Power cleans

[namesarehard]

Why don't body builders do them?
I just started learning them (can only do 114lbs) and they are such an awesome exercise. It just phucks up my shoulders and my uppper back in a good way and I'm gaining great strength as well. I have never seen anyone at my gym do a power clean. I have seen like one guy do it from a hanging position.

[chazzy1864]

There is usually better exercises to target the legs than a clean to elicit growth.

[Nate2010]

Cleans = explosive strength.

[peterholbrook]

people who would commonly use this are athletes not bodybuilders..
not many people do them at the gym because they don't know how.

[DahStoryTella]

I'd love to try them, but don't know if I should do them squat or deadlift day.

(Yes, I'm lifting for strength at the moment.)

[Lonewolf24]

Don't listen to that-cleans are what built my shoulders/traps/forearms/calves.

Its not specifically a bodybuilding exercise, but THEN AGAIN neither is ANY 3x3 exercise. Cleans hit those muscles in a way that shoulder presses, shrugs, and calf raises won't. and its a 3 (or 4 or 5) in one exercise building strength and power all over that'll help you all over in the gym. I would NEVER drop cleans from my routine

[chazzy1864]

Don't listen to that-cleans are what built my shoulders/traps/forearms/calves.

Its not specifically a bodybuilding exercise, but THEN AGAIN neither is ANY 3x3 exercise. Cleans hit those muscles in a way that shoulder presses, shrugs, and calf raises won't. and its a 3 (or 4 or 5) in one exercise building strength and power all over that'll help you all over in the gym. I would NEVER drop cleans from my routine

If you are using cleans to build your shoulders, you are doing them wrong.

[Nate2010]

Don't listen to that-cleans are what built my shoulders/traps/forearms/calves.

Its not specifically a bodybuilding exercise, but THEN AGAIN neither is ANY 3x3 exercise. Cleans hit those muscles in a way that shoulder presses, shrugs, and calf raises won't. and its a 3 (or 4 or 5) in one exercise building strength and power all over that'll help you all over in the gym. I would NEVER drop cleans from my routine

cool story bro.

[jgetbigj]

cleans / snatches can be dangerous if you go to heavy also, easy to cause injury from improper form or too much weight, or just a bad rep from exhaustion. i prefer to stick to deads and squats.

[namesarehard]

You guys say they are only good for explosive strength but why not do them in a rep range for hypertrophy. I honestly think you would get more out of your work out if you did these. You would get stronger, faster, and bigger if you did them in the right rep range. They honestly phuck me up so good and my technique isn't even that good at all.

[SuicideGripMe]

cleans / snatches can be dangerous if you go to heavy also, easy to cause injury from improper form or too much weight, or just a bad rep from exhaustion. i prefer to stick to deads and squats.

Same could be said about squats and deads...

Overall, the olympic lifts are like gymnastics with a barbell, hard to learn, impossible to perfect. Olympic lifts also target a lot of muscles and dont fit into a traditional split. As mentioned above, bodybuilders can target thier muscles better with other lifts. However, it does not mean athletes and bodybuilders could not benefit from them, its just a question of utilizing the best tools for the desired goal.

[Deevious]

Bodybuilders generally don't do them because they are concerned about size and aesthetics, not functional strength. Cleans and snatches are an explosive exercise more suited for athletes, not necessarily building muscle mass.

[_OZ_]

You guys say they are only good for explosive strength but why not do them in a rep range for hypertrophy. I honestly think you would get more out of your work out if you did these. You would get stronger, faster, and bigger if you did them in the right rep range. They honestly phuck me up so good and my technique isn't even that good at all.

The quick lifts aren't suited to higher reps due to technique degredation with fatigue.

[namesarehard]

I don't know. I think they are under estimated and I think they could be great for body builders as well.

[chazzy1864]

The quick lifts aren't suited to higher reps due to technique degredation with fatigue.

^ That. Proper cleans are an exercise that is based around momentum and technique. As you fatigue both of those break down.


If you are using cleans as a bodybuilding movement, there is a high probability your form sucks.

[matjusm]

For someone interested in pure bodybuilding and no strength or sports performance, then the power clean isn't the best use of your time in the gym.

But for everyone else I think its one of the most awesome exercises out there. Not only is it beneficial for you but I personally think its quite fun to throw a big barbell around instead of just doing it in the controlled fashion that bodybuilding style training focuses on.

[AFXC1]

If you are using cleans to build your shoulders, you are doing them wrong.

LOL this.

You're probably muscling up the weight instead of cleaning the weight up.

[AFXC1]

The quick lifts aren't suited to higher reps due to technique degredation with fatigue.

Somewhat true. Unless you're going all nuts like most crosslifters do (I am not showing any hatred towards them), it wouldn't be a good idea....but you can get away with high reps on the cleans:



I wouldn't recommend doing them all the time.