This is the part II of Technique of the Olympic Snatch - Part 1
Pull phase 2 – Explosion and Effort Holding.
The essential element of this sub-phase is the explosion that starts at the very end of Pull phase 1 from its velocity minimum and it is the result of the coordinated, explosion-like strength exertion of the contracting thigh erectors and the gluteal muscles. The legs dynamically extend and an intense strength exertion occurs upon the bar-hip contact and the athlete rises on tiptoe, shoulders move up, slightly backward while the arms remain straight. The kinetic energy of the explosion would normally produce a 30-40° angle of projection from the horizontal but it is compensated by primarily the dynamically contracting trapezius and the pull of the arms. This force has an impact from the moment the bar leaves the hip. The actual direction of the bar is the projected root force of the explosion and the pulling movement of the arms showing an average 27° (25-29°) angle to the vertical axis. In the final sub-phase of the explosion, the trunk is slightly bent back, in a concave position with an average 15° (13-17°) angle to the axis.
The hip joint angle is 174° (171-177°), the knee joint angle is about 172° (169-175°). The higher the athlete rises in the end of toe position, the higher this angle value gets. An average 115° (114-116°) stretch can be registered in the ankle joint. This is the sub-phase where we can measure the highest velocity in the Snatch execution: 1.8-2.2 m/sec.
