The DB hang clean and the press is a great exercise to strengthen your core and upper body muscles. It is an essential compound move that can be used as part of any strength training program. This article will go over the proper form, technique, and variations of this popular exercise. You will also learn how to incorporate it into your routine in order to maximize your results. With the right technique, the hang clean and press can help you develop a stronger core, shoulders, back, and legs.

DB HANG CLEAN AND PRESS OVERVIEW

The DB Hang Clean and Press is a compound exercise that works your upper body, core, and legs. It's an excellent full-body move for increasing strength and power.

The DB Clean and Press begins with the athlete standing with a dumbbell in each hand. From there, they explosively lift the weights up to their shoulders while keeping their arms bent in a “hanging” position. Once the weights are at shoulder height, they press the weights overhead until their arms are fully extended. Finally, they lower the weights back to their starting position before repeating for reps.

The DB Clean and Press is an effective way to build strength, power, coordination, and balance throughout the entire body. Additionally, it can help improve posture by strengthening your upper back muscles which will help keep your shoulders back and chest out when you stand or sit upright.

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MUSCLES USED IN THE EXERCISE

The DB hang clean and press is a great full-body exercise that targets multiple muscle groups. It is a compound exercise, meaning it works multiple joints and muscles at the same time. The primary muscles used in this exercise include the hamstrings, quads, glutes, core, shoulders, and triceps.

The hamstrings are engaged as you lower into the hang position and explosively drive your hips forward to perform the clean portion of the exercise. The quads are activated through knee extension as you stand up from the hang position. The glutes and core help stabilize your body during the entire movement.

Finally, the shoulders and triceps are used to press the dumbbells overhead. As you press up with both arms simultaneously, your deltoids (shoulders) will be doing most of the work while your triceps provide assistance. This exercise can be scaled to any fitness level by adjusting weight or range of motion.

HOW TO PERFORM DB HANG CLEAN AND PRESS

The DB Hang Clean and Press is a great exercise for building strength and power in your upper body. It involves using a dumbbell to perform a clean, followed by an overhead press. Here are the steps for performing this exercise:

  • Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding the dumbbell between your legs. Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips while keeping your back flat.
  • Explosively extend through your legs and hips while pulling the dumbbell up towards your chest using an upright row motion. As you pull the weight up, rotate your wrists so that you end up with the dumbbells resting on your shoulders. This is known as the “clean” portion of the exercise.
  • Once you have completed the clean, press the weights overhead until both arms are fully extended and locked out at the elbows.

It's important to keep proper form throughout this exercise to prevent injury. Make sure you keep your core tight and maintain control of the weights as you move through each stage of the lift. With practice, you'll be able to increase both power and weight as you become more comfortable with this exercise.

Related: What Muscles Do Hang Cleans Work? Essential Guide

VARIATIONS OF DUMBELL HANG POWER CLEAN

 

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There are several variations of this exercise that can be used to target different muscle groups or increase difficulty. Here are the best ones:

Variation #1: Squat Clean

The squat clean is a full-body exercise that works for multiple muscle groups at once. It is an advanced move, so proper form is essential for safety and efficiency. Here are the steps to do a squat clean:

  • Start with your feet shoulder-width apart and the barbell resting on the ground in front of you. Bend your knees and hips to lower into a squat position, keeping your back straight and chest up.
  • Explosively drive through your legs to stand up, extending your hips and knees as you lift the barbell off the ground. As you lift, pull the bar close to your body by shrugging your shoulders and bending your elbows.
  • Catch the barbell in a deep squat position with elbows pointing forward and arms parallel to the floor. Stand up from this position by driving through your legs until you reach a standing position with your arms extended overhead, finishing with the barbell locked out over your head.

 

Variation #2: Split Stance

The split stance is a great exercise for improving balance and stability.

  • To do the split stance, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Then, shift your weight onto one leg and lift the other leg off of the ground. Keep your hips level and your chest up as you hold this position for 10 to 15 seconds. After that, switch legs and repeat the same steps on the other side.
  • Once you have mastered the basic split stance, you can add additional challenges to increase difficulty. For example, try lifting one arm in front of you or reaching one arm overhead while maintaining balance on one leg. You can also incorporate dynamic movements such as lunges or squats into the exercise for an extra challenge.
  • Finally, make sure to practice regularly in order to see results from this exercise. Aim for two to three sets of 10-15 second holds per side each day for best results.

 

Variation #3: Single Arm

The single-arm hang and clean is a challenging exercise that combines strength, coordination, and balance. It requires the use of one arm to lift a weight from the ground to an overhead position while keeping the body stable and in proper alignment. Here are the steps for performing this exercise:

  • Begin by standing with feet hip-width apart and holding a barbell or dumbbell in one hand. Keep your core engaged throughout the entire movement.
  • Bend your knees slightly and hinge at the hips to reach down and grasp the weight with both hands.
  • Keeping your back flat, drive through your heels to stand up with the weight in front of you.
  • With control, bring the weight up towards your shoulder as you press into your heel to jump slightly off of the ground (this is called a hang clean).

 

Variation #4: Push Press

The push press is an explosive strength exercise that works the entire body. It's a great way to build power and increase your upper body strength.

  • To perform a push press, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and holding a barbell in front of you with your palms facing down.
  • Keep your core tight and chest up. From here, dip down slightly, then explosively drive the barbell up overhead until your arms are fully extended.
  • Make sure to keep the barbell close to your head as you press it up.

Once you've completed the press, slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position. Make sure to keep control of the weight throughout the movement and avoid any sudden jerks or drops. Repeat this motion for 8-12 repetitions depending on your fitness level.

Related: Hang Squat Clean Crossfit: Mastering the Technique

Variation #5: Dumbbell Clean and Jerk

 

The dumbbell clean and jerk is an excellent full-body exercise that can help you build strength and power.

  • To perform the exercise, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand.
  • Bend at the hips and knees to lower into a squat position, keeping your back straight and core engaged. As you stand up from the squat, explosively drive through your legs to lift the dumbbells up to your shoulders.
  • From here, press the weights overhead while pushing through your heels until your arms are fully extended.
  • Lower the weights back down to shoulder level before repeating the motion for another rep. Make sure to keep your chest up throughout the entire movement to maintain proper form.
  • With each repetition, focus on engaging all of your muscle groups as you move through the exercise.

For best results, aim for 3 sets of 8-10 reps with a weight that allows you to complete all reps with good form.

Variation #6: Single Arm Dumbbell Power Clean;

The single-arm dumbbell power clean is an effective exercise for targeting muscles in the arms, shoulders, and core. It can be done with either one or two dumbbells. Here are the steps to perform a single-arm power clean:

  • Start by standing with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and hold a dumbbell in one hand.
  • Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips while keeping your back flat. This will help you generate momentum as you lift the weight up.
  • Explosively extend your hips and knees while simultaneously pulling the weight up towards your shoulder, catching it with a bent elbow, and keeping it close to your body as you stand up straight.
  • Lower the weight back down to the starting position under control, then repeat on the same side for reps before switching arms and repeating on the other side.

 

Variation #7: Barbell Hang Muscle Clean;

The barbell hanging muscle clean is an effective exercise for building strength and power in the lower body. It is a compound exercise that targets the glutes, hamstrings, calves, and core.

  • To perform a barbell hang muscle clean, begin by standing with your feet hip-width apart and holding a barbell with an overhand grip.
  • Bend your knees slightly and keep your back straight. Then explosively extend your hips and shrug your shoulders to lift the bar off the floor.
  • As you do this, quickly pull the bar up to shoulder level while keeping it close to your body.
  • Finally, drop into a quarter squat position as you catch the bar at shoulder height. Make sure to keep your elbows high and out so you can absorb the weight of the barbell without losing control of it.
  • Stand up from the squat position to complete one repetition of the exercise.

 

Variation #8: Single Arm Kettlebell Muscle Clean

The single-arm kettlebell muscle clean is an excellent exercise for strengthening your core and upper body. Here are the steps to do it correctly:;

  • Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and the kettlebell held in one hand close to your body.;
  • Bend at the hips and knees, keeping your back straight and chest up, then use the momentum of the weight to help you stand back up explosively.;
  • As you stand, pull the kettlebell up towards your shoulder in a swift motion using your core muscles and elbow joint. Make sure to keep your wrist straight and control the weight as it moves up towards your shoulder.
  • Once the kettlebell is at shoulder height, rotate your wrist so that it faces forward before lowering it back down again under control. Repeat this movement for desired reps or sets before switching sides.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

The DB hang clean and the press is a great exercise for building strength and power in the upper body. It targets the shoulders, back, chest, and arms, making it an effective full-body movement. It also helps to improve coordination and balance by requiring you to move quickly between movements.

The DB hang clean and press can be done with either light or heavy weights depending on your goals. If you are looking to build muscle mass, then heavier weights will be best. If you are looking to increase power and speed, then lighter weights will be more beneficial.

Overall, the Dumbbell clean and press is a great exercise for building strength, power, coordination, and balance in the upper body. It is a versatile exercise that can be used to help reach a variety of fitness goals.