Journal of Physical Education and Sport ® (JPES), Vol 20 (Supplement issue 1), Art 62 pp 430 – 434, 2020

online ISSN: 2247 - 806X; p-ISSN: 2247 – 8051; ISSN - L = 2247 - 8051 © JPES

Original Article

Correlation of competitive exercises technique with biomechanical structure of

barbell displacement in weightlifting
OLESHKO VALENTIN1, DEKHA NATALIIA2, YANG TANGXUN3, SLOBODIANYUK VIKTOR4
1
National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine, Kyiv, UKRAINE
2
National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine, Kyiv, UKRAINE
3
National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine, Kyiv, UKRAINE
4
National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine, Kyiv, UKRAINE

Published online: February 29, 2020

(Accepted for publication: January 20, 2020)
DOI:10.7752/jpes.2020.s1062

Abstract
The study outlines comparative characteristics for biomechanical structure of barbell displacement during the
snatch as well as the first stage of the clean and jerk among males and females of elite group that have different
body weight in two main phases. These phases of barbell displacement are called as follows: the amplitude of
barbell departure in final acceleration phase and the magnitude of its displacement into supporting squat phase,
because they characterise economical efficiency of technique, applied in performing competitive exercises.
Рurpose of the article is to determine economical efficiency of technique, applied in performing competitive
exercises by weightlifters of different genders that have different body weight, with the help of biomechanical
structure of barbell displacement. Material and methods include analysis of literature, video recording of
competitive exercises, biomechanical analysis, as well as mathematical statistics. Results. We have determined
amplitude value of barbell departure in the phase of final acceleration and the magnitude of barbell displacement
into supporting squat with the help of biomechanical structure of barbell displacement by weightlifters of
different genders that have different body weight. This allows evaluating economical efficiency of the snatch and
clean and jerk technique in the process of improving their sportsmanship. Conclusions. Biomechanical structure
of barbell displacement in final acceleration phase and supporting squat has some differences depending on
competitive exercise, gender of athletes and their belonging to the group of weight categories.
Key words. Weightlifters, weight categories and groups, gender characteristics, competitive exercises,
technique, displacement into supporting squat phase.

Introduction
Effectiveness of technique applied in performing competitive exercises in many sports, and in
weightlifting in particular, is characterized by its basic criteria: efficiency, sustainability, variability and
economical efficiency (Platonov, 2015). Economical efficiency of technique involves rational use of muscular
effort, space-time and dynamic characteristics of apparatus movement with minimal energy consumption by the
athlete during their exercise completion (Oleshko, 2018).
Some specialists have already studied economical efficiency of competitive exercises technique according
to amplitude of barbell departure and the value of its displacement into supporting squat among weightlifters of
different sport qualification. For example, Akkus (2012) considers that with increase of athletes’ sportsmanship
and weights of barbell the depth of squat increases. Other authors (Korkman & Harbili, 2015; Hoover et al.,
2006; Campos et al., 2006) have determined that absolute and relative indices of the barbell departure amplitude
and squat depth decrease with weight gain. According to Japanese experts (Ikeda et al., 2012; Okada, et al.,
2008) the difference between maximum amplitude of barbell departure and the amount of displacement in
supporting squat phase should be minimal. At the same time Ho час et al., (2014) Gourgoulis et al., (2010)
believe that the amplitude of barbell movement into supporting squat is influenced not as much as by the level of
athlete’s physical fitness, but as by their individual characteristics.
Some experts (Campos et al., 2006) developed the values of barbell displacement in supporting squat
phase for qualified weightlifters, which averages 0,06 ± 0,02 m or 6,0 cm. According to Drechsler (1998), the
value of barbell displacement in supporting squat phase among male weightlifting athletes during the snatch
comprises 5,0-9,0 % of their body length, and in the first stage of the clean and jerk (lifting of barbell up to
chest) is 14-18 % respectively.
We have studied in detail biomechanical structure of barbell displacement in two phases, both during the
snatch and the clean and jerk techniques, namely: maximum amplitude of barbell departure in final acceleration
phase and then its moving into supporting squat. The difference between these two values indicated economical
efficiency of competitive exercise. Moreover, to compare the amplitude of barbell displacement into supporting
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Corresponding Author VALENTIN OLESHKO, Email: [email protected]
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squat, performed by weightlifters of different body weight, all biomechanical characteristics were calculated not
only in their absolute units (in cm), but also in relative units (in percent of athletes’ body length).
Рurpose of the article is to determine economical efficiency of technique, applied in performing competitive
exercises by weightlifters of different genders that have different body weight, with the help of biomechanical
structure of barbell displacement.

Material and methods include analysis of literature, video recording of competitive exercises, biomechanical
analysis, as well as mathematical statistics.

Results
With the help of «Weightlifting Аnalyzer 3.0» software (manufactured in Germany), we have previously
fixed and developed model values for barbell displacement into supporting squat phase for qualified
weightlifters of different body weight in the process of barbell lifting with maximum weight load (95-100 % of
maximum) at national and international competitions (Oleshko, 2014). The results of these studies are presented
below (Table 1).

Table 1. Model values of barbell displacement into supporting squat phase by weightlifters of high qualification
and different gender, % (men = 85 and women = 62)

Athlete’s body weight

Exercise Athlete’s gender
"light" "medium" "heavy"
men 9,5-10,0 10,0-10,2 8,1-8,3
snatch
women 10,4-10,8 10,3-10,7 9,6-9,8
clean and jerk men 18,9-19,3 18,3-18,5 19,3-19,7
(lifting of barbell up to the
women 22,0-22,4 21,4-21,6 20,7-21,1
chest)
Note: group 1 ("light") - men with body weight of 56 - 69 kg; women 48 - 58 kg; group 2 ("medium") –
men with body weight of 75 - 94 kg; women 63 - 69 kg; group 3 - men with body weight of 105 and + 105 kg;
women 75 and + 75 kg respectively.
Also, biomechanical indicators of barbell displacement in a snatch and barbell lifting up to chest have
been studied by Russian specialists (Shalmanov et al., 2012), who also recorded biomechanical characteristics in
competitive exercises technique, performed by male weight-lifting athletes during competitions (Table 2).

Table 2. Model values of barbell displacement into supporting squat ( х ) performed by qualified weightlifters
at 2012 Russian Cup competitions
Weight categories, kg
Indicators
56 62 69 77 85 94 105 +105
in snatch

1 158 155 165 166 165 170 178 184

2 12 14 10 12 6 18 13 20
3 7,6 9,0 6,1 7,2 3,6 10,6 7,3 10,9
in clean and Jerk
1 158 155 165 166 165 170 178 184
2 42 42 44 47 52 42 49 51
3 26,6 26,6 26,7 28,3 31,5 24,7 27,5 27,7
Note: 1 – athletes’ body length (cm); 2 – the difference between maximum height of barbell departure and its
displacement into supporting squat, cm; 3 – the amount of barbell displacement (%).

Ukrainian specialist Antoniuk (2012) has also studied economical efficiency of competitive exercise
technique by the amount of barbell displacement in the phase of supporting squat performed by female athletes
with different body types (dolichomorphic, mesomorphic and brachymorphic) in the jerk (table 3).

Table 3. The amplitude of barbell displacement into supporting squat performed by female athletes of different
body type,%
Body type In snatch In clean and jerk
Dolichomorphic 9,8-10,2 22,8-23,2
Mesomorphic 9,5-11,1 21,2-22,8
Brachymorphic 8,9-10,2 20,7-23,0
A similar research was also conducted by Mocherniuk (2013), namely studying the snatch and barbell
lifting up to chest conducted by weightlifters of different genders and of different body weight, which he
analysed while studying videos of international competitions.
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The analysis of results gained by the researcher shows that indicators of barbell displacement into
supporting squat by weightlifters of different gender in the snatch, which we obtained in many ways coincide
with his results. However, in lifting barbell up to chest, the results of author's research have some differences
from our data, i.e. they tend to decrease by 3,0 to 7,0 %. These differences can be explained by different methods
of recording biomechanical characteristics of weightlifter’s competitive exercises technique.

Discussion
Thus, studies of economical efficiency of technique used for the snatch and the clean and jerk by their
biomechanical characteristics of barbell displacement show that there are differences among weightlifters of
different genders and different body weight in the amplitude of barbell departure in the phase of final
acceleration and moving it into the phase of supporting squat. Moreover, these indicators of competitive
exercises technique depend on value of load, athlete’s gender and body weight, the method of measuring
biomechanical characteristics, as well as the length of their body and limbs.
To compare results gained by different specialists and eliminate the differences, we have studied
biomechanical characteristics of barbell displacement in the group of elite weightlifters from around the world
who, in our opinion, possess a sustainable and economical technique for doing competitive exercises (table 4, 5).

Table 4. The amplitude of barbell displacement during the phase of supporting squat among groups of
elite weightlifters in snatch

The amplitude of the

Weight categories, Weight of the
Athlete Country displacement
kg barbell, kg
cm %
Men
Tancsics L. 56 Hungary 122 4 2,6
Sezer B. 62 Turkey 136 7 4,3
Su Dayn 77 China 160 7 4,2
Perepetchonov О. 77 Russia 164 5 3,0
Мitrou V. 77 Greece 150 6 3,6
Sagir Т. 77 Turkey 167 6 3,6
Lu Xiaojun 77 China 170 8 4,8
Hernandez R. 85 Cuba 157 6 3,5
Sunar Е. 85 Turkey 172 6 3,5
Dimas P. 85 Greece 165 5 2,9
Kolecki S. 94 Poland 173 9 5,0
Ilin I. 94 Kazakhstan 175 9 5,1
Bratan А. 105 Moldova 185 8 4,5
Berestov D. 105 Russia 185 8 4,5
Dolega R. 105 Poland 180 9 5,0
Аramnau А. 105 Belarus 201 8 4,6
Кleszcz G. +105 Poland 185 6 3,3
Cholakov V. +105 Bulgaria 200 8 4,3
Steiner М. +105 Germania 200 9 4,9
Scerbatihs V. +105 Latvia 195 9 5,0
Rezazaden H. +105 Iran 202 9 5,0
Vardanyan А. +105 Armenia 200 8 4,4
Women
Pagliaro G. 48 Italy 72 7 4,7
Тaylan N. 48 Turkey 85 7 4,5
Dasdelen А. 53 Turkey 88 9 5,6
Мuntranu М. 53 Rumania 87 9 5,8
Begaj R. 58 Albania 96 8 5,1
Novikava А. 58 Belarus 100 5 3,3
Cocos R. 63 Rumania 96 4 2,5
Кirilova G. 63 Bulgaria 100 8 4,9
Tulyeva S. 69 Russia 115 6 3,8
Кhurshudyan H. 75 Armenia 117 7 4,1
Valentin L. 75 Spain 115 7 4,1
Korobka O. +75 Ukraine 117 7 3,8
Каshirina T. +75 Russia 135 7 4,1
Roditi A. +75 Greece 105 7 4,1
Usar U. +75 Turkey 112 7 4,0

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Table 5. The amplitude of barbell displacement during the phase of supporting squat among groups of
elite weightlifters in clean and jerk

The magnitude of
Weight Weight of displacement
Athletes Country
categories, kg barbell, kg
cm %
Men
Dabaya V. 69 Franc 186 15 8,9
Rhachatryan V. 77 Armenia 196 20 11,6
Perepetchonov О. 77 Russia 201 14 8,5
Polovikov V. 85 Russia 205 18 10,5
Dimas P. 85 Greece 205 16 7,9
Kolecki S. 94 Poland 220 19 10,5
Ilin I. 94 Kazakhstan 217 12 6,9
Аramnau А. 105 Belarus 225 20 11,6
Scerbatihs V. +105 Latvia 252 18 9,9
Udachin А. +105 Ukraine 230 16 8,7
Women
Dasdelen А. 53 Turkey 122 19 11,9
Kalina Yliya 58 Ukraine 125 19 11,9
Novikava А. 58 Belarus 136 18 11,9
Cocos R. 63 Rumania 130 15 9,3
Kolpakova T. 63 Russia 120 18 11,2
Tulyeva S. 69 Russia 129 18 11,3
Zang Shaoling 69 China 137 19 11,8
Zabolotnaya S. 75 Kazakhstan 141 17 10,4
Podobedova S. 75 Kazakhstan 137 17 10,2
Hromova Т. 75 Russia 133 17 10,2
Korobka O. +75 Ukraine 162 15 8,2
Jаn Mi Ram +75 Korea 178 18 10,5
Кhurshudyan H. +75 Armenia 123 9 5,3
Каshirina T. +75 Russia 175 17 10,0

Gained data show that the group of elite weightlifters possesses a sustainable and economical technique
for doing competitive exercises, because distance of barbell displacement into supporting squat phase is twice
less than those of qualified athletes. For example, for group of elite weightlifters (both males and females) the
distance of barbell displacement in the snatch comprises on average - 3,4-4,8 %, barbell lifting up to the chest to
8,9-11,8 % respectively.

Conclusions
Thus, the analysis of economical efficiency of competitive exercise technique depending on
biomechanical structure of barbell displacement in the phase of supporting squat among weightlifters of different
genders and different body weight allows us to draw the following conclusions.
In snatch the amplitude of barbell movement into supporting squat done by weightlifters of different
gender of elite group is much smaller than in the clean and jerk. These differences in exercises comprise in
average 5,4-7,2 %.
In snatch the value of barbell displacement in the supporting squat for male weightlifters of elite group is
almost the same as for female weightlifters, and concerning barbell lifting up to chest it is higher for women by
1,0-3,0 % respectively. Minimal differences between men and women in values of biomechanical structure of
barbell displacement in snatch are found among athletes within the second group of weight categories - 0,2 %;
and in the clean and jerk among athletes, whose weight is categorised to the third group of weight categories -
0,4 %. For male weightlifters it is found out that with the increase of body weight the value of barbell
displacement into supporting squat increases - in average of 23,0 %, for women this tendency was not
established. We have determined biomechanical characteristics of the snatch and the clean and jerk for elite
group of weightlifters of different gender by amplitude of barbell departure in the phase of final acceleration and
the amplitude of barbell movement into supporting squat that need to be guided in the process of improving their
sportsmanship.

Funding
Authors received no financial support for the research, authorship and publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
Authors state no conflict of interest.
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