Why am I NOT Coaching the Triple Extension?

Why am I NOT Coaching the Triple Extension?

Triple extension is a controversial topic in weightlifting. Many coaches and athletes overuse this concept, often blaming a missed attempt on the athlete not being fully extended. In this article, I will share my personal opinion and hopefully give you a better understanding of the purpose so you can improve your technique in training.

What is a triple extension?

Triple extension refers to the extension of the ankles, knees, and hips. Many athletes believe that they need to focus on this aspect to generate strength, but in my experience, this can lead to technical problems, especially for beginners.

Why is this not the key to success?

The problem occurs when athletes focus too much on the end of the movement, without paying attention to the first phase of the lift. When you only focus on full extension, you can waste valuable time under the barbell, which affects your efficiency. Instead of focusing on the triple extension, you should focus on accelerating the bar properly and transitioning quickly under the bar.

My Experience

In 2009, when I was lifting 180-190 kg, I had technical problems because I was training incorrectly, focusing too much on triple extension and leading me to clark at cleans and doing too many deadlifts. This type of training is not ideal for a weightlifter, especially for a young athlete who wants to become the best. I learned to focus on positioning and the direction of the applied force, which significantly improved my lifts.

Watch the video I made on this topic below to better understand the purpose.

Reference: https://youtu.be/2aLqShVJosw