How to perform Barbell Clean and Jerk with proper form
Setup
- Bar Position: Place the barbell on the floor, close to your shins.
- Foot Placement: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly pointed out.
- Grip: Use an overhand grip, just outside of your knees.
Clean
- Starting Position: Bend at the hips and knees, keeping your back straight and chest up.
- Lift: Push through your heels, extending your legs and hips while pulling the barbell up close to your body.
- Second Pull: As the bar passes your knees, explosively extend your hips and shrug your shoulders.
- Catch: Rotate your elbows under the bar while dropping your body into a squat position; catch the bar on your shoulders.
Jerk
- Setup for Jerk: Stand up from the squat while keeping the bar resting on your shoulders.
- Dip: Bend your knees slightly, keeping your torso upright.
- Drive: Explosively extend your legs while simultaneously pressing the bar overhead.
- Catch: Lock out your arms, with your head and torso slightly forward, allowing the bar to settle above your head.
Finish
- Stabilize: Stand tall, ensuring your feet are shoulder-width apart.
- Lowering: Carefully lower the barbell back to your shoulders, then to the ground in a controlled manner.
Tips
- Maintain a neutral spine throughout.
- Keep the barbell as close to the body as possible.
- Engage your core for stability.
Follow these steps to perform the barbell clean and jerk safely and effectively.
Exercises

Box Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Box Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Bulgarian Split Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Calf Press on Seated Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Calves, Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes, Hamstrings

Clean, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms

Clean and Jerk, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Glutes, Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Back, Shoulders
Synergist: Calves, Biceps, Chest, Forearms

Deadlift High Pull, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Biceps, Forearms, Calves, Back

Front Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Front Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Goblet Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Goblet Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Hack Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Hack Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Jump Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Jump Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Leg Extension, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes

Leg Extension, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Glutes

Leg Press, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Cable
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Lunge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Overhead Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves

Overhead Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves

Pistol Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Pistol Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Pistol Squat, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Reverse Lunge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Reverse Lunge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Reverse Lunge, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Reverse Lunge, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Glutes

Safety Squat Bar Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Calves

Seated Leg Press, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Sissy Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings

Snatch, Dumbbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Back, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Chest, Triceps

Split Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Split Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Squat, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves, Back, Abs

Step up, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Step up, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Step up, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Step up, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Sumo Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Back
Synergist: Abs, Biceps, Forearms

Sumo Deadlift High Pull, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Biceps, Forearms, Calves, Back

Thruster, Barbell
Type: Upper, Lower, Push
Target: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Chest, Calves, Triceps

Trap Bar Deadlift, Trap Bar
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Zercher Squat, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Quadriceps
Synergist: Hamstrings, Calves

Ab Wheel, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Shoulders, Back, Chest

Bicycle Crunch, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Glutes, Quadriceps

Cross Body Crunch, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Glutes, Quadriceps

Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Cable
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Smith Machine
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Kettlebell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deadlift, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Calves, Abs, Forearms

Deficit Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Quadriceps, Calves

Deficit Deadlift, Trap Bar
Type: Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Back, Quadriceps, Calves

Elliptical Machine, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Synergist: Biceps, Forearms, Shoulders, Glutes, Hamstrings, Back, Chest, Quadriceps

Flat Knee Raise, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Flat Leg Raise, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Glutes

Glute Bridge, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Glute Bridge March, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes, Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hanging Leg Raise, Cable
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps, Glutes

Hanging Leg Raise, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps, Glutes

Hip Adductor, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings, Glutes
Synergist: Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Hip Thrust, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Jackknife Sit Up, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps, Glutes

Knees to Elbows, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps

Plank, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Shoulders, Glutes, Quadriceps

Seated Leg Curl, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Hamstrings
Synergist: Calves, Quadriceps

Single Leg Hip Thrust, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Single Leg Hip Thrust, Bodyweight
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Single Leg Hip Thrust, Leverage Machine
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Glutes
Synergist: Hamstrings, Quadriceps

Squat Row, Band
Type: Upper, Lower, Pull
Target: Glutes, Back
Synergist: Shoulders, Hamstrings, Chest, Quadriceps, Calves

Stiff Leg Deadlift, Barbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs

Stiff Leg Deadlift, Dumbbell
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs

Stiff Leg Deadlift, Band
Type: Lower, Legs
Target: Back, Glutes, Hamstrings
Synergist: Quadriceps, Abs

Toes To Bar, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps, Glutes

V Up, Dumbbell
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps

V Up, Band
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps

V Up, Bodyweight
Type: Core
Target: Abs
Synergist: Quadriceps