Guide to Weightlifting

Weightlifting Is An Olympic Sport

In weightlifting, athletes try to lift as heavy as possible in two movements: Snatch and Clean & Jerk.


In Snatch, weight is lifted in one smooth motion. In Clean & Jerk, weight is first lifted above the chest and resting on the colar bone, and then jerked overhead in one smooth motion.


Weights are loaded onto a 20kg barbell with bumper plates of various weights. Each athlete has three attempts to perform each movements, and the weights must not go down from attempt to attempt.


Three results are produced for each lifter: Snatch, Clean & Jerk, and total (sum of the weights lifted in Snatch and Clean & Jerk). Athletes are ranked based on the three results, respectively (in Olympics, only the total counts) in their weight classes. There are currently 10 weight classes for male (55, 61, 67, 73, 81, 89, 96, 102, 109, 109+kg) and female (45, 49, 55, 59, 64, 71, 76, 81, 87, 87+kg), but only 7 of each male and female classes will be included in Tokyo 2020.


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Snatch Technique

Important cues:

  • Chest high back tight

  • Keep the bar as close to the body as possible

  • Arms straight as if they are ropes

  • Stay flat-footed during the first pull for as long as possible

  • Extend both hip and knee at the second pull to accelerate the bar upwards

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Clean Technique

Important cues:

  • Basics are the same as Snatch

  • Minimize forward hip thrust of the bar (aka looping) in second pull

  • QUICK elbow punch out to avoid bar crash

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Jerk Technique

Three types of Jerk (top to bottom):

  • Split Jerk (most common)

  • Power Jerk

  • Squat Jerk

Important cues:

  • Push the body under to catch the bar

  • FAST transition

  • Be brave to support the weight

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Further Exploration

All Things Gym

All kinds of weightlifting contents, e.g. competition and training hall footage, interviews, and weightlifting-related news.

Catalyst Athletics

One of the best places to learn weightlifting. Its youtube channel has the most succint technique guides.

Hookgrip Store

Weightlifting equipment and merchandise (shoes, shirts, etc.). Check out its social media for more weightlifting footage.

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