Matt's Beginner Log

Matt Edwards · 08-06-2008, 11:21 AM

Hi everyone. I am entering my sophmore year of college and have decided to start up olympic lifting religiously as part of my training for ice hockey and track. Little background... I began lifting end of junior year of highschool so you could say I'm still fairly new. This past year has been strictly powerlifting training and I think it's time for a change. My hard work ethic makes up for my poor genetics. Since I've never done a O-Lifting routine, I found a beginners workout that I started Monday that will probably get changed a little after my training session with Jim Storch this Friday.

Beginning Stats
Bodyweight: 155
Snatch: 110
Clean & Jerk: 160

8/4

Snatch 1st Pull
120 5x6

Overhead Squats
65 5x6

Squat (full + 2sec pause at bottom)
135 3x12

hypers + abs

Notes:
1. Not sure how I should be performing my squats for olympic lift training. Powerlifting was always low bar + parallel. I'll find out from Jim this Friday.
2. Right hand numb after I was done with overhead squats. Probably from the unusual positioning that will just take some getting accustomed to.

8/5

Clean
130 5x3

Clean Pull
190 3x6

Push Press
95 5x3

Behind-Neck Press; snatch grip
55 3x12

Counter-Movement Jumps
3x3

Notes:
1. The behind-neck presses were new to me all together. Felt more of a strain on my shoulders than any other shoulder presses I've done.

Allen Yeh · 08-06-2008, 11:43 AM

Welcome to the board, how long is your off season? When do you start training for hockey? Is this a coach you'll be able to see on a regular basis?

Matt Edwards · 08-06-2008, 03:34 PM

Training starts at the end of this month actually. But, if the training is anything like training at my last college, the weight training is obsolete compared to olympic weight lifting. And, no, I won't be able to visit this coach on a regular basis mostly because of college obligations. However, I found a kid that's on the football team that did Empire State Games for weight lifting last year. He was coached by a Marc who coached a female lifter to the 1987 Women's World Championships and who's worked with Tommy Kono. So he'll be able to sometimes train with me and correct form issues etc hopefully.

8/6
Snatch 2nd Pull
110 5x6

Overhead Squat
75 5x6

Full Front Squat
135 3x8

Back Extension Machine
medium weight 4x12

incline ab work

sprints
4x20m

Matt Edwards · 08-07-2008, 02:37 PM

Very light day to make sure I'm recovered for tomorrow's session. Emphasizing speed and technique.

8/7

Powerclean + Split Jerk
115 5x 3+2

Clean Pulls
155 3x6

Behind-Neck Press (snatch grip) + Overhead Squats
45 3x 12+6

Squat Jumps
3x3

Yuen Sohn · 08-07-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Edwards

However, I found a kid that's on the football team that did Empire State Games for weight lifting last year. He was coached by a Marc who coached a female lifter to the 1987 Women's World Championships and who's worked with Tommy Kono. So he'll be able to sometimes train with me and correct form issues etc hopefully.

Is the lifter, by any chance, Mike Basciano and the coach Marc Chasnov?

Matt Edwards · 08-07-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoon Sohn

Is the lifter, by any chance, Mike Basciano and the coach Marc Chasnov?

That's probably the coach's name, but the lifter is Mike Aidala.

Matt Edwards · 08-08-2008, 11:17 AM

Very productive day today working with Jim Storch and crew. Learned A LOT of pointers and technique fixes. PR in Classic Snatch and Power Snatch, no PR in Clean&Jerk but the weights I did do went up a lot smoother. The program I was going to follow is completely obsolete after today's session. I think my training might go something like this:

Monday
Classic Snatch
Power Snatch
plyos

Tuesday
snatch assistance lifts

Thursday
Clean & Jerk
Power Clean
Front Squats
plyos

Friday
clean & jerk assistance lifts

I'm not really sure where to fit in back squats. Any suggestions or critiques on the layout?

Matt Edwards · 08-11-2008, 10:56 AM

So after some emails with Jim, I figured out my routine until ice hockey training starts at least. Very solid day in the gym today. 15# PR in the snatch.

8/11

Snatch
75 x 3
95 x 3
105 x 3
115 x 2
125 x 1
135 x f, 1, f, f, 1

Overhead Squat
95 x 3
105 x 3
115 x 3, 3, 2

Sled Drags (33% bodyweight)
8 x 20m

Matt Edwards · 08-12-2008, 01:11 PM

Assistance day in the gym. Going hard this week since I get treatment from my physical therapist this Friday/Monday which will prevent me from weight lifting for a week.

Pressing Snatch Balance
45 x 3
65 x 3
75 x 3, 3, 3, 3, 3

Behind-Neck Push Press (snatch grip)
75 x 3
95 x 3
105 x 3
115 x 3
125 x 3

Front Squat
135 x 3
155 x 3
165 x 3
175 x 1, 1, f

30mins of plyometrics

Matt Edwards · 08-14-2008, 10:51 AM

Started my sister up on her first workout program ever today. Training her up for ice hockey, trying out for the highschool team as a freshman so she's got plenty of time to get on the same level as the boys.

For me however, my Jerks were way off today. The form was good, just couldn't get/keep the weights at lockout.

Clean + Jerk
115 x 2+2
135 x 2+2
145 x 1+1
155 x 1+f, 1+f
145 x 2+1, 1+f

Cleans
135 x 3, 3
145 x 3, 3

Sled Drags (33% bodyweight)
6 x 20m