Top ten reasons why weightlifters (Olympic lifters) can't
take the sport of powerlifting seriously:
1. The overuse and misuse of belts.
First off, I'm willing to bet that most weight trainers do not understand
the function of a lifting belt....which is to increase intra-abdominal
pressure (IAP). Increased IAP (along with increased intra-thorasic
pressure ITP) aids the erector spinae in extending the trunk. Since
sufficient IAP producing abdominal strength (primarily transverse abdominis)
can be developed through beltless training, it follows that continued belt
use will retard this development. As coach Bob Takano of the Van Nuys
Weightlifting Tribe says, "Our lifters grow their own belt". Did you know
that many of the world's best weightlifter compete without a belt.
2. The use of supportive clothing.
Shouldn't this sport be a contest of the athlete's strength and not how
well he or she learns to recover elastic energy from a lifting suit that
is so tight that it often takes several other people to help put it on?
3. The use of heavy duty knee wraps.
See # 2. Besides, weightlifters could never use thick heavy duty wraps
because the "bunch up" of material behind the knee during full squats
would cause injury. Remember that training without knee wraps will
strengthen the bodies own connective tissue supportive structures.
4. The style of squat used.
Now I know that the style of squatting used by powerlifters is purely to
lift as much weight as possible, but the weightlifter's style of back
squatting is much better for overall athletic development and limits
the amount of weight that can be handled. So when a weightlifter can
squat in excess of double body weight, it's pretty impressive. Many good
weithtlifers can squat over triple bodyweight and front squat well over
double bodyweight. How many powerlifters can do that??!!
5. The fact that it's called powerlifting.
Measurable power (f x v) output that is generated during the competitive
Olympic lifts is many times greater than the power that is generated
during the "power" lifts. However it is true that powerlifters
can generate some very high power values when lifting submaximal (~60 - 70%)
weights at maximum speed.
6. The fact that there has to be special federations for "drug free"
powerlifters.
Enough said.
7. One third of the competition is performed lying down.
I must admit however that I do suck at bench press.
8. Powerlifter don't train hard.
Consider the Van Nuys Weightlifting Tribe who train six days per week.
That's six days of snatch and or clean and jerk related movements, back
and or front squats, snatch and or clean pulls, and overhead lifting
movements. Deadlifting movements or good mornings are not usually done
more than three times per week. The Van Nuys WL Tribe often takes
workouts in which over 100 reps at 80+% are performed with weekly volumes
in excess of 500 reps at 80% and above. Our coach feels that this is the
only way to get strong drug free. How many powerlifters do more than 100
reps per week?
9 & 10. That's all I could think of. If there are any weightlifters who
can think of two more, please respond.
Please don't take the above the wrong way. There is no doubt in anyone's
mind that powerlifters are some of the strongest individuals around. In
fact, if all the athletes who went into powerlifting did weightlifting
instead, the USA might measure up pretty nicely to some of the countries
who 's top athletes come from a much larger pool. So if there are any
powerlifters who have become disenchanted by the sport for some of the same
reasons listed above, please give weightlifting some serious thought. Us
weightlifters are always looking for someone to train with.
P.S.
Don't allow yourself to be brainwashed by those who promote the "HIT"
philosophy of training. When the correct definition for intensity is used,
no other type of training can compare to Olympic weightlifting. Any sport
which requires the athlete to use the large muscles of the body to
propel an object or his or her body weight in short duration, high intensity
"bursts" will benefit tremendously from a variety of Olympic lifting
exercise variations..., and yes, if taught and trained by a qualified
coach, Olympic lifts are very safe.