Jerk - What's important, how and why to do it

I recently posted a video on youtube regarding proper execution of the jerk (as in clean and jerk):

Please excuse my geek-attitude in getting all technical with velocities and angles.  This video was spurred by the fact that I saw a horrible, abomination on a website regarding rack position in the jerk.  I shall leave the perpetrator of technique unamed.

Seriously, there are a lot of misconceptions on the jerk.  So, let's lay out some basic scientific truths on the jerk:
1. It is a leg exercise, you don't use your arms to generate power.
2. It is not a natural, innate motion. Hence, your hand position should not mimic how a primate would bring food to its mouth (yeah dont ask me to quote my sources on this one)
3. The grip on the bar is of little significance.  ie hook grip is not necessary, just make sure your paws point up.
4. From the heel!  Drive from the heel
5. You can jerk whatever you can clean.  If you can't jerk your clean, then you have serious technical deficiencies in your jerk.  No worries, I know just the people who can fix it.  Their names start with Ivan Rojas and Dr  Herrera.  Even myself, just hanging out with these geniuses can probably get your jerk in shape. 

In our last seminar, we went into great detail on proper jerk execution and how you can use it to build explosiveness in strength athletes.  Yes, non-weightlifters should jerk to get a higher vertical, faster, and more explosive. We covered how a strength coach might train an athlete in strength sports in the jerk and the resulting benefits.   We also looked at profiles of the jerk and discussed characteristics of an elite athlete's jerk, specifically, Yurik Vardanyan's.  Further, Dr Herrera is qualified to discuss Vardanyan's jerk as he was in Moscow/Russia in the 70's and 80's (Funny how the DR is less known in the States, I think if we added an "ov" or "ev" to his last name he might have gotten more market appeal in the 90's ha ha ha).

The DVD will cover a bit of this.  I regret to inform you that we are not able to film everything at the seminars (video editing, cuts, conversations during film intermissions, etc); hence, I really encourage you to either stop by our gym or come to a seminar.  We are in Maine-- both Bill Clinton and George Bush vacation here so there is no excuse nor predjudice to not to train in Maine in the summer =)

To summarize, if you watch my youtube video, I did cover some additional details that you probably will not have seen elsewhere on the internet/free media --well other than Ivan Rojas's & Risto Sports' Facebook posts:
1. proper knee angle
2. ideal speed
3. To train the jerk, you actually don't do a jerk from the rack position

My intentions of posting the above is in the best interest of the sport as well as strength conditioning disciplines.  We really need to start using technique to obtain the intended benefits of this exercise. Time and again, it saddens me to see instructors, who clearly lack training, spreading bad information; there is no excuse for charging people money or wasting their time with bad information.  If you are one of these people, we can help you.  We bring experts like Dr Herrera to the strength community as a service to you.  Like all our products, we really strive to bring something of quality to you.

Do it right ....or don't do it at all.