Coaching Cue for the Jerk

I was competing this weekend at the Atlantic States Open Weightlifting Championships.  I was warming up for the Clean & Jerk portion of the competition.  I was feeling a little bit sluggish on my Jerk.  I was very fortunate to have a bright young up and coming strength coach helping me out with my warm up.  He said something to me that was so simple yet something that is so easy to forget.

Jerking is relatively easy lift to do.  You dip to get the bar moving drive up then get under it.  But, it is easy to lose sight of proper technique and just begin to muscle the weight.  That is what I was doing in my warm ups.  I went into this meet feeling strong and I let that feeling get in the way of proper technique.

So, what was this simple cue this young strength coach gave me.  It was to “get tall”.  That was it! I was focusing so much on dropping under and pushing up that I failed to “Get Tall” or fully extend after my dip to get the bar moving into the Jerk.  So, why do I think this is such a great cue.  Simple, I am 6’4” tall and a former Basketball player.  Olympic Lifting does not come natural for me.  But, what does come natural to me is getting tall.  Those few simple words saved what would have been a long warm up and an atrocious three lifts.  By getting tall the bar was popping up off my shoulders and the weight began to feel light.

So, next time you are doing some Jerks or coaching the Jerk remember to “Get Tall” after the dip and when you are driving up to get under the bar.