Why do we miss attempts in the Snatch? When we see more than four (4) degrees of horizontal displacement, that is the distance that the bar travels away from the body, the chances of making a successful attempt drop significantly.

Two things are likely to happen, either the bar loops away from the body, causing us to miss the lift behind or the bar doesn’t achieve the height and momentum required to pull ourselves underneath, which in turn causes the bar to fall in front. Discover four technical adjustments that you can make right now that will lead to more successful Snatch attempts!

The PR Paradigm: What It Means To Trust The Process

While there are no perfect models to predict how and when athletes will rebound from physical or psychological adversity, if they remain in this sport long enough, the progression will inevitably be cyclical in nature. When telling an athlete to trust the process, it is easier to do so when there is visibility into the journey by those who have traveled the road before them.

Some Jerk Talking: Dave Spitz Breaks Down The Jerk

Everyone can Snatch, everyone can Clean but only champions can Jerk. - Ivan Abadjiev

Looking for a sure fire way to determine which Jerk variation is right for you? In this week's Technique Talk, we break down the similarities and differences between the Split, Power and Squat Jerk variations in an all out assault on demystifying one of the most technical movements in Olympic weightlifting.

Controlling A Raging Fire: A Coaches Journey To The Pan American Championships

Every so often in a coaches life an athlete comes along that changes you. That athlete is transformative in the sense that they make you a better. They challenge you to become something more, not through explicit demands but through sheer appreciation for their raging fire to master their athletic discipline. Wes Kitts is one of those athletes...

2017 National Weightlifting Championships: A 'Total' Team Effort

Success at the team level comes down to organizing attempts correctly, based not off of lifetime PR's or Ego, but from knowing what your athletes are capable of producing at that given moment in time.

Team and Individual Results inside!

Post Surgery Protocol: What Your Doctor Won't Tell You

One of the more common problems that I have come across over the past eight years of developing athletes has been the management and execution of making a full, functional recovery from knee surgery. Thanks to trial and error, I have found a reliable solution using a combination of...

Lessons From Abadijiev: How The Bulgarian System Influenced California Strength

I first met Abadjiev 12 years ago when I traveled to Bulgaria. I appreciated the legacy that was Bulgarian weightlifting and the fact that Abajiev was chiefly responsible for its success, but I no idea who this man was or how impactful he would later become on my life...

David SpitzMarch 29, 2017Bulgarian System, Bulgaria, Olympic weightlifting, California Strength, AbadijievComment

Breaking Down The American Open with Dave Spitz

Thoughts from head coach Dave Spitz on the California Strength team performance at the 2016 American Open in Orlando, Florida. The weekend had a number of notable performances but were highlighted by an American Record Snatch by Wes Kitts and top team finishes of 3rd (Men's) and 5th (Women's).

The Squat Jerk: What does it take?

Leg strength, leg strength, leg strength... and great shoulder mobility and terrific overall stability. These three things are required for anyone who looks to compete in Olympic weightlifting using the Squat Jerk technique. What the Squat Jerk may remove in technical complexity (compared to the more common Split Jerk), it more than makes up for in brute strength and physical requirements.