Topic: New Old lifter starting up

[dabrock]

I just discovered this board as I was starting to get interested in Olympic lifting and I'm doing it rather late in life -- just turned 40. I guess my first question is how to start if you don't have a coach or even a real Olympic lifting gym? Other than CrossFit it's hard to find a place that specializes in lifting and I don't want to invest a ton of money up front till I at least find out if I can reasonably do it.

Is there any good resources that I can get to help me at least get some semblance of real technique so I can actual lift some real weight?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-- David

[Shaun Le Conte]

Hi David,

There are a couple of clubs in Ottawa - see here: http://ontarioweightlifting.ca/clients.htm


Shaun
Sarnia, Ontario

[dabrock]

Thanks Shaun for the response. I've actually looked into that list already but it costs $100 a month and I have a contract at Good Life for $60 that I can't break for a while. I also travel quite a bit so I was hoping to at least start off with a routine I could do anywhere.

-David

[Shaun Le Conte]

Start with the bar and do the lifts over and over! Have to develop an idea of how they are done. This can be done anywhere.

This guy here has a good article suitable to you
http://www.traintherightway.com/2010/01/programming-for-new-olympic-lifters-and.html

[Zach Wheeler]

I often wonder how I would train WL in a commercial gym. I'm very very lucky in that I train for free at a provincial training centre. Other than bar work, you could do a ton of assistance work; squats (front and back), pulls (snatch, clean, starting high and low, deadlifts), overhead work (presses, push press etc).

[dabrock]

Thanks for the responses. I've started moving from power squats to deep back squats, front squats and overhead squats. High pulls and cleans are usually easy to get away with but snatch makes people look twice. Unfortunately, I don't think I could sneak into a provincial training centre since I assume those are for accomplished athletes. However, I was able to talk to one of the national level coaches (thanks again for the list Shaun since his name was on it) and found out that Napean has the best equipped gym in Ontario now with 8 new platforms and tons of new equipment.

Looks like I can lift pretty cheap now -- just an extra $55 a month and the coach teaches beginner lesson's there for $120 for a six week program. Things are starting to look up.

[Keith Miller]

Good luck!!  It's nice to see another master lifter too!!

[dabrock]

Thanks, Keith. I never thought I would be taking up a new sport at this age but it should be fun!