Strength Phase Meaning in Weightlifting

The strength phase is a specific period of training dedicated to building the maximum force of the muscles. During this time the athlete focuses on basic movements like squats and presses and deadlifts with heavy weights. The number of repetitions is usually lower while the weight on the bar is much higher than usual. This phase creates the raw physical foundation that the athlete will later turn into explosive power for competition. A weightlifter spends six weeks focusing on heavy back squats to increase their leg strength for the clean. Building a higher level of absolute strength allows the lifter to handle more challenging weights on the platform. This is a critical building block in the long term development of every successful Olympic weightlifter.