Olympic Training and Chest Development

Bigger Stronger Leaner Powerlifting & Strength Sports
1

This is an amateur question and I apologize.

But do Olympic lifters generally directly train their chests?

I ask, because I’m in an odd situation. A rotator cuff and knee injury has, for now, led me to abandon traditional body building for Olympic-style lifting. I notice that in the Olympic lifts there really isn’t an emphasis on chest development, other than the total body effect that the power clean and snatches and such movements promote. I have quite good back development in regards to my skill level, but my chest has always severely lagged due to improper training and my obsession with deadlifts and squats instead of bench presses.

A silly question perhaps, but will my disproportionate development be amplified through Olympic lifting, due to the lack of direct chest movements? Or do you find that the total body movements do promote overall growth? thanks and i don’t mean to offend any purist olympic lifters who scoff at the idea of lifting for looks.

2

Just add bench presses and/or other chest work into your program. Don’t overthink it.

3

Just add in some dumbbell benches to work the chest and maintain range of motion. As a beginner in Olympic lifting, don’t worry so much. As you progress and start lifting a lot more, you won’t have to worry about it. However, you may have some difficulty learning the full snatch if you presently have tight pecs.

4

rotator cuff injury. last time I tried training chest with one of those I abandoned everything in my upper body that involved back, shoulders, arms and chest for a few short weeks. the docs said I’d all but torn it completely when I got it checked out. it is not fun. I’m not sure if thats your case but if you must try bench to keep things in proportion, make damn sure you stretch, warm up and get some muscle rub on the roto cuff after. or as close to it as you can since it’s hidden under your delts