Exercise

Squat Jerk

Also known as: olympic squat jerk, full squat jerk, barbell squat jerk

Squat Jerk is a compound exercise for the quadriceps, shoulders and glutes. Main target: vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, anterior deltoid and gluteus maximus. Also works: triceps long head, triceps lateral head, biceps femoris and medial gastrocnemius. Equipment: barbell.

EquipmentBarbell

TypeCompound (multi-joint)

MovementPush

CategoryOlympic weightlifting

Muscles worked

Primary

Vastus lateralis Vastus medialis Anterior deltoid Gluteus maximus

Secondary

Triceps long head Triceps lateral head Biceps femoris Medial gastrocnemius

How to do it

Standing with the weight racked on the front of the shoulders, begin with the dip. With your feet directly under your hips, flex the knees without moving the hips backward. Go down only slightly, and reverse direction as powerfully as possible. Drive through the heels create as much speed and force as possible, and be sure to move your head out of the way as the bar leaves the shoulders.
At this moment as the feet leave the floor, the feet must be placed into the receiving position as quickly as possible. In the brief moment the feet are not actively driving against the platform, the athlete's effort to push the bar up will drive them down. The feet should move forcefully to just outside the hips, turned out as necessary. Receive the bar with your body in a full squat and the arms fully extended overhead.
Keeping the bar aligned over the front of the heels, your head and chest up, drive throught heels of the feet to move to a standing position. Carefully return the weight to floor.