The Press of Y. Smirnov
(Middleweight, USSR)
Silver medalist of USSR and European Championships
R.A. Roman, M.S. Shakirzyanov
Moscow, FiS, 8 – 9:1970
Translated by Andrew Charniga, Jr.
Sportivny Press©
The lifter raised the barbell to his chest in the split style with a shallow bend (figures 1-4, positions 1-4). The knee angle of the leg shifted forward is straight; the torso is in a vertical position (figure 4).
The sportsman then straightens the legs; he shifts the trunk backwards toward the leg that was shifted backwards and replaces the forward shifted leg back to the starting position (figure 5). Next, he replaces the leg shifted backward (figure 6, position 6).
The athlete shifts his pelvis slightly forward as he adopts the starting position of the press; the vertical projection of the hip joint is over the toes. The waist is taut; the knees are straight. The trunk is tilted insignificantly (about 15°). The vertical projection of the common center of gravity is at the ankle joints. The shoulder girdle is taut. The elbows are thrust forward slightly in front of the line of the bar, such that the forearms form an angle of approximately 45°, relative to the vertical. The barbell is lowered by 5 cm and is shifted forward by 2 cm (figure 7, position 7).
The athlete separates the barbell from the chest essentially by rapidly shifting the pelvis backward and straightening the trunk (figure 8). This action sends the barbell vertically and slightly forward. The barbell moves upward 13 cm and shifts forward by 2 cm (position 8). The vertical projection of the general center of gravity of the body shifts towards the middle of the feet. The hands (arms) which have “seized” the barbell are included in the work after the trunk has straightened. The elbows are lifted upward; however, the forearms remain in their prior position. Speed of the barbell at the instant of separation is 1.08 m/sec.
Now the athlete once again assumes the bowed position; the energetic pressure of the arms on the barbell causes the pressure against the shoulder joints to increase (figure 9). The barbell is raised strictly vertical (position 9). The athlete straightens his arms further; however, the forearms remain in an inclined position. Consequently, when the elbows reach an angle of approximately 90°, and the shoulders have adopted a horizontal position, the athlete experiences difficulty in straightening his arms (position 9).
The sportsman leans backwards slightly in order to overcome this difficult position. The angles in the elbow and shoulder joints become obtuse which, in turn, facilitates the further lifting of the barbell (figure 10, position 10). The barbell is raised vertically. Then, the sportsman shifts his trunk, with the head and the pelvis forward when the arms are almost fully straightened (figure 11). The athlete fixes the barbell after completely straightening the arms and trunk (figure 12, position 12).
Y. Smirnov raised the barbell 48 cm. In both the starting position, as well as during the exercise, the athlete senses the shifting of the links of his entire body in space very well, such that he adopts the most advantageous positions for developing maximum force (strictly vertical) throughout the whole movement. The trajectory barbell is lacking horizontal shifting; its trajectory is precise and economical.
This is a speed strength press. The separation from the chest is sharply expressed. Y. Smirnov’s press is a model performance.
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Smirnov Press A |
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