Benefits of Olympic Weightlifting
There are many benefits of Olympic Weightlifting.
The two Olympic weightlifting movements are the barbell snatch and the barbell clean and jerk. These exercises simultaneously train both explosive power and speed strength and require you to use your entire body in unison.
No matter your fitness level or skill level, you can probably safely incorporate these movements into your training program. Even if you cannot perform these movements with a barbell, you can probably incorporate similar exercises that use dumbbells or other loaded implements in order to build power and overall athleticism.
Below, we will discuss specific benefits of incorporating weightlifting into your routine.
Improve Athletic Performance
The Olympic weightlifting movements are performed at a very high speed. These movements require explosive lower body strength and power. Training these loaded movements can help you maximize your speed strength and power. Olympic weightlifting exercises allow you to build power and athletic performance even better than plyometric exercises.
Younger individuals can use Olympic weightlifting exercises to improve their athletic performance in any sport. By building power, strength and speed, weightlifting can help you run faster and jump higher.
Older individuals can also benefit from incorporating Olympic weightlifting into their routine. As people age, they lose the ability to express speed and power. This decline in power and speed is more pronounced than the decline in strength or endurance. Olympic weightlifting exercises can help older individuals preserve their type II fast twitch muscle fibers and overall power and speed.
Improve Coordination
Olympic Weightlifting can also improve coordination and athleticism. The weightlifting exercises requires multiple coordinated movements, including the first pull, transition phase, second pull, catch and recovery. These exercises are technically demanding. Gaining proficiency in these movement will build coordination and body awareness.
Improve Mobility
Olympic weightlifting exercises also improve overall mobility. Both the snatch and the clean and jerk require good mobility of the shoulders, wrists, thoracic spine, hips, knees and ankles. Performing these exercises and related stretches regularly can also improve your mobility and flexibility.
Better mobility may help you reduce your risk of injury, reduce pain and dysfunction related to improper movement patterns caused by stiffness or poor mobility.
Health Benefits
Unsurprisingly, Olympic style weightlifting can also help you realize specific health benefits. In addition to building strength, power and speed, Olympic weightlifting can help you build strong bones. In fact, Olympic weightlifting may help build stronger bones than slower velocity resistance training or other sports.
Olympic weightlifting also helps you build strong tendons and healthy joints.
Additionally, taking part in a resistance training program that includes weightlifting will help you lose body fat, gain muscle mass, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce risk of falls and sport related injuries and improve self confidence.
Final Thoughts
Olympic weightlifting is an amazing sport. Whether you pursue this activity competitively or just aim to learn weightlifting and include it in your training program, you can gain significant benefits from Olympic weightlifting. Just make sure you consult a qualified instructor to help you safely perform these exercises and reap the rewards.
