back squat and power clean form check

[petey]

Ok Mr. Rippetoe, let me have it.
I am almost 35 years old, 69" tall and a measly 168-170 lbs. I've been trying to put on weight without too much fat, at 35 it can easily get away from me. I need to maintain a somewhat "in shape" appearance due to being in the Military so I'm slowly increasing calories to find my right amount.

The squat set is actually my second set @245 and the power clean is the third set @145.

This is the most I've squatted for more than a one or two reps in the past, but I completed all 3 sets of 5 of 245 and I am still progressing in weight.

The power clean I actually had to back off a little from 160 to try and correct some form issues.

I am heading into week 7 of starting strength and admittedly have made some errors. I started off with adding pull-ups and weighted pull-ups at the end of some sessions, but I became too much for me so I incorporated them in a metcon once a week. Later I may add them back in to the routine. I also have been doing front squats on Wednesdays instead of back squats, mostly because I enjoy doing them, but I seem to have come to a grinding halt at 190lbs.

Mostly I lurk and search and re-read the book to the point that the pages fell out and I have to punch holes in it and put it into a binder, but I thought I was ready for a little ridicule and embarrassment.

So here you go. Thanks for your help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SHfu6fpEg

[Mark Rippetoe]

Squats would be better if you would let your knees drop forward and out at the same time your hips went back. See the TUBOW section in the book. Cleans are okay, but your starting hip position needs to be higher so that the bar path can be vertical off the floor.

[petey]

Thanks for the response on the video.
Kinda what I figured on the Power Cleans, gonna work on that. That should help me get back up in weight.
So on the squats, when I start the movement and my hips drop I should immediately initiate knee bend. Got it. thanks.

[JLascek]

Since when did any military give a hoot about what you look like?