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Beginning of this year, I heard of Beachside CrossFit hosting a weightlifting seminar with with former Russian weightlifter Dmitry Klokov and I jumped on the opportunity with the zero money I had. Being a college student rules!
For those who have been under a rock and don’t know who Dmitry Klokov is: Here’s a little history of him. Consider these numbers for a frame of reference. As of now, current world records in the 105 kg class are:
He’s been a professional weightlifter since 2004. At his first (non-junior) international competition in 2005 Weightlifting Championships in Doha, he won gold in the 105 kg class with a (sn. 192/c&j. 227) 419 kg total. His best performance came in the 2011 Weightlifting Championships in Paris with a (sn. 196/c&j. 232) 428 kg total. His only Olympic performance came in 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won silver with a (sn. 193/c&j. 230) 423 kg total.
Being the “weightlifting nerd” that I am, as told by my coach, I was curious to see what the Klokov would speak upon at a one-day seminar. Never meeting him prior, I was giddy to simply sit in the same room and here the man speak. He’s genuinely personable and has the same, great sense of humor that most professional athletes and coaches have. With that being said, I didn’t learn anything new or spectacular.
The Russian weightlifting system is by no means a secret. Everything from coaching, to programming, to technique has been published throughout the years in studies, journals, and books. Despite all this, I don’t believe that Klokov said or done anything that blew me away as new or different. However, he did reiterate several foundations that I’ve learned from my prior coaches and used different coaching cues. I feel that some of the different coaching cues, when appropriate, can be utilized for specific athletes, but they’re definitely not a one size fits all type of cues.
As a side note, I don’t know what it is, but some CrossFitters and CrossFit coaches shouldn’t be allowed to snatch, clean and jerk or coach. I have heard some of the most uneducated things being asked or said at this seminar. One in particular: “My coach has us snatch grip deficit deadlifting with power bands to teach us how to use out lats and we stop in this ‘power position..'” Power position referring to the place where the barbell makes contact with the hip.
Will I spend another $200 to attend a one-day seminar with a Russian weightlifter? Probably not. It felt more like a clinic than a seminar. But I had tons of fun watching and conversing with Klokov.
For those who have been under a rock and don’t know who Dmitry Klokov is: Here’s a little history of him. Consider these numbers for a frame of reference. As of now, current world records in the 105 kg class are:
He’s been a professional weightlifter since 2004. At his first (non-junior) international competition in 2005 Weightlifting Championships in Doha, he won gold in the 105 kg class with a (sn. 192/c&j. 227) 419 kg total. His best performance came in the 2011 Weightlifting Championships in Paris with a (sn. 196/c&j. 232) 428 kg total. His only Olympic performance came in 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won silver with a (sn. 193/c&j. 230) 423 kg total.
Being the “weightlifting nerd” that I am, as told by my coach, I was curious to see what the Klokov would speak upon at a one-day seminar. Never meeting him prior, I was giddy to simply sit in the same room and here the man speak. He’s genuinely personable and has the same, great sense of humor that most professional athletes and coaches have. With that being said, I didn’t learn anything new or spectacular.
The Russian weightlifting system is by no means a secret. Everything from coaching, to programming, to technique has been published throughout the years in studies, journals, and books. Despite all this, I don’t believe that Klokov said or done anything that blew me away as new or different. However, he did reiterate several foundations that I’ve learned from my prior coaches and used different coaching cues. I feel that some of the different coaching cues, when appropriate, can be utilized for specific athletes, but they’re definitely not a one size fits all type of cues.
As a side note, I don’t know what it is, but some CrossFitters and CrossFit coaches shouldn’t be allowed to snatch, clean and jerk or coach. I have heard some of the most uneducated things being asked or said at this seminar. One in particular: “My coach has us snatch grip deficit deadlifting with power bands to teach us how to use out lats and we stop in this ‘power position..'” Power position referring to the place where the barbell makes contact with the hip.
Will I spend another $200 to attend a one-day seminar with a Russian weightlifter? Probably not. It felt more like a clinic than a seminar. But I had tons of fun watching and conversing with Klokov.