Split Snatch & Split Clean vs Power Snatch & Power Clean

[JimSchmitz]

I've been teaching the split lifts in my coaching courses and seminars for the past couple of years and find them a tremendously athletic requiring great speed, coordination, and balance, more so than the power snatch and power clean. I think the split lifts are more efficient than the power Sn & Cl and that you can lift more weight. However, split lifting has become as extinct as dinosaurs and most coaches look at me in disbelief when I talk about them, like it is too archaic or only for masters. Well, I strongly disagree and think weightlifters and strongmen should add them to their programs.

[Bill Crawford]

Hello Coach, I do split snatches. I did squat snatches as an Olympic lifter but know I mix split and squat power snatches. The split snatch replicates the release on a throw, especially for Highland Games weight for distance. I also will change feet that I put forward to give another twist to the athletic side of the lift.

Plus, coming from an old school coach, Jack King, he had us admiring the great Norbert Schemansky. Norbert was 39 and did a world record split snatch of 369 1/4lbs! I would assume that is an all time world record in the split snatch.

Bill

[Randall Strossen]

I was very happy to read this.

I firmly believe that a lot of people who might not be able to squat snatch or squat clean can split snatch and split clean, so even though you could no longer become a top international-level weightlifter using a split style, a lot more people could gain the benefits of snatching and cleaning if they would take a lesson from Jim on this.

Do we have any splitters out there? If so, please chime in here.

[Andrew Gillie]

I've come up with this silly idea of trying to get the qualifying total for the Pan - Am Masters despite having a grand total of 1 OL meet in my past. I'm just too old to learn how to squat snatch, and don't have the horsepower needed to Power Snatch the needed weight, so I'm hoping to learn how to split. Just about matched my best power snatch after only two tries at it.

Doc, if we're both at a games this season can I steal a bit of time before or after or during a break for some instruction? I'll toss a broom stick or an old Bo staff in my truck. Will gladly compensate with beer....

[Randall Strossen]

Andrew - This doesn't sound silly to me . . . Hope you read what Mike Corlett wrote about never being too old to compete, and with your good planning, there might be a(nother) podium finish in your future.

You sound like a walking advertisement for the split style and I don't know how Bill or Jim feel about this, but in my book, beer has a very good claim to the title of "universal currency." If there is any way that you could hook up with Jim Schmitz, though, he's the man for teaching the lifts.

Maybe USA Weightlifting should jump on this and turn this into a formal course. Anybody have any thoughts about that?

[Thom Van Vleck]

I do split snatches on a regular basis along with the split jerk. As Highland Games thrower I think it has a lot of added benefits.

[Bill Crawford]

Hi Andrew, We could definitely get together and beer as an enticement sounds even better. If not during the Highland Games season, then for sure in the fall or winter.

Bill

[Randall Strossen]

I do split snatches on a regular basis along with the split jerk. As Highland Games thrower I think it has a lot of added benefits.

Thom - Thanks much for sharing this information. Do you know any other Highland Games competitors who do split snatches or cleans?