Group: Strength & Powerlifting

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 39, Messages: 16459

Discuss the topic of Power lifting, Strength training and Strong Man training!

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powerlifter vs olympic lifter

dean_cliffy
dean_cliffy
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2004/04/10, 07:31 AM
Who do all of you think is stronger out of the two.
would an olympic lifter be any good at powerlifting.
gatormade
gatormade
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2004/04/10, 07:41 AM
Powerlifter is stronger an no an olympic lifter would not be good at it. A powerlifter wouldn't be good at Olympic lifting without training for it either. The powerlifter trains for the bench, squat, and deadlift. The Olympic lifter trains for the Clean and Jerk and the Snatch. They don't spend time developing their bench press. They would have some carry over on squat and deadlift but they would still need to train for powerlifting to be good at it.
dean_cliffy
dean_cliffy
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2004/04/10, 08:55 AM
Cheers i was just wondering how the two compared.
pleyroy
pleyroy
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Canada
2004/05/04, 06:47 PM
An Olympic lifter is more flexible and powerfull (speed+strength) whereas a power lifter is more like a bodybuilder, just strong, even though its called power lifting:big_smile:. There's a big difference when you can bench 400 lbs in about 7 seconds grunting and whatnot all the way. But to see an olympic lifter jerk 400 lbs in under a second, well...

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gatormade
gatormade
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2004/05/06, 01:31 AM
What research do you have to show Olympic lifters to be more flexible than powerlifters? I bet they are about the same.
rev8ball
rev8ball
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2004/05/06, 11:47 AM
Two TOTALLY different things - why not just throw a WSM competitor into the mix.

While all three are considered strength athletes, and can cross over from one to another (and they have), they all train differently, and would have to change their training for each style of comp: speed vs. slow vs. endurance, so to speak. It's like saying a NASCAR driver could just hop over into Formula One.

A powerlifter is NOT like a bodybuilder - training is in no way similar. And pleyroy's comparison is flawed in another respect: a powerlifter's BW who benches 400 is probably going to be about 150; what is the BW of the Olympic lifter who jerks 400? Much more.

Either way, I'm always impressed when a guy squats with half a car on his back.... :big_smile:

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ursusarktos
ursusarktos
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Canada
2004/05/06, 02:09 PM
Not sure about comparing flexibility of one type of lifter to another.

Certainly the snatch does require a remarkable degree of shoulder flexibility to do it efficiently and safely (ie. to be able roll out of a missed lift and dump the bar behind one's back without dislocating the shoulder joint). The clean also requires a fair degree of elbow flexion and wrist extension for lifting efficency.

The oly lifts tend to showcase power (Force x Velocity a.k.a. Work/time) whereas as the powerlifting events tend to showcase work capacity (Force x Distance).
knobbers
knobbers
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Canada
2004/05/09, 10:27 PM
powerlifting and olympic lifting are two very different sports. It has been proven in a study by Dr. Yessis at the Mexico Olympics that olympic lifters have flexibility second only to gymnasts. They also tested vertical jumps, weightlifters tested higher than even the high jumers. They also tested 25m sprints and weightlifters were the fastest, faster than the sprinters.

Oh yeah a 400lb jerk is done by about 150lb weightlifter. 2003 worlds 151lb lifter 423.5lb jerk. Oh yeah and he was 18!

also the snatch requires less shoulder flexibility than a proper jerk.

knobbers

gatormade
gatormade
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2004/05/10, 07:45 AM
If you weigh 225 and squat 1025 then you will be able to move 50% of that very fast. Powerlifting is also about speed and acceleration. That is why top level powerlifters dynamic box squat and speed bench. It teaches them to accelerate out of the bottom. Did that study test powerlifters and their flexibility? What were the flexibility tests? Olympic lifting is great for developing the vertical jump. I think both types of training are relevant to athletes. Strength supports speed and speed develops strength. They go hand in hand.
pleyroy
pleyroy
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2004/05/10, 06:17 PM
KNOBBERS :O! I spoke with an accomplished olympic weightlifter by the name of rob. he told me EVERY-THING you just said in your post...damn near amazing! I logged on to post what you AND rob said. The only thing he said differently to you was the 18 year old bulgarian lifter ultimately tested positive for roids.

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ursusarktos
ursusarktos
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2004/05/11, 01:36 PM
The above null post was mine - at least i didn't lose the message.

Anyway, a study with an isovelocity dynamometer such as a Kincom that was adapted to measure linear velocity rather than angular velocity would be neat. Rigging a a Kincom or such with a cable and pulley system so that clean pull or speed deadlift force could be measured at a wide range of presest linear velocities would give a clearer picture of how these two training styles compare.
gatormade
gatormade
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2004/05/11, 02:48 PM
Athletics are combination of the two areas. I train athletes using a blend of the two training styles. Athletes need strength, speed, and quickness. Strength supports speed. You need a certain level of strength to move fast. Strength allows you to control that speed too. Power allows you to move fast and use that strength you have developed in the weight room. They go hand in hand. The two sports are completely different. Comparing a powerlifter to an Olympic lifter is like comparing apples and oranges.
ursusarktos
ursusarktos
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2004/05/11, 06:05 PM
DOH!!! Above post was mine again!
ursusarktos
ursusarktos
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2004/05/13, 11:26 AM


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Quoting from null:


Exercises such as the dynamic box squat and speed bench are to enhance force production at joint speeds that are greater than those done as competition squats or BP's. Medicine ball tosses will put an emphasis on force production at even higher speeds along this continuum.



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I should clarify my statement here by stating (as Gatormade already has) that these higher velocity exercises will also enhance performance on lifts done at lower joint velocites than the above such as competition squats, DLs & BP.

In other words base strength training supports explosiveness and power and explosive training supports strength, yet both must be trained to fully realise the cross-over benefits.
ursusarktos
ursusarktos
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2004/10/10, 05:06 PM
bump.
bigandrew
bigandrew
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2006/03/24, 04:07 PM
Ever squatted over 500.....takes technique buddy. You dont' just bend down and up to squat. More to it than that.

if it where so easy everyone would be doing parallel squats!

As in carry over strength i think olympic lifters have the most.

mark henry set a "record" unoffically" he front squatted 600 some odd pounds or somthing. No wraps ,straps belt.

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Get your bicep curling, cut off shirt, matching workout outfit wearing,flexing in mirror "toned" wanna-be ass , out of my squat rack!

People don't reach thier true potental, only those who seek it.
bigandrew
bigandrew
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2006/03/24, 04:09 PM
define "brute" strength for me please?

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Get your bicep curling, cut off shirt, matching workout outfit wearing,flexing in mirror "toned" wanna-be ass , out of my squat rack!

People don't reach thier true potental, only those who seek it.
bigandrew
bigandrew
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2006/03/24, 04:09 PM
Message deleted by moderator due to unsuitable content for this board.
Mojo_67
Mojo_67
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2006/03/24, 10:27 PM
Dude, stop it...please.

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ursusarktos
ursusarktos
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Canada
2006/03/25, 12:41 AM


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Quoting from ogono:

You dont see many strength programs with olympic lifts also included with them, just mostly bench, squat and deadlift. .
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That's news to me!!! You may want to double check that!

You may wish to check out what the training programs of any serious T & F sprinters, jumpers & throwers, boblsleighers, sprint cyclists..., virtually any power athletes.
bigandrew
bigandrew
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2006/03/25, 05:37 PM
to weak to control it down?

I don't concider weak, throwing almost 500lbs over my head.I concider that pretty "brute". They don't follow it back down to to the great risk of injury. Plus they aren't judged on that. Powerlifters are. Powerlifters also have suites which increase maxes up to 200+lbs if trained in them right! A belt, wrist wraps, andmaybe a belt is all olymipc lifters use. Some just use chaulk!

Dl has not negative portion of the lift...just a pull.


I know my college uses the o lifts...cause they devolop speed.

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Get your bicep curling, cut off shirt, matching workout outfit wearing,flexing in mirror "toned" wanna-be ass , out of my squat rack!

People don't reach thier true potental, only those who seek it.
Mojo_67
Mojo_67
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United States
2006/03/25, 08:23 PM
Yeah???...This forum.

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Hungry and mean!
gatormade
gatormade
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United States
2006/04/23, 11:26 AM


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Quoting from ogono:

I define brute strength, as any strength feats in which less technique is involved in lifting the weight, just strength. The squat does involve lots of technique, but I believe its more of strength feat. Powerlifters have both a possitive and negative phase in A lift, olympic lifters only a possitive, their to weak to control the weight down to the ground. You dont see many strength programs with olympic lifts also included with them, just mostly bench, squat and deadlift. Reason the technique involved in olympic lifting are very hard to learn. Although I do believe they should be included in any strength program, as they have their own bennefits.
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Olympic weightlifting is included in a lot of strength and conditioning programs across the country. The squat is highly technical if you specialize in the squat. The catch in the Olympic lifts requires plenty of control in stabilizing and finishing. They are not too weak to control the weight to the ground. The goal in Olympic weight lifting is catch the biggest weight possible not control it to the ground. Shane Hammond could probably control his 506 down but why should he?
gatormade
gatormade
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2006/04/23, 11:29 AM
Plus, Olympic weightlifters focus on building a huge strength base because if they don't then they will get hurt. Strength supports power. Small strength base = lot's of injury.
arondaballer
arondaballer
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2006/04/23, 09:21 PM
Not only would they get hurt, but they couldn't clean and jerk a bizillion pounds if the weren't strong. All you have to do is think about the mechanics of it, and how much weight they're throwin around. You must have speed and strength to have power, so you would have to be strong to be an olympic lifter.

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