Clean from Blocks
Clean from Blocks is an intermediate compound barbell olympic weightlifting that mainly works your quads, with help from your calves, glutes, hamstrings, shoulders and traps.


How to do the clean from blocks
- With a barbell on boxes or stands of the desired height, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.
- Begin the first pull by driving through the heels, extending your knees. Your back angle should stay the same, and your arms should remain straight with the elbows pointed out.
- As full extension is achieved, transition into the receiving position by aggressively shrugging and flexing the arms with the elbows up and out. Aggressively pull yourself down, rotating your elbows under the bar as you do so. Receive the bar in a front squat position, the depth of which is dependent upon the height of the bar at the end of the third pull. The bar should be racked onto the protracted shoulders, lightly touching the throat with the hands relaxed. Continue to descend to the bottom squat position, which will help in the recovery.
- Immediately recover by driving through the heels, keeping the torso upright and elbows up. Continue until you have risen to a standing position. Return the weight to the boxes for the next rep.
Muscles worked
Sets and reps
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
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Start your free trialClean from Blocks alternatives
Exercises that train the same main muscle.
SnatchBarbell · Intermediate
Clean PullBarbell · Intermediate
Frankenstein SquatBarbell · Intermediate
Hang CleanBarbell · Intermediate
Olympic SquatBarbell · Intermediate
Snatch BalanceBarbell · IntermediateFAQ
What muscles does the clean from blocks work?
It mainly works your quads; your calves, glutes, hamstrings, shoulders and traps assist.
How many sets and reps of clean from blocks should I do?
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
Is the clean from blocks good for beginners?
It suits lifters with some experience. Beginners can start with a lighter weight or one of the alternatives below.