The Press of Kaarlo Kangasniemi
R.A. Roman, M.S. Shakirzyanov
Moscow, FiS, 40-41:1970
Translated by Andrew Charniga, Jr.
Sportivny Press©
The sportsman’s position for the clean is the same as for his clean and jerk (see description for clean and jerk) except that there is less inclination of the trunk (50° instead of 55°). The hips are slightly higher than the knees. The arms are straight and the shoulders are over the bar.
The athlete raised the barbell to his chest with a squat clean. The athlete places his hands in a comfortable pressing position after rising from the squat (figure 2). The barbell is 146 cm from the platform (figure 3, position 3) when the athlete has fully straightened up.
The pelvis is shifted forward insignificantly in the starting position for the press; as a result, the barbell is lowered by 7 cm. The elbows are jutting forward of the line of the bar such that the forearms are at an angle of 15° to the vertical; the shoulder girdle is taut (figure 4, position 4).
However, Kangasniemi differs from other lifters because he does not lift the barbell from this position. Prior to separation from the chest, the athlete drops the shoulder girdle and flexes the knees. This action causes the barbell to shift forward and down another 8 cm. The barbell is now 15 cm below its position at the start (figure 5, position 5).
The athlete then straightens the legs and shifts the pelvis backwards (figure 6, 7). The straightening of the trunk sends the barbell upward. The athlete “catches up” with the barbell by pressing with the hands when the trunk has straightened. The elbows shift forward, but the forearms remain in the same position. The barbell traversed a distance of 25 cm up to separation. The greatest speed of movement was 1.2 m/sec (figure 8, position 8).
The athlete subsequently straightens the elbow joints to the greatest extent. The shoulders assume a horizontal position. Extension of these joints becomes difficult. The lifting of the barbell stops and it shifts 2.5 cm backwards (figure 9, position 9).
The sportsman leans back further and shifts his pelvis forward to facilitate the extension of the arms. The barbell continues to be raised vertically (figure 10, position 10).
The athlete then straightens the arms, shifts the trunk forward, and the pelvis backward in order to complete the exercise and fix the barbell (figures 11, 12, position 12).
The athlete lifted the barbell to a height of 58 cm. The barbell’s trajectory curved towards the athlete by 2.5 cm during the lifting. The athlete forcefully flexed then straightened the knees after the signal to press. This is in violation of the rules and it is a mistake.
Despite the leg action, the barbell speed at separation is rather low in comparison with other lifters (1.2 m/sec versus 1.28 m/sec for K. Pumpurinish and 1.48 m/sec for A. Kidyaev and J. Talts).
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| Kangasniemi Press C | |
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| Kangasniemi Press Trajectory | |