What is a Power Clean? | Olympic Weightlifting Technique
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What is a power clean? How is it different from a hang clean, hang power clean, or clean?
Figure 1: the lift starts with the bar on the floor (since “hang” is not present).
Let’s break this down simply and quickly, and for a demonstration with explanation, watch the included (and short) video.
No “Hang”
We begin by looking at the words present or not present in the name of the lift.
The word “hang” is not present, so the power clean doesn’t start with the the barbell hanging in the hands and instead - by default - starts with the bar sitting on the floor (Figure 1).
figure 2: the lift is received in a partial depth front squat (since “power” is present).
“Power” is Present
The word “power” is present, and “power” refers to a landing position (AKA receiving position) - specifically, a partial squat landing position.
As a result, this means that the lift will be caught or received in a partial depth front squat position (Figure 2).
So . . . What IS a Power Clean?
Thus, a power clean is a lift wherein the bar starts on the floor and is then accelerated upward, imparting enough momentum to the bar that the bar continues upward, whereupon it is then racked (AKA “caught” or “received”) in a partial depth front squat position before it is then stood up.
As always, we hope this helps you get stronger and live better.
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