Friday 06/10/11

As always, it's a good idea to read the entire post.

Warm-up


Back Squat
2 x 5, 1 x 5+


Bench Press
2 x 5, 1 x 5+


Strict Pull-ups
3 sets

Assisted pull-ups - 3 x 10
Bodyweight pull-ups - 3 x 15


Push-ups/Dips
3 x 20


Then . . . a surprise!


Below is a slow-motion clip of a 140kg clean (308 lbs). A few things to note:
  1. The arms stay very straight until he reaches the top of his jump.  Very important.
  2. His upper arms are nearly parallel with the floor when he catches (or "receives") the bar.  In other words, his elbows are pointing forward, not down.  This helps with . . .
  3. He receives the bar on his shoulders, not on his hands.  This is a very secure and solid place to receive the barbell.  His wrists and hands aren't supporting any of the weight, which is good - would you want to catch 308 lbs in your hands?  Actually, if you look closely, his entire hand isn't even around the bar when he catches it - his pinky finger has come off the bar by this point.  That's perfectly acceptable - it allows him to get his elbows up.
  4. Post a comment - what can you improve upon in your power clean?  Keeping your arms straight?  Jumping more?  Elbows up in the receiving position?  Remembering the hook grip?  The reward for posting is . . . a mystery!


And now, a few photos from day 1 of summer MSCL (my apologies to sessions 3 and 4 - I didn't have my camera with me in the afternoon, but I'll get some pics of you guys too!).







55 comments:

Trevor said...

elbows up faster, jump more, less pull with arms. weightlifting shoes are on the way

linaynay97 said...

I could work on jumping higher

andrewg95 said...

my elbows should be pointing forward

stbolze said...

my goal for a better clean is to jump more and keep my chest out. (straight back) and haha meggs that means you wont get any pics of me! :) cuz im in session 2 and you already got pics of them!! :) mwahaha

mommacow1 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katy said...

I could bring my elbows up higher.

Anonymous said...

elbows upppp.

vehles said...

elbows up, making sure the bar hits my thighs...

Becky said...

I need to jump more and pull with my arms less

Ashley said...

I need to jump more with my legs and pull less with my arms.

Ashley said...

I need to jump more with my legs and pull less with my arms.

Nathan said...

Arms srtraighter

WedigeR said...

Jump more

geselli said...

i need to keep arms straighter

Zach_K said...

My elbows need to come up more

shermanch said...

elbows higher

saxman24.5 said...

If trevor says weight lifting shoes one more time im gonna flip. I like how he kinda uses his hips to push the bar up and out, interesting. I can always jump faster get under the bar quicker.

Phil said...

I wanted to make a quick point regarding the idea of using the hips to push the bar up and out - this is important so we don't develop any bad habits.

Sorry in advance for the length of this comment - if any of you read the whole thing, I'll be impressed!

The trajectory of the bar does change a bit as it makes contacts with his upper thighs, but he's not trying to hit the bar up and out. Instead, this is just a result of the violent extension - or straightening - of his hips. In other words, his thighs brush the bar because he's jumping.

If you watch closely, you'll note that the bar's path doesn't change much at all. Mostly, its path is still vertical. In fact, he has a fair amount of "lean-back" as he's jumping - this is that idea of "moving your body around the bar - not the bar around your body" that we mention from time to time. This allows the bar to travel in a near-perfect vertical path.

So, saxman24.5, thanks for bringing up a very good topic!

sarah said...

i need to work on pretty much everything about my power clean. once its actually heavy, my technique goes out the window....

burkeb said...

elbows up and catching it on my chest, not hands

sanchezr said...

Icould keep my elbows up

sanchezt said...

I could keep my elbows higher

Beth said...

I NEED MY ELBOWS UP! and i should probably jump more and land lower to get under the bar.

Klemp said...

i need to have a bigger jump and EXPLODE

sjulinl said...

I need to keep the bar closer to my legs because I always bring it out around my knees instead of shoving my butt back... I think thats what I am suppose to do!

sjulinl said...

the reward better not be more burpees

logan d said...

i need to keep my arms straighter for longer

Ben said...

I need to jump more and make sure i remember all the steps instead of just lifting

gesella said...

I could work on having my elbows higher up when I finish.

KyleB said...

i need to get my elbows underneath the bar faster and i need to try to be more explosive also.

Warneke said...

Need to prevent the bar from cutting my neck so much when I catch it and less arms involved

Emilee said...

I need to have my elbows up more and remember the hook grip.

chris i said...

first i need to be able to power clean without my back dying

chris i said...

but if that wish comes true my second and third wishes would be to jump higher and less pull with arms

Reid said...

Just get huge triceps. Continue to post comments and do the full warm-up. better landing position

Alex Giles said...

I need to get my elbows up in the receiving position

schneiderkr said...

my elbows need to come up more and I could jump higher.

Dakota said...

I need to remember the hook grip.

schneiderk said...

kara needs to jump more!

Josh said...

Straighter arms would help

hawkinsm said...

Keeping arms straight

Clara said...

jump higher

Ranch or Cookies said...

I didnt come on the day we power cleaned, but i still want a mstery suprise!!

Trevor said...

jump and get elbows higher

Zachary said...

I just want a good endurance built up

jackson grasz said...

I need to work on getting my elbows up faster

stavigm said...

I can work on my hook grip.

schwartingt said...

keeping my arms straight and elbows up faster

Ranch or Cookies said...

I didnt come on the day we power cleaned, but i still want a mystery surprise!~

Bryan said...

keeping my arms straight and getting my elbows up

newhouseb said...

Arms Str8'

cameron said...

elbows higher

DeVon.S. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeVon.S. said...

i can get my elbows up and jump higher

John said...

getting my elbows higher and jumping more