Olympic lifts in a full body workout

[BendtheBar]

Good post D.

[dmaipa]

Thanks BTB...I've come to the realization that although oly lifts seem fun and a great challenge, I think people can benefit more from them they just take certain aspects of the oly lifts. For Example for power clean; Someone can do Hang Clean Pulls for say 5 sets of 3 then do front squats for 5x5 (I just threw numbers out there). The reason for this split up.

Hang Clean Pulls - get the lifter in triple extension with a weight they can handle and also will be able to work on the explosive extension of the hips

Front Squat- You can front squat much more than you can hang clean with good form.

[Casey Butt]

I think this is skirting the edge of a very important point as well ...performing the Olympic Lifts is not simply a matter of deciding one day that you're going to do the Snatch and Clean & Jerk. Learning those lifts takes time under a knowledgeable instructor and a fairly lengthy period of perfecting technique (which never really ends). It's very difficult to learn the full lifts on your own and even then it will take time, a lot of introspection and probably a video camera.

For 99% of the population I think the "power" versions of the lifts are a more practical alternative (and also will probably give 99% of the benefits on a "casual" basis). Even then proper technique on the "power" versions takes time to learn and proper instruction.