Thrusters vs C&J

Paul Theodorescu · 09-29-2004, 05:55 AM

Is it common that thruster strength supercedes C&J strength? In today's workout I actually found it easier to thrust the weight up than to jerk it, especially when it came to multiple reps. (My legs were wide apart and angled out so I could get in the bottom squat position--my legs are close together when I jerk)

Ross Greenberg · 09-29-2004, 09:22 AM

I don't think it's common, because although not that many people do clean and jerks, clean and jerks are a lot more common than thrusters. You get good at what you practice. Since I do a lot of thrusters I can thruster out of a squat clean about the same amount of weight as I jerk from standing up. It's my fault, I don't really practice jerks that much, and consequently they have fallen far behind what I can clean. My clean is around 200 lbs, my jerk is around 160. Nevertheless, jerks seem to me to have a lot more potential than thrusters in terms of max weight because the short dipping motion is easier than squatting all the way down and the split lunge thing that you do means you don't have to drive the weight all the way up as in a thruster.

Robert Wolf · 09-29-2004, 11:45 AM

I suspect it is a technique issue. Perhaps the more experienced O-lifter can chime in here (Lincoln,Dan) but personally thruster #'s are miles from my push jerk and even further from the split jerk.
Robb

BTW- Paul, try to work a moderately narrow stance. This will allow a longer range of motion and over all a better stimulus. You will have to drop the weight for a while but the benefits will be worht it.

Lincoln Brigham · 09-30-2004, 10:31 AM

If the lifter has technical errors on the "dip-drive-dip" portion of the jerk, then thruster numbers could indeed be higher.

Common errors for the jerk are:
Horizontal movement in the bar path.
Dip is too long and stalls.
Hips going back on the initial dip. ("J" shape bar path on initial dip.)
Bar separation from shoulders during dip and bouncing on/off the shoulders
Start of jerk with bar supported by the hands instead of the shoulders.

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09-29-2004, 05:55 AM	#1
Paul Theodorescu Member Profile: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Quebec Quebec Posts: 685	Is it common that thruster strength supercedes C&J strength? In today's workout I actually found it easier to thrust the weight up than to jerk it, especially when it came to multiple reps. (My legs were wide apart and angled out so I could get in the bottom squat position--my legs are close together when I jerk)

09-29-2004, 09:22 AM	#2
Ross Greenberg Departed Profile: Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 98	I don't think it's common, because although not that many people do clean and jerks, clean and jerks are a lot more common than thrusters. You get good at what you practice. Since I do a lot of thrusters I can thruster out of a squat clean about the same amount of weight as I jerk from standing up. It's my fault, I don't really practice jerks that much, and consequently they have fallen far behind what I can clean. My clean is around 200 lbs, my jerk is around 160. Nevertheless, jerks seem to me to have a lot more potential than thrusters in terms of max weight because the short dipping motion is easier than squatting all the way down and the split lunge thing that you do means you don't have to drive the weight all the way up as in a thruster.

09-29-2004, 11:45 AM	#3
Robert Wolf Member Profile: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chico CA Posts: 2,669	I suspect it is a technique issue. Perhaps the more experienced O-lifter can chime in here (Lincoln,Dan) but personally thruster #'s are miles from my push jerk and even further from the split jerk. Robb BTW- Paul, try to work a moderately narrow stance. This will allow a longer range of motion and over all a better stimulus. You will have to drop the weight for a while but the benefits will be worht it.

09-30-2004, 10:31 AM	#4
Lincoln Brigham Member Profile: Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kirkland WA Posts: 3,987	If the lifter has technical errors on the "dip-drive-dip" portion of the jerk, then thruster numbers could indeed be higher. Common errors for the jerk are: Horizontal movement in the bar path. Dip is too long and stalls. Hips going back on the initial dip. ("J" shape bar path on initial dip.) Bar separation from shoulders during dip and bouncing on/off the shoulders Start of jerk with bar supported by the hands instead of the shoulders.