Ze wrote:
You are right, I am purely speculating on injury and may be wrong. your link indicates so. I get that olympic lifts provide certain benefits, and they should. but those 'athletic' benefits aren't in line with many activities, nor important for someone who just wants to stay in shape.
I'm going to totally disagree here: I feel that olympic lifts are pretty great for just about everyone.
O-lifting builds functional strength, uses multi-joint movements, really hammers your true core (rather than just cute six-pack abs), builds bone density, works muscle groups in concert, and just makes you tougher/more durable overall.
True, you need to learn how to do it properly. But I don't see how these benefits aren't important for "someone who just wants to stay in shape". And I don't see how being stronger isn't "in line with many activities"...
Granted, super-high-level athletes of any stripe will likely shy away from O-lifting, as they are so sport-specific focused. But, honestly, how many of us on SP are throwing down cutting edge routes or qualifying for the US Tri Team?
Side note: definitely agree with bird's assessment of a dire lack of intensity from the general population's approach to exercise.