Hi Guys

here is a video of a mountain bike rider I coach doing a very interesting version of a jump snatch. I didn't prescribe this exercise for him but he tells me he likes it and watching the video it actually seems pretty cool. Anyway, it was pretty interesting and I thought you guys might like it

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=692pur&s=7

I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on it.

Jack

kinda looks like a broad jump snatch. But second the above... what's the dude's rationale for the movement???

Well you just summed up my 2 thoughts already...


and

It is only a stupid exercise if he is going to get hurt, or it isn't going to meet his training goals. He likes to do it, he feels it is very safe, and from my discussions with him and the nature of his sport, it would appear that, while unconventional, it is helping him develop his full body power.

Maybe he could do a regular snatch but then that does require a bit more balance and ROM, and in fairness, he has no need what so ever to hold a weight overhead.

Stupid? No. Unconventional? Yes.

What if you have weak shoulders (for the weight your legs are capable of propelling) and still want to snatch, but don't want to take years of training your shoulders to reach that level?

i'd have to agree with most everyone else in here, i don't like it.. imo, just keep the loading vertical (traditional oly's & their variations), then just tie in "horizontal movements" using med ball/weight throws+tosses/double and/or single leg bounds for distance, sled work etc.

what i don't get is how that has anything to do with mountain biking?


in that same respect though, he has no need whatsoever to throw a weight forward such as he's doing.. The only thing he should worry about is improving hip extension/knee extension/knee flexion strength/power, general upper body/core strength, and training specific via mountain biking + mountain doing bike exercises in very difficult gears etc, imo.. Is he going to improve hip/knee extension/knee flexion more using that variation, or traditional variations such as snatch, clean/snatch PULLS, high pulls, squat etc? One major problem with that exercise would be how long it takes him to "reload", with traditional oly's and their variations, you can keep the intensity low/moderate & then target the energy systems more specifically towards mountain biking.. ie cluster sets of 10 reps on snatch high pull, etc..

so ya im confused at how that at all ties itself in with mountain biking.

peace jack

it sort of looks like what you would do when you want to do a jump on a bike. Maybe he's trying to simulate that with weights so he can do higher jumps, just a guess.

Well no but you do need some good isometric strength to keep a heavier bar over head.