Jerk Blocks
When training to do Olympic weightlifting, the movements are either clean and jerk or a snatch. These movements both start by lifting the weights from the floor. If you need to simply practice your jerk, this can be difficult to isolate.
Weightlifting blocks
Jerk boxes work by lifting the bar off the ground to the correct height, you are then able to just perfect the final part of the exercise. This means you can start at a set height and raise the barbell straight over your head.
The blocks themselves are either high-density foam or wood jerk blocks and stack on top of each other to form different height platforms. They are designed to be strong enough to support heavy weights and to absorb the impact of weights being dropped on them. Despite being very strong, they should only be used with bumper plates to avoid damage.
Although a highly specialised piece of equipment to have in a garage gym, lifting from blocks still has benefits to anyone who is weight training.
If the blocks are stacked at a lower height, they can also be used as pulling blocks in order to help develop the lockout part of a deadlift.
For more information of jerk boxes and Olympic lifting, check out these articles How to do a clean and jerk What is Olympic weightlifting?
