The main muscle group listed for this exercise.
Power Clean
Power Clean is an intermediate-level leg exercise performed with a barbell. It also involves the arms, glutes, back, and shoulders.
The equipment listed for this variation.
The recorded setup and movement complexity.
Legs
Power Clean also involves arms, glutes, back, shoulders.
Strength
Movement pattern: general. This is a compound exercise.
Intermediate
This level reflects the setup and movement complexity recorded for this exercise.
How to do Power Clean
- Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart and toes pointing out slightly.
- Squat down and grasp bar with a closed, pronated grip. Your hands should be slightly wider than shoulder width apart outside knees with elbows fully extended.
- Place the bar about 1 inch in front of your shins and over the balls of your feet.
- Your back should be flat or slightly arched, your chest held up and out and your shoulder blades should be retracted.
- Keep your head in a neutral position (in line with vertebral column and not tilted or rotated) with your eyes focused straight ahead. Inhale during this phase.
- Lift the bar from the floor by forcefully extending the hips and the knees as you exhale. Tip: The upper torso should maintain the same angle. Do not bend at the waist yet and do not let the hips rise before the shoulders (this would have the effect of pushing the glutes in the air and stretching the hamstrings.
- Keep elbows fully extended with the head in a neutral position and the shoulders over the bar.
- As the bar raises keep it as close to the shins as possible.
- As the bar passes the knees, thrust your hips forward and slightly bend the knees to avoid locking them. Tip: At this point your thighs should be against the bar.
- Keep the back flat or slightly arched, elbows fully extended and your head neutral. Tip: You will hold your breath until the next phase.
- Inhale and then forcefully and quickly extend your hips and knees and stand on your toes.
- Keep the bar as close to your body as possible. Tip: Your back should be flat with the elbows pointed out to the sides and your head in a neutral position. Also, keep your shoulders over the bar and arms straight as long as possible.
- When your lower body joints are fully extended, shrug the shoulders upward rapidly without letting the elbows flex yet. Exhale during this portion of the movement.
- As the shoulders reach their highest elevation flex your elbows to begin pulling your body under the bar.
- Continue to pull the arms as high and as long as possible. Tip: Due to the explosive nature of this phase, your torso will be erect or with an arched back, your head will be tilted back slightly and your feet may lose contact with the floor.
- After the lower body has fully extended and the bar reaches near maximal height, pull your body under the bar and rotate the arms around and under the bar.
- Simultaneously, flex the hips and knees into a quarter squat position.
- Once the arms are under the bar, inhale and then lift your elbows to position the upper arms parallel to the floor. Rack the bar across the front of your collar bones and front shoulder muscles.
- Catch the bar with an erect and tight torso, a neutral head position and flat feet. Exhale during this movement.
- Stand up by extending the hips and knees to a fully erect position.
- Lower the bar by gradually reducing the muscular tension of the arms to allow a controlled descent of the bar to the thighs. Inhale during this movement.
- Simultaneously flex the hips and knees to cushion the impact of the bar on the thighs.
- Squat down with the elbows fully extended until the bar touches the floor.
- Start over at Phase 1 and repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Variations
Alternatives
Workout templates that use this exercise.
If you want to see this movement inside a more complete training session, start here.
3-Day Full Body Split
A three-day split that spreads total weekly work across three full-body sessions.
View workout4-Day Upper Lower Split
A simple four-day split that gives each half of the body two quality sessions each week.
View workout5-Day Bodybuilding Split
A traditional five-day bodybuilding split for lifters who enjoy focusing on one or two regions per session.
View workoutMore exercises in the same lane.
Use these when you want a similar movement pattern, a different setup, or more exercise options for the same target area.
Barbell Step Ups
Barbell Step Ups is an intermediate-level leg exercise performed with a barbell. It also involves the glutes.
View exerciseClean
Clean is an intermediate-level leg exercise performed with a barbell. It also involves the arms, glutes, back, and shoulders.
View exerciseClean from Blocks
Clean from Blocks is an intermediate-level leg exercise performed with a barbell. It also involves the glutes, shoulders, and back.
View exerciseClean Pull
Clean Pull is an intermediate-level leg exercise performed with a barbell. It also involves the arms, glutes, and back.
View exerciseRelated calculators for this exercise.
Use these calculators when you want to connect the exercise itself to calories, protein, strength targets, or training volume.
Common questions about Power Clean.
What muscles does Power Clean work?
Power Clean primarily trains the legs and also involves the arms, glutes, back, and shoulders.
Is Power Clean beginner-friendly?
It is listed as intermediate.
What equipment do I need for Power Clean?
This variation uses a barbell.
Track this exercise for free in Logbook.
Once the movement is in your plan, use Logbook to record sets, reps, load, and progress without guessing what happened last week.