Perfection Doesn't Always Mean Progress

Be careful not to minimize your successes! We should all strive for progress, regardless of the amount amount of weight you are able to lift. Be proud of your progress and own your efforts! Focus on the small but progressive victories that you have throughout your journey.

Every athlete in the world experiences a breakdown in their technique at some point or another. Even Olympians have a point at which their technique will become sub-optimal. What would happen if they added 5-10 kilograms more than their Olympic PR? They would probably fail. It could be a problem with strength or with technique. Regardless, at some point, everyone's form breaks down. Any weightlifting program should aim to gradually raise the point at which your lifting technique breaks down. If you PR'd your snatch today but it was a press out so you considered it "ugley", just remember that this is your first time grabbing 70kg! I'm sure that your 65kg snatch looks much better now that you can snatch 70kg. That is progress! What if you got to 75kg? The same 70kg snatch, I would guess, is even faster, more in control, and much more consistent.

If we constantly strive to be "perfect," we might miss out on a chance to advance. I am not suggesting that you lift ugly if it allows you to lift more weight or to make a lift at all costs. What I am telling you is to concentrate solely on improving your next rep and focusing on small victories.

The next time you fail in the 85-90% range I want you to take a couple more tries in that weight range. Be focused on sharpening it and correcting the technical error. This is itself progress. Be on the lookout for progress when it occurs because it can be concealed in a variety of ways. Modifications to the technique, enhanced flexibility, increased strength, increased repetition consistency, etc. are all instances of progress.

The key to a lifetime of enjoyment in weightlifting is taking responsibility for YOUR efforts and concentrating on YOUR own progress.