Many in the fitness, health and wellness industry,
do not deem Olympic weightlifting as "healthy" or "natural".
These folks will come up with various arguments around the specificities of this sport
or its at times, daunting exhibition.
My response to these people is this ...
The question is not whether a movement or sport is "natural" or not.
The real question is, whether it is performed in the most natural way possible.
And also, if it is presented simply (as it is) or it is butchered by "breaking it down"
and packaging it as a collection of 10 different movement segments
or marketing it as something that gets one the superficial looks and goods,
such as Instagram likes and Twitter follows.
I will also say that Olympic lifts are actually, really simple.
And that they are Natural.
With just one caveat ...
If and only if they are performed naturally
Still with me?
No?
I will try coming from the other side.
~~~
Have you ever taken notice, that in nature,
all movements are simple?
Even the most complicated looking ones?
Why and how are they simple?
It is because all processes and associated movements happen naturally.
Whether it is a moth unfurling its wings as it is about to take its first flight as a butterfly
or a hummingbird hovering and perfectly putting to use whatever "tools" it has been bestowed with.
Because they happen simply, they actually appear unreal and artistic.
But when it comes to movements that man needs to do, the same movement could be the simplest thing for one
and a nightmare to even contemplate attempting for the other.
And when it comes to performing the movement as art,
most butcher their expression exhibiting ignorance in all senses of the word.
While very very very few people are able to perform them in a way that appears ...
... unreal and artistic, or, in other words, simply natural
~~~
Take for example the Clean.
On the surface, the movement is simple ...
One has to lift the barbell from the floor and get it to their shoulders in one single motion.
It sounds simple, and if you watch the rare few weightlifters execute it,
it appears simple, natural and artistic, even at limiting attempts.
The heavy barbell smoothly leaves the floor,
staying almost symmetrically balanced between the two sides of the body,
grazes the lifters' legs all the way through, as it reaches
the point when there is a sudden increase in its upward acceleration,
and then is smoothly received at the shoulders.
On the contrary, watch most lifters do it (even at the professional level) and yes,
even I would nod to those saying that the movement looks unnatural or even dangerous.
~~~
Such are the ironies of this (or any) sport really ...
Most spend their entire careers lifting with a technique or following cues,
to lift in a "safe manner" and end up looking unnatural and hurting themselves over and over again.
Most try to simplify the movements and end up never being able to lift simply.
Why is this the case?
Because most never seem to grasp the central theme of movements such as the Olympic lifts ...
These lifts are a medium of expression, of what one understands about their own body and mind.
Most lift with utter ignorance about this and hence, try as they might, their expression will appear unnatural or unsafe.
For, they are lazy about the most vital aspect of this sport.
~~~
Are you now getting my point?
I'll restress ...
It is not about the movement.
It is about the expression of the movement!
It is about how well the mover understands the movement and their body,
It is not about the debate that which movements are safe or natural.
It is about the realization that such adjectives cannot be applied to any and all movements!
And it is up to the mover to do the due diligence to express their understanding in the most natural way.
And tell you what, when something is expressed naturally, safety is guaranteed without chasing it.
And ultimately, because we live in a societal setting,
it is about how these movements are demonstrated (not taught) to the innocent eyes
and the budding legends of tomorrow.
For rare it is for ignorance and thus, mediocrity to not be contagious.
And even rarer it is, for genuine talent, to not come under its grips.