ChinkNasty said:
hey colin, any ideas on how to increase power clean poundages? I've been stuck around 225, 235 for a long time now even though I can squat ~400 pretty easy...is it just a matter of progressive overload or are there any 'tricks?'
you should be able to do 245-260lbs, depending on how deep you catch it.
You have the strength, so you need more speed. Deloading can help speed.
Ever try powersnatches, cleangrip power snatches, light jumpsquats and jumping boxsquats? Partial range powercleans from the hang, especially paused require lots of speed. Overhead med ball throws? Speed squats with 60-70% of 1RM as well
here is some stuff from Jud Logan (world class thrower) on how Poliquin boosted his powerclean
note the slow tempo squats - duration work, almost like HIT
Lots of wave loading and complexing as well
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I read with interest the post about the Power Clean by Charles Poliquin. He wrote a 22 week program for me that enabled me to add 40 lbs. to my power clean, which had been stuck @ 404 for 8 years. I only did actual Power Cleans from the floor in the last three weeks. I will post the exercises I did, but the key was strengthening the weak links, icluding the brachialis and forearm extensors, the abdominal wall and low back areas. In 1988, I did 352x8 reps, but still failed at anything over 404. His ideas are similar to louie Simmons in many regards, but his programs are geared more for athletes in Olympic disciplines than the specific sport of Powerlifting. Both have much to offer and I have spent time with both and interchange protocols to continue to make progress @ age 38 and over 20 years of training.
As a follow up to my last post I will try to explain the methodolgy behind my improvement to a 440 Power Clean. In 1992 I visited Poliquin in Montreal and was tested for muscular imbalances. The results were humbling, although he concluded I was stronger in some aspects than anyone he ever tested, certain areas left me weaker than 105 lb. figure skaters. He fixed my squat first, and although I boasted a 770 BS and 550x3 FS, I could not squat 250 lbs. 5 seconds down, 5 seconds up for 6 reps-- a test being accomplished by female speed skaters on the next platform. The second phase was my pulls. He started me with 6 sets of 6 Snatch from mid- thigh w/ a pause to reset technically each rep. After each set I did 6 reps of Pulls from the floor w/ 15 kilos more to the nipple. Each compound set had a 90 sec. rest period between the Mid and the Floor. Each set got easier due to the lighter feeling. This was a total of 12 work sets- w/ 5 lighter warm-up sets- yes I puked! 90 secs. came quickly to someone use to 4-5 min. recovery. This initial program lasted 3 weeks, done on M and Th, along with Squats- upper body was T and F, w/ W off. I finished w/ 105kx3 Mid thigh Snatch and 120k pulls for 3 and also a 350x5 slow tempo squat. More to follow if still interested.
The next 3 week block switched to Hang Clean and F. Squat. The protocol was 5x4 wk. 1, 4x4 wk. 2 and 5x2 in wk. 3. My best was 160 K for2 in the hang clean done to upper patella. I also did Romanian Dead lifts during this cycle. The next 3 week cycle switched to progressive range PC. Depending on the reps, starting with 4x6, the first rep was done from high thigh, moving down 2 inches per rep until the last rep was mid shin, but never touching the floor. The first rep was the hardest and by rep 6 i was in a more favorable posistion for strength. The Squats went to BS and 8x3 @ 70% 3 secs. down/1 sec. up, with 60 seconds rest- yes I puked! I also did seated good mornings. I finished with a 147k x4 Progressive range set, 2 reps above knee and 2 below- never letting the plates touch the floor- in the squat I finished @ 405 for 8x3 w/ 60 sec. rest. This program was Neural Drive and my throwing took a big jump, 75 meters in Jan. and 75 feet in the weight. The next 3 week cycle was Mid Grip Snatches and paused front squats in the hole posistio6-4-6-4-6 (Wave loading) The mid grip snatches were 1+2. One from mid thigh and 2 from the floor. I finished w/ 110k from mid grip 1+1. I also did Standing good morning during the cycle.
The next 3 week program switched to the floor for the first time on the clean. Week 1 was 4x4, week 2 was 5x5 and week 3 was 3x4 and the second workout of that week was 5-3-2-1-1. The key was Jump Squats before PC, 3x20 w/ 50k, this was the precursor for speed and dynamics. The Squats were heavy 1/2 squats and killer hamsrtring workouts. I did 170k x4 and eventually 200k or 440 lbs on my decending set day. My throwing went to hell this cycle and 4 weeks before nationals, I could only throw the weight 74 feet, but the 9k hammer was at a lifetime best of 68 meters, strong but no neural drive yet. The finishing cycle was Snatch Grip jumps 4x6 w/40k and speed snatches from blocks, high shin, 3-2-1-2-1. I only did ONE set of Front Squat, 80k x 5 per workout and recovery was amazing. The upper body workout featured pushpress and chins only and I went to New York for the nationals breaking the world record in the weight @ 80 1/4 and losing to lance Deal. In hindsight changing workouts every three weeks was key for me and by concentrating more on tempo of squats and increasing my work capacity instead of just cleaning and squatting heavy- I was able to make the breakthru that lead to over 80 meters at the Olympic trials and 4th in Barcelona. Don't try to copy my workout, but maybe learn from the variety in tempos, grips, rest periods and posistions of pulls for breaking plateaus.
On the jump squats, the key is to have the elbows under the bar pointing straight down ( good powerline). Next the athlete squats into what I call a high 1/2 squat posistion, and attemps to drive the feet thru the floor in a violent change of direction--- try to reach maximum height each jump (I tell my athletes to feel sensation of reaching for the ceiling w/ their head, and to point the the toes down on lift off). Keep the bar tight to the traps and upon landing repeat w/out pause. When done correctly it looks like weighted hopping in place. Remember this is more plyometrics and a stimuli for the nervous system to prepare the fast twitch muscle fibers to fire! Again, I used 110 lbs, I had my all-american (207) use 40 k or 88 lbs, on his way to a 150k (330) clean @ a BW of 210. Hope this gives you some guidelines.
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