3 reasons to start weight lifting

Learn more than just weight lifting techniques

Guest post from Dave Leith of the Scottish Institute of Sport. I met Dave at the GAIN conference in Houston this summer. He is a great guy and very enthusiastic about the Olympic lifts.

Greetings from Scotland! This short blog is for those of us who have found an interest in the sport of weightlifting.

I’d like to share a few principles that I have picked up over the last few years of competitive lifting and coaching of new athletes to the sport.

The best thing you can do in this sport as a beginner is set the foundations required for continuous growth and improvement over the course of your career, whatever your age or aspirations are.

1. Develop character.

This sport will test your attitudes and behaviour on a daily basis: Respect the equipment! A good club and coach will have quality weight lifting equipment. Remember- it’s not yours, it’s very expensive! Disdain for equipment shows a weakness of character and often an undermining of ability to learn.

Respect training partners (or anyone else using the gym). Although an individual sport, your performances will be higher with good training partners. They will allow you to focus at the right times, they will be quiet when you lift and avoid strolling around in your line of sight. Being still and silent during their efforts shows respect.

Lifters gain respect from their peers because of their attitude rather than their ability. This for me is one of the really wonderful things about the sport.

Few can be a champion, but everyone can develop strength of character and earn respect. 

2. Develop skill with the barbell.

A knowledgeable and experienced coach is essential!

There is no substitute for beginning a process of learning to snatch and clean and jerk with someone that knows how and has refined their coaching by teaching novices time and time again.

The biomechanics require an ability to overcome inertia (strength) and also the ability to minimise the effects of it (technique). You must be smart about the training and work hard to improve.

Information is at our fingertips 24 hrs/day. I have encountered many new lifters who seem distracted by trying to find shortcuts to improving positions or eliminating technique flaws with some tricks or gimmicks.

Develop an understanding of the lifts and practice, practice, practice!

3. Compete.

I try to begin lifting with new athletes under the conditions that we are working towards a competition. That means they need to develop resilient technique that will stand up to the competition conditions.

Rather than lifting huge weights on that first outing, it means we aim for 6 lifts out of 6 attempts and have experienced standing alone and performing.This is one of the most rewarding things to achieve. It will also guide training with a purpose. 

Weightlifting is wonderfully challenging technically and physically. I think for those of you interested in trying it out will find something you will come to love and learn a lot about your strengths and weaknesses.

Happy lifting.

Thanks Dave. Further reading here:

• Olympic weightlifting technical points
• What are the Olympic weight lifting exercises?  
• What kit do I need for weightlifting? 

Or if you want to start weightlifting, come to the Excelsior Weightlifting Club