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Exercise guide

Jerk Balance

How to do the Jerk Balance with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundBarbellIntermediatePush
Primary muscles

Shoulders

Secondary

Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads, Triceps

Equipment

Barbell

Step by step

How to do the Jerk Balance

  1. 1

    This drill helps you learn to drive yourself low enough during the jerk and corrects those who move backward during the movement. Begin with the bar racked in the jerk position, with the shoulders forward, torso upright, and the feet split slightly apart.

  2. 2

    Initiate the movement as you would a normal jerk, dipping at the knees while keeping your torso vertical, and driving back up forcefully, using momentum and not your arms to elevate the weight.

  3. 3

    Keep the rear foot in place, using it to drive your body forward into a full split as you jerk the weight. Recover by standing up with the weight overhead.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Jerk Balance set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your shoulders volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More shoulders exercises

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