Clean And Jerk - Fundamental

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 1-5 Reps, 80 Wght

Intermediate Quads Glutes Hamstrings Calves Lower Back Traps Strength Barbell Push Compound Gym

Purpose: To develop core strength of the lower and middle body.

Benefits: It is the single best exercise to develop full body strength and increase your fat-burning metabolism.

Position your feet shoulder width apart and your toes facing forward. Grasp the barbell with an overhand (hook) grip. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position. Pull bar up off the floor by extending hips and knees. As bar reaches knees vigorously raise shoulders while keeping barbell close to thighs. When the barbell passes your mid-thighs, allow it to contact thighs. Jump upward extending body. Shrug shoulders and pull barbell upward with arms allowing elbows to flex out to sides, keeping bar close to body. Aggressively pull body under bar, rotating elbows around bar. Catch bar on shoulders while moving into squat position. Hitting bottom of squat, stand up immediately. Bending the knees slightly, you push upwards through your hips while straightening your arms, putting yourself under the barbell. You can either end in a split stance or position your feet square, under your hips shoulder-width apart. Bend knees slightly and lower barbell to mid-thigh position. Slowly lower bar with taut lower back and trunk close to vertical. Repeat for the recommended number of repetitions.


The quads are a set of four muscles in the upper front thigh. All four muscles work to straighten the knee. One of the four (rectus femoris) also helps to bend the hip. Squats are considered a vital exercise for increasing the strength and size of the legs and butt.

Step 1

With the barbell on blocks, lower hips and grasp barbell with overhand grip.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-0

Position your feet shoulder width apart and your toes facing forward. Grasp the barbell with an overhand (hook) grip. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Step 2

Stand upright pulling barbell to mid-thigh.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-1

Pull bar up off the floor by extending hips and knees. As bar reaches knees vigorously raise shoulders while keeping barbell close to thighs. When the barbell passes your mid-thighs, allow it to contact thighs.

Step 3

Pull barbell to shoulder height by shrugging shoulders.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-2

Jump upward extending body. Shrug shoulders and pull barbell upward with arms allowing elbows to flex out to sides, keeping bar close to body. Aggressively pull body under bar, rotating elbows around bar.

Step 4

Go into squat position, barbell on shoulders.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-3

Catch bar on the front of the shoulders while moving into squat position. Keep your back straight and your head facing upward.

Step 5

At bottom of squat, stand upright immediately.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-4

Hitting bottom of squat, stand up immediately. Do not pause. Keep your back straight and your head facing upward.

Step 6

Push the bar, using your hips, overhead with straight arms.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-5

Bending the knees slightly, you push upwards through your hips while straightening your arms, putting yourself under the barbell. You can either end in a split stance or position your feet square, under your hips shoulder-width apart.

Step 7

Lower barbell to mid-thigh position.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-6

Bend knees slightly and lower barbell to mid-thigh position. Keep your back straight and your head facing upward.

Step 8

Return to starting position.

clean-and-jerk-fundamental-step-7

Return to starting position by slowly lowering the bar with taut lower back and trunk close to vertical.