Matt Cooper

  1. Rethinking “Speed” in the Olympic Lifts

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    It is a well known fact the the Olympic lifts, when executed correctly, are some of the quickest movements in all of sports. Speed in the extension and transition under the bar are very necessary attributes for a successful lift. While we can all agree that speed is an essential element of the snatch and clean & jerk, I feel there is a lot of confusion on how to correctly generate speed in the…Read More

  2. How We Get Stronger: the science and principles of training

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    Stronger is better. Period. Regardless of your fitness goals, becoming stronger will always help performance. Whether you want to increase performance in a field sport, weightlifting, powerlifting, or you just want to be able to move better as you age, increasing your ability to efficiently generate and apply force (strength) will help you reach those goals. So how does this happen? Why do our bod…Read More

  3. Olympic Lifts from the High Hang/Power Position

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    One of my all time favorite variations of the Olympic lifts is to perform the lift by starting from the high hang or power position (Figure 1). The power position is your “launch point” during your pull. This is where the transition from first pull to the explosive second pull ends. When an athlete is picking the bar off the floor to perform a snatch or clean, the bar speed steadily accelerate…Read More

  4. Back to Basics: Foundational Strength & Training Specificity

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    Back to Basics:  Foundational Strength & Training Specificity When I use the term, foundational strength, I’m referring to what many call general physical preparedness (GPP). I don’t call it this to be different, it just makes more sense in my head. In my own words, foundational strength can be defined as this: the prerequisite physical skill-set required to apply force efficiently throug…Read More