Slowing Time Down
Several months ago I took the USA Weightlifting Coaches’ course. It’s been a seminar I’ve wanted attended for a while and it was nice to check it off my bucket list.
One of the more fascinating things I learned was how fast the Olympic lifts happen - The bar speed on a snatch is something like 1.2-1.5 meters/second. The lift is over in less than a second, and so much happens in to get a barbell from the floor to over your head. You have to be aggressive and precise.
A few times a week I upload videos to my coach and he breaks them down, analyzes them and provides feedback for me to work on at my next session. My technique and understanding of the lifts has improved drastically, but the other day I felt it all come together at once.
I was working up to 85% of my max. I watched my video back from my last set and noticed a slight jump forward - something we’ve been working on for a while. I decide to go up 5 pounds, or 2 kilos as we say in weightlifting, and try to end on a smoother lift. What happened was crazy, and I didn’t even realize was possible.
Time slowed down.
I set up like I always do. Step to the bar, left foot then right, found good foot pressure, grabbed the bar, right hand first, sipped a big breath in and picked a spot to look at. I rocked up to load my hips and when I dropped back down into my starting position I pushed the bar off the floor and the next half second felt like a minute. Like I was watching a slow motion video of myself.
I could feel the bar moving by the inch and I heard cues in my head and was making adjustments on the fly. Your knee should be vertical as you pass it, get your chest up as soon as the bar is past your knees, sweep the bar, drive vertically - don’t lean back, put the bar where you want it! I even had the fleeting thought as I dropped under the bar to catch it - how am I thinking of all this at once?
I nailed the lift. My coach said it was the best snatch he’s ever seen me do. My understanding of the lift completely changed after that one attempt. All these little pieces I have been working on, small adjustments, micro tweaks came all together and time slowed down.
The goal is 100 kilos so I’ve still got a ways to go, but I’m thrilled with my progress, and the whole process of refining these skills for the past 6 months.
Many of you have asked for the details about the meet - the meet is in North Hampton on 4/21. Riley will lift around 12pm and I’ll start around 2pm. Here are some details about the meet and I’ll post them again next week.
Justin Miner
@justinminergain
