Legs · Barbell

Barbell Power Clean From Blocks

How to do the barbell power clean from blocks, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.

Animated demonstration of the Barbell Power Clean From Blocks
Equipment
Barbell
Difficulty
Advanced
Logged as
Weighted reps
Movement
Hinge
Mechanic
Compound

How to do it

Set the barbell on blocks at about knee height. From a tall hinge over the bar, explosively extend your hips and knees, shrug, and pull yourself under to catch the bar in a front rack above a quarter squat, then stand up tall.

  1. 1Feel your legs and hips explode to drive the bar off the blocks
  2. 2Pull yourself under and catch the bar high on your shoulders without dropping deep
  3. 3Stand fully with elbows high and core braced

Common mistakes

  • Don't pull with your arms early; drive from your hips and legs
  • Avoid letting the bar swing out away from your body off the blocks
  • Don't catch with your elbows down or your chest collapsing

Muscles worked

The barbell power clean from blocks mainly works the glutes and quads, with the triceps, upper traps, upper abs, lower abs, hamstrings, front delts, upper chest, lats, lower back, calves, and side delts assisting.

  • GlutesPrimary
  • QuadsPrimary
  • TricepsSupport
  • Upper TrapsSupport
  • Upper AbsSupport
  • Lower AbsSupport
  • HamstringsSupport
  • Front DeltsSupport
  • Upper ChestSupport
  • LatsSupport
  • Lower BackSupport
  • CalvesSupport
  • Side DeltsSupport
  • ForearmsMinor
  • Mid TrapsMinor
  • Lower TrapsMinor
  • ObliquesMinor

Kovo programs the barbell power clean from blocks for you and tracks it every session.

We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.

More glutes exercises

See all glutes exercises →

Last reviewed June 2026.