Clean and Jerk Movement Analysis
Introduction
Olympic weightlifting has ancient roots and made its modern debut at the Athens Olympic Games in 1896. While all of the lifts performed are extremely technical, the clean and jerk, a dual movement, has an extra layer of complexity. By first performing a clean off of the floor to the rack position, and then performing an overhead jerk of the weight, the clean and jerk has approximately five major phases and three major positions: The Preparatory Phase (Starting Position), the First Clean Phase, the Final Clean Phase (Rack Position), the First Jerk Phase, and the Final Jerk Phase (Final Position). The clean and jerk is a test of maximum explosiveness and total body strength. The aim of this movement analysis is to examine each phase in terms of the muscles involved, joint actions, types of contractions, planes of movement, and order of execution within each phase. Tables will be used for ease of organizing information, and supplemental pictures/diagrams will be included when appropriate. Each phase will also have a general movement description.
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