Is Olympic Lifting Really That Good For Sports?

We all know of the value of strength training for Sports and that using exercises to enhance speed and power is crucial if you want to achieve your potential.
Read our article the 8 must haves for Sports for an in depth look at sports conditioning http://www.noregretspt.com.au/index.php/resources/blog/43-2014/213-6-must-haves-before-embarking-on-strength-training-for-sports
This is where the us of Olympic Lifting techniques has been a staple of most Sports coaches programs for their athletes for a long time.
However in this video I pose the question are these exercises, Hang Cleans, Power Cleans, Clean & Jerk, Snatch really all that relevant to most sports and is there better choices of exercises to achieve the goal of added explosive power and strength?
My biggest concerns with these lifts are they are performed from a 2 leg standing position, where in almost every sport you are always jumping from 1 leg not 2. And you are often using 1 arm not 2.
The argument most sports coaches would use for this, is the load is greater with 2 legs and promotes more strength gains than single leg movements. The single leg movements compromise the strength or load you can lift as it is so unstable and complex. But this is my whole point. You need to train this lack of stability, with this specific pattern of movement. Strength does not override stability deficits.

Read our articles on single leg squats http://www.noregretspt.com.au/index.php/resources/blog/43-2014/231-why-the-single-leg-squat-is-the-best-exercise-for-rehab-injury-prevention

And also our article on Stability for more information on this topic
http://www.noregretspt.com.au/index.php/resources/blog/43-2014/246-stability-training-what-is-it-really-why-is-it-so-important

Now it is important to recognize that a squat pattern cannot help a lunge pattern. This is why you will often see someone great at a squat and lift huge loads but struggle with a lunge, or even a deadlift. The same muscles are used for both exercises, glutes, quads, hamstrings etc but the pattern of movement is so different. The brain needs to coordinate these patterns in specific sequences in order to make efficient, strong and powerful movement.
Squats and deadlifts by the way are great exercises but they are not multi directional as what lunges can be and therefor not as useful for sports as the skills needed are found in the multidirectional movement.
Now this is not to say you can't use squats, deadlifts and olympic lifting. They are all great exercises and will complement any strength training program for sports.
My argument is we need to spend much more time developing skills and power with single leg, lateral and rotational movements as these movements are really the major focus of all sporting codes.
It is also in these movements you see injuries occur such as ACL ruptures or tears. Only learning how to stabilize landings, coordinate pivots, twisting and cutting can you prevent these type of injuries.
Read our article about ACL rehabilitation and injury prevention
http://www.noregretspt.com.au/index.php/resources/blog/43-2014/236-what-to-do-if-you-tear-your-acl

Also the abuse of these exercises with people using it as a way to increase cardiovascular fitness is just craziness! Technique is often completely abandoned in order to get a sweat! You see this all too often in Crossfit and the amount of serious back injuries caused as a result of this is incredible.
Olympic lifting must be respected and treated as an exercise that is ideally suited to 1-3 reps with long breaks between sets.
Using exercises like burpees and jumping jacks between sets just fatigues the body, compromises the lift anyway and just sets you up for more injury.
It is time we became smarter with our choice of exercises and methods and this video we give you some great ideas.
For more ideas on Functional Training methods and program ideas I suggest getting a copy of our Little Black Book Of Training Secrets by going to https://shop.noregretspt.com.au/au/Bestsellers/c/4/Little-Black-Book-of-Training-Secrets-eBook/p/76769
And if you live in Melbourne and would like to know more about Sports Specific Programs go to this link and fill in a Free Consultation form http://www.noregretspt.com.au/index.php/specialised-programs/sports-specific

-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
Please watch: "6 Great Thoracic Drills and Stability Exercises" as this by far one of the most important videos we have made in recent times and an area most people are unfamiliar with
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK9QBakg4qo
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-

Видео Is Olympic Lifting Really That Good For Sports? канала Noregretspt