Clean and Snatch Critique

[Matthieu Hertilus]

Hey everyone, just joined the forum and this is my first post. I've been getting back into Olympic style lifting after being off it for about a year. but I want to make sure I'm doing these right. Could you please critique me on my form in the clean and snatch? The Snatch is most difficult for me as I'm still not able to catch it in the full squat position. Any advice is welcome. Thank You.

Squat Hang Clean: http://sharing.theflip.com/session/d.../video/3234884

Hang Power Snatch: http://sharing.theflip.com/session/0.../video/3234905

Front Squat: http://sharing.theflip.com/session/5.../video/3234923

[Brian Lawyer]

Qualifier, I am not a coach and the only thing I am certified in is accounting.

Looked like you were sandbagging some for the video. By that I mean you probably could have done a lot more weight. So are you doing O'Lifting for football or another sport or are you trying to be a true O'Lifter. That could have some bearing on the feedback you get.

I don't really have much constructive criticism for you.
Hang Power Snatch = that overhead recieving position looked real nice. All you have to do is sit down into a squat. Lifting shoes would help with that.
Front Squat = only thing I thought you could improve on here is get some lifting shoes because I think the lifted heels would help you to get down into the position of sitting down on your ankles and pushing your knees further forward and torso more upright.

Sorry not much help.

[Greg Everett]

First of all, you have great speed - I wish all my athletes moved like that. Your speed is going to be a huge advantage for you.

Overall, these look very good. On the clean, finish a little more at the top of the pull - you cut it short just a little bit, largely because it's light weight and you're so fast to get under the bar. Make sure you're driving with the legs all the way to the bitter end before pulling under.

On the snatches, #2 is better than #1. The main issue is your pull under - you're pretty stiff-armed, so the bar is swinging out as you pull under. Allow the elbows to bend and guide them up and out to the sides as you pull down before turning thme over into the overhead position.

If you want to be a weightlifter, you can come lift for our team any day if you keep that up.

[Matthieu Hertilus]

Thank you for the advice. My hang snatch felt much better today as I really tried to focus on firing my elbows out and keeping the bar close. I even tried doing them against a wall so I would know if I was swing the bar out too much.

Though I still feel like I want to master the clean and snatch first, I would love to be able to compete. I love training and coaching but the only thing that would make me happier is being that athlete myself, and being 22, I still feel as though I have a shot at competing as some type of athlete and making that my career for as long as I can. In fact, I would fly out to California in a heartbeat if it meant being able to train at your facility

“What I’m doing right now, I’m chasing perfection."