Becoming a consistent weightlifter
- Limit missed reps in training. This tends to apply to snatch and Jerk the most. If you are missing a lot of reps in training you are practicing bad technique. As a general rule, you should stop after 3 missed reps and go back down and end on a good rep. I have taken this as far as stopping after missing just one rep, even if it was on the warm up. Doing it that extreme is not always called for, because it could severely limit your training volume.
- Start adding in “No Step Snatches”. This exercise forces you to feel the bar position overhead. If the bar is forward and you can take steps to “save the lift” you are not really giving your body that signal that this is out of position. If you make an effort of not stepping forward after you catch our snatches, you give your body that instant kinesthetic feedback and you will find that you will almost unconsciously start placing the bar overhead better.
- Read books like “The Inner Game of Tennis” or “The Mindful Athlete” in order to learn how to think about skill development.
- Find a coach who will work with you in person to help you correct the technique flaws you have. If there is not a coach around you, go visit one.
- Get a massage, stretch, and sleep 8+ hours. These are factors that I find influence missed reps a lot. They may not be your exact issue, but I have found that people who do these 3 things regularly tend to make more lifts in training.
- Train with other good weightlifters and do the competitive lifts often.