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Mastering the Clean

Power Clean & Hang Power Clean Guide: Muscle, Squat & Full Clean | CrossFit Coordinate Cary, NC

Mastering the Power Clean & Hang Power Clean: A Complete Beginner's Guide to the Clean in CrossFit

From your first muscle clean to full squat clean under load — everything you need to build the most powerful movement in CrossFit.

The clean is one of the most satisfying movements in CrossFit. When it clicks — when the bar floats, your elbows whip through fast, and you stand it up — you understand exactly why Olympic weightlifters spend years chasing it. It is explosive, technical, and deeply rewarding to get right.

It is also one of the most misunderstood lifts in the gym. Many athletes spend months grinding away at a power clean technique that's built on a shaky foundation — and wonder why they can't seem to add weight. This guide changes that. Whether you've never touched a barbell or you've been cleaning for years but know something's off, this is your complete roadmap — from the hang power clean all the way to a loaded squat clean from the floor.

4
Key Variations Covered
5
Phases of the Lift
10+
Advanced Drills Included

1. What Is the Clean?

The clean is an Olympic weightlifting movement in which an athlete picks a barbell up from the ground and brings it to the front rack position — resting across the shoulders with elbows high. From there, the athlete can press overhead, jerk, or simply stand and absorb the load.

In CrossFit, the clean appears in countless workouts — from classic benchmark WODs to every Open cycle. The power clean in CrossFit is one of the most frequently programmed barbell movements, and it is also the foundation of the clean and jerk — one of the two official lifts in Olympic competition. Understanding the clean deeply means you'll not only lift heavier, but you'll move more safely and more efficiently under fatigue.

"The clean teaches the body to be explosive, coordinated, and strong all at once. It is not just a pulling movement — it is a full-body conversation between your hips, your hands, and your timing."

2. Why Every CrossFit Athlete Should Learn It

Learning the clean isn't just about being good at Olympic lifting. It builds qualities that transfer to every corner of your fitness:

  • Total-body power development. The clean is one of the best exercises for developing fast-twitch muscle fiber and hip power — qualities that make you more athletic in everything you do.
  • Posterior chain strength. Hamstrings, glutes, and the lower back are all recruited heavily throughout the pull, building the foundation of a strong back.
  • Front rack mobility and core stability. Getting comfortable in the front rack position opens up front squats, thrusters, and overhead work.
  • Coordination and timing. No other barbell movement develops the neural coordination — the feel — of the clean. It makes you a better mover overall.
  • Mental toughness. Learning a complex lift requires patience. Athletes who master the clean learn how to be a student of their own movement — a skill that pays dividends far beyond the gym.

3. Before You Begin: What Beginners Need to Know

Before loading any weight on the bar, every beginner should understand a few essential truths about learning the clean.

Start with a PVC pipe or empty barbell

Seriously. The temptation to add weight early is powerful — and almost always counterproductive. The clean is a skill movement. Skill movements require repetitions at a load where you can feel and correct the movement, not struggle through it. The empty 35 lb or 45 lb barbell is a training tool, not a warm-up prop. Use it for weeks before adding plates.

The front rack is a prerequisite

If you cannot comfortably hold a barbell in the front rack position — elbows high, bar resting on the shelf of your shoulders, fingers loosely under the bar — you need to address your thoracic mobility and wrist flexibility before heavy cleans make sense. This is common in desk-bound athletes and is completely fixable with consistent work.

Coach's Note

If your wrists hurt in the front rack, you're likely gripping the bar too hard. In a proper front rack, the bar should rest on your deltoids and clavicles — your hands are just a guide, not the primary support. Relax the grip and raise those elbows.

Hip mechanics come first

Everything in the clean depends on your ability to hinge at the hips, maintain a neutral spine under load, and fire explosively through your hips and knees. If your Romanian deadlift is shaky, work on that first. The clean will thank you for it.

Safety rules for beginners

  • Always warm up your hips, thoracic spine, and wrists before clean work.
  • Learn to bail safely — if you miss a catch, push the bar away and step back. Never reach backward to "save" a failed lift.
  • Train in bumper plates and on a rubber floor whenever possible.
  • Have a coach or experienced athlete watch your positioning. Video yourself if training alone.
  • Do not add weight until technique is consistent, not just occasional.

4. The Four Key Positions of a Clean

Every variation of the clean passes through the same core positions. Before learning any variation, drill these positions until they are automatic. Think of them as checkpoints — every rep should hit all of them.

1

The Setup (The Floor)

Bar over mid-foot. Feet hip-width apart. Hips above knees, shoulders above hips, chest tall. Lats engaged — imagine bending the bar around your legs. Arms straight. Neutral spine throughout.

2

The First Pull (Floor to Knee)

Push the floor away — don't pull. Keep the bar close to the body and your back angle constant. Knees track out over toes. This phase is controlled, not explosive.

3

The Transition (Knee to Power Position)

As the bar passes the knee, shift your knees slightly back under the bar. Torso stays close to the angle it was at. This "scoop" sets the hip into loaded position for the second pull.

4

The Second Pull (Power Position to Triple Extension)

This is the explosion. Drive through your hips violently, extending the hips, knees, and ankles simultaneously — triple extension. Shrug the shoulders hard. Elbows stay high and outside.

5

The Catch (Front Rack)

The bar is weightless for a split second. Use that moment to pull yourself under it — elbows whip through fast, bar lands on the shelf of the shoulders, feet reset to squat width. Stand it up.

Common Error

Most beginners miss the transition phase entirely — they pull straight from the knee to the shrug without loading the hips. This is the single biggest power leak in the clean. If your cleans feel "arm-y" and weak, this is almost certainly the culprit.

Watch: Starting Position — Catalyst Athletics
Watch: The Power Position — Catalyst Athletics

5. Variation 1: The Muscle Clean

The muscle clean is the simplest version of the clean and the ideal starting point for absolute beginners. It strips out the catch, the squat, and the full hip extension — and forces athletes to focus purely on the arm and upper-body mechanics of bringing the bar to the front rack.

What it is

In the muscle clean, the athlete pulls the bar from the hip (power position) directly to the front rack without any re-bend of the knees or dropping under the bar. There is no "receive" position — the athlete stays tall throughout. It looks almost like a hang power clean, but with zero hip drive used to create momentum. The movement is slow, deliberate, and upper-body-dominant by design.

Why it matters for beginners

The muscle clean teaches two critical skills that every clean variation needs:

  • High elbow pull. Because there's no hip power assisting you, you have to actively pull the elbows high and outside to get the bar to the rack. This cements the correct bar path and elbow trajectory from day one.
  • Front rack mechanics. Landing in the front rack from a controlled pull teaches athletes exactly where the bar should sit — on the shoulder shelf, not in the hands — without the chaos of a fast, heavy receive.

How to perform the muscle clean

1

Start at the Hip

Hold the bar at hip height with a shoulder-width grip. Slight knee bend, hips back, torso leaning slightly forward. This is the power position — where every clean's real work begins.

2

Pull High, Elbows First

Without jumping or extending the hips, pull the bar upward keeping it close to the body. Lead with the elbows — they should travel up and out like a high pull, climbing past your ears before you rotate.

3

Rotate the Elbows Under

As the bar reaches chest height, quickly rotate the elbows under and forward — punching them out in front of you. The bar should land cleanly on the front rack shelf.

4

Check Your Position

Elbows high and in front of the bar. Bar resting on the shoulder shelf (clavicles and deltoids). Chest tall. Hands relaxed, fingers pointed forward or slightly up. Hold for 2 seconds and reset.

Watch: Muscle Clean — Catalyst Athletics Exercise Library
Programming Note

The muscle clean is not just a beginner drill — elite weightlifters still use it as a technique reinforcement tool. A set of 5–8 muscle cleans before any clean session is one of the best warm-up protocols you can use, at any level.

6. Variation 2: The Power Clean

Once front rack mechanics are solid from muscle clean work, the power clean is the next step — and the variation you'll see most often in CrossFit workouts. It is the workhorse of the clean family.

What makes it a "power" clean

In the power clean, the athlete catches the bar in a partial squat — hips above parallel. This means the bar must travel higher than in a squat clean, because the athlete doesn't drop as low to receive it. For this reason, the power clean requires more explosive hip extension and demands excellent timing on the catch.

How to perform the power clean

1

Setup

Bar over mid-foot. Feet hip-width. Grip just outside the legs — hook grip recommended once weights increase. Back flat, chest up, lats tight. Take a big breath into your belly before the pull.

2

First Pull — Floor to Knee

Push the floor away, keeping your back angle constant. The bar stays close — dragging up the shins is ideal. This phase is controlled and powerful, not a yank.

3

Transition at the Knee

As the bar passes the knee, let the knee shift slightly back under the bar. Your torso rises slightly and your hips load into position. This is the "scoop" that primes your second pull.

4

Second Pull — Explode

Drive through the floor with everything you have. Hips, knees, and ankles extend simultaneously. Shrug violently. Keep elbows high and outside the arms. The bar should feel almost weightless at the top of this phase.

5

Catch in the Quarter Squat

Pull yourself under the bar. Feet reset slightly wider than the pull stance. Elbows whip through fast — faster than you think necessary. Catch with hips above parallel, chest tall, elbows high.

6

Stand Up

Drive through the heels to stand fully. Do not press the bar forward or lower the elbows on the way up. Stand tall, then lower the bar under control back to the starting position.

Key Cue

"Jump and shrug" is the most common power clean cue — and a useful one to start with. But the more accurate mental model is push the floor away violently, not jump. Athletes who think "jump" often lose connection with the bar and miss the triple extension timing.

Watch: Power Clean — Catalyst Athletics Exercise Library
Watch: The Scoop / Transition — Catalyst Athletics
Watch For This

The most common power clean error: catching with the elbows low and the bar held in the hands rather than resting on the shoulder shelf. This often causes wrist pain and means you're supporting the load with your arms rather than your skeletal structure. Fix it with muscle clean practice and aggressive elbow speed.

7. Variation 3: The Squat Clean (Full Clean)

The squat clean — often simply called "the clean" in Olympic weightlifting — is the full, competition-standard version of the movement. The athlete drops below parallel in the catch and stands up from the bottom of a front squat. This allows significantly more weight to be lifted compared to the power clean, because the bar only needs to travel high enough for the athlete to get under it, not high enough to catch standing.

Why the squat clean is the peak of the progression

Most beginners find the squat clean intimidating. There's more to coordinate: the foot re-set, the timing of the drop, the bottom position under load. But the squat clean is also more forgiving in one important way — because you meet the bar by going down to it rather than pulling it all the way up to you, the demands on raw pulling power are lower. Athletes with excellent technique and average strength can often squat clean more than they can power clean.

Prerequisites before attempting the squat clean

  • Solid front squat mechanics — you should be able to front squat with a bar comfortably below parallel, elbows high, for multiple reps.
  • Good hip and ankle mobility — tight ankles will cause you to collapse forward in the bottom position.
  • A confident power clean catch — if your elbows are still slow in the power catch, they'll be even slower under the added speed of a squat clean receive.
  • Experience bailing safely — squat clean misses are more dramatic than power clean misses.

How to perform the squat clean

1

Setup

Identical to the power clean — bar over mid-foot, hook grip, tight lats, neutral spine. The intent to squat changes only after the second pull, not before it.

2

First Pull

Identical to the power clean. Keep the bar close, back angle constant, push through the floor.

3

Transition and Second Pull

Same as the power clean. The hip explosion should feel identical — the difference comes only in what happens next.

4

Drop Under the Bar

Instead of catching above parallel, actively pull yourself down and under the bar. Think of it as two simultaneous actions: your elbows whip forward as your feet reset wider and your hips drop into a full front squat.

5

Receive in the Bottom

Catch the bar on the front rack shelf in the bottom of a full front squat. Brace hard through the core. Elbows must be up — if they drop, the bar rolls forward and the catch is lost. Hold the bottom for a beat to stabilize.

6

Stand Up

Drive through the heels. Keep elbows high all the way up — this is where athletes lose lifts. The front squat stand is a strong, confident push, not a grind. Finish tall with hips fully locked out.

Watch: The Clean (Squat Clean) — Catalyst Athletics Exercise Library
Watch: Dropping Under Cleans — Catalyst Athletics
The Mental Model That Changes Everything

Stop thinking of the squat clean as a power clean with a lower catch. Think of it instead as a drop under the bar — you are actively pulling yourself down into the squat while the bar is still rising. The best squat cleaners are not the ones who pull highest; they're the ones who drop fastest.

8. Variation 4: The Hang Variations

Any clean that starts from above the floor — at the hip crease, mid-thigh, or below the knee — is a hang clean. The most widely used variation in CrossFit programming is the hang power clean, which starts at mid-thigh and catches above parallel. The hang position removes the first pull and forces athletes to focus entirely on hip mechanics and the second pull — making it one of the most effective teaching and training tools in the whole Olympic lifting toolkit.

Hang Position

High Hang Clean

Bar starts at the hip crease, fully standing. The athlete hinge-loads the hips and immediately transitions to the second pull. Develops explosive power and the feel of the power position. Often done with lighter weights and high reps.

Hip / Power Position
Hang Position

Hang Power Clean

Bar starts mid-thigh, just above the knee. This is the most common hang variation in CrossFit programming. The first pull is eliminated — loads the hip more aggressively. Excellent for developing timing and the transition mechanics.

Mid-Thigh
Hang Position

Hang Squat Clean

All the hip mechanics of the hang clean, combined with the full squat receive of the squat clean. Demanding both technically and physically. Coaches use this to train the "drop" and catch timing before adding the complexity of the first pull.

Mid-Thigh to Full Squat
Hang Position

Below-Knee Hang Clean

Bar starts just below the knee. The most technically demanding hang position because it requires maintaining a proper back angle at a low position without the momentum of a full first pull. Excellent for exposing weaknesses in the transition.

Below Knee
Watch: Hang Power Clean — Catalyst Athletics Exercise Library
Watch: Hang Clean (Squat) — Catalyst Athletics Exercise Library

Why hang variations are so valuable

Hang cleans serve several distinct purposes in training. For beginners, the hang position provides immediate feedback on hip mechanics — without the distraction of a full pull, athletes can feel exactly what happens when the hips load and fire. For intermediate and advanced athletes, hang cleans are used to address specific weaknesses: a below-knee hang clean will expose a poor transition; a high-hang clean will expose a lazy shrug and slow elbows.

Hang cleans also appear frequently in CrossFit workouts because they allow for faster cycling. When fatigue accumulates in a long workout, re-setting to the floor for every rep takes time and mental energy — the hang position keeps athletes moving.

Beginner Tip

If you're struggling with the full clean from the floor, spend two to three weeks doing exclusively hang power cleans. This isolates the most important phase of the lift — the hip explosion and catch — and lets you build the movement pattern before adding the complexity of the first pull back in.

9. The Learning Progression: Which Order to Tackle

One of the most common mistakes new athletes make is jumping straight to the full squat clean without building the prerequisite skills. Here is the recommended learning sequence used by most certified Olympic lifting coaches:

1

Front Rack Holds & Front Squats

Before touching a clean, build comfort in the front rack and the ability to front squat well below parallel. Without this, every subsequent step will be compromised.

2

Muscle Clean from the Hip

PVC or empty bar. Focus on elbow height, bar path, and a smooth transition into the front rack. Do this until it feels automatic — typically 1–2 weeks of consistent practice.

3

Hang Power Clean

Add hip explosion. Light weight, focus on the feeling of the "pop" at the hip and the speed of the elbow turn. Catch should be confident and consistent before moving on.

4

Power Clean from the Floor

Add the first pull. Back mechanics, leg drive from the floor, and the transition at the knee are now in the picture. Work here for several weeks before attempting the squat receive.

5

Hang Squat Clean

Introduce the full squat catch from the hang position. This isolates the drop and receive without the demands of the full pull. Work here until catching below parallel is reliable.

6

Squat Clean from the Floor

The full movement. All phases combined. This is the goal — but only after the preceding steps are solid. Athletes who rush here typically spend months un-learning bad habits.

The Rule of Patience

Spending three weeks on the muscle clean before touching a squat clean is not slow. It is fast — because it eliminates months of fixing problems that rushed progressions create. The athletes who progress fastest are the ones who drill the basics longest.

Member Perk — 24/7 Gym Access

Mastering the clean takes reps — lots of them. CrossFit Coordinate members have 24/7 access to the gym, so you can log extra skill sessions on your own schedule. Early morning before work, late at night after the kids are in bed, Saturday afternoon with no class pressure — the bar and the bumper plates are always there when you are. Consistent extra practice is what separates athletes who understand the clean from athletes who own it.

10. Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Even experienced athletes make these errors. Identifying your specific faults is the most direct path to a better clean.

Common Mistake

  • Bar drifts away from the body during the pull
  • Hips rise faster than the shoulders on the first pull
  • Early arm bend — "muscling" the bar with the biceps
  • Elbows slow to turn over in the catch
  • Landing with feet too wide and toes splayed
  • Looking down during the lift
  • Losing elbows in the bottom of the squat catch
  • Catching the bar in the hands rather than on the shelf

How to Fix It

  • Engage the lats before pulling — "protect your armpits" throughout the pull
  • Keep your chest up; cue "shoulders and hips rise together" until the bar passes the knee
  • Arms are "hooks" not engines — they stay straight until after triple extension
  • Drill muscle cleans and pause power cleans with a 3-second hold at the top
  • Drill your catch footwork deliberately — the feet re-set to exactly squat width, no wider
  • Fix a gaze point 6–10 feet in front of you at floor level and never let it drop
  • Front squat with a pause at the bottom; build front rack strength with Zombie squats
  • Practice front rack flexibility daily; use the "fingertip release" drill at the catch
Watch: Bar Contact — Keeping the Bar Close — Catalyst Athletics
Watch: Hips Shooting Up — Catalyst Athletics
The Fastest Fix

Video every clean session, even briefly. Most athletes are shocked by the difference between what they feel and what they see. A 10-second phone video from the side and front at the beginning and end of each session will accelerate your progress more than almost any other single habit.

For Experienced Athletes

11. Advanced Drills for Dialing In Your Clean

If you've been cleaning for at least a year and have solid mechanics at moderate loads, these drills will help you identify and attack the subtle inefficiencies that limit your max clean. These are tools used by competitive Olympic weightlifters and CrossFit Games athletes alike.

Positional & Timing Drills

Clean Pull + Clean Complex

Perform 1–2 clean pulls (full extension, no catch) followed immediately by 1 clean. The pull primes your nervous system for the correct hip extension timing and reinforces staying over the bar longer. Use 90–100% of your clean max on the pull, 80–85% on the clean.

Timing & Extension Intermediate–Advanced

Pause Clean (Pause at the Knee)

Perform the first pull and pause for 2–3 seconds at the knee before completing the lift. This exposes any imbalance in your back angle, any tendency to let the bar drift, and any weakness in maintaining tension through the transition. One of the most diagnostic drills in the Olympic lifting toolkit.

Transition Mechanics Intermediate

Tempo Clean (3-Second First Pull)

Perform the first pull in exactly 3 seconds — controlled, deliberate, maintaining every position checkpoint. Then clean normally from the knee. This teaches proprioception of the correct back angle and bar path when athletes are too fast and sloppy off the floor.

Bar Path & Posture All Levels

Clean from Blocks (Mid-Thigh or Below Knee)

Setting the bar on blocks removes the first pull entirely and allows heavy loading of the transition and second pull without the fatigue of a full pull. Using blocks at different heights helps isolate exactly which phase of the clean needs work at near-maximal loads.

Strength & Power at Position Advanced
Watch: Tall Clean (Drop Clean) — Catalyst Athletics
Watch: Segment / Pause Clean — Catalyst Athletics

Strength & Speed Supplemental Drills

Clean Deadlift (Slow Eccentric)

Perform the clean setup and first pull, but instead of cleaning, lower the bar back to the floor in 3–5 seconds. This builds strength through the exact positions the clean requires — reinforcing back angle and leg drive in a loaded, slow eccentric that clean technique work alone cannot replicate. Load to 110–120% of your clean max.

Positional Strength Intermediate–Advanced

Drop Clean (Tall Clean)

Start standing with the bar at hip height and no hip hinge — just shrug, pull elbows high, and drop under the bar into a full squat catch. This drill eliminates all hip power and forces athletes to rely entirely on active pulling-under speed and elbow turnover. It's humbling and highly effective for improving the catch.

Catch Speed & Confidence Intermediate–Advanced

Countermovement Clean (3-Position Complex)

Perform three successive cleans from three different starting heights in one set: floor, below knee (hang), then high hang. Each position changes the demands on the hip and requires a different feel for the transition. Do not add weight — this is a technique refinement tool.

Position Awareness Advanced

Clean + Front Squat Cluster

Perform 1 clean followed immediately by 2–3 front squats before returning the bar to the floor. This builds front rack strength at heavy loads and simulates the catch-and-recover mechanics of a competition squat clean when fatigue sets in. Use 80–90% of your clean max.

Front Rack Strength Intermediate–Advanced
Watch: Clean Turnover Drills — Catalyst Athletics

Sotts Press from Front Rack

From the bottom of a front squat, press the bar overhead while maintaining the squat position. This is an extreme mobility and stability drill that exposes any weakness in thoracic extension or wrist flexibility. Use a PVC pipe or empty bar only. Incredibly effective as a daily mobility warmup for athletes whose front rack collapses under load.

Front Rack Mobility & Stability Advanced

12. How to Practice: Programming Your Clean Work

The clean is a technical skill first and a strength movement second. It responds best to frequent, moderate-volume practice at sub-maximal loads — not occasional grinding at heavy weights. Here's how to structure your clean practice as a beginner and intermediate athlete.

For beginners (first 3–6 months)

Focus entirely on technique. 3–4 sessions per week of 20–30 minutes is ideal. Each session should consist of mobility work (front rack, hips, ankles), 3–5 sets of muscle cleans, and 3–5 sets of hang power cleans. Never work to a max. Keep loads at 50–70% of your best and focus on movement quality.

For intermediate athletes (6+ months of solid mechanics)

Begin incorporating full cleans from the floor, squat cleans, and occasional heavy singles. 2–3 dedicated Olympic lifting sessions per week is manageable alongside regular CrossFit training. Use a weekly structure that includes one technique-focused day (light, high reps), one strength day (heavier, lower reps), and one speed day (moderate weight, fast cycling for conditioning).

Use your 24/7 access for extra skill work

One of the biggest advantages CrossFit Coordinate members have is 24/7 gym access — and for a skill-intensive movement like the clean, that matters. Programming extra 20-minute skill sessions outside of regular class time is one of the fastest ways to improve. Come in before work, pop in on a rest day, or stay late after a class. Even three extra sessions a month of deliberate clean practice — light weight, focused reps, dialing in one position at a time — will produce results that class-only training simply can't match at the same pace.

Key programming principles

  • Treat every rep as practice. There are no throwaway reps in Olympic lifting. Every rep is either building or breaking a pattern.
  • Never clean heavy when tired. If you're pre-fatigued from a prior workout, use clean work as a warm-up or skill session only. Heavy, technically demanding lifts under significant fatigue build bad habits.
  • Work up in small jumps. Jumping 20+ lbs at a time in the clean will expose technical weaknesses. Work up in 5–10 lb increments and pay attention to technique at every weight.
  • Rest adequately between heavy singles. 3–5 minutes between attempts at near-maximal loads is appropriate. The clean is neurologically demanding — under-resting produces diminishing returns and sloppy lifts.
  • Periodize your intensity. Build weight across 4–6 weeks, then take a deload week at 60–70% and focus purely on technique before rebuilding. This prevents accumulated technical debt at heavier weights.
The Single Best Thing You Can Do

If you train at a CrossFit gym, ask a coach to watch your clean at least once a month with a specific eye for your technique. Brief coaching feedback at regular intervals is worth more than hours of solo drilling. Most problems are invisible to the athlete but obvious to a trained eye.

Train on Your Schedule — We're Open 24/7

CrossFit Coordinate members get full 24/7 gym access — plus expert coaching every time you walk through the door for a class. Log extra skill work on the clean whenever the time is right for you. Early mornings, late nights, weekends — the barbell is always waiting.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Clean

Power Clean vs. Squat Clean: What's the Difference?

The power clean catches the bar with hips above parallel — in a quarter or half squat. The squat clean (full clean) catches the bar in a full front squat below parallel. Because the squat clean allows the athlete to meet the bar at a lower position, significantly more weight can be moved — which is why it is the competition standard in Olympic weightlifting. Most CrossFit athletes start with the power clean and progress to the squat clean once technique is solid.

What Is the Hang Power Clean?

The hang power clean is a clean variation that begins from above the floor — typically at mid-thigh — rather than from the ground. It skips the first pull, allowing athletes to focus entirely on hip explosion and the front rack catch. It is one of the most common movements in CrossFit workouts because it is fast to cycle, easy to scale, and highly effective at developing explosive hip drive. It also makes an excellent teaching tool for athletes new to Olympic lifting.

Is the Hang Power Clean Good for Beginners?

Yes — the hang power clean is ideal for beginners. Starting from the hang position eliminates the complexity of the first pull and lets you focus on the most important phase of the lift: the hip explosion and the catch. Most coaches recommend learning the hang power clean before progressing to cleans from the floor.

How Do You Learn the Power Clean in CrossFit?

Start with front rack holds and front squats, then progress to muscle cleans (from the hip), hang power cleans, and finally power cleans from the floor. Use a PVC pipe or empty barbell until your technique is consistent before adding load. Work with a coach whenever possible — a single session of professional feedback is worth weeks of solo drilling.

The Clean Is Worth the Investment

The clean is one of those lifts that rewards honesty. It will tell you immediately when you're rushing, when you're compensating, when you're strong in the right places and weak in the wrong ones. That feedback loop — if you're willing to listen to it — makes you a better athlete across the board.

The path is not mysterious: start with the muscle clean, build your front rack, earn your power clean, and when you can catch heavy weight confidently in a partial squat, begin the work of dropping under the bar. Don't skip steps. Don't add weight before the technique earns it. And get coaching whenever you can.

At CrossFit Coordinate in Cary, NC, our coaches teach the Olympic lifts the right way — with the patience to build the movement correctly and the progressions to take you from a PVC pipe to a loaded barbell without skipping a single step. Athletes in Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and across the Triangle come here to learn these lifts because we take the time to teach them properly.

If you've been wanting to learn the clean — or fix the one you already have — come see us.

Ready to Learn the Clean with Expert Coaching?

Start your 28-day free trial at CrossFit Coordinate in Cary, NC. Our coaches will meet you exactly where you are — no experience required.

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About CrossFit Coordinate

CrossFit Coordinate is Cary's premier CrossFit gym, serving busy professionals and parents across Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and the greater Triangle area of North Carolina. Our coaches specialize in teaching technical movements — including Olympic lifting — to athletes of all backgrounds. Whether you've never touched a barbell or you're chasing a new PR, we're here to coach you every step of the way.

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Camila Nietschmann

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Hi, my name is Camila! I’m from Raleigh, NC. With a little one, Camila has experience navigating postpartum fitness. She has a sport science background (B.S. in exercise physiology, strength coach for 3 years). She loves helping people find confidence, strength, and excellence through hard work in the gym!

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Eric Laber

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Eric is a squash player turned CrossFit fanatic.  He is passionate about sports performance and a devout believer in the positive impacts of intensive training on all aspects of life.  When he is not at the gym, he can be found on the squash court, wrangling his children, or staring into space thinking about statistics. 

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Alys MCcoy

COACH

Alys has coached with us many years! She brings her talent as not only as a great CrossFitter, but also a great coach! As a long time coach, she has a keen eye for spotting ways to improve your technique. We are thankful to have her coaching both our experienced and newer athletes! You can find Alys coaching in the mornings!

 

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Certification

Kristen Williams

Operations Manager And COACH

Coach Kristen wears many hats at CrossFit Coordinate. You’ll typically find Kristen coaching the 8:30 and 9:30am class where she brings her energy and years of fitness instruction experience to our community. In addition to crushing our workouts and cheering everyone on, you’ll find Kristen handling the day to day operations of our community and running our nutrition program!

 

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 2 Certification

CrossFit Coordinate Coach Mike

Mike Ortiz

COACH

Mike brings his years of fitness experience to every class. He loves helping our members and coaching our olympic lifts! In addition to seeing Mike taking our classes, you’ll find Mike in our open gym getting stronger and perfecting his gymnastics and olympic lift technique! He loves dogs and smoking pork butt for our post Murph Memorial Day workout!

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 1 Certification

Peter Ghali

OWNER / COACH

Peter’s passion for fitness and health started much later in life. Overworked and stressed out, he turned to CrossFit to help. Ten Years later he is still working hard in the gym and helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. You’ll find Peter in the Gym quite a bit with his daughter, Hannah, and son, Luke working out and coaching classes!

 

CERTIFICATIONS

CrossFit Level 2 Certification

HOLD POLICY

Month-to-Month Membership Agreements and Annual Membership Agreements: You may place your Membership on hold two (2) times per calendar year up to three (3) consecutive months each time. Advanced notice of at least two (2) business days is required. The hold must be 30 days in duration at a minimum and 30 days must elapse between holds. Upon expiration of the term of the hold, your account will automatically become active and payments will resume. Should you choose to return prior to the end of their hold period, the hold will be released and payments will resume.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All membership agreements require 30-days written notice to cancel your membership. This form will serve as your 30-days written cancellation notice. Note that if you have a scheduled renewal payment within 30-days of your invoice billing date, the payment will be processed as scheduled. Your membership will be canceled at the end of your final paid month. All payments are non-refundable. All grandfathered membership rates will also be forfeited and returning members will be subject to current rates.

MEMBERSHIP CANCELLATION REQUEST

Please fill out the form below and one of our team members will review your request. All of our cancellations require a 30 day notice. We will review your request, then reach out to confirm.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

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& one of our amazing
coaches will be in touch asap! We are excited to meet you!

ARE YOU LOOKING TO DROP-IN?

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WARNING!
Class Sizes Are Limited.

If you would like to reserve a spot... Simply fill out the form below letting us know what day you might come by & one of our amazing coaches will reach out to you to reserve your class.

OUR DROP-IN RATES

$25 Per Class

OUR Information:

Location:

11301 Penny Road Suite A Cary NC 27518

OUR PRICING IS SIMPLE

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The PERFECT Membership For YouR NEEDS.

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& one of our amazing coaches
will send you our current
membership information.