Power Jerk Vs. Squat Jerk Vs. Split Jerk

[Daniel Frankel]

I'm really interested to hear people's opinions on them. If one is better than another in a given circumstance (For instance, my shoulder mobility is pretty good, and I have considered a power jerk in place of split b/c of that), etc.

Post your thoughts/opinions.

- Daniel

[Andrew G. Greenberg]

Originally Posted by Daniel Frankel

I'm really interested to hear people's opinions on them. If one is better than another in a given circumstance (For instance, my shoulder mobility is pretty good, and I have considered a power jerk in place of split b/c of that), etc.

Post your thoughts/opinions.

- Daniel

A lifter should split unless there is a really good reason to do something else. It's the most stable receiving position.

[Daniel Frankel]

Originally Posted by Andrew G. Greenberg

A lifter should split unless there is a really good reason to do something else. It's the most stable receiving position.

Why do some guys like Kendrick do a squat jerk, or Pyros do a power jerk?

[Katherine Derbyshire]

You can get lower with a squat jerk, which theoretically allows you to lift more weight (because you don't have to get as much elevation on the drive).

However, it's less stable, and much more difficult to recover if you start to lose the weight. The split jerk is a lot more forgiving.

I'd agree with Andrew's advice. Split unless you have a good reason not to. If you aren't sure, ask your coach. If you don't have a coach, split.

Katherine

[Andrew G. Greenberg]

Originally Posted by Daniel Frankel

Why do some guys like Kendrick do a squat jerk, or Pyros do a power jerk?

Why don't you go ask them yourself? They are both on Facebook.

[Keith Miller]

Agree with stated advice, split unless you have a problem with it. You can get lower in the split than a power AND it's way more forgiving. You can get lower in a squat jerk, but it will take a ton of time and effort getting good at it to hit positions and be able to squat jerk tons of weight!!

[Lincoln Brigham]

I started out with the power jerk because a bad Achilles tendon. The ankle has since healed and I switched to the split ASAP a long time ago. The vast majority of lifters don't have the requisite flexibility for either the power jerk or the split jerk.

Even for those few lifters that have sufficient flexibility, the margin of error front to back is much smaller than the split jerk. Most jerks are lost because the bar is driven too far forward. If that's a lifter's chief problem with their jerks -- and it probably is if they're not a raw beginner -- then switching to a power/squat jerk will only make it worse.

So the bottom line is that most can't and the rest probably shouldn't. Only a very few actually see better results.

[Mike Wazowski]

Originally Posted by Andrew G. Greenberg

It's the most stable receiving position.

The Chinese disagree. So does this guy (WFS).

[Keith Miller]

Originally Posted by Mike Wazowski

The Chinese disagree. So does this guy (WFS).

Not all the Chinese power jerk, a LOT split jerk - look at the women and most of the men (plus you don't see all the lifters they have in their system!!). And that is only one Russian out of hundreds that power jerk.

[Katherine Derbyshire]

Originally Posted by Mike Wazowski

The Chinese disagree. So does this guy (WFS).

Yes, world records have been set with the power jerk. That doesn't mean it's more stable, just that it works well for those specific athletes.

If it were so much better, more people would do it. You just don't hear as much about the people who try it, fail, and go back to the split jerk.

Katherine