Voodoo Weightlifting

95 & 100 kg Overhead Anderson Squat from 🇦🇹

In the first few weeks of getting to know Paula, what stood out was how strong her overhead position was.

I’ve seen a handful of times where she was strong enough to pull the bar overhead, but missed the lift when standing up (whether it was due to the bar being slightly out of position or the body in a precarious position).

If this is the case, it makes sense to do more work in the segment of the lift that misses are occurring. Of course it also makes sense to look at what happened in the earlier phases of the lift as well (since that directly impacts the later phases of the lift).

Starting from the bottom of the Overhead Squat makes it an added challenge; the body has to be fully braced to hold the bar overhead before the bar is actually loaded onto the body.

Would anyone care for a more elaborate video on the benefits of doing Overhead Squats from this bottom position, or why Paula uses them?

Or perhaps you’d like to know what they’re sometimes called ‘Anderson Squats’ rather than Pin Squats? Let us know in the comments!

Listen to THIS clip if you’re rehabbing an injury!

Excerpt from an interview with where we talked about her training, injury, and moving forward.

If you didn’t know, Lucy’s CrossFit career was in question after she had to have a radial shortening osteotomy.

Asked Lucy what she would tell someone who was currently in the middle of coming back from an injury.

Repost this if it resonated with you!

Struggle holding the bar in a front rack? Try this!

Start with an empty bar or broomstick resting on the middle of the traps. Wrap your hand completely around the bar or stick. Maintaining a full grip:

Pull left elbow up and in until you feel a moderate stretch. Hold for 3 seconds. Bring elbow back down, and repeat a total of 3 times.

Pull right elbow up and in, hold for 3 seconds. Bring elbow back down, and repeat 3 times.

Pull both elbows up and in together, hold for 3 seconds. Repeat a total of 3 times.

It’s normal to feel that one side is tighter than the other. You can expect to feel this in the forearms, triceps, lats, or all of the above.

This footage is from 2022 in Copenhagen, and was the first time I got to teach a workshop in Europe. Could have explained this mobilization better and stumbled over my words, but I think I’ve improved!

Please repost this if you found it useful!