bumperplates

From: "Ryan, Phillip" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed 10/06/10 8:33 AM 
To: <[email protected]>
Priority:  Normal 
Subject: RE: Bumper plates in the rec gym

We ordered bumper plates and a platform, they should be here in a few weeks - a few months 

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 3:23 AM
To: Ryan, Phillip
Subject: Bumper plates in the rec gym

Hello Mr. Phil Ryan,

I'm Albert Chang, and I'm contacting you in regards to having bumper plates in the rec gym. Bumper plates will help dissipate the force, protecting the equipment, and reduce the noise on impact. When performing the olympic lift, that is the snatch and clean and jerk, dropping is the safest way to return the weight from overhead to the ground upon completion. It is also the only way to properly bail out on a failed attempt. Unlike in the powerlifts, the olympic lifts cannot be spotted. But why train the olympic lifts in the first place?

Besides training those whom plan on competing in the olympic lifts, they have a large carry over in athletic performance and real world application. The snatch is regarded as the fastest lift in the world, taking about 2 seconds to get a weight from the ground to overhead. The clean and jerk is regarded as the most powerful lift in the world. It takes a little longer to perform, but the first lift, the clean, terminates at the rack position, while the jerk brings it to overhead. Due to the two separate movements to reach the same distance, a heavier weight can be used, hence more power. Along with training speed and power, it trains motor skills.

The odd lifts are practically real world applications, having to lift an atlas stone from the ground to a certain level or flipping tires. In the odd lifts, all the key positions and pulls closely resembles the positions and pulls in the olympic lifts. Due to this large carry over, the olympic lifts are used to help train the odd lifts.

Dropping from overhead to the ground is safe because if the athlete could have muscled it like that, it wasn't heavy enough. Having heavy weights to train the lifts is important. Although light weights are fine for some technique, they are detrimental to the development of the lifter as they don't allow them to fully use their speed and power. This in turn, prevents the proper development of technique. But even a drop would be warranted at sub-maximal weight. Depending on a number of variables, even 65% of a max lift could require a drop, even for beginners.

Concern for how the weights should be handled in a failed attempt shouldn't even enter a lifter's mind in a failed attempt. In a failed attempt, the most important thing is for the athlete to properly bail out, which means dropping the bar and stepping/jumping away. Unlike the powerlifts, spotting is not possible with the olympic lifts.

There are other equipment that can aid in the protection of equipment involved with the olympic lifts and help reduce noise which includes (from most important to least) a proper barbell built specifically for olympic weightlifting, lifting platform, and better collars. Jerk/pulling blocks and pulling stands would help in the development of the athlete, but aren't essential. Based on what I have seen, 350lbs worth of bumpers plates should be sufficient for currect records and future development for at least this academic year. I sincerely hope you consider getting bumper plates for the rec gym.

Thanks,
Albert Chang