I used to get asked a lot when I posted photos of athletes like...



I used to get asked a lot when I posted photos of athletes like Matt Chan and Christy Phillips lifting off a 1.5” mat, “What are they standing on and why are they standing on it?” Well, the short answer is they’re standing on a mat (I’d prefer the use of a wooden board but we haven’t gotten around to picking up any from the hardware store), and I use it to help athletes feel what staying back in the finish means.

It’s simply a hack. By placing the athletes toes off of the mat, we remove the ability of the athlete to create pressure through the toes less they step forward and walk off the mat completely. This in turn forces them to stay back during the finish without having to insert to much conscious thought. The hope is that once the mat is removed, the motor learning will stay and prevent the less optimal shift and jump forward.

#FuBarbell #USAW #weightlifting #crossfit #crossfitgirls #crossfitmen #Olympic #Olympicweightlifting #snatch #clean #cleanandjerk #technique #inspiration #motivation