The Truth About Olympic Lifts in Your Group Fitness Class

What is Olympic Lifting?

There are 3 major Olympic lifts, and then there are a variety of accessory movements that are basically the 3 larger movements broken down into smaller and more digestible pieces.  The 3 Major Olympic lifts are:
 

1. Snatch

2. Power Clean

3. Jerk

The Clean and Jerk are combined to form what most people think of when they see weight lifting in the Olympics:
 

What does Olympic lifting bring to the table?

Olympic lifts are heavy explosive movements that build full body power.  They are arguably the best movement for improving general athletic performance.  Olympic movements build an individuals speed, vertical leap, and explosive ability by activating primarily Type 2 muscle fibers (larger fibers that contract with significantly more force than Type 1 fibers).  Because of these benefits Olympic lifting has become a popular form of exercise commonly incorporated into many gyms WOD's (Workout of the day).

So I should be doing Olympic Lifts in my exercise class, right?

HELL NO...
Olympic Lifts are called OLYMPIC LIFTS for a reason.  All three of these lifts are unbelievably complex and intricate movements.  High level athletes use these movements in their training for building power, speed, and athletic ability.  Some Olympians even spend their entire lives trying to master these movements to compete.  Is the average person taking a group fitness class trying to enter the 2020 Olympic Trials?  Chances are, probably not.  

 
These athletes are training in elite training centers, with UNBELIEVABLY knowledgeable coaches watching/correcting their every movement and designing programs built to improve stability, strength, and integrity in every joint before they ever attempt these lifts.  These athletes also do hours of remedial work (stretching, massage, ice bathes, E-stim, etc.) before and after EVERY workout to make sure that their body is properly prepared and recovered.  Even with all of this working in their favor... THEY STILL MAKE MISTAKES AND GET SERIOUSLY INJURED.

The average person who goes to a Gym to push through the WOD does not have sufficient foundation work to support their joints and muscles through these lifts.  They probably do very little remedial work before and after their workouts.  And if there are 5-10 people in your class, even the best coach cannot be watching every one of your reps.

Better movements for a better life.

Think about your average day.  How many times do you need to perform a max vertical leap?  Or tackle someone with maximum force?  So why train to improve those things?  This is really what functional exercise means.  Performing exercises that directly translate to the demands placed on your body.

Most people go to fitness classes to be healthier and look better.  These things can be done entirely without Olympic lifting and the risk of injury associated with it.  Movements like squats, deadlifts, and lunges are all better options for building strength and aesthetics in a group fitness setting.  They are far less complex to master, and truly are the building blocks for strength and joint integrity.