I just got yelled at in my gym for using chalk (some of the older staff are cool with it, but some of the new staff...not so much). I've seen some people do o-lifting with straps, but it strikes me as a dangerous thing to do since when I bail, I'd rather not have a heavy weight strapped to my arm. None of the people I've seen using straps at my gym were using much weight (<100 kgs).
Does anyone else have experience with this (o-lifting with straps, yea or nay)? I think I'll just get some liquid chalk in the future in any case.
This is really a no-no AFAIK, since you actually need to be able to drop the weight at all times.. Chalk OTOH is good. So is practicing (hook) grip.
Must say I'm glad to have access to either a female Oly bar or fixed wt slim bars as the generic 'men's' bar is way too thick for a decent grip.
edited to add - I should also plug my chalk idea- kid's sidewalk chalk. You can keep it in your pocket or bag and rub it on your palms as needed. It doesn't get on the floor, so the gym employees don't throw a hissy, and it costs about $.23 per. Plus, you can use pink and other colors that make people look at you funny (if you're a guy). I have green now, so I feel like the Hulk.
Seriously though, it works.
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Since most of your life is already complicated, why make your training the same way? Jim Wendler
I just got yelled at in my gym for using chalk (some of the older staff are cool with it, but some of the new staff...not so much). I've seen some people do o-lifting with straps, but it strikes me as a dangerous thing to do since when I bail, I'd rather not have a heavy weight strapped to my arm. None of the people I've seen using straps at my gym were using much weight (<100 kgs).
Depends on the type of strap used. If you have these or these then they will come apart the second you open your hand.
If have these types then its ok too, but if youre worried about dropping weight, then dont tie it so tightly and just loop around the bar once.
Using straps for training isnt forbidden even on the classical lifts as has been suggested so far.
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"The strongest steel goes through the hottest fires."-Anonymous
"When you begin to believe nothing is heavy, all weights become light." -Rossbow
"Just remember, somewhere there is a little Chinese girl warming up with your max."-Jim Convroy
"It's a round hole, dammit. Everyone fits."--Anonymous Mod at Strengthmill
they're a good tool just like anything else. If you don't want to tax your grip, or save it for another lift, straps are a good tool. Or, if you're a gym rat and don't want the mixed grip option, i'd go with straps in a heartbeat.
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Thanks everyone for your input. Just to be clear, I'm only talking about Olympic lifting (cleans, jerks, and snatches) with straps. I'm fully aware that using straps on other lifts (deadlifts) is perfectly safe.
I've tried the one-loop thing with my current straps with deadlifts, but haven't tried it with the classical lifts before. I suppose I could give it a shot, but my problem is with sweaty palms, not inadequate grip strength. When I'm not sweating (and my palms sweat like crazy), I can hold onto the bar just fine. I'll keep the straps-option open, but I'll go with liquid chalk for now (or just avoid the staff that get annoyed at me).
Thanks everyone for your input. Just to be clear, I'm only talking about Olympic lifting (cleans, jerks, and snatches) with straps. I'm fully aware that using straps on other lifts (deadlifts) is perfectly safe.
I've tried the one-loop thing with my current straps with deadlifts, but haven't tried it with the classical lifts before. I suppose I could give it a shot, but my problem is with sweaty palms, not inadequate grip strength. When I'm not sweating (and my palms sweat like crazy), I can hold onto the bar just fine. I'll keep the straps-option open, but I'll go with liquid chalk for now (or just avoid the staff that get annoyed at me).
Chalk up your straps prior if theyre laminated, otherwise, just suck it up and try the straps or go to a gym that allows chalk.
__________________
"The strongest steel goes through the hottest fires."-Anonymous
"When you begin to believe nothing is heavy, all weights become light." -Rossbow
"Just remember, somewhere there is a little Chinese girl warming up with your max."-Jim Convroy
"It's a round hole, dammit. Everyone fits."--Anonymous Mod at Strengthmill
I considered the sidewalk chalk idea, but thought the liquid chalk would be easier to get since there are a couple sporting goods stores near my office (I'm not quite sure where to get sidewalk chalk). I couldn't find any liquid chalk though, so will probably have to sneak in real chalk today and hope I can get away with it. I assume that sidewalk chalk is somewhere between blackboard chalk and "lifting" chalk in hardness, since I find it hard to imagine using blackboard chalk.
I considered the sidewalk chalk idea, but thought the liquid chalk would be easier to get since there are a couple sporting goods stores near my office (I'm not quite sure where to get sidewalk chalk). I couldn't find any liquid chalk though, so will probably have to sneak in real chalk today and hope I can get away with it. I assume that sidewalk chalk is somewhere between blackboard chalk and "lifting" chalk in hardness, since I find it hard to imagine using blackboard chalk.
You could get sidewalk chalk at any WalMart, Target, etc. that sells kid's stuff. It should be wherever crayons and stuff like that are.
It's about as hard as blackboard chalk- you just rub it on your hands and if they are calloused you'll get plenty on there- or you could rub it on the knurling of the bar first, and it'll go on you hands easy after that because it's all scraped up.
It's not as easy to get on your hands, but it doesn't get anywhere else, so the gym staff can't bitch.
Alco, this tip is for people that lift in places that are anal, where you work out does not apply, therefore your preference is irrelevant.
__________________
Since most of your life is already complicated, why make your training the same way? Jim Wendler
Weightlifting with straps
Linear Mode
