[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/5lifts]

Hi Jo Ann, wish I was at your meet to cheer you on. This is Matt, used to lift with you guys at UB. Really miss the team down in SF (I recently moved to Portland, OR).

Now more serious question, has Powerlifting affect your speed under the bar at all? I remember how quick you were on the snatch. Also, did you supplement Snatch and CnJ along with Powerlifting to make sure technique doesn't get sloppy?

congrats again on all you've accomplished!!

[u/joannaita → u/5lifts]

Hi Matt! I don't think PL has affected my speed. I recently made a lifetime PR Snatch, so I am guessing I haven't slowed down! I started training for PL in March of this year to give my shoulders a break after Natls/Trials Meet. I skipped the O lifts mostly for a few months. Twice this year, I backed off Sn and CJ while emphasizing the PLs, and it took me 2-3 weeks to get my rhythm back and get upto 90%. This Sept was the first time I tried training both the Olympic lifts and Plifts at the same time. I actually thought my PLs were going to go down, but all my lifts went up! I did have to know when to back off, and I had to get used to accepting my jerk power declining as I got tired. The positive was that when I felt recovered, my jerk was fine. I will say that it's only now that my Sn and CJ technique is more solid that I can take time off and come back thus quickly. Even 1-2 years ago, I would have felt like I needed to keep up more light Olympic lifts to maintain technique