Training

There are three basic requirements for success in competitive lifting. First, make sure you have the correct workout regimen. This has to be well thought out and geared towards your ultimate goal. Secondly, the environment within which you conduct your workout should support your goals. I'm not talking about working out in a nice building. I'm referring to your motivational and competitive environment. A good coach is great but competitive lifting partners are equally important.

When I was on the Bulgarian National Team under Coach Abadzhiev, he split us into several competitive groups. Believe me, when you're thrust into a competitive environment every day, you can make dramatic improvements. That is a great motivator but not the only one. Having friends and family around on your "competition day" is great motivation. It also helps you get ready for the events where you will lift in front of a larger group of people. Lastly, your diet is important and nutritional supplements, while they cannot replace the proper diet, can certainly supplement and support it.

This is a training regimen for Olympic lifters which can be modified for any sport requiring explosive strength. It comes from my former coach and one of the elite coaches in Olympic history, the former Bulgarian Weightlifting Coach responsible for 12 Olympic Champions, 57 World Champions, and 64 European Champions and author of the famous “Bulgarian Method of Training”, Ivan Abadzhiev.

- Alex Krychev