Can someone help me with the specs for a junior barbell?  What weight is it?  How long is it?  Does it handle the standard weights that I use on my barbell or is it the smaller diameter weights that go on them?

I’d love for my kids to begin actually lifting; deads, back squats, shoulder press, cleans, etc., but I can’t seem to figure out exactly what to look for.  I’d like to pick one up used, if possible, from somewhere.  Anyone had any luck with CL for this?  I think I saw Rogue sells them, but I really don’t won’t to put down that much money on my kids lifting (just yet).

Thanks for any advice or help you can provide.

Have you looked at the “hyper lite” bar instructions on the CFJ?

TP

We usually advise starting lifts with dumbbells (SP,PP, PJ, Cleans, Thrusters, FS, ect.) or kbs (DL, SDHP).

The use of dbs obviates the need to teach proper bar path, rather the starting and ending positions can be the focus as well as proper neuro-muscular recruitment.  Moving your face out of the way for a SP is just one more extraneous thing to learn/teach.  Similarly, you only need to move to a barbell for the DL once proper form is attained and larger loads are required.  It is much easier to teach the DL with progressively heavier kbs; and is akin to the types of objects you’d have to pick up in everyday life (I rarely come across a barbell-type object I need to lift).

That being said… if your kids have attained (and maintain) proper form and mechanics for these lifts and you want to move to a barbell, BrandX has 15# aluminum O-bars to start on.  From Google: http://www.exercise-equipment-parts.com/extremely-light-aluminum-6-foot-olympic-bar-15-615.html

My *personal* feeling is that the kids can stay with dbs until they’ve achieved the strength to use the O-bar.  Bar path can be worked on as skill work with PVC, water filled PVC, and rebar-filled PVC.

TexasPatrick - 10 May 2010 12:00 PM

Have you looked at the “hyper lite” bar instructions on the CFJ?

You know, I remember reading that now, thanks for the reminder.  I actually have made a rebar/sand filled PVC pipe barbell for them, but the sand keeps falling out   Need to use better tape/glue on the end to keep it inside.

JDG - 10 May 2010 12:08 PM

We usually advise starting lifts with dumbbells (SP,PP, PJ, Cleans, Thrusters, FS, ect.) or kbs (DL, SDHP).

The use of dbs obviates the need to teach proper bar path, rather the starting and ending positions can be the focus as well as proper neuro-muscular recruitment.  Moving your face out of the way for a SP is just one more extraneous thing to learn/teach.  Similarly, you only need to move to a barbell for the DL once proper form is attained and larger loads are required.  It is much easier to teach the DL with progressively heavier kbs; and is akin to the types of objects you’d have to pick up in everyday life (I rarely come across a barbell-type object I need to lift).

That being said… if your kids have attained (and maintain) proper form and mechanics for these lifts and you want to move to a barbell, BrandX has 15# aluminum O-bars to start on.  From Google: http://www.exercise-equipment-parts.com/extremely-light-aluminum-6-foot-olympic-bar-15-615.html

My *personal* feeling is that the kids can stay with dbs until they’ve achieved the strength to use the O-bar.  Bar path can be worked on as skill work with PVC, water filled PVC, and rebar-filled PVC.

Excellent information, JDG, I really hadn’t thought too much about teaching everything with dbs first.  I think they’ll do better with those anyway.  Although, I would like to pick up one of the aluminum O-bars, if I ever get a chance to find one used.  Be a nice thing to have around….

Thanks for the info