Wearing a Belt
 

When do you recommend putting on a belt? What % for various lifts?

I prefer to see a belt used only on cleans, jerks and squats, usually 85-90% and above, unless doing higher volume work at somewhat lower weight, in which case the lower back can use some help.

Thanks for the green light.

What is your take on those who don't wear a belt for the added core work, or because they think it will weaken their core?

I think that it works fine for some people, but if your goal is lifting maximal weight, at some point, wearing a belt is going to necessary for most people. Wearing a belt doesn't eliminate the need for the trunk musculature to work hard under heavy weights, and core work can be done out side of squatting etc.

Gotcha, thanks!

Ditto on the belts. C&Js, squats, jerks over 80ish percent. Some people never wear one at all. The heaviest C&J of all time was done without a belt, 266 kilos by Leonid Taranenko. Interestingly, he had done 265.5 a year earlier and he was wearing a belt then. I guess he just used it when he felt like he needed it. But I think most people who are pushing for top OL results wear a belt in C&J. You rarely see it in the snatch, but there are a couple of elite lifters who use it. Podobedova, 75 kilo world record holder in the women's division, wears a belt in the SN.

Since I started training without bumpers I use a belt for heavy overheads. Just need a little protection in the low back when lowering the bar sometimes if fatigue sets in mid set.

Is using a belt not advisable for the snatch?

I was thinking about using a belt for heavy [Ha! If you can consider what I lift heavy] singles and doubles. I'm still a n00b-ish lifter and I don't plan to compete. I just like to pick things up and put them down.