In the exercise, clean and jerk, the "clean" means that the athlete is performing the lifting-pulling action and the "jerk" means that the athlete is performing the push action. Another action in the push-pull exercise is carrying. The athlete performs this action when he/she pauses with the bar at the chest and when the bar is at arm's length above the head. The mechanical principles involved in the clean and jerk apply to all lifting, carrying and spotting techniques. Laws controlling stability also play an important role in the clean and jerk because the athlete needs to have a good stance in order to perform the exercise properly.

The characteristics for the exercise are simple, yet important.

In the mechanics of the clean and jerk, the starting position of the "clean" is that the bar will be pulled predominately in a vertical manner. The athlete's partially flexed legs are in a mechanically efficient position for a powerful extension. The arms are extended and immediately transmit force from the athlete's legs and back to the bar. The resting inertia of the bar is overcome by a powerful extension of the athlete's legs and back. The bar rises in a vertical direction. The large muscles of the legs and back apply the greatest force to the bar. Driving up onto the toes and pulling upward with the arms allows the athlete to continue applying force. The athlete pulls the bar upwards as close to his/her line of gravity as possible. The supporting base and bar is optimally stabilized. When the barbell has risen to just below the pectoral muscles, the athlete then squats down under the bar simultaneously rotating the arms forward so that it's pulled in toward the upper chest. The athlete uses the great strength in the legs to lift up from a deep front squat position. A slight flexion pre-stretches the legs. The upward recoil of the bar is timed to coincide with the leg extension to assist in thrusting the barbell upward. The athlete is forced to split the legs at high speed and drop very low under the bar. With the barbell above the head, the combined center of gravity between the athlete and the barbell become progressively unstable.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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