Topic: In the clean, I notice elite lifters brush the bar above the groin

[Shaun Le Conte]

I don't think I understand your description of how you say you did it, Patrick - could you post a video sometime?

Above the groin is a very high brush in the clean for a long armed lifter

[Patrick Bateman]

I don't think I understand your description of how you say you did it, Patrick - could you post a video sometime?

Above the groin is a very high brush in the clean for a long armed lifter

Actually this may be possible in the new year.

Until then here is are a few things i did to make it happen:

-I started with hips as low as possible eg like kasabiev, asanidze, kakhi, kolecki. This resulted in my arms vertical, and my shoulders directly above the bar.

-I arched back as hard as possible, and kept it that way through out the pull, especially the first pull.

-On the first pull, I try and get the bar as high up my legs as possible by straighting my knees as much as possible (but not locking them out) AND keeping my back arched hard. I imagined driving my legs into the ground/standing up. All of this done VERY slowly, and in fact i played around with doing this as slow as i could get away with in order to get the bar as high up my legs as possible.

-The most important bit for me, was during the second pull (the bit where i straighten my hips out) i concentrate on sliding the bar up my thighs, and keeping it in contact with my thighs AT ALL TIMES, not bumping in one specific point. This is done HARD AND FAST, and keeping it CLOSE and IN CONTACT with my thighs.

The net result is the bar gathers momentum, and carries on sliding up my thighs until it bumps the pubic bone (above the groin).

having re-watched the Suleymanoglu clip, he straightes his knee out until the bar is 6" or so above his knee, and doesn't keep it too close either...

..BUT...

...At that point the bar touches his thigh and he keeps it in contact there at all times, and slides it up hard and fast. And imo, the little jump that causes the bar to miss his junk is just because his thighs curve downwards, and the bar carries on in a straight line, that he was dragging it in, until it bumps abiove the groin.

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Shaun Le Conte]

Very interesting Patrick, thanks

The difficulty in imitating Suleymanoglu is that is arms are abnormally short. Even more difficult when your arms are longer than average, like mine. I try to pay more attention to lifters like Valerios Leonidas, Suley's 1990s rival, or Neno Terziisky the 56 kg CJ record holder

Cool video, wish I could understand Portugese for 10 minutes:

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

[Erik Blekeberg]

That was a fantastic video Shaun. Thanks for posting it.

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

I have learned so much  by reading this thread.  Thanks to all for the insight.

I have very long arms for my frame (76" from finger tip to finger tip and I'm 5'10").  When I stand fully erect, the bar is about at mid thigh.  Great for deadlifting.  But not for cleans. But from reading this thread, I believe there are technical ways to maximize extension that could potentially get the bar to brush higher.  Just need to be patient and pull like hell at the top.

Hmmmm... Lots to ponder.  Lots to sort out.

All the best,
 Arden

[Judas]

I have very long arms for my frame (76" from finger tip to finger tip and I'm 5'10").  When I stand fully erect, the bar is about at mid thigh.  Great for deadlifting.  But not for cleans. But from reading this thread, I believe there are technical ways to maximize extension that could potentially get the bar to brush higher.  Just need to be patient and pull like hell at the top.

Hmmmm... Lots to ponder.  Lots to sort out.

All the best,
 Arden

My god Arden... you're worse than i am with the orangutanedness... I have a helluva time with cleans too. The bar brushes my legs just above the knees. I can improve on that, its top o my list, but not by much. I've widened my grip out to the rings, that helped. I'd go further if it weren't so awkward to rack. My snatch pulls are very powerful. My clean pulls lack.

[Brooke Burkhalter]

Why does it matter if the bar brushes high or not?

On Kolecki it actually does not brush above the sack.

He's over 6' tall, uses a narrow grip and a narrow stance, the bar isn't going to brush above his groin. He does actively pull in with the lats at the top which seems to make the bar brush higher, but I think he is doing this to keep the bar close.

[Arden Cogar Jr.]

Brooke,
therein lies a very poingant analysis.  Especially for us longer limbed folks (which I would never consider Kolecki short limbed).  To get the 2nd pull at a higher position, the longer limbed folks really need to engage the lats more to keep the bar closer.  This is a disconnect I'm having at this current time, and given my less than short arms, my 2nd pull sometimes ends about 2" above my knees (and I have short legs). 

The key, as I'm seeing it, is staying over the bar as long as you can.  To do that, you need to engage the lats more.

Just thinking out loud.  And I'm a complete novice, so please take my input with a grain of salt.

All the best,
  Arden

Why does it matter if the bar brushes high or not?

On Kolecki it actually does not brush above the sack.

He's over 6' tall, uses a narrow grip and a narrow stance, the bar isn't going to brush above his groin. He does actively pull in with the lats at the top which seems to make the bar brush higher, but I think he is doing this to keep the bar close.