I will ask this here since SGHP is a variation of an oly lift… I do SGHP from blocks slightly higher than knee height. When I dip down to start the initial pull I bend my arms slightly, not much, and they quickly straighten back out as I pull the weight up off of the blocks. I have tried keeping my arms straight but it messes up my timing and I cant pull nearly as much weight. Is this advisable or is it going to lead to elbow problems eventually?
Is SGHP a snatch grip high pull? If so, I don’t know why you’re wasting training time performing that trash. Just hit the lifts and squat, provided you have good technique already. As far as arm bend goes, it works for some right off the ground and others shy away from it until after contact occurs. Whatever allows you to hit hit peak CONTROLLABLE acceleration and hit proper positions above the knee.
Also, if you are going to do a lot of block work, pulls, etc, try your best to mimic the way you actually pull on the real lift. A lot of times newer lifters lift from blocks but then go from the ground and it’s not even close to the same thing. If you choose to do them, make sure the positions are identical to from the ground.
[quote]Musashi17 wrote:
Is SGHP a snatch grip high pull? If so, I don’t know why you’re wasting training time performing that trash.[/quote]
It’s something that Christian Thibaudeau promotes for gym rats and weekend warriors, I think more as a general exercise to build explosiveness and back muscle, as opposed to an accessory exercise for the snatch. This question probably would’ve been better posed over in his subforum.
[quote]Musashi17 wrote:
Just hit the lifts and squat, provided you have good technique already.[/quote]
I’m not sure jumping right to the sort of program elite international athletes transition into after years of training and starting at a young age, and the bit about good technique is really key there. Most people (especially those that are self-coached) are likely to develop bad habits chasing heavy singles all the time. My two cents, anyways.
There is some utility with that stuff for newer lifters or lifters noticeably weak in certain positions, I agree with you there. To some extent, time under load is beneficial in a variety of forms if the volume or intensity of hitting the lifts and squats is too much, so I could see benefit there. With that said, I still think lifters should start transitioning away from so much assistance stuff and just work the lifts once they are comfortable in their technique.
Thanks. I have been using the snatch grip high pull from blocks for the past year or so to build traps and for general explosive power. In doing those I became interested in the snatch and began doing some power snatches from blocks a few months ago.
I am in the middle of a 3 week specialization on the sghp and plan to go back to doing the power snatch after that, eventually moving to the full lift. I have no OL background whatsoever. I am 42 years old and the first time I ever used a snatch grip on a bar for any thing other than rack pulls was about a year ago. So, this is all new to me. I have been browsing this section for info for a while now and appreciate your feedback.
Another question: I take it that you guys do NOT consider the sghp to be an OL variation and that you do not incorporate it in your training? Is this true for O lifters in general or just your personal preference?
I would say most O-lifters probably do some type of pulls actually. I personally don’t because every time you snatch heavy you are doing a pull, but a pull that is actually improving your snatch. I don’t think pulls mean anything at all in the sport of weightlifting. People should just snatch or clean, and that’s what I’ve had my lifters do instead of pulls. If not the full lifts, at least the power movements. These are true pulls IMO.
When I see people do heavy clean or snatch pulls, they often don’t make contact where they would on the lifts and their back angle is different, etc. IMO everything should be directly correlative to the lifts, and pulls often aren’t. You have to try to get under the weight to get good at the lifts. Pulls may make people stronger in the pull, but what else will? Hitting the lifts. Just my .02 of course…
[quote]Musashi17 wrote:
I would say most O-lifters probably do some type of pulls actually. I personally don’t because every time you snatch heavy you are doing a pull, but a pull that is actually improving your snatch. I don’t think pulls mean anything at all in the sport of weightlifting. People should just snatch or clean, and that’s what I’ve had my lifters do instead of pulls. If not the full lifts, at least the power movements. These are true pulls IMO.
When I see people do heavy clean or snatch pulls, they often don’t make contact where they would on the lifts and their back angle is different, etc. IMO everything should be directly correlative to the lifts, and pulls often aren’t. You have to try to get under the weight to get good at the lifts. Pulls may make people stronger in the pull, but what else will? Hitting the lifts. Just my .02 of course…[/quote]
The chinese and Russians disagree with you. At least presently.
Most do 
To each their own and what works for them works for them.
By the same token, the old Bulgarians (best lifters on history) agree with me. Abadjiev had some lifters do pulls, but never consistently and mostly to stay in the “dark period” if they injured their wrist/shoulders/etc and were unable to hit the full lifts.
Just leaving this here cause I find it impressive. Алексей Ловчев on Instagram: "Техника выполнения рывковой тяги 250кг"
In my opinion heavy pulls are as much useful as heavy squats. Having strong legs and a weak posterior chain can make your shoulders shift back as you are getting ready for the second pull.
[quote]karydas91 wrote:
Just leaving this here cause I find it impressive. Алексей Ловчев on Instagram: "Техника выполнения рывковой тяги 250кг"
In my opinion heavy pulls are as much useful as heavy squats. Having strong legs and a weak posterior chain can make your shoulders shift back as you are getting ready for the second pull.[/quote]
And in this case if you can pull 40-50kg over your max snatch or clean with good form well damn, you shouldn’t have any technique problems with your classic lifts.