Topic: Random Tips, Resources, Inspiration, etc

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

To start if off (may add other tips later), I'll counsel lifters to distribute their abdominal work throughout their workouts, some as warmup, some in between warmup sets for the exercises of the day, and some at the end. Not only does this allow for more overall productive abdominal work but it serves as a fantastic warmup aid for the torso and helps engage the entire torso in the lifts early, promoting proper technique (especially in the jerk). This will be especially beneficial for lifters with back issues of all kinds but would also serve as an excellent preventative aid in the first place against those issues. It also helps the back recover when tired in between sets/exercises/workouts by engaging the abs and thus taking load off the back.

What's your tip?

[Dave Chiu]

My ole lifting buddy Tim Guarino used to activate the core during wm-up by walking a pattern of steps w/ the barbell overhead.

I also like to get the abs and lumbars (and quads) going by doing core extensions and flex/squeezes while wall-squatting. 

The vertical posture lets you start gently, and the numbers you do give something to pass time while you wall-sq. 

The sets are not long, w/ straighter legs and hip still on wall for ham glute stretches in btwn.

[ryankyle]

My tip is to always start each new exercise with just the bar.  Sometimes after snatches someone may start with 50 for the jerk, take the empty bar first.  See goes for squat, take the bar first, you can always learn something new.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

In an effort to get this thread going, I am going to throw out another tip. I hope others join in and contribute. I can't give up all my secrets. :)

Lift on different platforms, lift facing different directions, lift with the radio on, etc- learn to lift with distractions, learn to lift without crutches.

[Mike Wittmer]

On days when doing the lifts, we would sometimes alter the warm-up progression, as if there were many repeated, missed lifts, three minute clocks (in the old days), weight changes, etc. 

We would also do brief warm-ups, sometimes timed (say eight minutes to your opener) and sometimes you get only four warm-up lifts to the opener.   I remember once doing three singles with 60, one with 100, then going to 140.  That was when my best snatch was 145.

[Brooke Burkhalter]

Use the lats to bring the bar to the hips as opposed to bringing the hips to the bar.

I think I read Chris say this as well.

[Owen Duguay]

If you train alone ask another lifter to train with you for a fixed period say one month or two months.  Let him or her make up the training program and do exactly what your training partner says.  This is a good way to get a different perspective on training. 

[Shaun Le Conte]

When you are finished your workout and are waiting for somebody else to finish hers so that you can drive her and yourself home, do not load up the bar to a +5 kg PR in the front squat and try to do an unspotted negative repetition with it after reading somebody's article on the internet, thinking you can bail out of it easily in the deep squat position. That's about all I can think of to offer.