I am a Olympic Weightlifter

What is that? How can I get into it?

BTW that photo is Lu Xiaojun the Olympic Weightlifting Champion in the 77kg weigh class (My Idol)

Olympic Weightlifting is a very niche sport. I have competed in 2 competitions so far in 2018 and am looking to do more in the 77kg/171lbs weight class. It is a competitive sport much like Powerlifting or Bodybuilding. The difference is that the competition lifts are different. We train and compete for the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Many times people see these movements, they see a “Crossfit Fail” type of video where the barbel falls on their back, or breaks glass. Of course when you train hard, accidents will happen just like in any other sport.

I love the sport because it is very technical. I like to think deeply and move efficiently. I was first introduced to Olympic Weightlifting when I watch the 2011 Crossfit games in my dorm room with my roommate. For some reason, I knew I wanted to do it. It looked artistic, fluid, and powerful. I put that in the back of my mind for a year until I joined a crossfit gym in my college town called Kato Crossfit. I went and learned the movements there and learned from other coaches ever since then. So, let’s get into it.

How do I start Olympic Weightlifting

1. Practice infant of a mirror with a long PVC pipe/ broom, stick, whatever.

Before even touching the barbel, practice moving the stick as if it was 1000lbs. You want to make sure that you are moving in a good manner and it’s fluid. Make sure you also watch videos of Olympic Weightlifters. Not everyone will lift the same due to difference in leverages, but the movement is there. Work on breaking down each part, the start position, hand grip, hip height, first pull, second pull, third pull, catch, etc. If you don’t know what those terms are, just YouTube it and it will pop up.

I cannot stress enough the importance of practicing with just a PVC pipe or no weight at all. Your body will learn to move in that way. It will make or break a great athlete vs an Olympic level athlete. And also prevents injury.

2. If you know how to Front squat, Back squat, Deadlift, Overhead Squat, Push Press, Skip this part.

If you DON’T know how to do these movements, It is very important that you learn these first. It really establishes the foundation of movement that you will use when doing the OLY lifts. I actually skipped this step when I was learning. My gym taught me the snatch with a barbel fairly fast. It wasn’t too difficult, but I hit a wall. I couldn’t snatch over 135 lbs. I started to wonder why and it was because I couldn’t get low enough to catch the weight. I literally didn’t know how to overhead squat. This prevented me from increasing my lifts. I also wasn’t pulling off the ground properly. I knew something was off so I went back to the basics and worked from the ground up again. It was the best thing I every did because now I can do more that I used to. And if you don’t know how to do any of these,

3. Find a coach. And always find different coaches.

Finding a weightlifting coach is the BEST thing I ever did. It will be the best thing for you as well. They will see where you are lacking and help you build it up. A good weightlifting coach will accelerate your process because they can guide you to where you need to be, how you should move, what exercises to work on, and how to push your limits. I have been lucky to have found some great coaches who have taught me how to move better and the principles to Olympic Weightlifting. They are the only reason why I compete in the sport and love it. My coaches are also tough. If I am late, they let me have it. If I don’t do my best that they know I can do, they tell me the way it is. When I become an Olympic Champion, It will be because of them. Having a coach really sets you apart from thinking you know how to do it, to really knowing how to lift.

Weightlifting really is about the journey. You will always get stronger, You will also learn new techniques, You are always learning something new, especially from other lifters. You will develop new friendships. There will be a point where you might get bored, and that is totally fine. But just remember that Weightlifting is more about the mind than it is about the body.

If you have any questions or comments, please comment below. If you want to learn more about something, also comment! Much Love!