Totten Talks Podcast
Welcome to "Totten Talks," where hosts Leo Totten and Cait Finn share their wealth of experience in weightlifting, strength and conditioning, and athletics. With over 70 years of combined expertise, Leo and Cait delve into the legacies and life lessons that have shaped their careers and the world of weightlifting. Join Leo and Cait as they provide an engaging, fun, and informative platform for athletes, coaches, and anyone passionate about lifting and sports excellence. Tune in for invaluable lessons, corny dad jokes, and a genuine passion for building a lasting legacy in weightlifting and beyond.
Totten Talks Podcast
Simplifying Olympic Lifts: Breaking Down the Clean and Jerk and Strength Lessons - Part 3
In this episode of Totten Talks, Leo and Cait dive into the third and final part of their "Keep It Simple Seriously" series on teaching and performing the Olympic lifts. The focus is all about the jerk technique, strength, and flexibility needed to bring your lifts to the next level.
In this episode, Leo and Cait cover:
Spring weather and gardening updates—because athletes and coaches have lives outside the gym!
A step-by-step breakdown of the split jerk, including setup, dip, drive, and split positions, with practical cues and coaching tips
Common technical mistakes in the jerk and how small adjustments can make a big difference
How to identify the real cause of missed jerks (hint: it’s not always strength!)
The importance of appropriate dip speed, proper bar path, and safe weight distribution in the split
Strength requirements for the Olympic lifts—understanding how absolute strength and positional strength work together, with real-life stories and ratios as guides
The often-overlooked role of flexibility and mobility, and how both stiffness and hypermobility can limit performance
Coach-athlete communication: keeping cues simple and avoiding information overload
Promoting the importance of force absorption, not just force production, for safe and effective lifting
Leo and Cait announce an upcoming weightlifting camp where lifters of all levels can join, train, and learn in a supportive environment. Don’t miss details at tottentraining.com.
Follow Totten Training on social media: @tottentraining
and visit Totten Training.