The Second Dip
Perhaps the most important aspect of the jerk, the “second dip” is not only a means of lowering your center of mass in order to extend the arm(s) underneath the object (as opposed to pressing up) to lockout, it’s also become an ideological analogy at the Ice Chamber to describe long term survival in sport.
While it is a well known fact that we all will hit the “dip” (time when we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles as defined by Seth Godin) and consider quitting, the “second dip” is a lesser known phenomenon and yet it holds the key to progress. It is the purposeful step backwards in training in order to examine technical flaws that may have accumulated over the years from just pushing forward.
Surya, for example, owns some of the highest competition one-arm jerk numbers recorded in America. However, upon dissection of her technique by Ivan Denisov, she was advised to go back to the drawing board to address one mirco-phase of the jerk that was hindering her ability to break her competition pace. Initially, this assignment diminished her ability to even keep her record numbers in training. Now after months of unlearning and relearning, Surya is able to return to her previous competition numbers, but with much more efficiency, power, and grace.
Sometimes, we have to stop dead in our tracks to look back and examine what has accumulated over time – the good and the bad. If we continue to push forward while disregarding quality, we will eventually become stuck; confused and dismayed as to why we don’t improve in competition. The “second dip” is a necessary step backwards. It is a means for us to understand the symptoms of the first “dip.” Taking some time out of our training to address technical flaws requires courage and patience. Let’s face it, most of us do not want to “lose” our momentum in training, even if it means picking up bad habits along the way. In the worst cases, we will not stop pushing ahead until we get physically or psychologically injured.
The “second dip” must be practiced perpetually – in any sport, if our goal is to improve, progress, and reach our personal best.
