Explosive Lifting for Sports [Paperback]

Harvey Newton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2002

This work takes a detailed look at the safest, most effective learning progressions for a variety of lifts. It includes key technical adjustments and exercise options for different body types, and gives specific power-development programmes for athletes in eight different power sports.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

This product was authored by Human Kinetics based on the contributions of:

Harvey S. Newton is a leading figure in the world of weightlifting. Not only is he a former U.S. Olympic team weightlifting coach and former executive director of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), but he was also the first U.S. national coach and the first U.S. member of the International Weightlifting Federation's Scientific and Research Committee. He is the former editor in chief of NSCA's Strength and Conditioning Journal.

Newton holds an MA in sociology from the University of Colorado. A member of the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame, he continues to lecture nationally and internationally on strength training and weightlifting. He also serves as strength and power consultant to many sport organizations through his business, Newton Sports. He can be reached through his Web site at www.Newton-Sports.com. Newton resides in Maui, Hawaii. He spends his free time lifting weights, cycling, and reading.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736041729
• ISBN-13: 978-0736041720
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #938,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about the ONLY way to train athletes!, October 31, 2002

By 

"rluke86" (Olathe, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Explosive Lifting for Sports (Paperback)

So much training in the U.S. is dominated by bodybuilding practices and principles. In "Explosive Lifiting for Sports," Newton breaks down the ONLY way to train athletes, EXPLOSIVELY, with much of the training being dominated by Olympic Lifting (the Clean and Jerk and the Snatch.) It is a refreshing read and is a must have for any coach who wants to decrease a teams susceptibility to injury and improve their performance.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must read, April 22, 2003

By 

A. Shkrebtiyenko (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Explosive Lifting for Sports (Paperback)

Most books and publications focus on the bodybuilding side of weight lifting. This book is all about getting more explosive power, not about growing muscle. Unfortunately, when most people think about strength training, bodybuilding techniques come to mind. This is one of not many books that focus on lifting for purely functional purposes. You will not be doing any concentration curls 10 sets of 10 reps with programs offered by this book. Instead you'll be doing dynamic lifts that are guaranteed to increase your "core" body explosive strength.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In response to a previous post .. .., August 22, 2004

By 

Paul Anderson "Big Lifter" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Explosive Lifting for Sports (Paperback)

Most of the given information that this book does not help athletes in such sports as football, baseball, basketball, running etc. is completely and entirely absurd.

Sure, this type of "explosive" [olympic] lifting and other similar exercises and routines in themselves are not suitable for those players. Simply because, as stated endurance is a very important factor in sports. In order to be as effective as possible, programs and workouts must be created that include several different types of exercises and training.

Athletes of today ( of the professional kind at least...) implement one or several of these kinds of lifts. There are several different kinds of strength to be gained. One kind, explosive, cannot be gained without drills and exercises such as plyometrics and olympic lifts. Which is precisely the subject of this book. A sprinter would not have the power and speed to explode out of the hole without movements like these. Ever seen an NBA player dunk? That's explosive. Have you have ever seen a quarterback, wide receiver, or linebacker without amazing speed, strength, and power? They use exercises much similar to these. I find it hard to believe that any athlete would not find a single ounce of benefit at all from this book. Olympic "explosive" lifts teach the body to work together and when done correctly and efficiently, enhances overall speed, strength, power, agility, and flexibility. It teaches the entire body to work as one unit, getting bigger and stronger altogether and working just about every muscle in the process. Mostly importantly, it strengthens muscle of the upper body as well as all important muscles of the lower body (primarily everything ranging from the calves,hamstrings, glutes, lower back, to the upper back, delts, and traps)

There are also many cardiovascular benefits to this type of lifting as well. Since the body is worked all at one time with each exercise, not only is it quite taxing, it also saves quite a bit of time. Isolation type exercises (for example, bicep curls or leg extensions) need not be performed if training with this particular kind of lifting.

However, the one most important thing of engaging in any type of lifting program, especially one which contains complex movements (such as olympic lifting) is to have a qualified personal trainer or coach showing you the movements. So, this book may or may not be a worthy source from which to learn. In any case though, it takes most people on average, weeks, months, even several years to completely master lifts of these caliber and to become quite good at them. This book may be definitely worth a read, but make sure that if you do pick it up and attempt any of the exercises contained within, that you also have a qualified trainer or coach. If that is not possible, at least start off VERY light as to avoid injuries and then eventually work your way up slowly.