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Weightlifting Level 1

Catalyst Athletics

Weightlifting, Olympic Lifting
Coach
Greg Everett

This is an early beginner program intended for athletes who have recently learned the snatch and clean & jerk and are ready to begin training with the lifts. It is based on the Skill Level 1 Program from Olympic Weightlifting: A Complete Guide for Athletes & Coaches by Greg Everett.

Loading is determined each day by feel according to instructions - weights/percentages are not prescribed.

The program includes all warm-up, prep, mobility and accessory work.

Note: This program does NOT include coaching.

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Complete Program
Includes all prep, accessory and mobility work to keep you healthy and progressing maximally.
Features
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Programming 4 days per week
4 workouts each week
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Exercise Video Guidance
Instructional videos to guide your practice and make execution easy
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Delivered through TrainHeroic
Workouts, videos, instructions, logging and more through the app.
Equipment
Required
Barbell & Weights // Squat Rack
Recommended
Dumbbells/Kettlebells
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Sample Week
Week 1 of 4-week program
Sunday
Week 1 Day 1

Prep

A

Team Warm-Up

Following is a complete warm-up. You don’t need to do all of it—use as much of it as you need. 1. 2-10 min monstructural (bike, row, etc) 2. Foam Rolling Series 3. Dynamic Warm-up (DROM) Series 4. Lower Body WU Mobility Series 5. Upper Body WU Mobility Series

Conditioning

B

Prep A-1

1-3 sets: P1. Band Snow Angel x 10-12 P2. Supine Iso Adduction Knees to Chest x 10-15 P3. Poliquin Step-up x 10-15 Think of this as the minimum—feel free to do any of these exercises on other days as well, and of course, add others you have found are necessary or valuable for you.

C

Tall Snatch

4 x 3

D

Snatch

5 x 3

E

Snatch Pull

3 x 5

F

Back Squat

3 x 8

Circuit

G

3 sets: A1. Plank x 20-30 sec A2. 1-leg DB RDL x 10/side

Recovery

H

Team Post-Workout Stretching

Do this complete circuit, or use only the stretches you need. You can also do some stretches between accessory work sets to save time. Hold each stretch for 20-60 seconds. If you use shorter holds, ideally do 2-3 sets of the series. Breathe deeply and try to relax into the stretches. Don’t push to the point of straining—if you’re sore the next day, you’re stretching too hard. You can also do most of these stretches as PNF contract-relax reps: Get into a stretched position and hold for 20-30 seconds, then isometrically contract the muscle(s) you’re stretching for 5-6 seconds at about 40-50% effort, then relax and move into a deeper stretch for 5-6 seconds, and repeat this 5-6 times. You can also add a contraction of the agonist muscles as you move into the deeper stretch, e.g. if stretching the hamstrings, tighten the quads and hip flexors. Lower body • Lying hamstring • Butterfly • Glute crossover • Straddle • Pigeon • Quad/hip flexor • Spiderman lunge • Russian Baby Maker • Ankle • Hurdler or Modified hurdler • Front Splits Upper Body • Weighted Shoulder Flexion • Leaning bar hang • 1-Arm Lat hang • Doorjamb Pec • Underarm + Rotation • Apley Push • Barbell Rack Stretch • Wrist flexion, extension, ulnar deviation (with hook)

Monday
Week 1 Day 2

Prep

A

Team Warm-Up

Following is a complete warm-up. You don’t need to do all of it—use as much of it as you need. 1. 2-10 min monstructural (bike, row, etc) 2. Foam Rolling Series 3. Dynamic Warm-up (DROM) Series 4. Lower Body WU Mobility Series 5. Upper Body WU Mobility Series

Prep

B

Prep B-1

1-3 sets: P1. Band External Rotation x 8-12 P2. Banded Wall Slide x 10-15 P3. Single-leg Bench-Supported Glute Bridge x 10-15 Think of this as the minimum—feel free to do any of these exercises on other days as well, and of course, add others you have found are necessary or valuable for you.

C

Tall Clean

4 x 3

D

Clean & Jerk

5 x 4

E

Clean Pull

3 x 5

F

Push Press

3 x 5

Circuit

G

3 sets: A1. 1-arm Farmer carry x 50 m A2. Jack knife x max A3. Side plank x 20-30 sec

Recovery

H

Team Post-Workout Stretching

Do this complete circuit, or use only the stretches you need. You can also do some stretches between accessory work sets to save time. Hold each stretch for 20-60 seconds. If you use shorter holds, ideally do 2-3 sets of the series. Breathe deeply and try to relax into the stretches. Don’t push to the point of straining—if you’re sore the next day, you’re stretching too hard. You can also do most of these stretches as PNF contract-relax reps: Get into a stretched position and hold for 20-30 seconds, then isometrically contract the muscle(s) you’re stretching for 5-6 seconds at about 40-50% effort, then relax and move into a deeper stretch for 5-6 seconds, and repeat this 5-6 times. You can also add a contraction of the agonist muscles as you move into the deeper stretch, e.g. if stretching the hamstrings, tighten the quads and hip flexors. Lower body • Lying hamstring • Butterfly • Glute crossover • Straddle • Pigeon • Quad/hip flexor • Spiderman lunge • Russian Baby Maker • Ankle • Hurdler or Modified hurdler • Front Splits Upper Body • Weighted Shoulder Flexion • Leaning bar hang • 1-Arm Lat hang • Doorjamb Pec • Underarm + Rotation • Apley Push • Barbell Rack Stretch • Wrist flexion, extension, ulnar deviation (with hook)

Wednesday
Week 1 Day 4

Prep

A

Team Warm-Up

Following is a complete warm-up. You don’t need to do all of it—use as much of it as you need. 1. 2-10 min monstructural (bike, row, etc) 2. Foam Rolling Series 3. Dynamic Warm-up (DROM) Series 4. Lower Body WU Mobility Series 5. Upper Body WU Mobility Series

Prep

B

Prep C-1

1-3 sets: P1. Scap Pull-up x 10-15 + 10-20 sec hold last rep P2. Sidelying Hip Internal Rotation + Iso Adduction x 10-15 P3. TKE x 10-15 Think of this as the minimum—feel free to do any of these exercises on other days as well, and of course, add others you have found are necessary or valuable for you.

C

Hang Muscle Snatch

4 x 3

D

Power Snatch

5 x 3

E

Snatch Push Press + Overhead Squat

4 x 6

F

Front Squat

3 x 5

Circuit

G

3 sets: A1. 1-leg glute bridge x 10/side A2. Dead bug x max A3. Pull-ups x max

Recovery

H

Team Post-Workout Stretching

Do this complete circuit, or use only the stretches you need. You can also do some stretches between accessory work sets to save time. Hold each stretch for 20-60 seconds. If you use shorter holds, ideally do 2-3 sets of the series. Breathe deeply and try to relax into the stretches. Don’t push to the point of straining—if you’re sore the next day, you’re stretching too hard. You can also do most of these stretches as PNF contract-relax reps: Get into a stretched position and hold for 20-30 seconds, then isometrically contract the muscle(s) you’re stretching for 5-6 seconds at about 40-50% effort, then relax and move into a deeper stretch for 5-6 seconds, and repeat this 5-6 times. You can also add a contraction of the agonist muscles as you move into the deeper stretch, e.g. if stretching the hamstrings, tighten the quads and hip flexors. Lower body • Lying hamstring • Butterfly • Glute crossover • Straddle • Pigeon • Quad/hip flexor • Spiderman lunge • Russian Baby Maker • Ankle • Hurdler or Modified hurdler • Front Splits Upper Body • Weighted Shoulder Flexion • Leaning bar hang • 1-Arm Lat hang • Doorjamb Pec • Underarm + Rotation • Apley Push • Barbell Rack Stretch • Wrist flexion, extension, ulnar deviation (with hook)

Friday
Week 1 Day 6

Prep

A

Team Warm-Up

Following is a complete warm-up. You don’t need to do all of it—use as much of it as you need. 1. 2-10 min monstructural (bike, row, etc) 2. Foam Rolling Series 3. Dynamic Warm-up (DROM) Series 4. Lower Body WU Mobility Series 5. Upper Body WU Mobility Series

Prep

B

Prep D-1

1-3 sets: P1. Banded Wall Slide x 10-15 P2. Parallel Squat Band Abduction x 10-15 P3. Supine Banded Plank March x 10-15 Think of this as the minimum—feel free to do any of these exercises on other days as well, and of course, add others you have found are necessary or valuable for you.

C

Jerk Balance

4 x 3

D

Power Clean + Power Jerk

5 x 4

E

Clean Pull

3 x 5

F

Back Squat

4 x 5

Circuit

G

3 sets: A1. Anti-rotation Russian twist x 10/side A2. Back extension x 10-15 A3. Reverse crunch x max

Recovery

H

Team Post-Workout Stretching

Do this complete circuit, or use only the stretches you need. You can also do some stretches between accessory work sets to save time. Hold each stretch for 20-60 seconds. If you use shorter holds, ideally do 2-3 sets of the series. Breathe deeply and try to relax into the stretches. Don’t push to the point of straining—if you’re sore the next day, you’re stretching too hard. You can also do most of these stretches as PNF contract-relax reps: Get into a stretched position and hold for 20-30 seconds, then isometrically contract the muscle(s) you’re stretching for 5-6 seconds at about 40-50% effort, then relax and move into a deeper stretch for 5-6 seconds, and repeat this 5-6 times. You can also add a contraction of the agonist muscles as you move into the deeper stretch, e.g. if stretching the hamstrings, tighten the quads and hip flexors. Lower body • Lying hamstring • Butterfly • Glute crossover • Straddle • Pigeon • Quad/hip flexor • Spiderman lunge • Russian Baby Maker • Ankle • Hurdler or Modified hurdler • Front Splits Upper Body • Weighted Shoulder Flexion • Leaning bar hang • 1-Arm Lat hang • Doorjamb Pec • Underarm + Rotation • Apley Push • Barbell Rack Stretch • Wrist flexion, extension, ulnar deviation (with hook)

Coach
coach-avatar Greg Everett

In over 15 years, he’s coached multiple national champions & record holders, Pan Am & European Championships medalists, & World Championships competitors from multiple countries. He’s coach of the Catalyst Athletics USA Weightlifting national championship team, a USA Weightlifting International Coach, and was named 2021 Danish Coach of the Year—the first non-Danish coach to be awarded the honor.

Weightlifting Level 1