John Grimek
This is the first half of a two-part article on the One Hand Barbell Clean & Jerk.
The second half on the One Hand Barbell Jerk will follow.
Soon.
More on the one hand barbell clean & jerk here:
here:
and here, including USAWA rules:
Certainly after so much discussion of various other styles of lifting in vogue today, it is high time that we deal, at casually with reference to the single-handed cleaning of a bar bell to the shoulder -- and in our next segment to outline the most approved means of jerking a bar bell with one hand from the shoulder.
Surely, this combined lift from floor to length of arm overhead is the paragon of present day single handed lifting, calling as it does for a greater combination of science, speed and strength than any other feat performed with one hand alone.
A perusal of the record list gives sufficient evidence, and although some few highly skilled experts on the bent press are capable of elevating greater poundages, a comparison of the manner in which the bell must be handled to the shoulder and the undeniable appearances of strain leave little doubt in the mind as to choice of the most desirable feat. We say this entirely without bias, having been brought up in the old bent press school as you might say, both lifts being favorites with us at the present time.
Suppose we consider the illustrations accompanying this article. Pride of place must undoubtedly go to Max Rohrer, the marvelous Cooper A.C. welterweight (or International lightweight); we only wish it were possible at this time to use similar action pictures of Hans Hass . . .
. . . the world champion Austrian.
First, refer to the top-most of the three movie camera snaps below, which shows Max right up on his toes in the preliminary pull and just ready to drop beneath the ascending bell; I should say the bell is at this stage about at maximum height for his style of cleaning, and in fact appears to be higher than necessary, though this may be an optical illusion created by the angle at which the picture was snapped.
Only the latest high tech visual aids featured on this blog!
Now, look carefully at the photo below and you will see that the bell is just about at knee height (taking into consideration the low position of the camera), and Max has not yet risen quite so high on his toes as in the smaller picture, which latter position would take place the smallest fraction of a second later than the position shown by the larger photo.
From this tip-toe position, Max drops with great quickness into a low squat similar to that shown by Harry Good in the second photo at the top, with the globe bell. If I recall correctly, Max handled 192.5 pounds successfully on this occasion, when winning the 148-lb. title in 1930, his bodyweight being something under the class limit. Subsequently, he has safely negotiated over 200 pounds, but has changed the style slightly, not dropping into the exaggerated low squat, but catching the bell at shoulder by a quick dip of the body; this newer style seems so much easier than the older low squat and must conserve energy to a great extent.
In order that enthusiastic readers may not misunderstand important points in relation to his use of both styles, it is essential to call attention to the build of Max Rohrer. Rather short in height, probably five feet, four or five inches, you may realize the rather squat nature of his build and thus appreciate that it is unnecessary for him to bend down to the extent necessitated in the case of taller men.
Now, though referring to Max as "rather squat" in build, he does present a symmetrical appearance and gives no evidence of bulkiness. If you will refer to the larger single picture above, Max is standing directly behind the right end of the bar bell and as you may note, shapes up pretty nicely.
Starting from the very first stage of the lift, and this in reality determines the entire procedure, for your choice of a starting position governs the style to be employed, we must first off decide whether you are going to "dive" for the bell, or start from a bent over position.
Personally, I belong to the school which places implicit faith in the diving style, though the build of the athlete has much to do with the wisdom of such selection. The fellow of short, squat build may find the bend over start to his advantage, while the tall man should never start from such a position; the fellow of medium height having a possibility of advantage in either style, though in the majority of instances I should advise the quicker method. The tall, rather slender man has a natural advantage in cleaning [so there], his build seemingly adapting him to the handling of a better poundage to the shoulder than he can toss all the way overhead. The short, thick-set man, on the other hand, must employ the utmost in scientific McMeans in an endeavor to shoulder as much as he might jerk. Which explains, in his case, the almost utter necessity of adopting the "hook" grip, in which the thumb is encircled by the largest finger so as to assure a fast hold on the bar.
The so-called hook cannot be used in connection with diving and the best combination when hooking is to squat as low as possible and not expect very great height in the initial pull.
When the relatively tall fellow moves fast enough he should have little trouble in pulling the bell quite all the way to the shoulder. Well do I recall an eyewitness description of a super clean-lifter in the 1924 Olympics. [I believe the 1924 Olympics were the last to include the five Oly lifts. Bischel, a Swiss, 5'10" and weighing perhaps a pound or two over 140, and with an upper arm of 13, cleaned 209 pounds in a most sensational manner. Poising himself at one edge of the platform and then raising arms overhead as though about to make a swimming plunge, Bischel ran quickly to the center of the platform and without pausing dived and hauled the bell to his shoulder; almost immediately, the weight shot to arm's length overhead. No hesitation, no hook, no chance to lose his nerve; speed and precision were his best gets in cleaning efficiency.
As you may recall, Hunenberger, a fellow countryman . . .
. . . set a world's amateur record which still stands in the books, holding the record in both heavier classes, and he likewise is of the comparatively lanky type of physique.
At the present day, Ronald Walker of England may be the best one-handed clean performer in the world, and he is quite slim for a 180-pounder, being long coupled. Although not having ascertained the fact, I am very much inclined to believe that Walker dives for the bell, being more or less Pullam-inspired in that respect, like myself; I refer to W.A. Pullum, famous British instructor.
I see many Americans who would fare much better on the dive style, but bad habits once learned are not so easily overcome.
Let us assume you are of a physical type well adapted to this quicker method, as most Americans of native stock are more inclined to be the tall rather than the squat type.
First, the hook cannot be given consideration, and secondly, the center of the bar must be plainly and unmistakably marked where a quick grip will result in an accurate centering of the bell. The gripping surface should be rough enough to insure a sure hold without injuring the hand, and you must make up the mind to travel fast and yank the bell off the floor without pause or hesitation; practice will impart a sort of scooping motion to the movement of the hand and arm, and the non-lifting hand must be well trained in pressing firmly upon the knee so as to aid the back and legs in an instantaneous recovery from the bent over position.
Above we see poses simulating action, though as hard as Bill Good and I have worked to duplicate exact positions there may be details we not only couldn't very well copy but some which it might be difficult to imagine without actually attempting heavy weights (hint, hint), for, after all, one can hardly fake actual muscle stress and the strained positions resulting therefrom. As many readers are aware, these photos are taken from Volume I of "Physical Improvement" . . .
. . . and the reason for mentioning my own name is that I first worked out and tried every position, which later was posed before the camera by our officially strongest amateur. On that occasion, Bill probably set a record for continuous physique posing, something like 220 photos being taken in a period of eight hours without letup; each of the many positions first being worked out by myself. It is hot in front of our studio lights and Bill not only got a good "sun-burn" but had sore eyes the following day; not having to face the lights I suffered none of the discomforts.
The photo above showing foot positions marked illustrates the shifting of the feet in shouldering the bell; the white footprints representing the starting position, the black prints showing the changed position after shouldering the bell, it being assumed that the bar remains in the same relative position.
Therefore, having imparted impetus to the bell though the upward pull, just about when the ascending movement is about to stop at somewhere approximate to shoulder height, you pivot on one foot and quickly swing the other around until the bar is at right angles to, rather than paralleling the body, catching the bell at the shoulder somewhat as shown in the two upright figures of Bill; some lifters will find it unnecessary to lower the body to any extent, while others must bend the legs and lower one shoulder considerably in fixing the bar securely.
The other two positions posed by Bill Good are suitable to fixing of the bell at the shoulder when starting from the still position.
When adopting this most popular method, the hook becomes not only invaluable but just about indispensable. Whereas, in the quicker method, the acquired momentum and suddenness combine in imparting impetus to the bell, nothing but a claw-like grip and the utmost in pull can raise the bell sufficiently high in this other style. Max Rohrer starts from the bent over position and surely nothing can serve better to illustrate the action of his method than the two snaps above; in order that you don't get twisted up just keep in mind that Max is a port sider.
Really, the most important point is getting a quick and secure grip when tackling the bell.
In my next article a treat is in store in the form of most unusual action one-hand jerking, demonstrating the extreme in clever lifting footwork. In our estimation no lift requires more high powered nerves, or so clearly evidences the do-or-die spirit than a creditable one-hand jerk from the shoulder. Included will be some awfully funny photographic slants on action refereeing.
Purposely I have refrained from stressing certain common points of procedure which should be a matter of common knowledge to practically every reader of these pages. In other words, I have assumed that my readers are out of the novice class and well acquainted with the most common rules and principles of practice, applicable to cleaning (or snatching); that is, to keep the back as straight as possible when starting the pull, to do the bending with knees and hips, and to use the lifting arm as a connecting link only being certain of its straightness at the beginning of the lift and freedom of any direct use of the arm muscles in pulling the bell from the floor.
Likewise, to keep the bell as close to the body as possible during the pull-in. One learns to apply the full strength of his legs with feet flat on the floor, and the essential zip and precision become second nature only after long and tedious practice.
Moreover, don't forget that the fellow who goes farthest is he who risks everything on the effort at hand.
Enjoy Your Lifting!
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