Go Get Strong

Behind-the-neck jerks don’t get enough love. Obviously, as weightlifters, the majority of our work should be done with the bar in front, but this doesn’t mean we should avoid behind the neck altogether—especially if your jerk isn’t picture-perfect. It is a great teaching exercise for those who have trouble driving the bar back during a normal split-jerk, and it makes a great substitute for when wrist, elbow, or shoulder pain prevent a lifter from jerking in front. Also, the movement is easier compared to when the bar is in front, which should allow lifters to handle bigger weights and get more confident over head.

Mastering the sn**ch takes time, patience, and dedication—there’s just no way around it. But, there are ways to make life easier. One of the best ways to turn you into a sn**ch master is the sn**ch balance. It can be done with a jump, without a jump, or with no drive into the bar. But all variations force the lifter to working on maintaining proper receiving positions, while simultaneously working on speed under the bar. These two skills can drastically affect a lifters’ ability to sn**ch. By fixing these, the lifter will not only improve technically, but will gain more confidence with the lift in general. Better technique and more confidence? If that’s not a recipe for a PR, I don’t know what is. **ch