch?

It is hard to explain in words for me at this point. I have only been thinking this way for a few weeks but my consistency has really improved as has the weights I am hitting. But, I imagine my body is like a rubber band stretched taunt in the starting position and then pulled as tight as possible at the finish where it snaps causing the jump to the catch.   

[Dirk Wilcke]

Great lift.

[Tom Banister]

Chris,  what have you changed in your jerks?  The jerk is absolutely my weakest link and I would welcome any new ideas. Thanks.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Tom, I shortened my dip (on Sam Maxwell's advice) and increased the amount of knee bend in the split position. This, combined with physical therapy for many years, has allowed me to eliminate the excessive back arch I have dealt with in the split for most of my career.

[Dave Chiu]

Great to see you doing SO WELL...

Is it the new shoes??

Was the record-breaker of Ike Berger's 30-yr-old Jerk mark the highlight of your younger days?

As for your SN developments, I have gained what I think is similar to your description, first thru considering the tech. of Natalie Woolfolk, then most of the best at the Beijing Games (especially as compared to that archive of '88), and finally taking a more thorough look at Kolecki.

I like to call that top phase "cocking the hips", and it works wonders for my quickness going under the bar, and for cleans too.

Right now I'm experimenting w/ implementing it into my Jerks, like what I once read was V. Sharey's method back in the late 60's, early 70's, and what may be how KK really popped his PJs.

Do you find that it makes for less foot-hop, and therefore a good reason to move the starting stance wider?

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Dave,

The new shoes are nice but I don't think that is it. I have been training consistently since I recovered from injury sustained right before the last senior nationals, and I took my time doing a full conditioning phase before going heavy. The new training location at the fight club is big though. I have been doing much, much better since I started coaching and training there as the atmosphere is far better for weightlifting than the fitness gym I was training at, of course. The 153@60 to break Berger's lift was a highlight but comes in second to winning my Jr World medal with 137.5@56, especially because I am pretty sure both the guys that beat me have subsequently been busted for doping at least once and I cleaned more than the dopers did but missed the jerk (140). I don't think concentrating on the hips in the snatch would do me any good. It is more a matter of timing and attitude that is helping me and I really haven't changed anything in my pull at all.

Thanks

[Dave Chiu]

Interesting perspective on your career...

The shoes comment was in fun, but I bet you like those new ones.

Facility really DOES make a difference.

If the SN improvements you mention are not really so much like my descriptions, is there someone you would say they are most like?