Lifting like an 80's Russian

[Matt Erdman]

So I've been thinking about lifting technique and muscles involved, and after a while my thoughts turned Yurik (Urik?) Vardanian. The general consensus seems to be that he had a unique way of lifting, was a complete anomaly, etc. But really he lifted the same way as Rigert, Pisarenko, and probably others. He just started with the bar further away.

So anyway, it seems that they pull with a little more lean in the back (higher hips) than modern lifters, they extend their legs fully in the first pull, their knees barely shift back under the bar, and the second pull is done mostly with the back/posterior chain.

On the surface it seems this would be more beneficial to longer leg, shorter back individuals. So my questions are:

1. Are there any resources on this style of lifting? Books or interwebs

2. Why does no one lift this way any more? Is the selection process that strict on body types?

[Brian DeGennaro]

Vardanian has long tibias so the distance the bar has to travel to clear the knees is great, which is why the bar started further away from him.

What's your definition of "higher hips"? From what I see is hip height doesn't matter as long as the bar path (S curve) is not disrupted and the hips should rise above knee level once the bar reaches the knees and the shoulders will come over the bar.

What I see of good lifters regardless of the era, is they wait as long as possible to get the bar as high as possible before initiating the 2nd pull (and making the most out of the stretch reflex in the hammies), making the shift under short and quick to reduce any drop off in bar velocity.

[Matt Erdman]

What's your definition of "higher hips"? From what I see is hip height doesn't matter as long as the bar path (S curve) is not disrupted and the hips should rise above knee level once the bar reaches the knees and the shoulders will come over the bar.


As I said, "higher hips" is more than most modern lifters. That is A class world competitors. I'm not sure I know what you mean after that.


What I see of good lifters regardless of the era, is they wait as long as possible to get the bar as high as possible before initiating the 2nd pull (and making the most out of the stretch reflex in the hammies), making the shift under short and quick to reduce any drop off in bar velocity.
I disagree. I see most lifters maintaining quite a bit of knee flexion during the transition, espacially in the snatch. Chigishev is a good example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glJA03fNdLY

And Perepetchenov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjniueQ4JBo&feature=related

[Brian DeGennaro]

If you pause those videos when the bar is at the hips and the torsos are upright, the knee flexion is almost the same as it would be for Rigert, Pisarenko, and Zakharevich. What makes those three and many others great lifters is that the 2nd and 3rd pull is executed with great speed in order to ensure little to no drop off in bar velocity. They all extend and flex their lower extremities very quickly to the point where it looks as if they do not rebend their legs unless you watch in slow motion.

What I meant was that everyone's hip height rises to what you consider "higher hips" after the bar has been separated a few inches off the ground.

[Shane Miller]

The old russian technique of higher hips is reliant on alot of back strength on lift off. The lower hip position used alot today is more reliant on great leg/hip strength for lift off. However, each individuals lever system will determine what their optimal position should be.

[crackyflipside]

1. Are there any resources on this style of lifting? Books or interwebs

2. Why does no one lift this way any more? Is the selection process that strict on body types?

Yes, the Soviet books talk about it a lot. The biggest thing with Vardanyan in particular is that he starts with the bar far forward of his feet because of his really long legs.

[Matt Erdman]

Yes, the Soviet books talk about it a lot. The biggest thing with Vardanyan in particular is that he starts with the bar far forward of his feet because of his really long legs.

Any one in particular?

[Manuel B]

Any one in particular?

Look at Buds translated texts for info, many of his books have either excerpts breaking down the lift of a lifter, or are pretty much a collection of articles detailing the technique of various. For the latter "The Snatch and The Clean & Jerk" by R.A. Roman and M.S. Shakirzyanov is a good example of the latter. It has lift analysis for Rigert, Smalcerz, and many others.

[Matt Erdman]

Look at Buds translated texts for info, many of his books have either excerpts breaking down the lift of a lifter, or are pretty much a collection of articles detailing the technique of various. For the latter "The Snatch and The Clean & Jerk" by R.A. Roman and M.S. Shakirzyanov is a good example of the latter. It has lift analysis for Rigert, Smalcerz, and many others.

Thanks. :)