Over more than four decades noted biomechanist John Garhammer, PhD has contributed a huge amount of published scientific work related to weightlifting and strength training. Recently retired from California State University, Long Beach Professor Garhammer reflects a unique knowledge of the sport, as he also competed in the sport for 50 years. We are pleased to have Dr. Garhammer serve as a Senior Contributor for SportsEdTV.
The following blog highlights key points seriously worthwhile for coaches and athletes that study SportsEdTV’s weightlifting content. Topics include a brief overview of basic pulling technique, bar velocity and trajectory, and centers of pressure on the foot. Readers are encouraged to access Dr. Garhammer’s larger presentation that expands on this blog. Here a greater number of photos and illustrations further reinforce the points made here.
The full presentation consists of data from more than 30 years of careful examination, ranging from the 1978 World Championships to the 2009 Pan American Championships.
Over the years I have presented details on weightlifting’s pulling technique to many audiences. Included here is a review of scientific works starting at the 1978 World Championships and concluding at the 2009 Pan American Championships.
I want to emphasize that the information presented here is not simply my opinion. The snatch and clean pulls shown here are executed by (1) World and Olympic champions and record holders; (2) USA National champions and record holders; and (3) Pan American champions.
The positions are clearly seen by anyone who watches the many hours of film and video that I have taken from 1978 to 2009. I have also analyzed top lifts from many national-level meets and they do not differ from what is shown here. Included are a few example sequences from USA Nationals.
The Basics of the Modern Pulling Technique
The evolution of today’s so-called “double knee bend” technique began in the 1960s. We learned a great deal about this through the writings of Carl Miller, our national coaching coordinator in the 1970s.
