Friday, November 1, 2013

Top 3 Movements to Improve Explosive Power in Athletes

Explosive power is the one thing that all athletes strive to achieve. Explosive power is achieved when strength and speed meet at a crossroads and becomes a quality that sets one apart from the rest and makes them great. When training an athlete, explosive power should be a priority over everything else. To achieve explosive power, an athlete should focus on these Top 3 Movements.

The Power Clean
This movement wins the contest and is my all-time favorite movement for developing explosive power. The weight starts on the floor  and then the athlete must sit down to the bar and accelerate upward, catching the bar on the shoulders in a quarter squat. It is a battle with gravity to lift the bar almost to the full height of the athlete.

The Hang Snatch
I chose the hang snatch as opposed to a variation from the floor because performing this movement from the ground requires hip mobility that most athletes do not have.   Using the hang snatch in a training program utilizes the hip hinge from which most powerful movements are derived. Also, having to accelerate the bar overhead requires a great deal of power.

Medicine Ball Side Toss
Throwing med balls around is a great way to develop explosive power. Specifically, a side toss variation is one of my favorite movements when it comes to using this tool.   One must express power from hip rotation through the upper body all while keeping a stable core. I love this movement because it takes athletes out of the sagittal plane ( that they love to train in) and puts the athlete into the often neglected frontal plane.

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