The Distinction Between Weightlifting and Weight Lifting

This might be a particularly pedantic submit, and one which I’m terribly sorry to have to put in writing. I’ve been into weight lifting (two phrases) for a very long time, however about six years in the past I acquired into weightlifting (all one phrase). It seems these are two very various things.

Weightlifting, all one phrase, is the game that’s contested within the Olympics through which folks—carrying what seem like old-timey swimsuits—choose up barbells loaded with brightly coloured weights. In one of many occasions, the snatch, the bar is lifted from the bottom to overhead in a single swift motion. Within the different, the clear and jerk, the bar is lifted to the shoulders and the lifter pauses to breathe and query their life selections earlier than utilizing one other sudden motion to shove it sky excessive. (You possibly can carry extra weight the second means, which is why they’re separate occasions. Every lifter’s greatest snatch and greatest clear and jerk are added collectively to seek out out who wins.)

Weight lifting, two phrases, refers back to the motion of lifting a weight—any weight. For those who’ve by no means heard of this distinction or by no means considered it whenever you stated or heard the phrase “weightlifting,” bear with me right here.

Why “weightlifting” refers back to the sport of the snatch and clear and jerk

Early weightlifting competitions, within the 1800s, developed out of circuses and stage exhibits the place a strongman would showcase feats of energy to an viewers. Typically these strongmen would problem one another, and would herald judges to confirm the weights and guarantee a good competitors. Gymnasts round this time educated with dumbbells and barbells as effectively, and would additionally arrange their very own pleasant competitions. By the point the primary (fashionable) Olympics rolled round in 1896, there was sufficient curiosity in weightlifting as a aggressive sport that it was one of many sports activities contested.

It took a long time after that for aggressive weightlifting to evolve into the shape we are able to nonetheless see within the Olympics. The dumbbell lifts and one-hand lifts had been dropped; by 1928 the game had three barbell lifts, every of them accomplished with each arms. In 1972, considered one of them (the clear and press) was dropped from competitors. This leaves the two-lift sport we all know and love at present. (All of us do adore it, proper? It is our favourite? Good.)

The concept of lifting weights for enjoyable and well being did not change into widespread till after the aggressive sport turned established. The identify “weightlifting” was already taken, so when some weightlifters determined to problem one another in different lifts, just like the squat and bench press, they’d to decide on a unique identify. (Thus was born powerlifting.) Different offshoots selected names, too. The “World’s Strongest Man” TV specials led to the game of strongman, the place folks (not simply males) carry a wide range of implements like stones and kegs and log-shaped barbells, and no two competitions are the identical.

In all probability probably the most well-known energy sport is bodybuilding, the place opponents do not truly carry something in competitions; they simply showcase the physique that they constructed by way of lifting weights. A lot of gymnasium tradition as we all know it at present was born from the bodybuilding type of coaching, as bodybuilders and barbell producers collaborated to put in writing and publish journal articles for the lots. For those who consider your energy coaching by way of “reps” or “muscle teams,” that is why.

You can even, in fact, simply carry weights. This isn’t weightlifting, as a result of that is the identify for the Olympic sport; it’s “lifting weights” or “lifting” or “energy coaching” or “resistance coaching.” You possibly can, in the event you should, name it “weight lifting.”

I am a weightlifter, and I agree that this is mindless

I hate that I’ve been pressured to change into so pedantic about this. Weightlifting is an terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad identify for considered one of many sports activities through which folks carry weights. Powerlifting, by the best way, is nearly as badly named; it is truly the Olympic lifts that showcase energy, and the “energy lifts” that showcase energy. So folks like me are left protesting that we’re weightlifters, not powerlifters or bodybuilders, and the typical particular person curling a dumbbell within the gymnasium has no clue why we care a lot about whether or not or not there’s a area between “weight” and “lifting.”

The issue, in the end, is that no person ever got here up with a greater identify for the game they’ve within the Olympics. Some folks will name it “Olympic lifting,” resulting in confusion whenever you inform your pals that you simply do it but additionally that you’re not going to the Olympics for it.

Crossfitters have discovered a workaround by casually referring to “oly lifting,” which I help in principle, however weightlifters haven’t embraced the time period. We compete in weightlifting, and make clear what we imply by saying “you already know, weightlifting weightlifting,” whereas miming the movement of a snatch. I’m sorry. That is the most effective we’ve got for now.