In an almost forgotten corner of the Physical Education Building there is a small weight room. Mirrors line one side of the wall, and illuminating neon lights shine from high overhead. This multipurpose room is home to a several clubs at WSU. Among them is Coug Strong, Washington State University’s Weightlifting Club. Every square inch of the facility is utilized. Four Olympic lifting platforms line a wall by the mirrors, and a multipurpose rack used for squats, presses, and other lifts resides in the back. The room is filled with the sound of bouncing rubber plates and slamming bars. The air is slightly clouded with chalk dust.
Weightlifting is a sport that has been around for centuries, as well as an event in the first Olympic Games in 1896. Olympic lifting consists of two exercises: "the snatch" and "the clean and jerk." These two exercises are among the best for developing strength and power. "The snatch" and "the clean and jerk" can generate force up to five times greater than that of a squat or deadlift. In layman's terms this means that Olympic lifters move a lot of weight in a short period of time, over a large distance. Olympic lifts require a combination of strength, power, timing, flexibility, and a little bit of luck.
Coug Strong is taught by half a dozen coaches who all possess United States of America Weightlifting Coaching Certification. Coaching is a very important part of improving in any sport, but especially in weightlifting. Coaches have a trained eye, and can see bad habits and potential flaws in your technique that you can’t feel on your own. Every successful athlete has a coach who they can attribute some of their success to. Two of the Coug Strong coaches have even competed at the national level for Olympic lifting. The coaches provide programming and advice for beginning, intermediate, and advanced lifters.
You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get in better shape and improve your strength. You simply need a good work ethic and a strong support system. It can be the difference between achieving your goals and failing.
A big mistake people make is thinking that they can get into great shape all on their own. There are a lot of great resources out there that you can use to help you revamp your body, especially in college. The greatest strength of a community is its diversity. Spending too much time in the same routine with the same people can create a plateau where gains come to a screeching halt.
Becoming a part of something larger is a great way to branch out and discover new things about yourself. Training with other people can bring out strengths that you didn’t even know you had. Whether you have goals to compete in something or just to get into better shape, having the feeling of belonging to a community of like-minded people with similar goals is an amazing way to improve your strength and become a better person.
