How to Calculate Strength With Weightlifting Ratios

Calculate strength – It can often be difficult to identify exactly where you are weak and where you are strong. Sometimes it is difficult not to measure ourselves against the people that we surround ourselves with and the people that we chose to train with. But the best option is always to look internally.

These ratio calculators will help you to judge your progress and identify weaknesses that you can work to improve, and areas and lifts you can be proud of. Time to find out if you are strong enough!

Calculate Strength – CALCULATING YOUR LIFTS USING THE BACK SQUAT

The following chart gives you a good indication of how much you should be looking to lift in relation to your 1 Rep Max back squat.

  If you want to work this out even more specifically then check out the scale below from Oly Lifts.co  

Source: Oly Lifts

Calculate Strength – RATIOS IN RELATION TO A 2 REP MAX CLEAN AND JERK

This ratio test is even more specific for CrossFitters and Weightlifters. The measurement base is a 2 Rep Max Clean and Jerk, so you will need to test this and establish a current number

The ratios are as follows:

Reference Lift: 2 Rep Max Clean and Jerk

• Snatch: 82.5% of clean & jerk
• Clean: 102.5% of clean & jerk
• Jerk: 105% of clean & jerk
• Power Clean: 85% of clean & jerk
• Power Jerk: 90% of clean & jerk
• Power Snatch: 67.5% of clean & jerk
• Front Squat: 110% of clean & jerk
• Back Squat: 125% of clean & jerk

Source: Stevie D Photography

There are a multitude of reasons why snatch and clean and jerk ratios often vary between individuals, but here are a few:

The snatch may fall below the range relative to the clean & jerk when:

1. The athlete is short-limbed, especially the arms
2. The athlete has poor snatch bottom position mobility
3. The athlete’s bodyweight is high for his/her height
4. The athlete is less explosive than strong
5. The athlete has incomplete elbow extension

The snatch may be above the predicted range when:

1. The athlete is tall and/or long-limbed
2. The athlete’s bodyweight is too low for his/her height
3. The athlete is more explosive than strong
4. The athlete’s squat strength is limited

From this ratio you can filter weaknesses in strength, technique or power. For example, if a lifter’s power clean and power snatches have a very high ratio (are above 85% and 67.5%) versus the clean and snatch, it’s obviously that the athlete is either exceptionally powerful, or has technical or mobility issues in getting under the bar into a full squat to receive the barbell.

That is a very common issue for CrossFitters – practicing the power snatch and power clean too much, and never developing the timing to get under the bar effectively.

If an athlete has a very large back squat but their clean & jerk and snatch are low compared to the squat, it’s clear that the issue is technique related.

Instead of trying to get stronger, they should invest more time in practicing the Olympic lifts and developing their technique.

Technique is important, but you should always focus on what’s holding you back. If your clean is way ahead of your jerk, you should spend more time getting your jerk to go up rather than simply keep getting your clean higher.

Calculate Strength – POWERLIFTING AND BODYBUILDING RATIOS

This is a fun test if you do like to compare your lifts against others. With a database that numbers in the millions, you will be given a ranking based on how your lift matches up with everyone else.

Source: Strength Level

ARE YOU FIT ENOUGH? STANDARDS FOR COMPETITIVE CROSSFITTERS

Post from 2017-2018 season:

“A recent post on CrossFit Training’s Instagram highlighted Roots’ owner Nicole Christensen. In the short video, she mentions a standards list that CrossFit Roots uses to determine if athletes are ready for a competitive program.

Over the past week, we have received a number of requests for this list. Here it is:”

Source: CrossFit Roots

“This minimum standards list determines if an athlete can join the Roots Competitor Program. The program trains 5 days per week, at a set mandatory time and in 2-hour sessions. Athletes must meet at least 19 of 21 standards – muscle-up and handstand push-up capacities are mandatory.

Prior to beginning the program, it is made clear that this is a program for athletes who want to compete in the sport of CrossFit and who have goals to do well at the Open and Regional levels.

We hope affiliates and CrossFitters may find this useful.”