The barbell snatch is a technical movement that has various parts to it. Despite this, the barbell should move quickly from the floor to overhead, as this is how more experienced weightlifters create enough power to move heavy weights from the ground to overhead.

Combining the various technical elements is an important part of getting to this point though and practising each part of the snatch separately is a good way to perfect your form and improve at the moment.

Here’s how to do a barbell snatch step-by-step, according to Gaskell:

Place a plate on each side of the barbell and rest it on the floor.
Stand with your feet under the bar, shoulder-width apart.
Hinge your hips and bend your legs slightly to reach your arms down and grab the barbell. They should be wider than your feet and placed so that if you stood with the barbell, it would hang just across your hips.
Keeping your arms straight with your chest lifted, lift the bar off the floor past your knees and towards your hips, letting the bar brush your hips.
When the bar reaches your hips, the movement should speed up. Quickly shrug your shoulders and bend your elbows so they are pointed towards the ceiling, moving the bar to chest height. Your heels might rise off the floor to support the weight.
Drive your elbows out wide and extend your arms to push the barbell overhead as you bend your knees to lower into a squat. Your feet should jump as you lower so you land a little wider than when you started the movement.
Brace at the bottom and keep your arms locked out overhead. Press through your feet to and stand up straight.
Lower the bar to your chest and then to the floor.

Olympic weightlifting for beginners: how to do a barbell snatch