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Power Clean and Jerk

Start of First Pull

End of First Pull

Start of second pull

End of second pull/start of receive “third pull”

Top of Receive

Start of Jerk Drive

Jerk Drive

Jerk Receive

End of Jerk/Finish Position

Technical Considerations

Start

Lifter should start with their weight over mid foot.

Shoulders slightly in front of the bar.

Hips down and back straights (showing natural lumbar curve).

End of First Pull

During the first pull the back angle to the floor should remain the same throughout.

The lifter should extend their legs moving the weight towards their heels.

This extension should continue till the bar is over the lifters knees and they are effectively at the bottom of a stiff legged deadlift.

Trasition/Start of Second Pull

The lifter should then move their knees forwards and shoulders back until the bar is in the “power” or “ready” position.

Their shoulders should be in line with the bar.

Weight back on mid foot with a good bench of the knee and a good angle at the hip.

Second Pull

The second pull involves a violent extension of hips and knees. This extension is directed by the lifters shrug.

The lifter should think about leading the pull with their shrug, shrugging up and slightly back, brining their hip in and extending at the knee hard.

Top of Second Pull/Receive

When the lifter reaches full extension (hips,knees extended and fully shrugged).

They need to think about receiving the bar pulling themselves under with their arms.

When they meet the bar they should be squatting to a appropriate depth (above parallel in the case of a power clean).

The bar should be received on the shoulders with the elbows pointed up in a front squat position.

Start of Jerk

When the lifter has stood up they first need to adjust their grip to a full fist on the bar.

Pointing the elbows down but with the bar still resting on the shoulders.

Jerk Drive

The lifter should then dip with their weight on mid foot/heel about 4-6″.

When they reach the bottom of the dip they should reverse it immediately extending violently again at hips/knee/ankles in a very similar fashion to a jump again through mid foot.

Split/Jerk Receive

Once the lifter reaches the top of their extension they need to drop under the bar.

This is achieved by splinting their feet forward and back (the lifter should try both feet for a period to find their preferred foot placement).

The amount of the split required will be determined by the height achieved by the drive placed on the bar.

The lifter should think about pushing themselves under the bar as they split.

When they receive the bar they should be solid with weight placed over the lifter and bars combined centre of mass.

Finish Position

The lifter recovers from the split position typically by taking two small steps backwards with the front foot and one larger step with the back foot.

They should stand straight with the bar affixed over head before dropping it and starting again.

That about covers the power clean and jerk.

Till next time.

Marc.

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About Marc Keys

As a coach Marc's philosophy uses a minamilast approach that yields superior performance gains. Having worked as a coach for over 7 years providing support for athletes from over 30 sports (Olympic, Paralympic and commonwealth medallists) he has plenty of time to learn his craft.Marc currently works full time as a strength coach based in Edinburgh.A competitive power lifter for 5 years some carrer highlights include (2011 - British and Commonwealth Senior Champion, 2012 World Championship squad member for great britian and former holder of 3 British records). Marc Coaches strength and power sports in his spare time and continues to develop castironstrength.