KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE BARBELL DURING THE SNATCH MOVEMENT OF ELITEASIAN WEIGHT LIFTERS

The purpose of this study was to describe the kinematic characteristic s of the snatch technique from the viewpoint of barbell trajectory. Su bjects included 6 elite male Asian weight lifters who participated in the first Japan International Friendship Tournament in 1993. Trajector ies of the barbell during snatch lifts in the competition were videota ped. Three vertical acceleration peaks of the barbell during the pull movement were observed and corresponded to the first pull, transition, and second pull phases. The angle of the resultant acceleration (ARA) of the barbell averaged 85 degrees in the first pull and transition p ull phases. In the second pull phase. the ARA was almost 140 degrees, indicating that the barbell was accelerated anteriorly, away from the lifter. The results of this study suggest that during the first pull a nd transition pull phases, elite lifters pulled the barbell toward the mselves to produce the needed vertical acceleration and that the resul ting posterior movement of the barbell was controlled by the forward a cceleration produced in the second pull phase.