The Snatch

Training for the Olympic sport of weightlifting has become popular in recent years. This is true not only for competitive weightlifters, but also for participants in CrossFit and for athletes that are strength training for improved performance in other sports. Between the two lifts—the clean-and-jerk and the snatch—the most challenging to master is the snatch, a lift performed so quickly a novice might be unclear how the barbell went from the floor to overhead in one fluid motion. Harvey Newton, former USA Olympic team coach, explains the history of the snatch in its various forms, the equipment utilized for optimal performance, the most efficient method for quickly and safely learning to snatch, and models of training programs.