Only (2) O'lifts. Both involve a "clean" but the weight in the snatch clean portion is much less due to requirements of the 'finish'. My confusion is why would I snatch rather than just clean the greater weight? Or rather how does that snatch 'finish' translate into greater muscle albeit less resistance?? That is what doesn't make sense to me. Ahh, EVERY PRO BB does iso. not one RELIES on O'lifts exclusively , why is that? (if at all) Agree, completely. ok. she looks great. she a CROSSFITTER. they do lots of diff stuff! but scroll down to bottom of this page: http://www.teammdusa.com/womens-olympic-lifting-team.html They also emphasize O'lifts. They don't look like here. ps i'm not trolling you, trying to understand it from your perspective. i agree with you on few points, what i don't understand is why you listed the snatch as one of your BIG FIVE muscle builders rather than the simpler, less complex clean? And, why do biceps require separate (iso) work but not the quads or hammies or lats or whatever for example?
Because the snatch involves the CNS to a greater extent. The result is greater hormone production (and improved ratios). Another reason why machines suck. (Biceps) because, anatomically, they aren't easy to work in compound lifts. Narrow-grip bench hits the triceps well, but there isn't anything that hits the biceps other than weak-stabilization. It's not necessary for most. I choose to isolate them.
Olympic lifts aren't really in the cards for me mainly because the size of my home gym is so small. That's why I use powerblox dumbbells for pretty much everything. They take up such a small footprint space wise but still allow me to go all the way up to 130lbs. each.
You built your physique on powerblock dumbbells? That's amazing..most of your exercises were iso's Baron, maybe you could be next "Powerblock" spokesman, big endorsement checks i'd look into it
That's correct. And with many lifts, I would argue that working out with dumbbells is definitely harder than a barbell for sure. Try doing the same weight you would normally do on the bench press with dumbbells instead. Whole different ballgame.
I probably prefer yours to the new urethane sets which are bolted to the rods. They flex quite a bit more, but have thicker handles.
USA team lifters are competing purely on numbers. It simply doesn't matter how they look as long as they make weight in the lower classes and achieve the lifts. Elite Crossfitters have that physique due to being as light as possible for a given level of strength. It has zero-utility to be the size of Klokov in the Crossfit Games, as he would come in last in all of the metcon stuff. He would get 1st in the 1RM competition, but may not even place in the high-rep Oly CF routines. Elite Crossfitters are basically lean Olympic lifters. The only contrast would be all of the metcon/cardio (thrusters, high-rep Oly, swimming). The only significant contrast is that it's basically a low-rep Oly program (Team USA) vs. a high-rep Oly program (elite CF). Rich Froning has stated he does ZERO "non-compound" lifts. The same can be said for any of the elite at the Games; Smith, Fraser, etc. Same on the women's side. Camille Leblanc Bazinet (last year's champ) made the Canadian Oly team. Rich Froning's oly max would have qualified him for the US team for every year that he won the Games. Same for Ben Smith and the Canadian ("fear the beard" guy). This are just the guys and gals I can name off the top of my head. Baron is proof that isolation can work to get ripped and strong, but he'll probably admit that it's mostly diet. Lifting heavy shit makes you strong. Dieting makes you cut. Crossfit is not my bag as they simply train too much and it's abstract to me (not efficient as a lifestyle), but the results are nothing short of amazing. Stacie Tovar isn't even top-ten and she's an animal. Look at the physique that is possible with diet and compounds (only). Most of the top-ten competitors have outstanding physiques AND elite totals. I can outlift all of my workout buddies at my weight (235lbs). Not to blow myself; it's a function of genetics and the dynamic nature of the lifts I choose to do. I am too tall at my weight (>6'2") to be truly competitive with the small guys due to biomechanics.