Do You Really Need to Power Clean? Rethinking Explosive Lifts for Lifters Who Train for Life

Do you really need to power clean to be strong and explosive? For most lifters training for longevity, hypertrophy, and health—not competition—the answer might surprise you.

In this episode of Beast Over Burden, part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series, coaches Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break down the real purpose of the power clean, who it's actually for, and why there are better options for developing explosive strength without the technical headaches or injury risks. If you’re lifting for life—not for sport—this one’s for you.

✅ What You’ll Learn

• Why the power clean is often overprescribed

• Who actually benefits from doing power cleans (and who doesn’t)

• What to do instead of cleans for explosive strength

• How to rethink power training as you age

• Smarter programming for lifters who value longevity and health

• Why you don’t have to power clean to be strong
  
  

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Do you really need to power clean?
01:44 – Why cleans became a thing in general strength training
04:20 – Who actually needs to do them
07:15 – Technical demands vs. actual benefits
10:42 – Explosive alternatives that make more sense
13:37 – Programming cleans (or not) for longevity
16:05 – Final thoughts: do what fits your goals, not someone else’s

🏷️ Hashtags

#powerclean #doYouReallyNeedToPowerClean #strengthtraining #explosivetraining #barbelllogic #beastoverburden #olympiclifting #smartstrength #liftingafter30 #traininglongevity #functionalfitness #kettlebelltraining #medballtraining #liftforlife #trainingsustainably #fitnesspodcast #strengthafter40 #bigliftsrethought #strengthpodcast

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Connect with the hosts

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

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• Or email [e-mail]