It is likely you're doing something wrong, since most uncoached people have trouble with cleans. You could alternate singles with sets of 3 if you think it would help, but posting a video here of a heavy triple might be useful too.
Member
Stalled on power cleans.
Hi Mark,
I've been doing power cleans for a few months. Mostly 5x3. Seems like I always get stuck around 140-145lbs. I tried going back a few times and still stalled with the same weight.
I think that 140lbs is too light to get stuck.
For some reason doing multiple singles instead of 5x3 seems to work better.
What do you think? Would it be better to do sets of singles instead, or maybe I am just doing something wrong?
Thanks again for your help.
TMPHBITEU
It is likely you're doing something wrong, since most uncoached people have trouble with cleans. You could alternate singles with sets of 3 if you think it would help, but posting a video here of a heavy triple might be useful too.
Member
I will try to post a video soon. Thanks again Mark.
Member
Here is a triple with 135lbs. After watching it I see that the pull from the floor is wrong. Probably knees too much forward, but I am not sure it's the main problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFVc5xxY5LM
TMPHBITEU
Yeah, the pull from the floor goes out around your knees. But the main problem is that the whole thing is way to slow. The point of the clean is to EXPLODE at the top, and you're just kinda jumping a little. You have to hit it waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay harder at the jumping position.
Member
Yes, I thought these look slow. Do you have any suggestions how to fix it? Should I think about something else instead of jumping? Maybe just try harder at the top?
Thanks for your help.
TMPHBITEU
Sometimes it helps to think about the shrug. More advanced lifters can use this cue to help "finish" the pull, but this sometimes leads novices to start arm-pulling. But I don't think that's your problem. You just need to see how hard you can jump, and the best cue for that is to see how hard you can hit the bar with your thighs as you pass through the jump. The danger with this that some people tend to stop in the middle of the pull to do it, slowing down the momentum.
Member
Sounds good. I will try that next time I do power cleans and see what happens. Once again, thank you for the advice.Originally Posted by Mark Rippetoe
Member
hey coldfire, i'm no mark rippetoe lol, but maybe watch vids on youtube of professional weightlifters doing cleans. it worked well for me, drilling the image of the clean into my mind so that when i did it, i knew what it was supposed to look like.
Member
Strangely enough, I'm not Mark Rippetoe either (but it would be funny if he was writing all these posts to himself :P), and I agree with ole froggy.
I watched dudes perform cleans for a while and I was told "You gotta learn to front squat -- that's the first step." Hell, my back squat still needed work, so taking on something even more complex was daunting. In any case, I continued to watch these guys, and an occasional video or two. After he'd helped me perfect my squat form, a particularly nice strength coach here at Virginia Tech showed me how to clean in much the same way that Coach Rip teaches.
Once he saw that I mastered a power shrug, he told me to try the clean, and it was simple as pie. I got it the first time I tried, save for a somewhat less-than-perfect rack position, due to wrist and elbow flexibility.
In short, I think that watching the clean can really help you to figure out how it works, especially if you're a visual learner like me.
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