Weightlifting String Theory and the Hook Grip:

Before you all think I have gone off my rocker, somehow trying to relate quantum field theory to Olympic lifting let me assure you I am referring to the theory as it relates to Weightlifting, not Quantum physics.

The principle of string theory is to assume that your arms are merely pieces of sting holding the bar. From the ground to the point of acceleration the only responsibility of the arms are to hold the bar.

This is the exact reason that weightlifters employ the hook grip, or sometimes called the lock grip.

What this essentially means is that we lock our thumbs under the bar and our other fingers before lifting the bar off the ground. What this does is takes the strain off the hands and forearms and places it squarely on the back and leg muscles. 

A major mistake that beginners make is gripping the bar too tightly. Hold the bar, don't grip it. Don't grab it so tight your knuckles are going white. This plays straight back into the string theory. You want your hands and arms to be relaxed until you get to the point of acceleration. You do not want to start contracting your arms to early in the pull.

Plenty of people start pulling to early by bending the arms. We call this gorilla lifting. If you look at them when their arms bend they look like a gorilla in the wild with its front arms all the way on the floor, shoulders rounded forward. What this does is load up on your back muscles and takes away the drive you would have had from your legs. Your Legs drive the bar off the ground, your back keeps your spine straight in order to be in the correct position for the pull. Your arms, well they do nothing but hold the bar.

The pull doesn't happen until the bar gets to your hips. Up until that point your arms need to be straight, and relaxed while holding the weight. A good way of thinking about it is by driving the world away from you with your legs. Keep yourself in the same position and drive the ground down. Hopefully by doing this you can concentrate on keeping your arms straight and be in the correct position at the point of acceleration.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and  friends. Next blog update on Friday.