WEIGHTLIFTING ISN’T SCARY
Yes, it is the spookiest month of the year, but one thing that for sure isn’t scary is weightlifting at PFP. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is a barbell sport that consists of the snatch and the clean and jerk. The overall goal is to move a barbell from the floor to overhead as smoothly and powerfully as possible. While that does sound pretty scary, it is actually a very approachable sport that can give you long-lasting results as far as strength, range of motion, power, and overall skill mastery. Let’s talk about some myths or preconceptions you might have and how we at PFP can help you start your journey to learning this great sport.
WEIGHTLIFTING AS AN ADULT: SKILL & STRENGTH
Learning new physical skills at any point can be beneficial to us in so many ways. What if learning that new skill also made us stronger and healthier? I am going to tell you about why learning a new skill like Olympic Weightlifting can be both a new route to your fitness goals and a fun and engaging physical skill.
SQUAT VARIATIONS FOR OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING
In the sport of Olympic Weightlifting, squatting is king. It is the movement we as lifters use to drive most of the leg strength and overall adaptations for our performance. It allows us to increase our ability to apply force into the ground, which then translates force and power into the barbell when we lift. Let's discuss some of the best squat variations, why we use them, and how they’re programmed.
CLEAN TECHNIQUE ESSENTIALS
The clean, much like snatching in weightlifting, requires not only power and strength, but good rhythm and timing. In order to execute it properly, we are going to go over some key technical aspects as well as some ways to internalize those cues and output them in your training sessions. We will highlight the overall goals first and then break down how we can ensure they're occurring in the lift properly.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW: BARBELL
One of the unique things we have here at PFP is our Olympic Weightlifting Team. Weightlifting is a sport known throughout the world and in the last 10 to 15 years has gained a lot of momentum and attraction in the United States. With over 1 million members in the US, it has truly built itself into something special. Here at PFP, we love to foster weightlifters, new and old. The first step is our barbell assessment, where we meet a new prospective lifter for our team and either view their current technique or teach them for the very first time. Once that process is complete, we enroll them in our Intro Program. Now that may sound like it’s only for beginners, but I assure you it's not. We label it the Intro because it contains all of the essential pieces to help and solidify the core principles of weightlifting: strength, speed, movement consistency, patience, and fun. So let's talk about how it does that.
TIPS TO GET STARTED WITH WEIGHTLIFTING
Here are some of Isaac’s best tips when it comes to getting into weightlifting. If you’ve tried before, but something was off, now may be the right time to try again!
OLYMPIC WEIGHTLIFTING IS FOR EVERYONE: Why You Should Give it a Try
There is a common misconception that Olympic-style weightlifting is reserved for more advanced athletes. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Weightlifting is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and levels of abilities.
STRENGTH TRAINING 101
One of the main reasons people seek out gyms or training facilities is to increase their overall strength. It is widely understood that individuals of all ages who increase their strength through exercise experience less chronic pain, improve their mobility, and just generally feel better.
FIVE REASONS TO STRENGTH TRAIN THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HOW YOU LOOK
Did you know that after age 30, inactive adults lose 3% to 8% muscle mass per decade? Inactivity decreases our metabolism and increases fat accumulation. Over time, sedentary adults are more prone to developing diseases and injuries. The solution? Train with weights.
EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT IN WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting is a sport that requires dedication, discipline, and determination. One of the most important processes that can make or break an athlete’s journey and enjoyment in the sport is the management of expectations.
MAXIMAL ATTEMPTS: MENTAL & PHYSICAL APPROACH
You have finally reached the point in your program where you’ll be taking maximal attempts. Whether these are snatches and clean and jerks or bench presses, squats, and deadlifts, they will no doubt challenge what you have worked for up until this point. Maximal attempts are just that, they call for us to exert both our reserve of strength as well as require the highest level of technique and precision that we can muster at that moment. Not only are our physical capabilities challenged but our mental capacity to focus and overcome what is in front of us. It is, without a doubt, extremely difficult but you are more than capable of doing so.
TEEN WEIGHTLIFTING AT PFP BARBELL
The Teen Weightlifting Program at PFP Barbell is designed to introduce teens to barbell exercises and movement in a safe, positive, and supportive environment.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN STARTING WEIGHTLIFTING
It all starts with a barbell assessment with one of our USAW-certified coaches! During this one-hour session, a coach will go over the basics of both the snatch and clean and jerk. No experience is required - just make sure to bring comfortable clothes! You can sign up for a barbell session directly from our website.