intro
I'm shifting away from telling people directly which technique or style is better. If a person cannot differentiate between bro-science and legit advice, such a person is only wasting their time reading my blog. I want people to think for themselves.
Sometimes I just say: this lifter use American style and within that style his/her technique is within norm. Many people disagree which style is better, and use explicit arguments to prove their point, after a while it's all "us" against "them" discussion. Some even say that there is no difference between styles, "they don't do anything different than us." If you go down that deep, yes, we all have 2 legs, 2 arms, and we all do snatches, cleans, and jerks... you just don't have coach's eye for small details in technique... maybe this blog will help you.
“I’m perfectly OK if you want to lift with American technique - just not with me. Find another coach”
Eddie's experience With Both Styles
Here is a little video with basic differences between American "stay over the bar" style, and Chinese "keep the bar close" style. This example is, of course, a gross generalization about both styles... so don't go out finding that one American or Chinese weightlifter who does it differently. Advice applies to both snatch and clean.
First 2 pulls American, next 3 Chinese.
Seems as both styles bring bar to the similar target point on the hip. In American style, legs are almost straight, and the only way to finish at this point is to extend hips forcefully.
In Chinese style, you arrive with bar at target on bent legs, so you can finish extension with quads.
There are some good things going for the American style:
- very few technical points, easy to master for both coach and athlete, you can snatch or coach snatching within minutes
- teaches fast start off the floor, athletes from other sports such as American football, powerlifting or crossfit might benefit from that
- allows a beginner to move on to fairly impressive weights quickly
Major advantage of Chinese pull technique is that after a long time you will snatch more weight with fewer injuries, and you will be able to do it consistently.
Minessota Boy Trying both
Here is a post from my dear friends Coach Chris, and Coach Josh at Kingsfield Barbell:
Since I established friendship, now I can go into a little critique - neither of the pictures is incorrect. I like more the one on the left, representing more Chinese pull, knees are still bent and forward so you can finish with quads, chest and upper back in strong position.
Picture on the right is American style, focusing on staying over the bar, knees back and almost straight.. What's important is that barbell at this position is generally at higher speed, otherwise you won't be able to hold heavy weight with shoulders that much forward. Since bar is moving faster, you don't need such a strong finish as in Chinese Weightlifting...
Keeping Bar Very Close
Everyone agrees on keeping the bar close. Yet, when seeing Chinese weightlifters in action, like the one below, everyone says - oh, he keeps the bar really close..
Where the bar should make contact with the thighs? Brush or bang? Neither. Bar is on the leg the whole time.
Same Chinese weightlifter, different day, from a different angle. His pull is not slow, is controlled.
“Well, in the end it is your decision which style is better for your short term or long term weightlifting goals. Just remember that every coach has some sort of bias, including PapaYats...”