What YOU Can Learn From Italian Weightlifting

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[@henry_g_s]

I think their technique is fully based around having really hot lifters who just look so good that the weights simply must be lifted.

[@sikastrength]

hahahahahha

[@bigchungus2667]

Ikr damn look at giulia she's hotter than a supermodel

[@fabiobonetta5454]

😂😂😂

[@NicolaRaho22]

Italian weightlifting is quite heavily inspired to the old soviet atheletes. I trained under a 80 years old man who competed in the 70s, he even got to the olympics and was basically the kingpin of the 60kgs here in italy - he always teaches a very aggressive and fast second pull with maximal extension, plus a very strong jump/foot stomp while getting under the bar VERY fast with your elbows VERY high. Basically no arm involvment in the pull if not for guidance in the last part, and a perfect straight back during the whole sequence. Same goes for the snatch and the jerk, very aggressive.

[@weightedsumwl]

Imagine having a technical model that all your athletes follow, and that can be tweaked in individual basis once the lifter is good enough.

[@sikastrength]

It's the dream!

[@liamstephenson1686]

Sounds like the Russian Model

[@DylanFulbright]

I can hear it, the shrieking echoing in my head… NINOOOOOOO!!!!

[@sikastrength]

Like nails on a chalk board

[@weightedsumwl]

Ninooooo

[@patrickmiller7963]

Great video. I would enjoy more videos in the format of "here's what elite lifters are doing, here's why that's important/fruitful, here's how you can apply this to your training." Very useful and informative.

[@sikastrength]

Thank you, any suggestions for the next country you like?

[@weightedsumwl]

@@sikastrength Colombia?

[@javiersanz29]

@@weightedsumwl Good answer.

[@saunlachlan]

Great video, would love to see this format turn into a series and applied to the Uzbekistan team under Erzhas Boltaev (Ilya’s old coach). The work they’re doing in that system appears very thoughtful.

[@sikastrength]

Will definitely be doing more due to the response

[@Scott-zh5ip]

LOVE this format! More pls.

[@sikastrength]

will do!

[@nickcustodi592]

Timely video for my training as I’m trying to really improve this critical aspect of my lifts. Great stuff as always guys

[@sikastrength]

Thanks nick!

[@maitiuomorain5294]

It's a great format, you guys are doing loads for Irish weightlifting keep it up!

[@sikastrength]

Thank you!

[@fallingwickets]

great content, very interesting even for us non weightlifters

[@abrahamdemaio5622]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@leocoyne8118]

One of the best you have done Eoin really clear and incisive bravo!

[@sikastrength]

Thanks Leo!

[@hamm0155]

Giulia Imperio made this a great video

[@hamiltonblair7934]

Love this!

[@nwerz-1022]

Well said. Great lessons.

[@sikastrength]

Thank you!

[@luketweddell3559]

Really enjoyed this style of video 🙌🏻 for the algo

[@adriancarey5645]

Loved the video

[@shifty220]

Simping for the Giulias fek

[@lorenzoiacolare6055]

Superb lockout is another thing to watch for in Italian lifters

[@sikastrength]

Definitely!

[@nickpol1899]

Sikastan x Italy Lets go!

[@pannonianfit1582]

I would also add that their lifters are known for front squatting with really low elbow position mimicking jerk position and their feet movement in pulling under is very smooth mimicking chinese style, not so hard stomping on the platform or changing feet position too much in the lowest position

[@nova68nova]

I notice the same, they don't come up super high on the toes and stomp down. Their feet more just slide out slightly, you can tell they are focused more on dropping under fast. Their coach has to have trained them to do this.

[@liamstephenson1686]

For the algo, and Sikastan!

[@Lameorc]

Awesome video

[@loopeydloop]

Thanks Gurph

[@fmls8266]

I have trained under one of the current National Team coach, mostly with kids or young athletes. The system is a mix of Bulgarian and Soviet school, since all these coaches had training camps in those places back in the day. There are some new influences, and young coaches implements more, but that's pretty much about it. Emphasis on being FAST and aggressive under the bar and aggressively stomp not discouraged at all. That and going "vertical", with open shoulders. There is NO teaching about weight on the foot, core engagement, shrug and all of that, the lifts get taught as naturally as possible. If you cant understand, just lift more and stop asking. Perfect technique is not sought after, you'll notice big variants in technique among different lifters. Many typical squats, not so many pulls. Leg strenght is king. Many full lifts rather than powers. Light bodybuilding work at the end of each session and stretch, very often dynamic training like jumps etc. Kids train very often when they are at about Regional medal level, like 10 times a week atleast. Coaches are strict, no phones, no bullshitting around in the gym, rest is prescribed, you sit on your chair and think about next lift until coaches say go. You listen to the coach or get sent home. We have been building a talents base since decades in Italy, coaches go around recruiting the kids who are most explosive and athletic. I withnessed some ridiculous lifts from the kids, some of them are now in the National Team competing at Euros or World.

[@gsernar6491]

Giulia Imperio, perfect 😍❤

[@cap3c187]

love the video type

[@churchhistorydude]

This was great. Id like more vids of different countries styles of weightlifting (besides China since they've been covered plenty) like Colombia or India

[@tjdee1]

I vote for Colombia or Cuba. Cuz their singlets are a bit maad.

[@matthewmckee6289]

The thing is, every single successful country follows the same principles when it comes to lifting. Compare China’s ‘smooth’ style to classic Eastern European ‘aggressive’ style, and while they both may look different, they are still following the principles needed for effective weightlifting. Of course there is slightly varying focuses on training around the world. Italy focuses on being fast and efficient, China has a lot of accessories and overall muscle strength everywhere around the body, Eastern Europe tends to mainly focus on the classic lifts and basic strength movements. There is no secret different training styles countries use, what works has been mostly figured out at this point. With that all said, I did love this video as it can be useful to pick a nation that does have a focus on a specific aspect of training and use that as eduction for us. But like I said, China, Eastern European and any other successful lifter from any other country already has a fast pull under, is squats a lot, and does everything else needed in the basic principles.

[@paddygilmore711]

As zac so eloquently put it “ drugsss baby” 😂

[@sikastrength]

I have one aspect for the colombians

[@tjdee1]

@@sikastrength its coffee

[@RobertoRivaldi]

Algo Is life !!

[@Fredbernier14]

This is fucking gold!

[@grymek737]

@Sika Strength, Antonio Urso's book, "Weightlifting Sport for All Sports" is a good source of information regarding the Italian system, although i must say it looks a copy of Badillo's "Halterofilia", at least the programming chapter. You should interview Sebastiano Corbu,the national team coach..

[@powderedtoastman6265]

Are there any English translations of them available that you know of??

[@grymek737]

@@powderedtoastman6265 , Urso's book can be found in English, "Halterofilia" only in Spanish

[@sikastrength]

Thank you i'll have a look!

[@DredFulProductions]

Ask not what the Italians can learn from you but what you can learn from the Italians.

[@sikastrength]

We need this in latin

[@nickwysoczanskyj785]

Timing, is everything. And practice. I was playing around with the clean, for almost a year, before I even attempted to learn the snatch. It’s weird how much difference that’s made to my efficiency. I have good ratios in the clean and jerk, but I have a terrible tendency to pull snatches high - I just haven’t mastered the balancing act between completing extension AND getting low faster. It’s still always one or the other.

[@WesLikeWest-oc9wr]

I never thought I’d learn physics for a sport but here we are

[@alexarquilla]

The Active pull under is hard concept for beginners to understand. Once you get that down it really changes weightlifting.

[@DredFulProductions]

Definitely an aspect that draws the line between a beginner and intermediate lifter. Maybe even intermediate and advanced!

[@paddygilmore711]

@@DredFulProductions I got to 120kg before actively pulling under in the snatch it’s already jumped 10kg in 12 weeks from implementing this and getting an eastern block coach to help cue it and develop it. Such an aspect of the snatch I never thought of as I was always cued never to use the arms.

[@spencerhaley5644]

Doing this on south Korea would be cool considering their recent performance at world champs

[@sikastrength]

Good idea!

[@sneeuwballa]

So basically eata the pasta to get under fasta?

[@tinuswl]

Sup Gurph. I don't see why you would cue the use of the arms when pulling under. This cue probably came from Gabriel, who has said similar things in his videos. The issue I have with this is that it can slow the bar down mid-flight, leading athletes to catch the bar but losing it anyway due to it being too far in front, sometimes even after standing it up. Incidentally, Gabriel himself is an example of typically missing snatches in this awkward way (look at his perfomances at the 2016 Europeans & 2015 Worlds). Why not just keep the arms relaxed during the entire movement?

[@sikastrength]

The cue didn't come from Gabriel but he is correct in his assertions. The active interaction of your arms is the only way for the energy from the first and second pull to continue increasing in speed and in the correct direction in the third pull. The use of the arms is absolutely essential in the third pull. Without the use of your arms in the third pull the bar would reach a specific height of it's own momentum and simply stop. You're confusing the cue of relaxed arms with the biomechanics of the lift.

[@noreasonwhy]

I tend to cut my extension short when I try to be faster. What are good exercises to practice pull under? Hangs and blocks?

[@kyleinwisc]

Samesies dawg

[@paddygilmore711]

Actively pull under after extension, not before

[@sikastrength]

practice full lifts until you do it correctly

[@bigdaddybumpkin5759]

Try warming up with tall snatches

[@jakejakejak]

The PASTA flavour haha!!!!!! Tomato sauce flavour 🤣

[@nonical1429]

Nice

[@cameronclarke9155]

Good vid

[@andrewmacdonald8076]

I noticed Mirko Nanni and guilia imperio make a large gasp or inhalation with mouth open at the start of the lift . Everyone else doing that??

[@CallMeGarrek]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@ojsbklyn]

Pasta flavor!

[@0223eoin]

What exercises do you think they are doing to speed up the drop??

[@PhiyackYuh]

Juicing eggcercise😂

[@fmls8266]

Nothing. We are just taught to literally "go down" or "slip yourself under the bar" as aggressive and fast as possible.

[@AbelityGaming]

leavin a comment for the algo good stuff

[@MrTokinwhiteboy]

Gurph just loves those flavas’. 😂

[@8ballrocco731]

Forza Italia 🇮🇹

[@robbiecope4042]

i thought you were going to talk about the pasta sauce

[@jkrolling4821]

And how much pasta do I need to eat now to get as fast as them?

[@bakarone]

Always more

[@ian3978]

i love uncooked slopper

[@rafaeladrian1510]

Om Yun Chol's disregard for physics tho. that jerk is unreal

[@sikastrength]

he's a glitch in the matrix

[@BMTmemphis]

Dr

[@MrSpicabooo]

I can clean 89% of my max front squat 265 c&j and 296 FS. For some reason fs feels better to me than back squatting, back squatting always feels like death to me? Any advice?

[@alexwilliams5587]

this is extremely vague

[@kblkbl]

back squatting is heavier, if you have good posture and hip mobility, front squatting is great

[@MrSpicabooo]

@@alexwilliams5587 um yea i guess it is. Wat im trying to say is front squatting feels more natural and easier to me, whenever i back squat it feels uncomfortable and unatural, and my back squat is not that high above my front squat max.

[@alexwilliams5587]

@@MrSpicabooo maybe back squat more?

[@MrSpicabooo]

@@alexwilliams5587 yeh

[@javiersanz29]

Very good fucking video.

[@Luca-uc2ro]

To me being so fast when lifting weights is a synonimous of using a lot of fast twich fibers

[@claudiamarianidamato9499]

The genetics of gladiators is the reason

[@zennappi]

Comment

[@colmtesticles]

Risquato flavour

[@colmtesticles]

I don't think this pun is getting the credit it deserves

[@bencarroll3778]

Algo

[@wrf85]

If there is ever a medal for the quintessential italian name, then Giulia Imperio is definitely a good contestant... :-D :-D :-D

[@Cosimao564]

pasta good

[@pjcho9180]

algo

[@francesco_pesi]

Ninoooooo

[@yetanotherRjven]

NINOOOOOO

[@casefarley5744]

algooodness

[@theFPbros123]

Mamma mia

[@rithik_nair]

Algorithm

[@gagisha2437]

for the algo

[@kblkbl]

This video: Just get under faster lol 😄😄😄

[@lucassak1]

For the algo

[@j10984]

Comment for the algo.

[@strapping3337]

Yeah, nah. What you can learn from Italian weightlifting is that it's good to have your federation president pull in funding for 15+ years from your National Olympic Committee, where he is also a senior figure as the Scientific Advisor. Then invest that money into infrastructure, staffing, education, talent ID, elite athlete funds and research. When 10, 15 years pass, you now have more good lifters because you have a bigger system, because you have more money. That's the Italian secret. There's no secret training program, get a shitload of money so you can pick athletes with better parents and so you can pay them enough to keep them in the sport. The speed in Italian weightlifting does not come from an overt focus on speed - that is not true in Italy or in any other system that produces fast lifters (e.g. Bulgaria). Speed comes from reactive strength capabilities, and therefore talent, physical/tissue preparation and youth technical development. That should be the focus instead of trying to become a powerlifter with giant squats and deadlifts. Or running around doing all the different bodybuilding machines after your workout.

[@sikastrength]

Are you okay?

[@matthewmckee6289]

Yes, speed will come from those things you mentioned (ie genetics and starting young), but the teams that are generally regarded as fast, such as Italy, most certainly train to be fast. Paying me, or my parents money will not somehow make me faster. I’m pretty sure there are plenty of other countries that pay more than Italy does (ahem China), yet those guys aren’t all fast. That’s because paying money doesn’t make someone fast? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. You are making out like every other athlete doesn’t want to be the fastest and strongest. I would still train my ass off even if I got paid absolutely nothing if I had a chance to go to the Olympics or World’s. Yes, paying an athlete more and having better facilities will increase their quality of life, and also probably make them happier, but I would imagine most weightlifters want to still be weightlifting and would be regardless of money.

[@Artheam]

I don't know why your reply is gaining negative attention. It's a very crucial point - if funding has increased substantially or consistently enough then that is obviously part of the reason why Italian weightlifting is seemingly so successful. I'm neutral with the rest of what you're saying, but can't see how anyone can disagree with funding being a very important aspect. Then there's just plain, old randomness and "fortune". You get a few good lifters at the same time (no buses, then two buses at once) and suddenly everyone ponders "wait, is Italian weightlifting in a special place?". Maybe. Or maybe there's a mix of factors of which randomness is a big part.

[@matthewmckee6289]

@@Artheam because his points are just moot. It's pretty obvious that more funding is better, but more funding doesn't make a lifter stronger, faster or more technically proficient. The only thing I can imagine it making much of a difference on is an athlete's longevity within the sport as the rewards for doing so are greater. This of course being compared to countries that don't pay as much or even at all. A lot athletes will likely stop once they stop seeing success, or feel there are more negatives than positives.

[@Artheam]

@@matthewmckee6289 Sure, so speed is probably not so relevant. But in terms of success, strength, etc it is highly relevant. Whether it's a bigger genetic pool. Better recovery potential (you get paid as full time athlete). You have access to more/better coaches. Doctors, physios, etc. All those things add up. As I say, you're right that speed is probably not so relevant to that but success is.

[@tfwwhennofitlitgf3300]

tfw no giulia imperio gf

[@ElendielPlaysEU]

what they do: drugs

[@pellepopcorn6129]

A great Italian… I suppose he lifted the heavy of at least 20 kg… Just like Italy and wars )))

[@somedude84961]

Algo

[@MrScalesie]

Algorithm

[@shauncreed1315]

Algo