Critique my meet lifts

[NewWorldMan]

Feel free to critique my meet lifts and offer any thoughts as to what I can work on for my next meet in 9 weeks.

First snatch (81)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8UO3zzQwrQ

2nd (81)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvadEc3iOyo

3rd (84)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbmaT6hlOrM

Clean & Jerk:
1st (97)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaCjVxR2aEc

2nd (101)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1UFrUSJhk

3rd (104)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvtEUPF_Ijk

Thanks in advance!

Kevin

[BSmith]

I think you could start with higher hips on the snatch, your start seems to place your shoulders a little behind the bar.

you also start with your hips which is ok if only done a little bit, but I think in your case your hips are rising too fast, shifting your weight to your toes, and therefore leaving the bar out in front on all of your attempts.

you seem to do the same with your clean (lead with hips)

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Kevin - I am like you - very much a novice and learning, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. But the first thing I want to say is - good job! Getting on the platform is the key. I read your previous reports and it looked like a lot of fun and a awesome learning experience for you. I have one thing to say - go to Georgia!

But I Agree with Brian - the hips do rise first.

I think you could benefit from a few sessions of what Glenn recently posted on youtube - some pausing at the knees to emphasize positioning, then continuing through the lift.

By my novice eyes, your position on the first pull is not optimal. I think the pausing at knee height will further get your back tighter off the floor - which would help get your shoulders and your hips raising at the same time. The result should be better timing. The end result will be PRs.

On your snatches, it looks as though you have the same problem I do - catching or receiving "soft." Your jerk recoveries also had a little hint of it. But not as much as the snatches.

To correct it, if it needs correcting, perhaps some snatch grip behind the neck push presses where you really work on squeezing and seperating the bar. The idea is to catch the bar solid. Then stand up.

Don't know if any of that helps?

All the best,
Arden

[NewWorldMan]

Brian/Arden,

Thanks for the prompt reply! Chomping at the bit to get to the club tomorrow to work on this (if the ice storm doesn't turn out to be too bad!).

So, I am too vertical and not over the bar enough at the start? I wasn't aware of this - will make it a priority to correct. Will do the pauses at the knees - Glenn actually suggested the for my cleans a while back as I was not transitioning from 1st --> 2nd pull well. Time to go back to these.

Arden,

You are the second person to suggest the snatch grip push presses to get the 'soft catch' out of the system and get more confidence in having the bar overhead. You have a keen eye and a correct evaluation and are in good company - Alex Chtanine (was a member of the USSR Junior National Team in 1975. In 1979 in a pre Moscow Olympics competition Alex won a Bronze Medal (David Rigert won Gold) totaling 367.5 in the 100 kilo class) suggested the same thing to help overhead.

Thanks!

[glennpendlay]

I think the advice so far has been spot on. I do still think you would benefit from pauses at the knee... and you have to find some way to hold that bar in the snatch, might as well try snatch grip push press... cause you are putting them in a place where you should be able to hold them, but they are not staying up.

[NewWorldMan]

To clarify (and hopefully correct):
- are my hips too low in the starting position or is hip position a consequence of keeping the bar over the base of the toes and the arms vertically over the bar?

- Am I correct in assuming I WANT to stay upright as much a possible in the first pull?

- I do see (especially in my cleans) that my hips stop and have to allow the shoulders to catch up - leading to the hitch and requiring me to pull the bar back into my body.

Trying to figure it out, but not overthink it.

[NewWorldMan]

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPtF_L4iMaU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q-IkcrBlsI

[Christine Petty]

I can't really tell from the angle it was shot, but perhaps the issue is your shoulders aren't over the bar enough when you're starting?

Usual disclaimers about lift critique from a fellow novice lifter.

[Matt Erdman]

Originally Posted by NewWorldMan

To clarify (and hopefully correct):
- are my hips too low in the starting position or is hip position a consequence of keeping the bar over the base of the toes and the arms vertically over the bar?

I think your hips are a little too low. I don't think it is a good position for your build. The bar is in a good position over your feet, but it may help to start with your shoulders over the bar a little more.

Originally Posted by NewWorldMan

- Am I correct in assuming I WANT to stay upright as much a possible in the first pull?

No. Your positioning during the first pull is mainly to set you up for a good second pull. Typically you will want your back angle to stay the same through the first pull. Your back angle at the completion of the first pull looks like it is right on. Try starting with the same angle from the beginning rather than leaning forward during the first pull.

Originally Posted by NewWorldMan

- I do see (especially in my cleans) that my hips stop and have to allow the shoulders to catch up - leading to the hitch and requiring me to pull the bar back into my body.

I don't think that is exactly whats happening. I think if you stop worrying about staying upright, your body will find a better rhythm and lead to a quicker transition.