Over the last few months, teaching the Olympic lifts to executives, soccer moms and teen age athletes alike, it has come to my attention that the necessity of a full squat clean, or snatch, is mostly unnecessary. In fact, I will go one step further, a traditional grip snatch, with a wide hand spacing, is also more of a hazard than a necessity.
With the athletes we train, we are looking to enhance physical and psychological performance, while minimizing the chance of injury.
I don't agree with the non-Olympic training crowd, that says you can get the same effect with just plyometrics, or weighted jump squats. The Olympic lifts are great, because as a coach, they have a finite end point to show success with the lift. A jump squat can be 1 inch off the floor or 8 inches off the floor according to intensity of the athlete, but there is no finite end point.
Secondly, I have issues with the squat clean, and in some cases the power/hang clean in general, because of the racking or catching of the weight. Even with talented athletes, this position can be a challenge, and thus takes away from the effort or intensity that the individual is putting into the explosive elements of the lift because of fear of the catch.
Are these lifts impressive and complex, teaching massive amounts of power, coordination and athleticism? Absolutely, are there other ways to do the same thing? Absolutely. Dodging someone shoot arrows at you will teach you the same coordination, speed and athleticism, but should you do that just because that's one way to accomplish your goals?
Introducing the clean or narrow grip hang snatch. Grip width is safer on the shoulder girdle, hang position allows for maximum power output from the hips and lower body. Catch is in a natural and safe position. It can be taught in 15 min to a novice, and has a finite end point. Problem solved
