Home workouts: February 2009 Archives

I practiced cleans yesterday with no weight, PVC, weighted PVC, and a barbell. I'm trying to find out if I can do barbell cleans at all without aggravating my elbow tendonitis. So I want to obsess on technique with light weight for a while. I took a lot of video so I could analyze what I'm actually doing. Maybe this can help somebody else too; lots of people have the habit of bending the elbows too soon. My specific goal in working on cleans is to eliminate that habit.

After watching this video, I'm not sure I should be practicing highpulls at all: maybe just straight-arm shrugs followed by hang cleans. That's what I'll do next time.

Yesterday in the basement was the first time I'd squatted 95 kg for 5 reps -- and I did it twice. I am pleased! It would have been easier in my lifting shoes, but at least I was wearing flat sneakers. This video is of the second of the two sets, taped by Scott, a neighbor who trains with me in the "Dungeon of Dread" on Saturday mornings.