Build the perfect lifter
plumnbagel
Posts: 184 Member
I read an article yesterday about Olympic athletes who overcome the ways their bodies don't suit their sports in order to become great. For example, a cross-country skier should be tall with long arms and legs, but the dominant male is 5' 7" and uses core strength to overcome.
I got to thinking about being a weight lifter and realized I don't even know what the ideal physical conditions would be for someone who was good at, say, both bench press and squats. If I was going to "build" a prototypical weightlifter, what would it look like? Would it be tall or short? Would it have long or short arms? Would you place primary importance on power in the center, or flexibility in the limbs, or strength in the joints?
Maybe if I know what mechanical limitations I have, I would be able to see how I compensate, or how I could lean into my strengths.
I got to thinking about being a weight lifter and realized I don't even know what the ideal physical conditions would be for someone who was good at, say, both bench press and squats. If I was going to "build" a prototypical weightlifter, what would it look like? Would it be tall or short? Would it have long or short arms? Would you place primary importance on power in the center, or flexibility in the limbs, or strength in the joints?
Maybe if I know what mechanical limitations I have, I would be able to see how I compensate, or how I could lean into my strengths.
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Replies
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If I was going to "build" a prototypical weightlifter, what would it look like? .
The most important factor is a higher percentage of Type 2 muscle fibers. Unfortunately there isn't much you can do to compensate for a lack of that, except train harder.
I think you're putting the cart before the horse by planning for roadblocks when you're not even a lifter. First work with a good coach and gain some experience for a while. You'll probably have issues that need correcting which have nothing to do with not having the perfect physique. Even athletes with the perfect frame have issues.0 -
Being short helps a lot.... lower center of gravity and less distance to travel for lockouts.0
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Short and short arms. You can then complete a powerlift movement with barely any range of motion. Look at the top bench press record holders. The bar travels like 6 inches tops.0
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