Benefits Of Olympic Lifting
This November 2020, CPM is hosting our first ever #cpmApproved Burgener Total event!
This Olympic weightlifting event will test your abilities in the snatch, clean & jerk, and lastly, the front squat.
At the end, you will know what you are capable of lifting, as well as what you need to work on in terms of mobility, strength, and speed.
But why would we want to — or need to — compete in Olympic lifting? It sounds like something you would only see, well, in the Olympics! Here are some benefits of Olympic weightlifting.
Increases Power and Jumping Ability
The clean & jerk and the snatch produce some of the highest power outputs in all of sports.
Olympic weightlifting enhances our power outputs, which is the ability to display strength with speed. Power is the key ingredient to running faster and jumping higher! (Bonus for those athletes out there.)
These lifts also strengthen fast twitch muscle fibers (the fibers that support quick, powerful movements). Strengthening these fibers helps with quick explosive movements such as jumping.
Overall, power makes you more efficient and explosive movements help our ability to move resistance against gravity.
Increases Speed
The ability to create power and the ability to move resistance against gravity is your starting strength.
Starting strength enables us to move muscles and our bodies to create force to push off a surface and to move our bodies quickly. As we age, we naturally see a decline in lean muscle mass and a reduction in power production. This means our starting strength decreases.
If you want to be able to get out of a chair with out use of our hands or arms, then it’s time to consider a program for power and speed! Consider starting a program that focuses on power and speed.
Increases Core Strength
Olympic-style lifts involve a lot of core strength and stability. A stable core improves balance and stability, not only in weightlifting, but in our every day life.
The core is the foundation to the strength of our body. It isn’t just a chiseled six-pack, but the muscles that stabilize the hips, the muscles that make up the torso (front, sides, and back), as well as the muscles that stabilize the shoulders. We all know that a firm foundation is essential to a house, so think that a stable core is essential to our spine, hips, and shoulders! The Olympic lifts leave no muscle untouched.
An increase in strength also stimulates the body to improve bone density. Since Olympic lifts create large forces on legs, spine, and arms, it can be said that Olympic lifting can actually strengthen our bones. This is especially true for women, who tend to have a lower bone density and a higher tendency for bone loss as they age than men.
Improves Body Composition
At CPMFitness, our members often do Olympic lifts during their metcons — short bouts of higher intensity training designed to increase metabolic demand and increase energy usage.
Lifts like the clean & jerk and the snatch are really effective at helping the athlete burn fat and build lean muscle at the same time. These lifts involve many different muscle groups, helping yield the best caloric expenditure.
Ready to Get Started?
If any of these benefits intrigue you, contact us today. We would love to work with you to help improve any of these movements.
Haven’t lifted before? That’s ok too! Our experienced coaching staff would love to help you gain the confidence under the bar while helping you reach your health and fitness goals.
Remember to mark your calendar for the CPM Total!
- November 14th
- Open to anyone comfortable with a barbell.
- Non members must email cpmfitness@gmail.com to complete an application to enter.
