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Hi Friends,

Do you spend time on performance calculators and wonder why you can't snatch 80% of your clean and jerk? Can't clean and jerk 90% of your front squat? Can't snatch 62% of your back squat? Wondering what the problem is?

I'm currently building a performance calculator and have been crunching numbers lately. As much as it is fun to look at numbers like these. It's always best to keep in mind that these ratios do not apply to everyone! Let me explain why your ratios may not meet the average with just a couple of examples...

Is your squat high in relation to your technical movements?

If your squat suggests that you should be able to lift more when it comes to your technical movements. It could suggest a few things...

1. If you're newer to weightlifting, you simply don't quite have the technical efficiency or confidence in your technical ability yet to be able to match your level of strength.
2. You perhaps have mobility limitations you're still working on. An example being, you may not have a comfortable snatch receiving position in the bottom of the catch.
3. You may have shorter proportions/limb length. An example being shorter femurs. This provides an advantage when it comes to movements such as squatting and can naturally give an inflated squat compared to your technicals. An exception applies with it comes torso. In which a longer torso in relation to your other limbs is advantageous for squatting mechanics when it comes to maintaining a vertical torso when squatting.

Is your squat low in relation to your technical movements?

Just as you would imagine, the opposite to the above applies when your squat is much closer to your technical movements...

1. Once gaining more experience and improving on your technical efficiency over time, you will begin to creep closer to meeting your strength capabilities.
2. If you excel when it comes to mobility and stability in positions in which it is advantageous. Examples being the catch position of the snatch and the split position jerk.
3. If you have longer limbs, such as longer femurs. You will find more commonly, that your squat and technical movements will be closer together on average. As mentioned above with the exception to the torso, a shorter torso in relation to your other limbs can leave your more prone to hinging further forward when squatting.

Are You Built for Weightlifting?

You may be worrying that perhaps you aren't built for weightlifting when playing around with these calculators and reading silly 'rules of thumb' when it comes to what you should be able to lift theoretically. Keep in mind, everyone is built for weightlifting. There is no one size fits all when it comes to the Olympic lifts. Everyone has their strengths. I have trained and competed all over the world and witnessed people of every shape, size, age and background lift heavy barbells.

As I was once questioned on a podcast some time ago. What are the commonalities among those that do well in weightlifting? My answer wasn't to do with anatomy. As there are exceptions to every rule when it comes what a weightlifter should look like. In order to progress in weightlifting, I believe you only need to have a few things:

• You need to genuinely enjoy the training process. Otherwise you simply won't last.
• You need to be able to stay consistent, over a long period of time. Progress in weightlifting is a marathon, not a sprint!
• Remain injury free. This one goes without saying and is the most important!

Additional Content Over Past Week:

• IG Reel - The First Pull is a 'Push'​
• IG Reel - Get Your Elbows Through​
• IG Reel - Bumping the Bar Away?​
• IG Reel - Remember to Look Back on Progress​

April intake for 4-Week Technical Intensive closes in a couple days. If you'd be interested in working with me personally for a significant discount, I won't go on about it here. Visit here if you're interested. 💪

Until next week!

Happy Lifting 😎 ,

Brandon

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