Oly Lifts:

Just started lifting 5 weeks ago and I'm doing GSLP so I'm not particularly interested in oly lifting. HOWEVER I think C&Js and Snatches look pretty cool and one of my goals is to be able to C&J a respectable weight. So I have a few questions. 1. Should I try learning them right away?
2. Can you learn Oly lifts on your own?
3. How long does it typically take to have an okay form?

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1. YES! You can start an oly lifting program right away. If your goal is to have good oly lifts, do them!

2. Yes. The hardest part for most people is learning how to explode. The second hurdle is getting under the bar.

3. Once you figure out the above, good form comes quick. The oly lifts feel extremely natural to perform.

Just re-read the part about you not wanting to oly lift. My advice is to be honest to yourself with your goals, and then train towards them. I was in a similar situation as you. I was doing SS but I was REALLY interested in oly lifting. I wasted a lot of time doing a routine that didn't make me better at my goals.

Are they taxing? Can I practice them on off days?

t b h I'm lifting for discipline first, strength second, size third (although apparently they come hand in hand for a beginner). I've seen that there are a few proponents of incorporating some oly lifts in strength training so I figured they shouldn't be mutually exclusive and again, I'm mainly lifting because it beats being a slob so I don't have any clear long term goals.

They aren't very taxing at submaximal weights, but I find them very difficult to perform after heavy deadlifts or squats.

Alright thanks I guess I'll just train them on off days and then hopefull add them to my routine.

I'm probably the only actual oly athlete here

1. I mean if you really want to sure

2. not really, you will probably be bad

3. I mean okay form can come in like 6 months

oly lifter here, also.
1. yes
2. yes, but you need to read up on them, and watch videos of oly lifters doing them (protip: do not watch crossfiters oly lifting, and especially don't watch idiot american fitness instructors)
3. practicing everyday, you can learn them in a few days. practicing twice a week it can take months.

imo, the way to start is to learn the pulling movements first.
1. slowly pull to the knee
2. quickly to the hips
3. shrug
4. extend to toes

next learn how to pull. the key is to use the momentum, not the arm strength.

after that learn how to "rotate" the arms under the bar.

do power snatches and power cleans. classic technique is hard and requires you to be pretty flexible.

i can tell you right now that this poster has a very low level of familiarity with weightlifting. you should start practising as soon as you can if you want to do it, you can learn the lifts on your own but will more than likely develop bad habits and technique unless you are talented or very knowledgeable, and finally having an 'okay' form will take you a long time;

you should expect to be having difficulty replicating the level of 'good looking' lifting for about a year, this is because you have to develop the expertise for yourself to be able to recognise subtle differences in technique caused by different body types and the ones that will be specific to you, and only time can do this. its a very taxing sport and very hard to get 'good' at,

whether or not youre athletic you should expect to get injured frequently each time you begin to get better, (im getting surgery next month after a year of patellar tendinopathy for example, but thats one of the worst things, bar dislocation). honestly it takes a degree of 'autism' to really enjoy doing it, and to commit to it you really have to like it, its too frustrating otherwise