Sandbag Clean

Pull the bag from the floor into a bear-hug rack on the chest. Cleaner and more repeatable than shouldering, which makes it the workhorse for cycled sets.

DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
EQUIPMENT
Sandbag
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Glutes · Hamstrings · Quads
ALSO WORKS
Lower back · Traps · Biceps · Abs
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Hinge with a flat back and grip the bag by the handles or under the body of the bag.
  2. 02Pull it to the thighs, then drive the hips forward hard.
  3. 03As the bag rises, drop the elbows under and catch it high on the chest in a bear hug.
  4. 04Stand tall with the bag squeezed to the sternum and the ribs down.
  5. 05Hinge and return the bag to the floor, then repeat without resetting your stance.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Pull it to the hips, then throw the hips at it.
  2. 02Elbows dive under and catch high.
  3. 03Ribs down when you stand.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Catching the bag low on the belly, which forces a second grinding pull to get it into position.
  2. 02Starting with hips too high, which turns the first pull into a stiff-legged lift.
  3. 03Dropping the bag from the chest without hinging, which repeatedly hammers the lower back on the reset.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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