219
Analysis of the optimal trajectory in
Weightlifting in style "Snatch"
David Zamora, Paul Rodas, William Pauzhi, Pablo Zumba, Jorge Duchitanga, Fernando Urgiles.
Abstract - The paper presents a comparative analysis of the data
obtained from the vertical trajectory of the bar during
weightlifting in the snatch mode, these amateur athletes will be
compared to an elite athlete in weightlifting, in order to obtain
velocities and accelerations for the evaluation of the technique
used in each phase. The Lagrange interpolation method was used
to obtain a mathematical representation a function of time
describing the trajectory of the bar during the uprising in the
snatch mode, to thereby obtain the speed and acceleration during
the lifting of the bar at every phase.
Index Terms—— Weightlifting, Snatch, Velocities,
accelerations.
I. INTRODUCTION
HIS research concerns the evaluation of trajectories that, a
Tweightlifting athlete use for weightlifting in the snatch mode.
In the weightlifting, one of the main factors for do this
exercise correctly, is the strength and anthropometric
characteristics of the athlete, however the technique plays an
important role in the athlete in order to achieve high
performance during the practice of this sport. The aim of the
training is to prepare athletes to generate maximum power and
speed in lifting weights, these parameters can be potentiated if
optimal technique is applied during exercise of this sport [1].
This work is focused on determining the most influential
patterns during the execution of a technique for lifting weights
in starting mode to obtain an objective standpoint-analytical,
that it will help to determine whether the implementation of a
specific technique meets the desired characteristics [2] [3] [4].
David A, Zamora nació en Cuenca, of the GITEL investigation group, of
the Salesian Polytechnic University of Cuenca, Ecuador (e-mail:
dzamora@est.ups.edu.ec)
Paul E. Rodas Member of the GITEL investigation group, of the Salesian
Polytechnic University of Cuenca, Ecuador (e-mail: prodaso@est.ups.edu.ec)
William H. Pauzhi Member of the GITEL investigation group, of the
Salesian Polytechnic University of Cuenca, Ecuador (email:
wpauzhi@est.ups.edu.ec)
Pablo X. Zumba. Member of the GITEL investigation group, of the
Salesian Polytechnic University of Cuenca, Ecuador. (email:
pzumbap@est.ups.edu.ec)
Jorge Duchitanga Gonzales Member of the GITEL investigation group, of
the Salesian Polytechnic University of Cuenca, Ecuador. (email
:jduchitanga@est.ups.edu.ec)
Patricio Fernando Ortiz Urgiles: Professor of Electrical Engineering and
Member of the GITEL investigation group, of the Salesian Polytechnic
University of Cuenca, Ecuador. (email: furgiles@est.ups.edu.ec).
978-1-4673-8756-9/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE
To perform research was taken as reference of the optimal
technique to the path of the bar that is drawn in the lateral
plane the athlete during execution of lifting weights by a elite
athlete. This was done using a digital camera to capture in
video the execution of lifting weights each athlete and then
obtain the path of each bar by Kinovea software and export the
data to Matlab software for further processing and analysis.
II. WEIGHTLIFTING.
Olympic Weightlifting is a sport whose aim is to lift as
much weight evenly distributed on disks that are attached to
the ends of a metal bar. Although this sport has always been
related to the force, today it is recognized that in addition to
this component, is necessary add qualities such as
coordination and flexibility are potentiated with a proper
technique [5] [6].
The International Weightlifting Federation IWF, for its
acronym in English, recognizes two types of weightlifting, the
snatch and clean where the two types of lifting must be done
with the two hands and allowing a maximum of 3 attempts [7].
A. Weightlifting in snatch mode.
The IWF indicates that lifting weights in the snatch mode
must be continuous, attached to the body and is allowed to
slide the bar over of thighs. To be valid the lifting, at the end
of it, the athlete must remain stationary, with both arms and
legs in extended position, the feet parallel to the plane of the
trunk and the bar.
When the athlete meets the parameters mentioned
previously the referees indicate the athlete that can lower the
bar to the platform competition to end the intervention of the
athlete. The lifting in snatch mode is invalid if the lifting is
made slowly, or if the athlete's head touches the bar [7].
B. Snatch Phases.
The snatch can be divided into two stages to facilitate their
study and analyze its proper implementation, as any mistakes
during the execution of each step may be a failed attempt. The
first stage it has 3 phases, which takes into account aspects
such as knee angles, velocities of each phase and displacement
of the bar. While that stage 2 consists of 2 phases in which the
most important are the speed and the time it is used to run
them. In total are five phases in the snatch mode, which are
the first halon, the transition phase, the second phase of halon,
the fall phase and finally the presentation [4] [8] [9].
a) The first Halon phase.
In this first phase, the bar is raised to the first lower third of
the thigh, product of the extension of the legs, moving the hip
 220

and shoulder upward in an arc. The feet of the athlete should dy 1 (1)
V y 1 ( phase 1) =
stay as flat as possible to the floor for greater transmission of dt
forces and a correct pressure distribution. During this first Where:
phase the bar moves upward and horizontally toward the • (y1) It is the vertical displacement of the bar in the
athlete (Fig. 1-C) [4] [8] [9] [10]. first halón.
• (t) The time that takes the bar to cover the distance
b) The transition phase. during the first halon phase.
In this phase, the bar moves from the knees to the middle
part of the thighs, bending the knees about 10 to 20 degrees, b) Speed in the phase of transition.
placing the shoulders over the bar with outstretched arms and Relationship between the displacement of the bar and the
wrists flexed. (Fig. 1-D) [4] [8] [9] [10]. time it takes the athlete to perform the transition phase. It is
expressed in equation 2 as:
c) The second Halon phase. dy 2
V y 2 ( phase 2 ) = (2)
During this phase, the bar moves from the middle of the dt
thigh to the maximum height with arms extended overhead. Where:
During this movement the hip, legs and trunk have maximum
• (y2) It is the vertical distance of the bar covered in
extension, also causing plantar flexion. At this phase, the arms
the transitional phase.
are still extended, so that the upward movement of the bar
• (t) The time that takes the bar to cover the distance
depends on the direction of the trunk. (Fig. 1-H) [4] [8] [9]
during the transition phase.
[10].
c) Maximum vertical speed bar.
d) The fall phase.
Relationship between the displacement of the bar and the
It is considered from the maximum height reached by the
time it takes the athlete to perform the second halon phase. It
bar, until the athlete doing squats with the bar behind your
is expressed as in equation 3:
head. It maintains features like sliding under the bar, lateral
dy 3 (3)
displacement of the feet, knee flexion and the vertical trunk V y 3 ( pahse 3) =
leaning slightly forward. Furthermore legs are spaced laterally. dt
(Fig. 1-L) [4] [8] [9] [10]. Where:
• (y3) It is the vertical distance of the bar covered in
the second halon phase.
• (t) The time that takes the bar to cover the distance
during the second halon phase.
Figure 2 show a characteristic curve space-time of the
trajectory of the bar during the snatch mode.
Fig. 1. Snatch Phases [11].

C. Speed of phase.
As mentioned above, the vertical velocity of the bar during
the execution of snatch, is an important parameter, the speed
should increase constantly to reach the maximum in the phase
of the second pull, however the velocity tends to decrease
during the transition phase [11].
To analyze the technique of weightlifting in boot mode
every attempt was divided into 3 stages, which are: the rising
stage, the stage of fall and finally the stage of presentation.
The first stage was divided into 3 phases which are: first
halon, transition, and second halon, this division in phases
helps us analyze more easily the rising stage because it is the Fig. 2. Phase speeds [11].
most important because if mistakes are made in this stage
lifting weights could be failed. Figure 2 shows a characteristic
III. METHODOLOGY
graph of the speed vertical of the bar during weightlifting in
the snatch mode. A. Data acquisition.
For data acquisition 1280x720 resolution camera is used,
a) First Halon vertical speed. and through this, the movement of the bar is captured during
This speed is the ratio between the displacement of the bar the execution of the lift. This was analyzed with the help of
and the time it takes the athlete to perform the first phase of Kinovea software, which the resulting data to the data
Halon. It is expressed in equation 1 as: processing function of existing athletes in the field of
221

weightlifting is taken, the population for the test was elected at

the Sports Federation of Azuay (FDA) where six athletes of
different categories were selected based on their experience,
weight and level. In test 3 attempts to lift the bar, with equal
weight depending on the category of the athlete was
performed.

B. Data processing.
First, the characteristic curve of uprising in boot mode
athlete elite was obtained, this will serve as a reference for
data analysis, graphs obtained from the path of the bar on the
lifting of all athletes were normalized versus time and
distance, to thereby have the same frame of comparison for all
athletes.
For data analysis working with the average curve of each Fig. 3. Curves in three different lifting, together with their average curve.
athlete, which using the Matlab software, Lagrange Elite athlete
interpolation is used and a mathematical function in relation to
time, which represents the displacement of the bar for each B. Curves Average
athlete it was obtained. As a result it has similar characteristic The same procedure for the remaining five athletes was
curves of each athlete, which has an error regarding the actual conducted, resulting in the normalized average curves all
curves graphs. athletes.
This graph and the velocity and acceleration function is
obtained at a specific point in each phase, for it is performed
the first and second derivatives respectively of the
characteristic function of each athlete.

C. Characteristics of Athletes tested lifting in snatch mode.

TABLE I
ATHLETES AGE STATURE WEIGHT (WT) LEVEL *RW *Exp
Athlete 1 20 1,68m 69,85 *E 90 4
Athlete 2 18 1,69m 85,8 *I 95 1.5
Athlete 3 18 1,60m 65,15 *I 80 1.5
Athlete 4 17 1,59m 59,35 *I 60 1.5
Athlete 5 14 1,51m 68,2 *I 60 3
Athlete 6 18 1,64m 73,65 *I 60 2
Experience Level: *E=Elite; *I=Intermedium
*R.W=Raised Weight [RW]. Fig. 4. Average curves of each athlete.
*Exp=EXPERIENCE IN YEARS.

The equation representing the position of the bar graphs

IV. RESULTS OBTAINED
A. Elite Athlete.
The graph represents the three lifting of the elite athlete, in
which an average was made to obtain a standard curve, which
is taken into account for the analysis of other athletes
spatiotemporal each athlete is given by equation 4.
s ( t ) = p 1 t n + p 2 t n −1 + .... + p n t + p n +1 (4)
C. Curves adjusted by interpolation.
Then the interpolated curves and their respective
coefficients of the general equation (Equation 4) is displayed.

The graphs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show the curves obtained by

interpolation using the model of equation 4, these curves
represent the weightlifting in snatch mode of each athlete, they
are standardized in both the x-axis as the y-axis to perform
analysis and compare the technique of each athlete.
 222

Fig. 7. Average curve. Athlete 2.

Fig. 5. Average curve. Elite athlete.

General equation coefficients for the athlete 2 in Table IV.

General equation coefficients for the elite athlete in Table TABLE IV

II. COEFFICIENTS (p) OF EQUATION ATHLETE 2 (n = 10)
TABLE II p1 5,37974294667266e-15 p7 0,00331678518128941
COEFFICIENTS (p) OF EQUATION ELITE ATHLETE (n = 10) p2 -2,64520976693262e-12 p8 -0,0369971548619052
p1 9,64622972828430e-15 p7 0,0108336814696765 p3 5,46957783581469e-10 p9 0,270534560420487
p2 -4,97957585555583e-12 p8 -0,158016418340765 p4 6,14644697038127e-08 p10 -0,0730624432922025
p3 1,08965656186477e-09 p9 1,20054081626250 p5 4,04061185050444e-06 p11 -0,145389239381135
p4 -1,31317660486030e-07 p10 -2,78248756237869 p6 -0,000155378558203056
p5 9,47082756592018e-06 p11 1,07542146592305
p6 -0,000415765468269516

Fig. 6. Average curve. Athlete 1. Fig. 8. Average curve. Athlete 3.

General equation coefficients for the athlete 1 in Table III. General equation coefficients for the athlete 3 in Table V.

TABLE III TABLE V

COEFFICIENTS (p) OF EQUATION ATHLETE 1 (n = 10) COEFFICIENTS (p) OF EQUATION ATHLETE 3 (n = 10)
p1 1,24777623047232e-14 p7 0,0119260545654782 p1 9,64622972828430e-15 p7 0,0108336814696765
p2 -6,31793732074777e-12 p8 -0,163882806052208 p2 -4,97957585555583e-12 p8 -0,158016418340765
p3 1,35454062274844e-09 p9 1,13301074313433 p3 1,08965656186477e-09 p9 1,20054081626250
p4 -1,59616268976189e-07 p10 -1,77867594918244 p4 -1,31317660486030e-07 p10 -2,78248756237869
p5 1,12180747607578e-05 p11 0,449983015407566 p5 9,47082756592018e-06 p11 1,07542146592305
p6 -0,000477146830261743 p6 -0,000415765468269516
223

respectively during the lifting in snatch

mode.
TABLE VIII
AVERAGE SPEED BY PHASE (M/S)
Athlete Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
Average Speeds
Elite 2.45 3.66 1.52 -0.26
1 2.18 3.09 1.14 -0.64
2 2.15 3.22 1.36 -0.72
3 1.89 3.16 1.47 -0.5
4 2.07 3.45 1.98 -0.7
5 1.59 4.69 1.81 -0.51

TABLE IX
Fig. 9. Average curve. Athlete 4. AVERAGE ACCELERATION BY PHASE (m/s2).
Athlete Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4
General equation coefficients for the athlete 4 in Table VI. Aceleraciones Promedio
Elite 0.419 -0.37 -0.628 -0.089
TABLE VI 1 0.26 -0.249 -0.585 0.128
COEFFICIENTS (p) OF EQUATION ATHLETE 4 (n = 10) 2 0.272 -0.081 -0.577 0.035
p1 7,95839567743154e-15 p7 0,00359329290074542 3 0.131 0.143 -0.604 0.185
p2 -3,84110859077763e-12 p8 -0,0298430096149115 4 0.15 -0.02 -0.29 -0.14
p3 7,74812947545947e-10 p9 0,126064972179463 5 -0.43 0.14 -0.34 -0.12
p4 -8,42444014230901e-08 p10 0,688023358246370
p5 5,29320373982669e-06 p11 -0,384424545425264
p6 -0,000190233811445098 V. ANALYSIS OF CURVES OF THE ATHLETES.
As we have seen in the curves and tables of each athlete, the
elite athlete maintains a superiority in the average speed of
each phase of the lifting with regard to amateur athletes, with
stage 1 being the most notable, because here consists 3
continuous phases, where a greater variation of speed and
acceleration occurs in all athletes.
The analysis used the first and second derivative of the
equation that represents the path of the bar of each athlete,
which we deliver the results of speed and acceleration in the
points analyzed or the total average in each phase.
A. Analysis in Stage 1.
As determined in the tables (VIII, IX) could be analyzed at
this stage the elite athlete has a top speed compared to amateur
Fig. 10. Average curve. Athlete 5.
athletes, so to survey achieved in less time, and this creates
less effort elite athlete. Having constant variations in the
General equation coefficients for the athlete 5 in Table VII. accelerations of phase 1, 2 and 3 the athlete achieves greater
acceleration at the start of the phase, because the phase of the
TABLE VII second halon must occur quickly, as if not the acceleration
COEFFICIENTS (p) OF EQUATION ATHLETE 5 (n = 13) used in each phase is dosed, this will not allow more force to
p1 3,72182960694381e-19 p8 -0,000177717545700968
p2 -2,48714378440043e-16 p9 0,00397902074622177
reach the final stage. Which results in the elite athlete is
p3 7,34920767307562e-14 p10 -0,0558994129850736 predominant in this stage compared to other athletes.
p4 -1,26264631717631e-11 p11 0,457637177958296
p5 1,39487979455982e-09 p12 -1,86828416682160
p6 -1,03440990416192e-07 p13 3,33191973320225 B. Stage 2 analysis.
p7 5,21829834934749e-06 p14 -0,677976088865826
a) Analysis Phase 4.
D. Important characteristics in weightlifting in each phase. As determined in the tables (VIII, IX), it was noted that at
this stage the athlete elite has a negative velocity less
After obtaining the equations representing each lifting of all regarding recreational athletes, this is due to the decay phase
athletes, for obtain the speeds and accelerations by phases further acceleration goes to zero because less variation in the
during the uprising in snatch mode we proceeded to make the rate of fall of the bar, because if falls too needed more strength
first and second derivatives in the equations obtained and energy to carry out the final phase is the presentation.
previously. The Tables VIII and IX show the average This defines the elite athlete is predominant at this stage due
velocities and accelerations by each phase of each athlete to conduct a minor downward and upward travel of the bar, so
do not consume too much power and energy, which is vital for
 224

the presentation phase.

[11] C. J, “Estudio del movimiento de arrancada en halterofilia durante ciclos
de repeticiones de alta intensidad mediante análisis cinemático: estudio
de caso,” Universidad de Valencia – Federación Española de
b) Analysis in Phase 5 Halterofilia, vol. 12, 2004. [Online]. Available: http://
www.revistamotricidad.es/openjs/index.php?journal=motricidad&page=
It could discuss that at this stage all athletes have similar
article&op=viewArticle&path%5B%5D=100&path%5B%5D=209
results as if they fail to stability in the previous stage can not [12] M. Orrala and J. Simón, “Preparación física en el levantamiento de
make a proper presentation. potencia, categoría pre-juvenil de 16 a 18 años en el colegio mixto
particular upse, cantón la libertad, provincia de santa elena, año lectivo
2013-2014,” Ph.D. dissertation, 2013.
VI. CONCLUSIONS [13] A. Hedrick and H. Wada, “Movimientos del Levantamiento de
Based on the results obtained are determined, a faster Pesas:¿Son Mayores los Beneficios que los Riesgos?” PubliCE
Standard, 2009
athletes optimize performance in terms of weight lifted. Phase
3 is the most influential since it presents greater changes in
reference to elite athlete, where a higher slope as a function of
speed is denoted.
The technique of less experienced athletes meet the
continued increase in speed for the stage, yet these rates have
to be higher to improve their technique. In intermediate level
athletes, there is a greater extension of the runtime during the
fall.
With regard to analysis speed and increasing slopes, the
athlete 2 has a similarity in stature compared with elite athlete,
but its weight is greater approximately 15.96 Kg, this would
theoretically result in an uprising faster, or with slopes greater
for each phase, but it is clear that the elite athlete, having a
greater number of years of experience how much better
technique and can lift a greater relative weight to their
physical characteristics.

REFERENCES
[1] M. G. S. P. Beltrán, “Momento angular en la fase de despegue de la
barra en el levantamiento de pesas en la modalidad de arranque,”
EFDeportes.com, Revista Digital. Buenos Aires, vol. 16, no. 160, 2011.
[Online]. Available: http://www.efdeportes.com/efd160/despegue-de-la-
barra-en-el-levantamiento-de-pesas.html
[2] J. Lei, Z. Gao, Q. Song, M. Liu, L. Qiu, Y. Yu, and Y. Ge, “Analysis of
GRF by means of wavelet transform for the performance diagnosis of
weight lifter,” in Information Acquisition, 2006 IEEE International
Conference on. IEEE, 2006, pp. 388 – 392.
S. Lenjannejadian and M. Rostami, “Optimal trajectories of snatch
weightlifting for two different weight classes by using genetic
algorithm,” in Biomedical Engineering Conference, 2008. CIBEC 2008.
Cairo International. IEEE, 2008, pp. 1 – 4.
[3] J. Carlock and M. S. M. Stone, “Introducción: Arranque versus Envión,”
Publice Standard., 2005.
[4] U. de Medellin D. de Bienestar Universitario, Reglamento tecnico para
el levantamiento de pesas. Universidad de Medellin, 1993.
[5] F. L. Muñoz, “Eficacia de un programa de enseñanza para halterofilia de
los gestos técnicos en niños de 11 años de edad de la concentración
deportiva de Pichincha,” 2010.
[6] I. W. Federation, “Reglas y reglamentos técnicos de competencia de
IWF,” 2013.
[7] V. Gourgoulis, N. Aggeloussis, A. Panagiotis, C. Christoforidis, G.
Mavromatis, and A. Garas, “Comparative 3-Dimensional Kinematics
Analysis of the Snatch Technique in Elite Male and Female Greek
Weightlifters,” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 16,
pp. 359 – 366, 2002.
[8] J. E. Q. Díaz, “La técnica de los ejercicios de fuerza,” Sport training
magazine, 2008.
[9] L. I. R. Suarez, “Fundamentos generales de la técnica y metodología de
la enseñanza de los ejercicios con pesas y sus indicadores,” Fedehater
magazine, vol. 4, 2008.
[10] M. C. M. Rodriguez and A. J. Hernandez, “Caracteristicas
biomenecanicas del arranque ejecutado por levantadores de pesas de la
universidad de los andes.” Universidad de los Andes, 2006.