Clean - Hang Below Knees

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 and hold it just below the knees. Your upper body will be included slightly forward. Your head should be facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position. Pull bar up by extending through the hips, knees and ankles, driving the weight upwards. Shrug your shoulders towards your ears. Exhale during this movement. Transition into the final pull by shrugging 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 by driving through the heels, keeping the torso upright and elbows up, until you have reached a standing position. 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 just below your knees, stand upright with knees slightly bent.

clean-hang-below-knees-step-0

Position your feet shoulder width apart and your toes facing forward. Grasp the barbell with an overhand (hook) grip and hold it just below the knees. Your upper body will be included slightly forward. Your head should be facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.

Step 2

Pull barbell to shoulder height by shrugging shoulders.

clean-hang-below-knees-step-1

Pull bar up by extending through the hips, knees and ankles, driving the weight upwards. Shrug your shoulders towards your ears. Exhale during this movement.

Step 3

Shrug shoulders and pull barbell onto shoulders.

clean-hang-below-knees-step-2

Transition into the final pull by shrugging 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.

clean-hang-below-knees-step-3

Catch bar on shoulders while moving into squat position. Keep your head looking upwards, and the your feet flat on the floor.

Step 5

Stand upright, back straight and elbows up.

clean-hang-below-knees-step-4

Hitting bottom of squat, stand up immediately by driving through the heels, keeping the torso upright and elbows up, until you have reached a standing position.

Step 6

Return to starting position.

clean-hang-below-knees-step-5

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