Are Olympic Lifts Actually BAD For Athletes? w/ Plyometrics Expert Daniel Back

About this video

• Video Title: Are Olympic Lifts Actually BAD For Athletes? w/ Plyometrics Expert Daniel Back
• Channel: Garage Strength
• Speakers: Daniel Back, Coach Brennan (implied host)
• Duration: 01:35:31

Overview

This video features a discussion between Daniel Back, a plyometrics and jump science expert, and Coach Brennan from Garage Strength. They explore various aspects of athletic performance training, including the necessity of Olympic lifts like cleans, programming for different sports, sprint and jump mechanics, and the definition of explosiveness. The conversation also touches on case studies of athletes, the role of general strength versus sport-specific training, and the nuances of foot strike and countermovement in jumping.

Key takeaways

• Olympic Lifts Debate: Daniel Back expresses the opinion that Olympic lifts like cleans are non-essential for most athletes, arguing that basic strength and sport-specific explosive activities (sprinting, jumping) are more crucial for performance. He notes that many athletes already engage in similar lifting with their teams.
• Importance of Sport-Specific Training: The discussion highlights that while general strength is foundational, athletes at higher levels often benefit more from sport-specific training that directly enhances their sport's demands (e.g., track athletes needing more time on the track).
• Defining Explosiveness and Elasticity: The video grapples with defining "explosiveness" and "elasticity" in human movement, noting the difficulty in creating universal metrics and the potential for misinterpretation of terms derived from physics.
• Jump vs. Bounce: Daniel Back differentiates between "bouncing" (focusing on quick ground contact) and "jumping" (aiming for a specific height or distance), emphasizing the role of designated targets in distinguishing the two.
• Foot Strike Nuances: Contrary to common advice, the discussion suggests that heel striking or flat-footed contact can be beneficial in certain athletic movements, like jumping approaches and long/triple jumps, as it aids in deceleration and force transfer.
• Early Athletic Development: There's a growing realization that younger athletes may need more specific athletic development (sprinting, jumping, bounding) before general strength training yields significant improvements, contrasting with traditional coaching narratives.