Barbell Basics (Build the Foundation for Olympic Weightlifting)

Elite Performance starts with elite preparation.

Barbell Basics is not a typical how-to manual for the snatch and clean & jerk—it’s the definitive guide to preparing your body to perform these lifts with confidence and precision.

Written by two-time Olympian and weightlifting coach Chad Vaughn, with Dr. Aaron Horschig, Barbell Basics reframes Olympic weightlifting as a problem of preparation, mobility, and movement quality rather than one of cues, tricks, or constantly changing technique. Instead of focusing on how lifts should look, this book focuses on what the body must be capable of for those lifts to happen efficiently, safely, and consistently.

Through clear explanations, practical assessments, and proven protocols, readers will learn how to identify limitations in foundational positions—including the squat, overhead, and front rack positions—and how to address them through a customized, repeatable warmup and movement plan. The goal is simple: improve access to end ranges, strengthen those ranges, and build a body capable of expressing strength and power with confidence for long-term peak performance.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Series of tests to assess mobility in the bottom position, overhead position, and front rack position and specific exercises to help you improve
  
• Assessments to uncover problem areas such as glute coordination, hip extension, and hamstring flexibility, along with exercises to strengthen them
  
• Detailed guidance to make your daily warmups more effective and efficient
  
• Protocols for four types of athlete: “Impressive,” “You’re Ready,” “Almost There,” and “Level Up”
  

This book is designed for Olympic weightlifters, coaches, CrossFit athletes, and strength trainees who want to move better, lift more efficiently, and train with longevity in mind. After reading Barbell Basics, athletes and coaches will have a clear, individualized plan to move forward—one that supports performance through a focus on health and commonly overlooked fundamentals.