One of the best sports to test for strength and resistance is Weight Lifting. There are many different kinds of equipments used in weight lifting like dumbbells, weight stacks, weighted bars and kettle bells. And application of these equipments tends to improve the targeted group of muscles you want to develop.

Even though there is a lot of difference between weight training and body building, it is still an important component for any good structured fitness routine.

There are a wide range of benefits that weight lifting has to offer you. Starting from enhanced muscle tone to prevention of muscle, increased muscle to averting joint injury – in all these cases weight lifting has proved to be very effective. You can even minimize the chances of osteoporosis with improved flexibility and better balance. Weight lifting also lessens your chances to contract any cardiovascular diseases. And due to these benefits weight training is getting more popular day by day.

There is a long history behind weight lifting. It once formed the test for manhood in olden times. Its popularity dates back to the 6th century when maturity was tested lifting heavy stones. This period was later called ‘age of strength’.

The first glimpse of weight lifting competition was seen in 1896 as athletics and sport. In spite of this it wasn’t taken into 1900 Olympics games. Again people noticed the talent of weight lifting in the year 1904, but even then it was not recognized as Olympic sport. Finally in the year 1920 weight lifting got an Olympic status.

During the early period of weight lifting in Olympics, the competitors competed in peculiar weight lifting programs like one and two hand lifts. There was no weight division either. However, in the year 1932 there were change in the rules, there was introduction of five sub divisions and three types of discipline, snatch, jerk and press and clean.

In snatch, the weight lifter lifts the weight above his head in one quick continuous movement. In the next movement, however, the weight lifter brings the weight to his shoulders and finally the weight is jerked out above his head.

Press division, later in 1972 was abolished from the Olympic Games. Only clean jerk and snatched continued to be accepted as a part of the games.

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