Definitions

Power Clean

The lifter sets up in the same fashion as a clean, but the bar is caught before the lifter descends below a parallel squat. The lifter stands to complete the lift. This lift is the most common weightlifting movement used outside of the sport of weightlifting. It is used to develop power in all types of athletes

See Clean
Often Abbreviated PC

Clean and Jerk

The second lift contested in a weightlifting meet. The lifter performs a clean, followed by a jerk.

See Clean, See Jerk
Often abbreviated CJ, C&J, Cln+jrk

Jerk

The bar starts at the shoulder, the lifter quickly makes a small dip with the legs and aggressively drives the bar overhead. The lifter moves his/her feet into a split position similar to a lunge in order to get under the bar. The lifter then recovers to an upright standing position to complete the lift.

See Clean and Jerk
May also be referred to as a Split Jerk
Often Abbreviated J or Jrk

Clean

The lifter takes a grip on the bar that is just outside shoulder width, stands to aggressively accelerate the bar, upon reaching full standing height the lifter drives him/herself into a front squat to receive the bar. The lifter then stands to complete the clean.

A jerk is typically completed after the clean as part of the clean and jerk.

See Clean and Jerk
Often Abbreviated C

From Blocks

A lift that is performed with the bar raised from the ground by placing the weight plates on wooden block or some other means of support. This allows for positional training that occurs from a dead stop, without the pre-tensioning of muscles that occurs when lifts are performed from the hang.

From the Hang

A lift that is performed from the hang begins with the bar above the knee. The bar may be lifted from the ground like a deadlift and then lowered into the desired position. There are many heights from above the knee that may be considered from the hang. Typically the higher the bar is off the ground, the more challenging the exercise.

Snatch Deadlift

The lifter sets up in a snatch position and proceeds to lift the weight until he/she is standing vertically. This movement is typically used to enhance the lifters ability to hold a proper position under maximal effort conditions.

Often abbreviated SDL

Snatch Pull

The lifter sets up in a snatch position, pulls the bar up to the waist, follows through by keeping the elbows high but does not turn the arms over or attempt to secure the weight overhead. Typically the bar is pulled to belly button height, although the required height may change to instruct different technical changes.

Often abbreviated SP or SHP (Snatch High Pull)

Drop Snatch

The bar is taken off the rack from behind the neck in a similar fashion as the back squat.The lifter takes a snatch grip on the bar and then attempts to drop into the bottom position of an overhead squat without any upward leg drive on the bar. The purpose of this exercise is to build speed into the bottom position of the snatch (the third pull). Therefore it is imperative that the lifter does not drive the bar upward in any way. Typically only very light weights can be used.

Often abbreviated DS

Overhead Squat

The bar is taken off the rack from behind the neck in a similar fashion as the back squat. The lifter takes a snatch grip on the bar, does a push press or push jerk to place the bar in position. The lifter then squats until the hips are bellow parallel with the legs with the bar fully locked out overhead in a wide grip. The lifter stands to complete the movement.

The overhead squat is often used as a diagnostic for flexibility.

Often abbreviated OHS