5. Power snatch from floor – squat snatch from thighs (hang) – squat snatch from floor

My favorite combo, this requires concentration—and maybe a coach to remind you what to do when first learning this combo. Power snatch the first rep from the floor, squat snatch the second rep from the middle or upper thighs, and squat snatch the third rep from the floor. That’s 3 reps and 1 set. You never take your hands off the bar and you don’t use straps. This combo will develop grip, consistency and efficiency. It really helps lifters learn how to keep the bar close, brush the thighs, and get under the bar fast. You would work up to about 70% for 3 sets of 3 reps. This combo should also be done for cleans: power clean from floor – squat clean from thighs – squat clean from floor.

6. Snatch high pull – snatch – snatch high pull

Another one of my favorites, in this combo you do a snatch high pull, then a snatch (power or squat), and then another snatch high pull—that’s 1 set of 3. My lifters like to call this combo the snatch sandwich. You can do the same combo for cleans: clean high pull – clean (power or squat) – clean high pull—again that is 1 set of 3. You can also reverse the pulls and lifts: snatch – snatch high pull – snatch; and clean – clean high pull – clean. This combo helps you straighten out your pull. You could work up to around 80% for 3 sets of 3 reps.

7. Power clean – front squat – strict press from the front squat bottom position

One of the most interesting and difficult combos that I’ve ever seen was done by Viktor Sots (Soviet Union), 100-kg world champion in 1981, with lifts of 182.5 and 225, total 407.5 kg; and in 1982 doing 190 and 232.5, total 422.5 kg, beating Yuri Zakharevich’s 195 and 225, total 420 kg.

Viktor would do power cleans, followed by front squats, followed by strict presses from the front squat bottom position. He would do 3 power cleans, 3 front squats and then 3 presses from the bottom front squat position. I saw him do this combo in several training sessions, and in one workout he did 160 kg x3, and 170 and 180 for singles. His shoulder flexibility and strength were incredible. I believe he was the first modern-day push jerker doing 232.5 kg. I tell people about this combo, and when they try it, they all fail the first few times, but with practice some get up to 60 kg, though most just quit. Some think the Sots press is done from the squat position, but with the bar behind the head; that is not correct—it must be power cleaned, lowered to the front squat bottom position, and pressed from there—then you can stand!