Risk and Reward

One of the most controversial topics in the world of Olympic style weightlifting today is the triple extension (as popularized by Mike Burgener, Greg Everett, and Spencer Arnold) vs. the catapult method (as preferred by Don McCauley, Glen Pendlay, and Jon North). For those of you who are unfamiliar with these two methods, it essentially comes down to the bang vs. brush.

In coaching, I get questions all the time about which is right and which is wrong. When my athletes watch me snatch, they always are quick to observe that "the bar smacks off your hips and seems to swing out in front of you..." It's no secret that I am a fan and believer of the catapult method, but I also believe that an athlete can be successful with the triple extension. World records have been set using both styles, so for me to say one is right and one is wrong would be foolish. Obviously there is merit to both, so now the question becomes which one an athlete should use. Therein lies the challenge.

What I have discovered is that each style is a double edged sword. The triple extension is the safer route of the two. There is less that can go wrong, and generally speaking I think athletes who triple extend are a little more consistent and have to chase the bar less. The problem is that the safer route is also the lower payout. The pull under is a bit slower, and I believe (though I'm sure some would disagree) that the second pull is also a little less violent. The catapult is, in my opinion, the riskier of the two for several reasons. Primarily, more can go wrong, and I think initially it is harder to learn. Until an athlete learns to smack in the same spot every time, the inconsistency with the pull can become problematic. Additionally, left unbridled, the smack can cause too much horizontal movement in the bar path and get away from the lifter. Though it is riskier, if done correctly, I believe it is also more rewarding because it is the more powerful method, and produces the more speed under the bar, which can lead to higher numbers. I believe that eventually, each athlete will- if they practice enough- naturally gravitate towards whichever style suits them best. 

As with many avenues of life, we are often faced with decisions concerning risk and reward. Maybe it's a weekend trip to vegas, maybe it's playing the stock market, maybe it's fourth and short on your side of the fifty, or maybe it's entering in to a relationship, but in one way or another this dilemma comes upon us all. So often I have felt myself take the safe route, telling myself that I was making the "wise choice", when really I was just scared to risk it. I think of all the great men who came before me, and wonder what history would look like if they chose the safe route- what if William Wallace wouldn't have played it safe and stayed at home rather than risking it all to lead his people in the fight against the oppression and tyranny? What if Martin Luther would have played it safe and let the state run church continue to mislead people instead of risking his reputation and life by posting his 95 theses to the door of the Church? What if Peter would have played it safe and stayed in the boat, or if Paul would have played it safe and never returned to Jerusalem? What if Jesus would have played it safe and just kept his mouth shut? 

With greater risk comes greater reward, and with it comes greater pain. But sometimes the pain is worth it. Sheldon Vanauken in his book A Severe Mercy describes the health tension between risk and reward, and the ensuing heights and depths that come along with them:

"How does one find joy? In books it seemed to be found in love- a great love. So, if he wanted the heights of joy, he must have, if he could find it, a great love. But in the books again, great joy through love seemed always to go hand in hand with frightful pain. Still, he though, looking out across the meadow, still, the joy would be worth the pain- if indeed they went together. If there were a choice- and he was suspected there was- a choice between, on the one hand, the heights and the depths and, on the other hand, some sort of safe, cautious middle way, he, for one, here and now, chose the heights and the depths."

In our pursuit of Christ-likeness, it would serve us well to remember that our God is not a God of fear or timidity, but of boldness and courage. As His image bearers, we are to reflect His nature and character as best we can. I doubt very much that Jesus took the safe route very often. Just a thought. 

Blessings