My 7 Top Tips To Learn Olympic Lifting

Here are my seven top tips for getting started with Olympic weightlifting, blending insights from my own experience and a little guidance from the research in to coaching and movement skills:

1. Seek Professional Guidance

Begin your Olympic weightlifting journey under the guidance of a certified coach. I suggest a coach accredited by British Weightlifting or another reputable organisation as they will offer invaluable expertise in proper technique, form, and more importantly safety.

2. Start with the Basics

Master foundational movements and how to "bail out" of failed lifts before advancing to more complex lifts. Focus on learning techniques for the snatch and clean & jerk separately to help you discover the subtleties of each movement and optimise your form.

3. Emphasise Technique Over Load

Park your ego and prioritise proper technique and form over lifting heavy weights. Research in this area emphasises the importance of creating a strong technical foundation in weightlifting, advocating for a gradual progression towards heavier loads.

4. Enhance Mobility and Flexibility

Work on your flexibility and mobility to perform lifts effectively. I can't stress the importance of flexibility in achieving optimal positions during lifts, reducing the risk of injury and improving performance.

5. Practice Consistently

As always for me consistent practice is key. Regular training sessions build the muscle and skills essential for mastering the lifts and remember ... Practice makes permanent! So be sure to practice the right form and not engrain poor technique.

6. Focus on Progressive Learning

I always adopt a gradual approach to learning anything new. Start with basic movements and progressively introduce more challenging drills. A structured approach ensuring steady improvement and remember mistakes and failure are part of the process so embrace them.

7. Prioritise Recovery and Rest

Allow adequate rest and recovery between training sessions. Rest is vital for muscle repair and growth. Science has shown recover and sleep are one of the most important part of both building strength and learning new skills which will allow you to optimise your performance and prevent burnout.

Hopefully these seven tips provide you with a foundation for you to begin your journey into the world of Olympic weightlifting. The emphasis on technique, gradual progression, professional guidance, and understanding the importance of recovery ensures a safer, more effective learning experience. Let me know what you think by sending me a message on socials.