What is a clean Olympic lift?

The clean-and-jerk is one of the most classic lifts in the Summer Olympics, and the clean has emerged as one of the gold standards of training. It involves lifting a barbell from the ground, then “pulling” it up and onto your shoulders, squatting under it just slightly, then standing up fully.

Why is it called clean and jerk and snatch?

Where the snatch is about finesse, the clean and jerk is about raw power. The first portion of the lift is called the clean. The clean requires pulling the large weights high and then clearing the shoulders. This is in contrast to the snatch, which is often gripped at the full length of the bar.

What does clean mean in weight lifting?

As defined by the IWF’s rules for competition, a clean is when a barbell is “pulled in a single movement from the platform to the shoulders, while either splitting or bending the legs.” Simply put, a clean is a lift that moves a barbell from the floor to a front rack position at the shoulders.

Is there a difference between a power clean and a clean?

A power clean is when you catch the barbell not in a full squat (CrossFit defines this as hip crease above parallel). A clean is when you catch the barbell in the bottom of your squat, taking into account individual differences. Same with snatch.

What kind of lift is a clean?

Simply put: a clean is when the lifter picks weight up off the floor and drives it up into a front rack position. Like most exercises, there are a seemingly endless amount of variations, and in the case of the clean, the power clean and hang clean are two very popular choices.

Why is it called a snatch in weightlifting?

Olympic Weightlifting consists of the Snatch and Clean & Jerk, two beautiful moves that take skill and time to perfect. The Snatch got its namesake just as the move is preformed, by “snatching” the weight off the ground in one smooth motion. The Clean & Jerk use to be called the “Continental & Press”.

Why is it called a clean?

The movement is called a clean because it requires a clean movement, free from irregularities, smoothly and skilfully performed. If you lift your barbell or kettlebell up and the movement is interrupted, or the equipment bangs on your body parts, then “it wasn’t very clean”.

What muscles does the power clean work?

The power clean primarily works the posterior chain, meaning the glutes, hamstrings, and calves, says Gahan. It also works your traps, arms, abs, and lats. “The power clean is as dynamic and powerful as a plyometric exercise, like squat jumps, but without the impact of jumping.

Why do muscles get clean?

The muscle clean is an Olympic weightlifting clean variation that can help all level lifters develop greater upper body pulling strength, balance in the leg drive of the pull, and proper racking positioning in the clean.