Snatch Chat

Should beginners learn the power snatch or the full snatch first? Most people get it backwards. In Episode 43 of the Snatch Chat podcast, Coach Oates answers 9 beginner Olympic weightlifting questions: snatch vs power snatch, front rack wrist pain, split jerk vs push jerk, whether the overhead squat matters, the top 3 accessory lifts, how often beginners should train, combining CrossFit with weigh...

Your snatch collapses overhead, your clean grinds out of the bottom, and your jerk gives way the moment you tire. In this Snatch Chat Q&A, Coach Oates breaks down the real fixes for the faults every weightlifter hits, plus how to peak for a comp, how to eat around training, and exactly what happens on comp day from weigh-in to your last attempt. Perfect if you are learning the lifts through Cr...

Strong in the gym but your Olympic lifts keep falling apart? This Q&A fixes the most common snatch, clean and jerk faults that keep lifters stuck. Inside this episode: Why your snatch loops forward past the knee and how to keep the bar close Chest caving and losing the rack in the clean: strength or technique? Split jerk landing short and feeling unstable overhead Back squat vs front squat: do...

Feeling stuck with your snatch and clean and jerk no matter how many CrossFit classes you do? You are not alone. In this episode of Snatch Chat, Coach Connor sits down with Maria, a lifter who went from a frustrated CrossFitter with a 25kg snatch to a 52kg snatch in just 10 months of focused Olympic weightlifting coaching. She was training five to six days a week, seriously strong, but her lifts w...

Missed badly in front of everyone and now every heavy attempt feels like a gamble? In this Snatch Chat Q&A, Coach Oates breaks down how to rebuild confidence after bombing out, why consistency (not courage) is what actually adds kilos, plus real fixes for your front rack, thoracic mobility, first competition prep and training on just three sessions a week. Everything you need to lift heavier w...

Following a programme you found online but your totals haven't moved in months? In episode 38 of Snatch Chat, Coach Oates breaks down whether it's your programme or you, and what a coached, individualised approach actually changes in your snatch, clean and jerk. In this episode: Programme vs coached approach and why generic plans plateau Fixing a clean you keep catching forward (zombie squ...

In episode 37 of the Snatch Chat podcast, Coach Oates breaks down why your lifts have stalled and exactly how to fix it, answering 10 real questions on Olympic weightlifting technique, programming, mindset and recovery. If your snatch, clean or jerk has plateaued, this one is packed with fixes you can action in your next session. In this episode we cover: why you keep pressing out on heavy snatche...

Episode 36 is a rapid fire Q&A. Coach Oates answers 10 questions from clients and the community: building the confidence to drop under the snatch, stopping your hips shooting up out of the front squat and clean, when to actually start using a belt, why chasing first pull speed wrecks your bar path, fixing low elbows in the front rack, and the real reason technically solid lifters stop progress...

In episode 35 of Snatch Chat we fix exactly that, plus the mistake that is stopping you getting under the bar fast enough. This one is loaded. We cover: How to catch the snatch stable and confident overheadWhy speed lives UNDER the bar, not on the way up The truth about hitting a strength "ceiling"What to do when training goes flat (push or back off?)The most underrated movement for a bi...

Everyone tells you weightlifting shoes are essential. I'd tell you to keep your £200 in your pocket for now, and I'll explain exactly what to wear instead. In episode 34 I answer nine listener questions, including why your rear leg in the split jerk probably shouldn't be straight, the one thing self coached lifters always get wrong, why you should never train on a competition bar, and...

Are you actually weak, or is your technique holding back your snatch and clean and jerk? In episode 33 of the Snatch Chat Podcast, Coach Oates answers your Olympic weightlifting questions: the truth about front squat to clean ratios, how to fix an unbalanced split jerk, what a proper peaking block looks like before a competition, why you press out under competition pressure but never in training,...

In Episode 32 of Snatch Chat, Coach Oates breaks down the technique, programming, injury and mindset questions that come up again and again on the platform. In this episode: Why you can hit a power snatch but crash forward the moment you try to squat snatch it, and the overhead squat assessment that reveals the real problem. The rule for knowing when to add weight to the bar and when to stay put....

Your clean looks fine until the bar hits your hips, then everything falls apart. Sound familiar? In episode 31 of Snatch Chat, Coach Connor answers 10 listener questions on technique, mindset and programming for Olympic weightlifting, including: Why your clean crashes forward at the hips and the high hang fixWhy your technique falls apart on camera or in competitionPause work: where to pause, how...

In this episode of Snatch Chat, Coach Oates shares why he is building a weightlifting community and breaking down the technical cues that actually move the needle on your snatch and clean and jerk. We get into why technical consistency beats chasing heavier numbers, how to slow down and feel the bar close to your body, and the one flaw you should prioritise before anything else. Whether you are a...

Got questions? Connor's got answers. In this Q&A episode of Snatch Chat, Connor breaks down the stuff that actually holds lifters back, from picking the right weightlifting shoes for your foot (not just the ones everyone on YouTube recommends), to filming your lifts the right way so you can spot your own faults, to stepping on the competition platform for the first time without bottling it...

Struggling with your snatch technique? Jumping forward, missing lifts out front, or feeling beat up from training? In this episode of Snatch Chat, Coach Connor breaks down the most common snatch faults and exactly how to fix them, plus why mindset might be the missing piece in your weightlifting progress. We cover how to slow down the snatch to stop jumping forward, the mobility work that actually...

If your snatch keeps drifting forward, your grip feels off, or you walk into training sessions not knowing how hard to push, this episode is for you. In Episode 2 of the Snatch Chat Podcast, Coach Oates breaks down 10 essential snatch tips covering the exact fixes that turn average sessions into consistent PBs. From keeping the bar close to your body to finding the grip width that actually suits y...

Episode 26 of Snatch Chat is here and if you've ever questioned your split jerk foot position, watched your bar swing away from your body, or bottled it under a heavy lift, this one is for you. Coach Oates breaks down one of the most debated questions in the jerk, which leg goes back? The answer comes down to your strongest leg, and getting this wrong is silently costing you kilos. You'll...

A shaky jerk can stall your total..... until you fix overhead stability. In this Snatch Chat episode, Coach Oates breaks down how to build a rock solid lockout with smart jerk drills, pauses, and positional holds, then ties it to real‑world training: what to eat before early morning lifting, how to reset when a session feels heavy from the warm up, and when to adjust volume vs. push exposure. Prac...

Coach Oates breaks down essential weightlifting advice for beginner and intermediate lifters, covering recovery strategies, smart equipment choices, mental resilience, motivation, and program progression. Learn how to fix common snatch issues, build long‑term training consistency, and train smarter with limited time. Perfect for everyday Olympic lifters looking to improve performance both physical...

Welcome back to episode of the Snatch Chat Podcast. Unlock your peak performance with Coach Oates as he shares practical, science backed strategies for mastering Olympic lifting. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned athlete, this episode breaks down how to train smart, manage injuries, choose the right weightlifting shoes, and build confidence under heavy loads. Learn how to structure your...

Most lifters look at the miss… but the real problem started 2 seconds earlier. In Episode 22 of The Snatch Chat Podcast , Coach Oates breaks down why your snatch, clean, and jerk aren’t progressing, even if you’re getting stronger. From jumping forward and unstable catches to jerks that won’t budge, this episode shows you how to trace every issue back to its true source: the start position and exe...

Struggling to hit new PBs in the snatch or clean & jerk? This is where it changes. In this episode, you’ll learn how to fix the mistakes holding your lifts back, build serious strength, and make progress without living in the gym. 💥 If you want bigger lifts, better technique, and smarter training, this is a must listen. 🎧 Press play and start unlocking your true potential.

In Episode 20 of the Snatch Chat Podcast , Coach Oates shares practical weightlifting coaching insights to help lifters improve their snatch, clean, and jerk , and overcome common training plateaus. Learn the technical fixes that actually improve Olympic lifts , the bad training habits holding lifters back , and the nutrition misconceptions that slow progress . Coach Oates breaks down bar control...

Learn how to start Olympic weightlifting properly with this step by step guide to learning the snatch and clean & jerk from scratch. In episode 19 of the Snatch Chat Podcast, Coach Oates explains how he would approach learning Olympic weightlifting if he had to start again today. Instead of rushing straight into heavy lifts, this episode breaks down the foundations of Olympic lifting , includi...