Your main takeaways here: 1) Shoulders are directly over the bar 2) Bar is above the base of the toes 3) Chest up, tension in the back 4) Keep the bar close as you push off the floor Focus on one step, perfect it, then start stacking cues on top of one another. This is also why we practice the clean pull, to highlight this phase of the lift where we are going from the floor to making hip contact. Happy training

This happens all too often with newer to intermediate lifters, we are so focused on pulling that heavy barbell off the ground that we rip the bar off the floor as fast as we can. In that initial pull, tension is going to help you more than any sudden output of upper body force will. Set the lats, brace the core (abs + low back), and use your legs to engage the pull. The more we can remove the upper body from that initial pull off the floor, the better we can utilize that leg drive to get some serious height on the barbell 👌🏻 Happy training!

This section exists for small but important pieces of technical insight, the kinds of details that make the Olympic lifts feel smoother, more repeatable, and more consistent over time. Each Major Key focuses on one idea: - A position - A timing detail - A common mistake - A simple cue that actually matters Think of these as training notes, not instructions to overhaul everything at once. How to use Major Keys: - Read one key at a time - Apply it during your next few training sessions - Don’t stack cues or chase perfection - Let the movement settle before moving on Progress in weightlifting comes from small adjustments repeated consistently, not constant changes. Revisit these often; the same idea can mean something different at different stages of your training. Happy Training -- Ian