How to do a Power Clean Thruster
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Power Clean Thruster
Workouts with Power Clean Thruster
Target muscles worked
Instructions for Proper Form
Combines a power clean with a thruster (squat to overhead press), targeting the legs, shoulders, and arms. This compound exercise improves explosive strength and cardiovascular fitness.
- Stand upright with your feet hip width apart and your shins just in front of the barbell before bending your hips backwards to drop your hands down to the barbell with extended arms. Explosively stand upright by pushing your hips forward and simultaneously raising the barbell up the front of your torso to shoulder height keeping your elbows high. Snap your elbows underneath the barbell to catch the barbell at shoulder height. Bend your hips and knees to descend into a squat until your thighs reach parallel with the floor keeping your spine neutral. Extend back to an upright position and explosively extend your arms to press the barbell overhead at the top Control the movement back to the starting position.
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Alternative Exercises to Power Clean Thruster
1. Back Squat
99.3 mSCORESWAPPED 40 TIMESBack Squat is one of the three Powerlifting movements, and one of the most common lower body exercises. It’s a great compound exercise that can help build strength and muscle mass in your leg, especially your quadriceps. It’s a staple in most fitness programs, and is often used as a metric for tracking lower body strength in general.
2. Dumbbell Squat
94.1 mSCORESWAPPED 35 TIMESDumbbell Squat is a variation of the more standard Squat. Like other variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps. The advantage of using dumbbells rather than a barbell is that you have more freedom in your range of motion which can make this a more accessible variation for anyone with mobility limitations. With that freedom comes a bit more instability with this exercise though, which can help you further improve your squat for, and build the strength needed for heavier, or more complex variations.
3. Leg Extension
99.4 mSCORESWAPPED 31 TIMESLeg Extensions are an isolation exercise that target the quads. Due to a severe lack of isolation movements for the lower body, this is a great option for specifically targeting your quadriceps. The use of a machine restricts your range of motion, and adds some stability to the movement. This can help your focus more on exertion than stabilizing the movement. The downside to this exercise is that it places a lot of tension on your knee. Keep your weights light, and focus on pausing near the end of your range of motion.
- Beginner
- Quads
- Leg Extension Machine
4. Dumbbell Sumo Squat
81 mSCORESWAPPED 28 TIMESA squat exercise performed with dumbbells, in a wide-legged stance to target the legs and glutes.
5. Air Squats
92.1 mSCORESWAPPED 25 TIMESAir Squats are a bodyweight variation of Squats. Like other variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps. Without any added resistance this is easily one of the most beginner friendly exercises out there. It’s a great way to start building strength, and working your way towards more advanced variations.
- Beginner
- Quads
6. Dumbbell Bulgarian Split Squat
91.4 mSCORESWAPPED 24 TIMESDumbbell Bulgarian Split Squat is a weighted variation of a Bulgarian Split Squat. Like other Bulgarian Split Squats, this exercise is a compound movement that primarily targets your quads. The use of dumbbells allows you to add more resistance to this exercise, without restricting your range of motion and posture as much as using a barbell.
7. Dumbbell Lunge
97.6 mSCORESWAPPED 23 TIMESDumbbell Lunge is a variation on the more standard Lunge. Similar to other Lunge variations, Dumbbell Lunge is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quads. The exercise itself is the same as a standard lunge except for the added weight from holding dumbbells in each hand. This is a great variation for anyone looking to make their lunges a bit more challenging without adding more complexity to the movement.
8. Dumbbell Squat To Shoulder Press
98.1 mSCORESWAPPED 20 TIMESDumbbell Squat to Shoulder Press is a combination of a Dumbbell Squat and a Shoulder Press. Both pieces of this exercise are compound movements that primarily target the quads and shoulders respectively. Combining these two movements is more than just the sum of its parts. It’s a very functional movement that has tons of practical applications, especially for sports. It’s also a great starting point for anyone looking to build the strength and conditioning needed for more explosive exercises like Thrusters, or eventually Olympic lifts.
9. Barbell Step Up
82.7 mSCORESWAPPED 20 TIMESTargeting the quads, glutes, and hamstrings, the Barbell Step Up is a compound exercise that also challenges balance and coordination. Performing this exercise with a barbell increases the resistance, enhancing muscle strength and endurance, making it a valuable addition to lower body workouts.
10. Dumbbell Goblet Squat
87.9 mSCORESWAPPED 20 TIMESDumbbell Goblet Squat is a variation on the more standard Front Squat. Like other squat variations, this compound exercise primarily targets the quadriceps. Goblet squats are beneficial because they require less upper body mobility in order to keep the weight in the proper position compared to using a barbell.