High Repetitions - Tommy Kono

Tommy Kono - Olympic Lifting Presentation, 2005
Part One: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt423i1w6vs
Part Two: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71denvCLxP0

More on Oly lifting from Tommy Kono here:
The "straight line" style is seen. No S curve, 
no bump or brush on the hips in the Snatch 

or the gut in the Clean. This has  changed but

nonetheless, there's things in this series. 

Part One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNy0Odapgds&list=PL304F940BF2735C5D&index=6
Part Two:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60vffX5bX_Y&list=PL304F940BF2735C5D&index=7
Part Three:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhxqEmLYuCA&list=PL304F940BF2735C5D&index=8
Part Four: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k27zIdL5SkI&list=PL304F940BF2735C5D&index=9
Part Five:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9rI00e7BzE&list=PL304F940BF2735C5D&index=10
Part Six:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezMNoHUXbb8&list=PL304F940BF2735C5D&index=11 

Kono's "ABC's of Weightlifting Series" from Strength & Health magazine: 
One:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/11/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-one-by-tommy.html
Two:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/12/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-two-tommy.html
Three:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/12/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-three-tommy.html
Four:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/12/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-four-tommy.html
Five:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/12/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-five-tommy.html
Six:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/12/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-six-tommy.html
Seven:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2010/12/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-seven-tommy.html
Eight:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/01/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-eight-tommy.html
Nine:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/01/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-nine-tommy.html
Ten:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/01/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-10-tommy.html
Eleven:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/01/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-11-tommy.html
Twelve:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/01/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-12-tommy_28.html
Thirteen:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/02/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-13-tommy.html/
Fourteen:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/02/abcs-of-weightlifting-part-14-tommy_17.html
Fifteen:
http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2011/03/normal-0-false-false-false.html

Repetition Snatch

Recently a lifter started performing high repetition snatches. His reason was that as you become fatigued, lifting becomes more difficult so you have to concentrate more in finishing your lifts. He also believed while performing high repetitions that when his technique deteriorated, he could then sense this while he was in the process of pulling and would make the necessary corrections to make the lift. 

Weighing 63 kg. [138 lbs.] he was able to snatch 80 kg. [176] for 10 reps. This was performed without the use of straps. On another workout he snatched 70 kg. [155] for 15 reps. All the more remarkable is that this lifter was 52 years [18,980 days] of age.  

His best official snatch in a contest made in the early part of the previous year was 87.5 kg., but he weighed in at 64.5 kg. In another contest he snatched 85 kg. at 62.3 kg., missing 87.5 on his third attempt. 

With his high repetition snatching sessions completed and having  rested up a bit, he competed in the contest that followed while weighing 61.5 kg. He started with 85 kg. He then jumped to 90 kg. for his 2nd and 3rd attempts. 

The high repetitions employed made him adapt to the minimal height required to make the lift; therefore, when extra heavy weights were attempted, the required stretch of the body had become foreign to him, thus lessening the leg drive and the use of his back too soon. 

A lesson to be learned here is that you can perform high reps in the snatch lift but make certain you perform them using the correct technique throughout all the repetitions whether it is 60 kg. or 120 kg.  

Repetition Squats

During my developmental days in Olympic lifting, I performed 20 repetition squats. I built my capacity to achieve 20 reps with 360 pounds at 153 lbs. bodyweight. Several weeks later I did 390 for 12 reps. Would you believe that my best single was only 420 then! In proportion, the reps and the single did not match. I realized then that reps and singles do not really have any relationship. 

You develop enduring quality by working on high repetitions. It does not relate to a very high single repetition. 

To go heavy, you have to go heavy.   

Here again is the principle of training for X and expecting improvement in Y. 

Years later, at a much heavier bodyweight I tried 20 repetition squats with 360. I got to 16 and quit. Of course, I had not trained on high reps and I was not willing to put out as much effort as I did when I was younger. I did not have the willpower to sustain the torture of struggling through 20 reps to win a bottle of Coca-Cola this time. At this heavier bodyweight I did manage 400 lbs. for 10 reps as a pre-condition weightlifting/bodybuilding exercise.

Repetition Work for Lifting 

During the learning phase of lifting technique, performing up to 3 repetitions works well because you are trying to establish a muscle memory pattern. When you perform too many repetitions or even too many sets of repetitions, even with light weights, your coordination for a correct pattern of movement can deteriorate when too many sets are performed. 

Fatigue of certain lifting muscles or inability to concentrate can lead to faulty movements, so it is always better to work on technique while you are fresh MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. 

Olympic weightlifting competition is based on elevating the heaviest weight overhead, not on how many repetitions can be performed. Once the correct lifting technique is acquired, lights weights and a few repetitions are used only as a warmup. 

The experienced lifter must learn to quickly work up to heavy weights for singles in his training because that is what the contest is based on. Taxing your mind and body is improved only with heavy weights. Anything less is only a prelude to the big weight on the competition platform.

On snatch training I recommend up to 3 repetitions during the learning stage of the lift or to serve as a warmup for experienced lifters. 

On cleans I recommend only 2 repetitions for warmup purposes. The reason for one less rep in the clean is because you are employing a heavier weight in proportion to your snatch and the movement is much simpler in nature. The snatch is more complicated and requires greater flexibility, hence the additional reps to ensure your smoothness and exact movement. 

In high pull movements, 2 or 3 repetitions are recommended because they are not as complete a movement as the snatch or clean. On high pulls I do not recommend singles because the lifter may use too heavy a weight and may perform the movement incorrectly. The nature of the pull has to be a duplication of what takes place in the snatch and the clean. 

Repetitions are performed for learning correct technique. If the correct technique is mastered, then repetitions with light weights are performed only as warmups. it is the heavy singles lifted in the correct pattern that count in training and one the competition platform. 

Even in performing 3 reps in your warmup snatches, stand upright between repetitions and pause before commencing your next repetition. In other words, make each repetition using good leverage and exacting lifting technique.     

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