The Clean & Jerk is done by lifting the barbell from the floor in two stages.

The first stage is called the “clean”, where the barbell is from the floor to the shoulders, to a racked position across deltoids and clavicles.

The second stage is called the “jerk”. From the standing position, the lifter bends the knees and then straightens them in order to propel the barbell upwards. The lifter pushes slightly with the arms. This pushes the lifter underneath the barbell. A split jerk is most often used, in which one leg lunges forward while the other moves backward. The lifter must hold the barbell overhead, keep the arms locked, and then move the legs directly underneath the torso so that the entire body lines up in a single plane.