Olympic weightlifting has rapidly grown in popularity over the last 10-15 years. It’s a big hit because it contributes to a number of other fitness phenomena:
- The growth of fitness-sports like Crossfit;
- Better appreciation for the benefits of heavy strength training;
- The development of strength and conditioning science and practice.
Olympic weightlifting brings a great deal to the table for anyone who cares about these facets of fitness, and it’s more accessible than ever. When I started as a personal trainer, the average commercial gym didn’t even have kettlebells, let alone a weightlifting platform! Now, almost every mainstream gym has a platform, bars that spin, and bumper plates. Yes, this does make me feel old.
However, this doesn’t mean that Olympic weightlifting is a good fit for everyone. There are plenty of things to consider that will determine whether weightlifting is a good fit for you. In this first video, I’ve broken down whether you should pursue dedicated weightlifting training if you are:
- A “regular” gym goer;
- A Crossfit enthusiast;
- An athlete.
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to starting some Olympic weightlifting training. However, it requires a large time commitment to become proficient, so you need to be sure it’s the right use of your time. However, in general, I would probably recommend weightlifting training to people 8 times out of 10.
I talked about this a little bit in the video, but it really is easy to underestimate how impressive the Olympic lifts are. This is readily apparent once you’ve given it a try for yourself, so I recommend you find your nearest club or coach and get started!
Getting Started with Olympic Weightlifting
We all know that getting started with a new activity is often the hardest part. It can be a long time before you feel like you’re good at something, and there’s always an element of nerves when it’s a physical challenge as well.
That’s why I’ve put together this video on getting started with the Olympic lifts.
Hopefully these videos have given you plenty to think about in relation to weightlifting. If you’re interested in Olympic weightlifting and you’re in the City of London, you should get in touch! I’ve been training in the Olympic lifts since 2011, and qualified in coaching them through the UK Strength and Conditioning Association in 2012. I’ve been coaching individuals and groups in Olympic weightlifting since 2015, and have been personal training in general for over a decade.