Cheating
is perhaps the most maligned
and least appreciated
tactic in the weight room.
It's so important, in
fact, that I consider
cheating to be the calling
card of skilled lifters.
When
we examine the three primary
strength sports (weightlifting,
powerlifting, and strongman),
it's clear that cheating
is an absolute prerequisite
for success. Of the three
disciplines, I'd argue
that weightlifters have
elevated the art of cheating
to a sweet science. In
fact, during the performance
of the two competitive
events (the snatch and
clean & jerk), lifters
violate almost every dearly-held
notion in the personal
training industry:
-
During the "catch"
phase of both the snatch
and clean, lifters allow
their knees to drift
significantly in front
of the toes.
-
During the support phase
of the snatch and the
jerk, lifters aggressively
lock their elbow joints
against heavy loads.
-
Both the snatch and
clean start with what
amounts to an accelerative
deadlift with a heavy
weight.
Someone
needs to teach her about
Time Under Tension
- In
training, weightlifters
rarely if ever use spotters-
if they get into trouble
with a lift, they simply
drop the barbell on
the floor.
-
Both weightlifting events,
as well as most of the
assistance exercises
they use, employ the
use of maximum speed
against the bar.
-
Rather than use common
set/rep brackets such
as 3x10, 5x8, etc.,
weightlifters typically
use many sets of 1-3
reps per set. Additionally,
weightlifters avoid
"failure"
like Brittney avoids
panties.
Maybe
if this Bulgarian lifter
would do more than 2 reps
per set, he'd finally
develop some definition!
-
Your weightlifting coach
will never ask "How
did that feeeel?"
If your lift looked
great, there's no need
to ask how it felt.
If it sucked, there's
still no reason to ask.
-
Weightlifters don't
do "cardio."
Try a clean & jerking
a heavy triple and you'll
find out why.
Well-chosen
exercises eliminate the
need for "cardio"
-
Weightlifters don't
lift in front of a mirror.
-
Weightlifters, by definition,
compete. Few weightlifting
clubs will tolerate
a lifter who won't lift
in meets. At least,
not for long
-
Weightlifters squat
deep. So deep in fact,
that there is a competition
rule that forbids the
lifter from touching
his/her butt to the
floor at the bottom
of a snatch or clean.
I'd
say that's below parallel,
wouldn't you?
-
(Along the lines of
the last point) weightlifters
often round their low
backs at the bottom
of their squats. What's
that? You can keep your
arch when your butt's
an inch from the floor?
Send me the video.
Too
bad he doesn't stretch-
he can barely do a
squat with 260 pounds
overhead!
-
Weightlifters hold their
breath during long portions
of most lifts. They
never "inhale on
the lowering phase"
or "exhale on the
lifting phase."
-
Both the snatch and
the jerk, as well as
several assistance exercises
for these two lifts)
involve putting a barbell
over your head.
Clearly,
he's not aware of the
dangers involved with
overhead lifting
And
finally…
-
As a global point, weightlifters
seek the easiest way
to lift a weight, not
the hardest way.
It's
possible that I missed
a few points, but I think
my central point has been
made. Now here's what's
kinda interesting about
all of this…
Most
people who lift for the
sake of improving their
appearance typically try
to avoid every one of
these maneuvers.
Yet, not only do weightlifters
violate all of these sacred
cows, they actually get
better aesthetic results
than their "exerciser"
counterparts do, despite
the fact that they don't
really lift for aesthetic
purposes!
Recently
I noticed a question on
an internet forum from
a 24-year old man who
wanted to look like a
mixed martial arts (MMA)
fighter, in less than
one year, starting from
scratch as it were. He
got plenty of advice,
most of it relating to
exercise choices, meal
timing, set/rep brackets,
and goal setting. My suggestion:
if you want to look like
an MMA athlete, why not
become a MMA athlete?
Which of course, is the
take-home point of this
article.
