This weekend, we’re excited to see the first of TWO weightlifting workshops with Essex Weightlifting Club. This Sunday is dedicated to those new or brand new to the barbell, and so Coach Harry Oxley takes this opportunity to explain the importance of prioritising technique over weight…
“If you’re looking to take your first steps into the world of Olympic Weightlifting, you’d do well to understand that proper weightlifting technique is the foundation on which we build our lifts.
Weightlifting is a sport some devote their entire lives to. And hobby or not, the best lifters learn the technique first, and build their strength over time. Rushing to put bigger weights on the barbell, without understanding the mechanics behind lifting well, and lifting safely, means you won’t have built the foundations to lift as much as you’re actually capable of lifting, let alone what you hope!
So often, new lifters are too keen to immediately add weight to the barbell beyond what their technique can handle. And on the opposite side of the coin, it’s not uncommon to see seasoned lifters with “bad” habits. Yes, they could well have been training for years, but because they prioritised weight over technique, they’ve ingrained those habits, are struggling with plateauing numbers, and are stuck in what we call Ugly Lifter Jail!
My advice? RUSH SLOWLY.
In case you didn’t get it yet, my advice to you as a new lifter would be to flip the script, and rush slowly.
First off, you need the desire, “the want”, to get good, and to get better. And then the discipline to turn up regularly, to practice as often as possible, and to genuinely enjoy the process.
Slowing it down, drilling the positions, performing hundreds of lighter reps, and listening to your coach will all work together to build on that foundation. Progress takes time. Maybe a month, maybe a year, maybe more than a year, but if you’re patient and hard working, there’s no way you won’t be lifting more weight than if you just skipped all the learning stuff and jumped straight to adding as much weight as possible.“
Join Essex Weightlifting Club This Weekend
If you’re ready to build a solid foundation in weightlifting, book your spot on Essex Weightlifting Club’s Beginners Workshop this weekend:
Sunday 24. November 10am – 1pm.