By Leo Isaac

The very nature of weightlifting is to lift weights overhead which are dramatically heavy. 

In the clean & jerk, weights of 200% bodyweight are commonplace among lifters of national standard and 250% bodyweight is not unusual in world class lifting (excepting heavyweight lifters). In stabilising such enormous weights overhead, even if only for a moment to satisfy the referees, particular attention must be paid to achieving the correct configuration of the body underneath. 

Any weakness in, or improper positioning of, any part of the body will surely diminish the lifter’s potential…