Hitting shin and knee while deadlifting and cleaning

[Ed Kwok]

Hi, during deadlift and cleans, when i'm in the squat position coming up to the standing position, I tend hit my shin and knee. I try to keep the weight on my heel and my back as erect as possible. Does anyone else get this problem? what am i doing wrong?

[Carrie Klumpar]

Probably keeping your back too erect.

Shoulder blades should remain directly over the bar until it clears your knees.

(On the bright side, you've already resolved one common flaw among newbie deadlifters, which is not keeping the bar in close to the legs at all times during both ascent and descent.)

[Elliot Royce]

First pull on the clean should have your knee moving backwards so that the bar can track as straight a vertical line as possible.

You may be using your back as a lever, instead of as a support for the load. In other words, don't change your back angle in your first pull.

(Message edited by eroyce on April 25, 2007)

[Lincoln Brigham]

You are trying to lift the bar around the knees.

Pull the knees of the way of the bar instead. If you keep your back angle constant - as Elliot says - then the bar will automatically come off the ground as the knees move backwards.

[Elliot Royce]

Gary V has actually got me learning this stuff in theory, huh? Now I need to practice what I preach!

[Kenneth Urakawa]

Listen to these folks. Also, here's a (re-posted) link to a good article dealing with the transition/scoop--should answer your questions.

Of Course it's safe.

http://coachesinfo.com/category/stre...ditioning/366/