Guest guest Posted June 2, 2001 Report Share Posted June 2, 2001 Recently,in issue 157 of T-mag, an article by Staley on body types sparked some interest in me. I was reading through " Managing the Training of Weightlifters " , and I saw a very similar part on pages 53 and 55. The classifications employed by Staley and the authors of Managing (Laputin and Oleshka, i think) use the same terms to define the same thing but they use them in the exact opposite way. Laputin and Oleshka cite A. I. Mulchin's classification system, calling " athletes with long upper and lower extremeties and a relatively short and wide toro-- dolichomorphs " mesomorphs,- proper proportionality, and brachiomorphs have " short upper and lower extremities and a relatively narrow, long torso " (53). Staley, in the t-mag article, says that if you segregate people into 2 corners (based upon limb length), " On the left, we have people with ideal weightlifting levers (called dolicomorphs), and on the right, their more brachiomorphic (long-limbed) peers. " Although this may just be a technicality based upon a typo, clearly Mulchin designates long limbed people as dolicomorphs while Staley in an opposite fashion says they are brachiomorphs. Furthermore, Staley says of Olympic lifting, " Athletes who are successful in this sport have short levers [which in his terms would be dolicomorphs and in Mulchins, would be brachiomorphs]. " In the " Managing " book, however, Laputin and Oleshka cite many different types of lifters' body structures (55). Furthermore they say that with the abolition of the press, it has become a speed- strength competition, and quoted in " Managing " Dr. Augustiin Dzedzits says " 'Preference will be given to youths with long muscles' " (8). This basically says that lifters who are dolicomorphs should excel, which again is what Staley implied based on his terminology, although for the exact opposite reason (because they have long limbs not short as the T-mag article says). I ask Mel and other members to clear up this whole chaos and contradiction that I have noticed and am somewhat perplexed by. With all respect to Mr. Staley, I currently am believing and leaning toward what was written in the " Managing " book. D...... Boyle San Diego, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2001 Report Share Posted June 3, 2001 Zhekov (Biomechanics of the Weightlifting Exercises 1976, in Weightlifting Training and technique 1992) define a brachiomorphic body structure and a dolichomorphic body structure as follow: Brachiomorphic: Proportionally shorter lower extremities and a longer torso. Dolichomorphic: Proportionally longer lower extremities and a shorter torso. Kanyevsky (Teaching the starting position of the snatch and clean & jerk to novice weightlifters 1982, in Weightlifting Training and technique 1992) uses the Mulchin classification which goes as follow: Brachiomorphic: relatively long torso and short legs Mesomorphic: Intermediate or balanced proportions Dolichomorphic: Relatively short torso and long legs So both authors agree (and this goes to show that the info in " Managing the training of the weightlifter is accurately reported). Christian Thibaudeau Quebec, Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2001 Report Share Posted June 3, 2001 D. Boyle wrote: > Recently,in issue 157 of T-mag, an article by Staley on body > types sparked some interest in me. I was reading through " Managing > the Training of Weightlifters " , and I saw a very similar part on pages > 53 and 55. The classifications employed by Staley and the authors of > Managing (Laputin and Oleshka, i think) use the same terms to define > the same thing but they use them in the exact opposite way. Huh: will wonders never cease? > Laputin and Oleshka cite A. I. Mulchin's classification system, > calling " athletes with long upper and lower extremeties and a > relatively short and wide toro-- dolichomorphs " mesomorphs,- proper > proportionality, and brachiomorphs have " short upper and lower > extremities and a relatively narrow, long torso " (53). I am no expert on taxonomic terminology (maybe an expert will chime in here), but a quick web search on the terms indicates that 'dolicho' refers to long limbs in comparison with torso length, whatever the torso form. A good example is the dolichopodid, a long- legged fly that is a predator of other flying insects: http://www-personal.une.edu.au/~dbritton/dolicho.htm Similarly, the term 'brachi' refers to short limbs in comparison with torso size. Interestingly, at the following URL, Kozlov and Vershubsky refer to dolichomorphs as having narrower than average shoulders in comparison with height, and brachimorphs as having wider shoulders/height. http://www.user.cityline.ru/~tksggver/ak/morphology.html This thus lumps the torso form and limb length into a single measure. This doesn't quite jibe with Mulchin's scheme w.r.t. torso form (e.g., Mulchin's scheme classifies long legs as implying wide shoulders). Still, Mulchin's scheme at least pushes things in the same general direction in terms of limb length, so I'd say that 'Managing' wins on balance. - Wayne Hill Westborough, MA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2001 Report Share Posted June 3, 2001 I just sent the following email to the T-mag crew. Since it is sent to their feedback section I feel that I can post it on this board without disrespecting the correct netiquette: " This letter is in reference to M. Staley's latest article " Body Type and Training Strategy: An observational analysis " . I found it to be a very interesting article as well as a very applicable article, However M. Staley seems to have misused the correct body type terms Dolichomorphic and Brachiomorphic. The article by M. Staley clearly state that individuals with " brachiomorphic " body structure are individual with long limbs and a short torso, This is either stated directly in his article or strongly implied. Here are some examples: M. Staley says: - Brachiomorphic Body Type (long limbs) - on the right, their more brachiomorphic (long-limbed) peers. - Brachiomorphs, those long-armed benchers who hit the wall and crash Similarly, M. Staley defines individuals with dolichomorphic body structures as having short limbs and a long torso. This is also either stated directly or implied. Here are some examples: M. Staley says: - Dolicomorphic Body Type (short limbs) - On the left, we have people with ideal weightlifting levers (called dolicomorphs), While I do not dispute the value of M. Staley's article (which I think is still applicable) I think that he should revise the use of the words brachiomorphic and dolichomorphic because HE CONFUSED THE TWO! From IP Zhekov (Biomechanics of the Weightlifting Exercises 1976, in Weightlifting and Training Technique 1992): 1. Brachiomorphic: Proportionally shorter extremities (limbs) and a longer torso. 2. Dolichomorphic: Proportionally longer extremities (limbs) and a shorter torso. From VB Kanyevsky (Teaching the starting position of the snatch and the clean ? jerk to novice weightlifters 1982, , in Weightlifting and Training Technique 1992): 1. Brachiomorphic: Relatively long torso and short legs 2. Mesomorphic: Intermediate proportions (balanced) 3. Dolichomorphic: Relatively short torso and long legs From NP Laputin and VG Oleshko (Managing the training of weighlifters 1982): The Mulchin table which compare body proportions of lifters of various body types and weight classes: 1. For light classes: a) Dolichomorph: the leg length is 55.5% of the total height; the arm length is 45.8% of the total height. Mesomorph: the leg length is 53.3% of the total height; the arm length is 44.0% of the total height. c) Brachiomorph: the leg length is 51.1% of the total height; the arm length is 42.2% of the total height. 2. For middle classes: a) Dolichomorph: the leg length is 55.0% of the total height; the arm length is 45.3% of the total height. Mesomorph: the leg length is 52.9% of the total height; the arm length is 43.8% of the total height. c) Brachiomorph: the leg length is 50.8% of the total height; the arm length is 42.3% of the total height. 3. For heavy classes: a) Dolichomorph: the leg length is 54.2% of the total height; the arm length is 45.1% of the total height. Mesomorph: the leg length is 52.1% of the total height; the arm length is 43.6% of the total height. c) Brachiomorph: the leg length is 50.0% of the total height; the arm length is 42.1% of the total height. So as you can see from this information dolichomorphs have the longer limbs, not brachiomorphs as M. Staley wrongfully said. In fact, light dolichomorphs have legs that are 4.4% longer and arms 3.6% longer than their brachiomorphs counterparts. For middle classes this difference is 4.2% and 2% and for heavy classes it's 4.2% and 3%. Sadly, terms like brachiomorphic and dolychomorphic are seldomly used by trainers. So if you are to spread its use around (your mag reaches a lot of peoples) at least use the correct definition for the correct concept! " Christian Thibaudeau Quebec, Canada www.ironmag.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2001 Report Share Posted June 3, 2001 It was written: < " This letter is in reference to Staley's latest article " Body Type and Training Strategy: An observational analysis " . I found it to be a very interesting article as well as a very applicable article, However M Staley seems to have misused the correct body type terms Dolichomorphic and Brachiomorphic. " > I also (second part of my letter) question his application, for OLing. I feel that it is possible that Staley extrapolated that dolicomorphs have dominant body type for OLing and thus he tried to explain it in his (incorrect) terms. The problem is that OLing is a speed strength competition (refer to 9184 original) and therefore (moderately) long limbed athletes have the advantage-- with the abolition of the press. Mr. Staley goes into this detailed explanation on how max effort lifting may benefit OLers, since the majority are short limbed (which although he doesn't outright say it, would in his terms be dolicomorphs). This assertion clearly contradicts the speed strength nature of OLing which again suits in real terms Dolicomorphs (not his terms). Boyle San Diego, CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 me2dsupertraining@... wrote: > Laputin and Oleshka cite A. I. Mulchin's classification system, > calling " athletes with long upper and lower extremeties and a > relatively short and wide toro-- dolichomorphs " mesomorphs,- proper > proportionality, and brachiomorphs have " short upper and lower > extremities and a relatively narrow, long torso " (53). > > Staley, in the t-mag article, says that if you segregate people > into 2 corners (based upon limb length), " On the left, we have > people with ideal weightlifting levers (called dolicomorphs), and > on the right, their more brachiomorphic (long-limbed) peers. " In Greek, " dolicho " means " long " and " brachy " means " short " . I can see how using one for " long-bodied but short-limbed' and the other for " short-bodied but long-limbed " might get confusing. To further complicate matters, " brachio " means " arm " . That could further confuse you into thinking " brachiomorph " meant " long-limbed " -- at least if you thought you recognized " brachio " and didn't know what " dolicho " meant. Anyway, we're all mesomorphs here, right? ;^) Matt Madsen City? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.