At a recent certification, Nadia Shatila and Dave Lipson had an opportunity to work one-on-one with Olympic-lifting coach Mike Burgener.
As an HQ trainer, Shatila regularly teaches new CrossFitters the snatch but doesn’t always get the opportunity to work on her own lift. Lipson (215 lb., 6’0”) can move large loads like no other (think deadlift well over 650 lb. and a 335-lb. overhead squat), but his best snatch is 220 lb.
In Part 4, both athletes are getting closer to the ideal form Coach Burgener is looking for. Shatila is making quicker progress, so Coach B has her increase the weight, while he holds Lipson back until he becomes more consistent—a point worth noting by aspiring Oly coaches.
At increased weights, Lipson needs to be reminded about his feet, and Shatila needs a good dose of Coach B to get mean on the bar. By the end of the session, both athletes are now on the road to new PRs.
“That’s how good you can be!” Coach B says.
Part 3: 9min 53sec
Additional reading: Learning How to Do Full Snatches by Bill Starr, published Jan. 13, 2010.