This week’s education was taught by Bill Stearn’s, a 2012 Bridgewater State graduate and a national level competitive weightlifter. The session was on Olympic weightlifting and was very beneficial because we were able to actually perform the movements step-by-step while being coached. The primary movement performed was the snatch, both from the ground and from the hang.
One of the biggest problems I have had in Olympic weightlifting is trying to pull the bar too soon. “Jump,” “stand up,” and “be patient” are all cues that have been used for me, and while they work from time to time, nothing has stuck in the long run. The way Bill coached the movement was to stand up fully, then move to the toes, then shrug the bar. Three separate movements all done independently of one another. Once that movement pattern had been learned, we started to move a bit faster, and then a bit faster, until the full snatch was finally done as one movement. This simple way of coaching had a huge implication on my movement of the bar while weightlifting. Since that sessions I have practiced that movement almost every time I train, and it has gotten better and better each time.
Olympic weightlifting movements can oftentimes be very difficult to coach in real time, as there is so much to observe and take in in a very short period of time. Video is a great tool to help a beginner learn to coach these movements in slow motion and learn to look for specific things. Bill, however, did a fantastic job at coaching all of us in real time and understanding what each one of us needed to be successful. I’m hopeful that Bill will be able to come back to continue working with us on the clean and jerk as well as just the snatch.