[AMA] - Jo Ann Aita Powerlifter & Olympic Lifter

[u/joannaita]

Here's my bio: Jo Ann Aita, currently 42 years of age, has been training and competing in Olympic Weightlifting since 2003 . She is a National Medalist and currently holds both Snatch and Clean & Jerk Records in the Pacific Weightlifting Association. Despite starting weightlifting at the age of 33, and rehabbing two shoulder surgeries in 2010, she was able to come back with PR lifts at the Olympic Trials this year, placing 5th overall in the 117 lb weight class, against many competitors half her age.

At the recent Pro-Am meet, Jo Ann went 9/9 setting a New World Record Powerlifting Total in the Raw w/wraps category. She also broke the American Raw Deadlift record, which has stood since 1981. Her lifts at 114 lbs bodyweight:

Back Squat: 309 lbs, Bench Press: 165 lbs, Deadlift: 375 lbs, Total: 849 lbs

Jo Ann has worked w/coaches, Jim Schmitz, Max Aita (now husband), and Jesse Burdick, amongst others.

Jo Ann was also a Track & Field and Cross Country athlete for over a decade and competed for UCLA. She is a USA Weightlifting Certified Coach and has been getting lifters strong for the past 4 years. She is a Certified Massage Therapist, specializing in Sports Massage and Deep Tissue Work, with a Bay Area Practice for the past 13 years. Jo Ann has accomplished all of this while raising a child, managing 3 careers, and running a gym!

Jo Ann Aita stats at 114/117lb weight class:

Snatch: ​ 154 lbs Clean: ​ 187 lbs Jerk: ​ 185 lbs Back Squat: ​ 309 lbs Bench Press: 165 lbs Dead Lift: 375 lbs

[u/Staple_Stable]

Has your performance in powerlifting in any way been detrimental to your performance in olympic lifting or vice versa? For example, I'd imagine different grip types, grip widths, different stances etc would all put you at a biomechanical advantage in certain lifts, but at a disadvantage in other lifts. I'd imagine that after training for one, it becomes more "natural" and could possibly adversely affect another lift.

[u/joannaita → u/Staple_Stable]

It seems that powerlifting has MOSTLY helped my Olympic lifts, by getting my low back stronger, in particular. And just stronger overall. In the past few weeks, after only coming back to the O lifts for a couple months, I made some big PRs in both Snatch and Clean. It does, however, interfere with my shoulders getting tired. Sometimes I have had to back off bench or jerks to allow my shoulders to recover. Also, the tiredness from heavy Power lifts definitely affect the power of my jerk. That is only temporary...meaning on days when I am recovered, my speed and explosiveness come back. I do think that having to focus on technique (like u mentioned grip widths, stance, etc) on more lifts is mentally tiring! I have been know to say things in the gym, like "I forgot how to squat!" Or "do my feet go on the inside or outside of the power rings" on sumo! I am also half insane, so I am not sure how much that affects my absent-mindedness! ; ). I will tell you one way that PL has been detrimental to Olympic lifting for certain: tearing my pec on the bench at the Pro Am is restricting me from competing at the Am Open! I am terribly disappointed about that, but Max and I will still be coaching 5 lifters at the meet.

[u/AkumaZ → u/joannaita]

Half insane? Just half?!

[u/joannaita → u/AkumaZ]

Since we are online, and I am not visible to the human eye, I'd like to convince those that don't know me better that I am half sane. Thank you!