I noticed a disturbing weight lifting trend at the gym today. I call it "Jerk and Lean Lifting".
I'm not sure if there is a proper name for it, so I just call it what it looks like.
I have always been taught to lift smoothly. If, for example, I am doing pull-downs, I smoothly pull the bar down behind my head, pause, then smoothly allow the bar to raise back up. I keep my back straight, and my butt stays on the seat.
What I see lately is people jerking down on the bar, lifting themselves up off the bench, and leaning back as they pull the bar down. Not only does this look uncomfortable, it can't possibly be good for you.
I always expect these people to drop the bar and scream in pain because they've torn something. Usually these folks are trying to lift entirely too much weight, which is why they have to get so much inertia behind the bar to get the weight to move. I'm sure if they lifted a more reasonable weight they'd get the same benefit, with less possibility of injury.
But I'm a cop, not a personal trainer. So what do I know...
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4 comments:
When it comes to people like that, the word 'jerk' is entirely appropriate ...
^^^HAHAHAHAHA! Love your comment Pinkstone. Mrs. S
I've noticed the word jerk is appropriate for many of the people at that particular gym.
The weight lifting move that makes me cringe every time I see it is the Clean and Jerk. One wrong move and major owie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXpAtyerivE
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