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Signs of Progress

o         The main landmark that signals the efficiency of the teaching process is the new acquisition  of skillful head  movements.  Beginners lift  the bar  above the shoulder  level with the head kept behind the vertical plane of the bar and the feet . As the trainee  gains confidence, he or she starts pushing his or her head under the bar, as soon as it clears the head.  Advanced lifters master perfect timing of inserting the head under the bar, or even in front of its vertical plane.  The head motion  signifies the confidence of the lifter  in his ability to put his shoulders  in extreme extension under overhead  heavy weight .  It also signifies the developing of nervous  coordination of the big muscles , joints, equilibrium , and visual sensation.  Ordinary people have hard time developing good head control, while lifting  above the shoulders. That is because most people, including Bodybuilders  and Powerlifters, do not practice over-head  lifting in standing of free-squatting  position. 

o         Lifting while seating or standing still differs from lifting  during whole-body  motion .  In the latter, the relative locations of the joints are changing and the brain  is overloaded with influx of signals regarding these affairs.  With training , such whole-body motion aids in recruiting proper muscles  for proper balance .  Thus, lifting above the shoulder  while in motion, as in the Snatch lift , requires not only well-conditioned and balanced shoulders,  but also shoulders that can perform effectively  when the whole body is moving.

o         In the first few years of training , a lifter  might strike  the bar  against his chin , nose, or forehead .  An unpleasant cut above the nose could result from hasty and fast lifting  of light  weight .  As the lifter develops strong back  erectors , the lower back possesses distinguished over-extension  posture, which helps thrust  the chest  upwards.  This prevents many collision accidents between the bar and the prominent parts of the face.

o         Training on the Snatch for long time, months or years, results in distinctive gains in the posture. The upper scapular muscles  become significantly developed and help the person pick up objects from the floor with noticeable ease.

o         The long duration of isometric  contraction of the elbows, during the Snatch, enhances  exquisite balance  between the elbow  flexors  and extensors. This gives the lifter  greater ability in controlling the elbow actions.

 

 

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