Why I recommend Olympic Weightlifting

If you’re one of those people who isn't naturally good at many sports but want to be, may I suggest you try Olympic Weightlifting. Olympic Weightlifting is a sport which is good for all body types and ages to try and can be used to help improve performance in other sports and activities. Continue reading to find out the benefits Olympic Weightlifting can have on your body.

What Weightlifting improves

During the Clean and Jerk, the movement of the bar from the floor to above your head uses and builds all of your muscles as it travels upwards.

Olympic Weightlifting helps improve the development of almost all the components of fitness! This means Weightlifting can help improve development in other sports which require these components.
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 For example, balance and flexibility can be improved when squatting during both lifts, particularly an overhead squat during the Snatch is the best for maintaining that low position before driving upwards.
In lifting, coordination is also improved when the elbows are moved and you jump into the squatted position during both lifts. Also in the Clean and Jerk when the legs are split and the bar is raised above your head.
Strength is developed by lifting regularly, increasing the weight on the bar and having a good technique. Lifting heavy weights at a quick pace using the two main Olympic lifts (Clean and Jerk and the Snatch) requires all your muscles to work together to produce the power your body needs. This improves your overall speed and coordination.
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Weightlifting can improve Cardiovascular Endurance if the lifter attempts a tough 5 set of 5 Snatches. This can result in you breathing hard, sweating like a pig, and your heart pounding. This is great if you don’t feel like running track, but want to improve your endurance. 
It is also great if you want to increase your muscle mass whilst decreasing your fat mass (body composition). Unless you are taking supplements, lifting won’t make you look bulky and will in fact help you to develop more of a physique that a sprinter has. 

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Who Weightlifting is suitable for

​Weightlifting is suitable for anyone who wants to improve their overall fitness and perhaps improve at other sports. Weightlifting is good for all body types, whether you’re an:

• Endomorph- Someone who gains fat easily and finds it difficult to lose fat, generally short and stocky, and has a slow metabolism.
• Ectomorph- Someone who finds it difficult to gain weight, has a delicate bone structure, and has a fast metabolism.
• Mesomorph- Someone who gains muscle easily, has defined muscles, and gains fat more easily than an Ectomorph.

 
Don’t worry if you don’t fit into these categories, they’re just a brief description of general body types, it doesn’t matter what size you are or how fit you are when learning to lift weights. Lifting is excellent for those who don’t enjoy participating in team sports and don’t want to become competitive. Since Weightlifting is an individual sport, it is just you against yourself unless you are competitng against others of the same bodyweight. If you’re looking to not pursue Weightlifting as a career or compete, it is still beneficial to learn how to correctly Olympic lift and watch how your body develops muscle mass in no time.

​Not only does Weightlifting strengthen our muscles and help reduce fat, it can also help strengthen your bone density too. So whether you’re 8 years old or 80 years old, I can guarantee Weightlifting will benefit you in some way and you'll soon start noticing your improvement in other sports.