INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORT BIOMECHANICS, 1988, 4, 68-89

The Snatch Technique

of World Class Weightlifiers
at the 1985 World Championships
Wolfgang Baumann, Volker Gross, Karl Quade,
Peter Galbierz, and Ansgar Schvvirtz
The purpose of this study was (a) to describe the snatch technique in terms
of kinematic and external and internal kinetic parameters, and (b) to compare the results for athletes of different groups and weight categories. By
means of three-dimensional film analysis and measurements of ground reaction forces during the 1985 World Championships in Sweden, it was possible to analyze the spatial movements and to calculate joint moments of force
in each leg. Concerning the kinematics, a snatch technique starting with a
strong pull toward the lifter could be established. The most interesting kinetic results are that the knee joint moments are relatively small (one third of
the hip joint moments of force) and do not correlate very well with the total
load. The best lifters seem able to limit the knee joint moment by precise
control of the knee position with respect to the ground reaction force. Altogether, the results concerning the internal kinetic parameters question the
logic of the classical division of the lifting technique into phases according
to external kinetic parameters.

Until now, research in weightlifting has been predominantly concerned

with the kinematics of competitive techniques, particularly the two-dimensional
analysis of the trajectory of the bar itself (Garhammer, 1979, 1981, 1985), occasionally including selected parameters with respect to actual body movements
(Enoka, 1979; Ono, Kubota, & Kato, 1969). The external kinetics of lifting techniques have been investigated in detail by Vorobyev (1978) and reported in his
textbook, Weightlifting. Similarly, the work of Kauhanen, Hakkinen, and Komi
(1984) concerned itself with selected kinematic and external kinetic parameters
of training techniques. In most studies, however, the movements have been confined to the sagittal plane corresponding to the preferred observation perspective
of the trainer. To date, no known studies have been conducted considering the
The authors are with the Institut fiir Biomechanik, Deutsche Sporthochschule,
Carl-Diem-Weg, D-5000, Koln 41, Federal Republic of Germany.

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

69

features of (a) three-dimensional data collection, @) measurements of ground reaction forces, and (c) movements under competitive conditions, that altogether would
have allowed the determination of joint moments of force of competitive techniques in weightlifting. Lacking, therefore, is essential information on the factors governing specific techniques and conditioning practices. Through this
investigation, we attempted to overcome this lack of scientific information.

Methods
Subjects
At the 1985 World Weightlifting Championships in S M e d j e , Sweden, virtually
all lifts in the snatch and in the clean and jerk in all weight categories were recorded
using video techniques. In addition, 20% of these were also filmed and ground
reaction forces were measured for about 80% of the lifts.
Kinematic parameters of the movement of the bar were determined from
video recordings. With respect to these, two extreme groups were formed using
four weight categories (i.e., 60, 75, 90, and 110+ kg), the furst comprising the
10 best lifts of the four first-place Group A athletes and the second comprising
the 10 poorest lifts from Group B. In all, 82 lifts were studied.
The three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic analysis, including a calculation of the joint moments, was obtained directly from film and the measurement of ground reaction force (GRF). Chosen were 17 attempts in three weight
categories (i.e., 60,82.5, and 110+ kg). Among these were Shalamanov's world
record lift and the best lifts of gold medalists Vardanyan and Krastev. Six unsuccessful lifts were also included in the analysis.

Definition of Variables
The present analysis focused on the snatch technique from the beginning of the
movement to the point at which the lifter dropped under the barbell. This phase
is considered to be the most important and technically most difficult part of the
whole movement and is treated accordingly in the literature. The initial choice
of parameters was based on a theoretical and practical approach by considering
the kinematics of the movement of the bar and of the lower limb, and external
kinetics in the form of ground reaction forces. Then certain variables associated
with muscular control, namely net joint moments of force in the lower extremity, were investigated. Table 1 shows the selected variables.

Data Acquisition and Processing

Kinematics. In order to determine the kinematic parameters of the movements
of the bar and the lifter, video and film techniques were employed. Video was
chosen because it provides a suitable, low cost means for collecting data on all
the lifts while providing adequate precision for quantitative analysis. The two
cameras used were semiprofessional JVC triple-tube color models (PAL 50 Hz,
625 lines) which were set up in the horizontal plane at an angle of 90" to each
other (see Figure 1) in order to allow the movement to be viewed from the side
and from the front. The pictures were recorded on U-matic recorders via a common timer. The films were taken using two phase-locked synchronized 35-mrn
Arritechno 150 cameras, which were placed at 45" angles to the frontal plane

70

RFt

UMANN, GROSS, QUADE,.GALBIERZ;xAND SCHWIRTZ

* N1s"'maximum

the films ,using the well established

(Abdel-his & Karara, 1971). This

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

Figure 1 Positioning of the video cameras V1 and V2 and the cine cameras C1
and C2 with respect to the weightliftem' stage.

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

Figure 3

- Body and barbell points to be digitized.

recorded by both the video and film cameras. Figure 3 shows the points that were
digitized in the three-dimensional analysis from the films. Reduction of the video
recordings was completed using a video digitizer, with the reference framework
providing a suitable scale for the various sagittal planes involved in the movement.
Kinetics-Ground Reaction Forces. The measurement of ground reaction
forces (GRF) in high level competition poses problems that are quickly obvious
in weightlifting. Whereas external kinetics can be fully determined from the G W ,
the mounting of force plates may be difficult for several reasons. The insertion
of the plates into the competition platform must not alter its mechanical or visual
characteristics. Furthermore, the precision of the measuring apparatus must be
maintained throughout the competition, and also, in this case, must withstand
over 1,200 consecutive impacts from falling weights.
Ground reaction forces were measured using two Kistler force plates (600
x 1,000 mm) specially designed for this project. Particular attention was paid
to precision, mechanical stability, and safety with respect to impact. The mounting frames were set in a four-tonne concrete block. The force plates were then
firmly mounted on top and within precisely cut recesses in the competition platform. In order to avoid any mechanical contact between them, the 5-mm slits
that separated the plates from the surrounding material of the platform were then
sealed with a soft dustproof plastic. The output of all 16 measuring channels was
fed into a Data General Computer through appropriate amplifiers. The data acquisition was triggered automatically as soon as a threshold of 300 N was reached
and included all measurements during the previous 3 seconds as well. The sampling frequency was 100 Hz and the total measurement time on each occasion
was 10 seconds. This system, using separate plates for right and left feet, permits measurement of the three GRF components, the coordinates of the point
of application of the force, and the free pe~endicularmoment.
Kinetics-Muscular Moments. An effective evaluation of technique and
development of optimal methods of training a knowledge of the time histories
of the various muscular moments (joint moments) is of utmost importance. From
external kinetic data and three-dimensional kinematic information concerning the
joint centers of the lower limbs, it is possible to calculate the net muscular moments around various joints in all three planes. It is important to note here that

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

these are net moments and that the effects of antagonistic muscular activity have
not been considered.
The calculation undertaken here with respect to muscular moments around
the joints of the lower limb are based on careful determination of the position
of the joint center and of the GRF vector. Control tests showed that the moments
created by the inertial forces of the individual segments of the body were consistently under 5 % .These inertial forces were therefore not included in the calculations. In the results, only those muscular moments acting in the principal plane
of movement are,reported, This plane of movement is defined by the relative
position of the long axes of adjacent segments and is that which is associated with
the motion brought about by the major muscle groups involved.

Results and Discussion

Barbell Kinematics (Two-Dimensional)
Trajectory of the Barbell. The movement of the b& is the result of forces the
lifter applies to it. The displacement-time and velocity-time relationships are often
seen at a practical level as the most important criterion for assessing lifting technique. A number of pathways of the barbell's movement are illustrated in Figure
4 and correspond to lifters from different weight categories. At the beginning

.5 m

1
I

Figure 9 Barbell tmjektories~fdifferent attempts. 0 = 'initialposition, 1 = end

of 1st pull, 2 = end of 2nd pull.

BAUMA NN, GROSS, QUA DE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

74

of the first pull the barbell is moved toward the lifter. With the lowering of the
knees a small opposite movement occurs, during which the second pull and the
drop under the barbell again results in movement toward the lifter. In the case
of nearly all lifters in Group A, the barbell's pathway does not cross a vertical
reference line projected upward from the initial position of the bar. This applies
to many Group B lifters too. As a rule, this movement ends with a jump backward in the drop under the barbell. Garhammer (1985) has already drawn attention to this jump, which is considered by Vorobyev (1978) to be a fault.
The patterns of Group A and B lifters from various weight categories are
presented in Figure 5 for comparison. In particular the patterns show the maximum changes in horizontal displacement during the various phases of the lift.
It is clear from this analysis that the new technique of pulling the bar toward
the lifter is widely used, and the total variation in horizontal movements of Group
A lifters is noticeably less than for Group B. The extent of these movements indicates the degree of instability involved or, as the case may be, the degree of
correction needed to complete the lift. This parameter also serves as a measure
of the additional acceleration and mechanical work that must be produced.

Vertical

110t kg Class

Figure 5 - Horizontal variations of the barbell in the weight categories 60 kg and

110 + kg. The horizontal bars represent the standard deviations of the horizontal
excursions of the barbell at their extreme left and right positions, respectively.

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

75

The maximum height attained by the barbell increases as the weights of

the lifters increase. This variable essentially depends on body stature, as can be
seen from Figure 6. With very little variation, the height to which the bar is lifted in snatch lifts corresponds to 60% of the lifter's stature.
Velocity of the Barbell. The velocity-time relationship of the bar, particularly peak vertical velocity, is an important dimension as far as coaches are
concerned. Figure 7 illustrates two typical velocity curves. The one on the left
has two velocity peaks while the one on the right shows a steady increase in velocity to a single maximum value. The latter is characteristic of better weightlifters, and even in the case of a delayed rise in the velocity curve, Group A lifters
seldom show any notable dip in velocity.
The absolute maximum velocity of the bar increases with increasing weight
categories. The bigger loads that can be lifted by Group A are generally related
to smaller maximum velocity values. These and other descriptive results of this
section are summarized in Table 2.
As expected, the average power output (Pav) during the raising of the bar
up to its highest point (BBH max) shows significant differences between Groups
A and B, mainly due to the higher barbell weights lifted by Group A, and to
a lesser extent, to the generally shorter duration of the lift.
The general trends allow the following differences to be identified with

Figore 6 - Correlation between maximum effective lift of barbell (BBH max) and
body height (BH).

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

time [sl

Figure 7

- Different types of barbell velocities.

respect to Group A: (a) the maximum barbell height attained is less; (b) the maximum second peak is smaller; (c) the duration of the lift is shorter; and (d) body
stature is slightly shorter. These characteristics reflect the better technique of the
Group A lifters.

Kinematics of Body Motion (Three-Dimensional)

The classic phase structure of the snatch technique is based mainly on the changes
in knee joint angle. In general the differences between first and second pull phases
are identified. The first pull begins with the extension of all joints of the lower
extremity (other definitions start the first pull with the lift-off of the barbell; Pietka
& Spitz, 1978). The angle at the knee reaches a maximum and then decreases
briefly, with the smallest angle reached marking the end of the first pull. The
extension that then begins proceeds to a maximum, and it is this movement that
is designated as the second pull. During this phase, maximum barbell velocity
is attained, followed by the drop under the barbell.
Two-dimensional analyses of competitive movements are generally faced
with certain problems. The first concerns the obstructed view of the knee behind
the weights themselves over a fairly wide range of movement, particularly at certain critical points, which allows less than adequate precision in measurement.
The second concerns the projection of body angles in a single plane, which may
distort the true values. The extent of error in the two-dimensional estimation of
knee angle, for example, is clearly illustrated in Figure 8.
One curve represents the true changing knee angle between the long axis
of the thigh and lower leg calculated from three-dimensional data. The second,
using the same basic data, represents the changing knee angle in two dimensions,
that is, confined to the sagittal plane. The variation between the angles calculated

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEtGHTLlFFERS

77

Table 2
Barbell Kinematics
Weight classlgroup
6Okg
A
B
Unit n-10 n = l 1

parameter

75kg
A
B
n=10 n=10

90kg
A
B
n-10 n = l l

llO+kg
A
B
n-10 n=lO

--

kg

130.8
7.5
m
1.57
0.04
m
0.83
0.05
m
0.88
0.05
m
0.10
0.02
mls
1.31
0.05
1.65
mls
0.08
s
0.62
0.04
s
0.89
0.03
0.56
W
1269

BBW
BH

BBHmax
BBHL
Vmaxl

BBHmaxlBH,
Pav

I
90

KNEB JOINT ANGLE lo1

'

'

0,

Figure 8

-50

I '

'

'

i -00 time

Isl

- Comparison between three-dimensional and two-dimensional knee hgle.

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

78

is clear to see and is about 15" at full bend. Such differences can vary according
to the size of the true angle involved and the orientation of the plane of vision
to the plane of movement. Thus it appears that a two-dimensional estimation of
body angles (i.e., with one camera only) offers limited scientific application. A
satisfactory solution to this problem is only possible through a three-dimensional
analysis using two appropriately positioned cameras.
Figure 9 shows the characteristic curves of the angles of the lower limb
as well as the velocity curve of the bar in Shalamanov's world record lift (143

Velocity of barbell h / s l
WORLD BECORD
I

BODY ANGUS to1

Figure 9 - Velocity of barbell and angles of the lower extremity and angle between
trunk and horizontal. TP1 and TP2 are the times of 1st and 2nd pull, respectively.
TP1 = lift-off until min. of knee angle; TP2 = min. of knee angle until 2nd max.
of knee angle (Pietka & Spitz, 1978).

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

79

kg barbell, 60 kg weight category). The knee angle increases to an initial maximum even before the lift-off of the barbell, followed by a pronounced bend at
the knees until a minimum angle is reached (end of frst pull). Then there is a
clearly shorter intensive extension made up to the second and absolute maximum
knee angle achieved (end of second pull). The changes in angle at the ankle are
generally similar to those at the knee, but of much less magnitude. The angle
at the hip increases steadily over the two phases to a maximum that coincides
well with the maxima of the other two joint angles. All three lower limb angles
in fact reach their maximum values within 0.04 sec of one another at the end
of the second pull. The angle between the trunk and the horizontal decreases slightly at the beginning of the first pull, as the increase in knee angle at this point
is greater than that of the hip. Once the initial maximum knee angle has been
reached, the trunk angle increases steadily to a maximum that coincides approximately with the foot-off, which precedes the action of dropping under the barbell. The maximum vertical velocity of the barbell is reached just before maximum
extension of all the joints approximately 0.05 sec before foot-off.
Listed in Table 3 are the major kinematic results of 17 selected attempts
from various weight categories. These data are purely descriptive and provide
information on successful and unsuccessful lifts by world class athletes, including Shalamanov's world record (143 kg) and the Gold Medal winning lifts of

Table 3
Kinematics of the Body Motion

Subject
Shalamanov

Kritsky
Trautman
Senet
Vardanyan

Erhard
Tsintsanis
Gunyashev
Krastev

BW

BBW

kg

kg

Joint angles0
Knee

Hip

maxl min max2 max

Max. ang. ~ e l . ~ l s e c
TP1 TP2
Knee
Hip
s

P1

P2

P2

80

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRJZ

Vardanyan (177.5 kg) and Krastev (202.5 kg). The size of this sample, together
with the enormous differences in anthropometric characteristics and lifting techniques between the various weight categories, does not allow these particular data
to provide any worthwhile characteristics of better performances. Even when comparing good and poor lifts by the same athlete, the kinematic data do not reveal
any particular trends. In fact, a comparison of the top lifters Shalamanov and
Vardanyan reveals remarkable differences in all the measured parameters in both
the first and second pulls.
As a rule, however, it appears that as the barbell weight (BBW) increases,
the duration of the first pull also increases, whereas with the exception of
Shalarnanov the duration of the second pull remains approximately constant at
around 0.15 sec. This result agrees well with the findings of Vorobyev (1978).
The maximum angular velocities around the knee in the second pull are also generally larger than in the first pull, and the extension of the hip occurs faster than
at the knee.

Kinetics of the Body/Barbell System

The forces measured between the ground and the lifter do not represent the entire forces involved in the movements since, until lift-off, forces are being applied directly on the barbell from the competition platform. As soon as lift-off
occurs, GRF with respect to the lifter accounts for all the forces acting on the
system. Without careful kinematic analysis of the movements of the lifter and
barbell, the effects of the GRF on the various parts of the system cannot be identified. The results with respect to external and internal kinetics are treated separately in the following section.
External Kinetics (GRV. Ground reaction forces were recorded separately
for the right and left feet. Figure 10 shows an example of the forces recorded,
giving not only an impression of the three orthogonal force components but also
the degree of symmetry between right and left, though this aspect is not considered here. All three force components are of course included in the calculation
of the muscular moments. In this section the results of the vertical component
of the GRF during the technically most important phase (i.e., from the beginning
of the lift to the drop under the barbell) will be presented. Figure 11 depicts a
typical force curve combining right and left sides together with definitions of the
specific parameters used.
The first intersection between the force curve and the line representing the
total mass of the system (i.e., body weight + barbell) defines the point of lift-off
of the barbell. Table 4 presents the numerical results of 17 lifts. The different
maximum force values (Fzl and Fz3) rise steadily as barbell weight increases
from 135 kg to 205 kg. The correlation coefficients between each of these values
and the total mass of the system were both found to be highly significant (r >
0.97). There would appear to be a relationship between rate of change of force
(RFz) and total mass, but this was not the case as no evidence of a relationship
was found.
Figures 12a through 12j show the vertical force-time curves for 10 selected
lifts from two weight categories (82.5 kg and 110+ kg). The scale used in each
is the same, and the horizontal line in each represents the respective individual
combined weight of the lifter and barbell.

500
0
-500

Figure 10

Figure 11

Isfl

----

- Example of all registered force components during snatch.

- Vertical component of GRF (Gold Medal in 110+ kg weight category).

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

Table 4
Selected Parameters of Ground Reaction Forces
BW
kg

BBW
kg

RFz

Fzl

Fz2

Fz3

Subject

kNls

Shalamanov

60

Kritsky
Trautmann

82.5

135
140
143
140
140
145
147.5
-150
- 175
1 75
177.5
- 145
160
- 165
195
- 202.5
202.5
- 205

17.5
28.5
20.0
12.0
7.0
6.5
6.4
24.0
14.5
12.5
15.0
14.5
9.0
12.0
11.0
11.0
22.0
28.0

2573
2532
2501
2857
2867
2925
2907
3061
3350
331 0
3312
3743
3757
3793
4060
4019
4335
4290

1725
181 1
1749
1668
1675
1785
1773
1663
2218
2085
2235
1701
2080
2556
231 2
2453
2180
2151

Senet
Vardanyan

Erhard
Tsintsanis

134
136

Gunyashev

130

Krastev

150

Internal Kinetics (Muscular Moments). The muscle moments, as previously stated, are calculated from the carefully determined spatial coordinates
of the center of the joints of the lower extremity and the resultant GRF vector.
Despite the limitation that only net muscular moments are considered, they still
represent a very important kinetic parameter that is closely related to the muscular control of the movement. The muscular moments of one leg are shown in
Figure 13. The chosen example is typical of lower weight categories. When a
curve is positive the extensors must be active, whereas when it is negative the
flexors must be active (mathematically speaking, the curve for the knee should
in fact be inverted). As the barbell nears lift-off and up to the end of the first
pull, the moment about the hip joint becomes approximately constant while the
moments about the other two joints decrease. The moment about the knee becomes negative, that is, the knee flexors become active. The relatively rapid flexing
of the knees is only possible with the active support of the flexor muscles. At
the beginning of the second pull all of the moments are once again positive, the
knee and ankle moments reaching a second maximum during this phase before
declining rapidly. Immediately before the foot leaves the ground (foot-off) all
three moments reach zero.
These general patterns of the moment-time curves are very reproducible
for individual athletes, though they change somewhat between athletes as a result
of performance differences. In the heavier weight categories there is an essentially similar pattern in the first pull, although variations do occur in the second
pull.

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

Figure 12
Total GRF, vertical component for selected attempts in the weight
categories 82.5 kg (a-el, and llO+ kg (f-j), respectively. The data given are
= unsuccessful.
namelweight categorylweight of barbell/ + = successful,

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

Knee lad. lo1

Figure 13 - Muscular moments acting in the joints of the leg from beginning until
foot-off. Top = knee angle.
The numerical results of 15 individual attempts are presented in Table 5.
It is interesting to note the relatively small knee and ankle moments. Ranging
from the 60 kg weight category to the 110+ kg weight category, the maximum
values for the knee extensors lie between 65 Nm and 258 Nm. The knee flexors
create maximum net moments of between 65 Nm and 161 Nm. From these figures,
characteristic of competitive movements at the highest level, it is impossible to
explain problems reported from the apparent overloading of the joint. The hip
extensors must be active for a significantly longer period of time, which includes
the first pull and adds up to between 0.4 sec and 0.6 sec. In addition they have
to compensate for net moments 2-4 times larger than in the case of the knee,
that is, from 260 Nm to 660 Nm. These values indicate the dominant role of the
hip extensors in weightlifting and provide evidence of the massive loads to which
the muscles and joint structures of the hip are exposed.
There is a high correlation between maximum moments at the hip and
the total mass of the system (r = 0.95), which also means that increasing barbell
weights leads unavoidably to increased loads on the hip (see Figure 14). The corresponding values for the knee joint show that the moments do not increase proportionally with external loads. In Figure 14 the second peak maximum moment about
the knee (MK max2) and maximum negative moment in the opposite direction

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

85

Table 5
Extreme Values of Muscular Moments

Subject

BW

BBW

kg

kg

MF [Nm]

MK [Nm]

Max1 Min Max2 Max1

Min

MH [Nm]
Max2

Max

Shalamanov

Kritsky
Trautrnann
Senet
Vardanyan

Erhard
Tsintsanis
Gunyashev
Krastev

1 Muacular Momenta Nml

180

Figure 14

230

280

330

380

- Plot of selected moments in the leg versus system mass (BW + BBW).

86

BAUMANN, CROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

about the knee (MK min) are plotted against the total mass of the system. The
correlation coefficients for the extensors (r = 0.61) and the flexors (r = 0.57)
were found to be relatively weak and can perhaps be explained through differences in technique.
The moment at the knee joint is dependent upon the magnitude of the
resultant GRF and the perpendicular distance between the line of action of this
force and the joint center. Through changes in this moment arm, the moment
about the joint will vary. Figure 15 shows an example using the heaviest weight
category, comparing Gold Medalist Krastev (BW 150 kg, BBW 202.5 kg) and
Group B lifter Tsintsanis (BW 136 kg, BBW 160 kg). The vertical component

Figure IS
knee.

- Influence of the moment arm of GRF on the muscular moment at the

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

87

of the GRF is larger for Krastev because of the greater mass involved. However,
the maximum moment about the knee joint is quite the reverse, Krastev's in fact
being smaller. The explanation lies in the,different moment arms of the GRF,
Tsintsanis' being larger than Krastev's. The larger moment of the knee flexors
in Krastev's case simply underlines the forceful support offered by the knee flexors at the end of the first pull.
This comparison demonstratestwo things: first, that knowledge of the GRF
alone is insufficient for deducing anything about the muscular activity involved,
and second, that the position of the knee joint with regard to the GRF direction
appears to be an important technical factor in this phase of the snatch. This factor
can significantly influence the forces transmitted by the joint and surrounding
musculature. The position of knee joint is certainly as important as the time history of the knee angle.

Summary and Conclusions

The results describe some important aspects of snatch technique. Since the original data come from world class athletes under the most demanding competitive
conditions, they can be used as reference data not only for coaches and athletes
but also with respect to future biomechanical research. Figure 16 summarizes
the picture of the most important characteristics in a lift.
Most of the results with respect to the kinematics of the barbell and movement of the body are in good agreement with the results reported in the literature. The exception is the pathway of the barbell, which has clearly changed,
coming more toward the lifter during the first pull. As a consequence there is
a backward jump during the drop under the barbell, which Vorobyev considered
to be a fault in technique.
The most important results appear to be those concerning the internal kinetics, namely the muscular moments. These parameters are closely related to the
muscular control of the movement. In light of the present findings, it would appear that the division of the snatch technique into its usual pull phases is no longer
entirely logical. Such a structure is derived from the kinematic characteristics
of the movement of the barbell or change in knee angle (Vorobyev, 1978; Pietka
& Spitz, 1978). An alternative to this has been suggested by Kauhanen et al.
(1984), who based division of the technique into three phases on the sole criterion of minimum and maximum knee angles. According to this, the vertical component of the GRF could also be divided into phases of eccentric and concentric
activity of the knee extensors. However, this would be a mistake and might lead
one to draw false conclusions. It is in fact not possible to infer muscular activity
from the measurement of knee angle and vertical GRF alone. As has been shown,
it is the time history of the muscular moment that in fact gives insight into the
detailed control of the movement. However, it must be noted that the moments
calculated here are only net moments of force since antagonistic muscle activity
has had to be neglected. Also, the problem of two-joint muscles has not been
addressed, including for example the division of force between m. soleus and
m. gastrocnemius. The problem remains unsolved, despite its obvious importance, because the effects on the results with respect to the knee and even the
hip joints are unknown. The addition of EMG measurements would be an important consideration in future studies.

BAUMANN, GROSS, QUADE, GALBIERZ, AND SCHWIRTZ

Figure 16 - Complete set of parameters. From top to bottom: body angles, barbell
velocity, vertical component of GRF, muscular moments.

SNATCH TECHNIQUE OF WEIGHTLIFTERS

89
i

Nevertheless, it seems reasonable to use muscular moments as suitable

criteria for the overall structural characterization and division of the lifting technique. The biomechanical structure of the movement includes not only kinematic
but also internal and external kinetic dimensions. It is not the ease of measurement but the essential system parameters and their interrelationships that are of
prime importance when choosing appropriate scientific methodologies. If we are
prepared to make such considerations in our analyses, we will probably increase
our understanding of the weightlifters' movements. And finally, there is the problem of how the kinetic features of the movement can be translated into meaningful movement terms that can be understood and applied at the practical level.

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Acknowledgments
This investigation was initiated and supported by the Subcommission for Biomechanics and Sport Physiology of the Medical Commission of the IOC (Chairman, Prince
Alexandre de Merode). We are grateful to the Federal Institute for Sport Science (BISP)
who supported the analysis, to Kistler Instruments for providing special force plates, and
to Data Genetal for their computer assistance.
Thanks are also extended to The International Weightlifting Federation (President,
G. Schodl; General Secretary, T. Ajan) and the Organizing Committee of the Swedish
Weightlifting Association (C.-E. Hermansson, S. Johansson, B. Johanssori, and T. Torstenson) for their excellent support of this project.