Weight Lifting
Weight lifting is a sport that tests strength and endurance. It involves using a
variety of pieces of equipment to improve targeted muscles by increasing muscle
tone and strength. The types of equipment used to achieve this are dumbbells,
weighted bars, weight stacks and kettle bells. Different to body building and
weight training, weight lifting involves these components in training and they
are a vital part of a well-rounded fitness regime.
Weight lifting offers a whole host of benefits like improved muscle tone and
strength, increased flexibility, reduction of the risk of muscle and joint
injuries, cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis. It has
also been shown to improve endurance.
Weight lifting goes back thousands of years, and has always been seen as one of
the ultimate tests of strength an manhood. Weight lifting became really popular
in the 6th Century, where heavy stones were used as weights. Weight lifting
became so widespread and popular in this period it is sometimes known as the age
of strength.
Competitive weight lifting was first recognized as a true sport in 1896, but was
only introduced at the Olympics in 1920, having been left out in 1900 and every
subsequent Olympics until after the Great War.
In the early year of weight lifting at the Olympics some unusual weight lifting
programs were introduced with one and two handed lifts and no weight divisions.
Weight divisions were introduced in 1932 with five sub divisions being
established in three disciplines snatch, press and clean and jerk.
In snatch the athlete lifts the weight above his head in one fast smooth
movement, before being brought to rest on the shoulders. Finally the weight is
jerked over the head.
In 1972 the press was abolished leaving only snatch and clean jerk as accepted
Olympic disciplines.
Weight lifting is a sport that tests strength and endurance. It involves using a
variety of pieces of equipment to improve targeted muscles by increasing muscle
tone and strength. The types of equipment used to achieve this are dumbbells,
weighted bars, weight stacks and kettle bells. Different to body building and
weight training, weight lifting involves these components in training and they
are a vital part of a well-rounded fitness regime.
Weight lifting offers a whole host of benefits like improved muscle tone and
strength, increased flexibility, reduction of the risk of muscle and joint
injuries, cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis. It has
also been shown to improve endurance.
Weight lifting goes back thousands of years, and has always been seen as one of
the ultimate tests of strength an manhood. Weight lifting became really popular
in the 6th Century, where heavy stones were used as weights. Weight lifting
became so widespread and popular in this period it is sometimes known as the age
of strength.
Competitive weight lifting was first recognized as a true sport in 1896, but was
only introduced at the Olympics in 1920, having been left out in 1900 and every
subsequent Olympics until after the Great War.
In the early year of weight lifting at the Olympics some unusual weight lifting
programs were introduced with one and two handed lifts and no weight divisions.
Weight divisions were introduced in 1932 with five sub divisions being
established in three disciplines snatch, press and clean and jerk.
In snatch the athlete lifts the weight above his head in one fast smooth
movement, before being brought to rest on the shoulders. Finally the weight is
jerked over the head.
In 1972 the press was abolished leaving only snatch and clean jerk as accepted
Olympic disciplines.