One-Arm Kettlebell Clean

An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

One-Arm Kettlebell Clean — Starting position Starting position
One-Arm Kettlebell Clean — End position End position
Difficulty Intermediate
Type Strength
Equipment Kettlebell
Primary Muscle Hamstrings
AI Rep Counting Log manually

How to Do One-Arm Kettlebell Clean

  1. Place a kettlebell between your feet. As you bend down to grab the kettlebell, push your butt back and keep your eyes looking forward.
  2. Clean the kettlebell to your shoulders by extending through the legs and hips as you raise the kettlebell towards your shoulder. The wrist should rotate as you do so.
  3. Return the weight to the starting position.

Muscles Worked

Front
Back

Primary

Where One-Arm Kettlebell Clean does most of its work.

Secondary

Assisting and stabilising muscles.

Alternatives to One-Arm Kettlebell Clean

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Kettlebell Hang Clean

    Kettlebell Hang Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    intermediate Kettlebell
  2. 2 Double Kettlebell Alternating Hang Clean

    Double Kettlebell Alternating Hang Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    intermediate Kettlebell
  3. 3 Kettlebell Dead Clean

    Kettlebell Dead Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    intermediate Kettlebell
  4. 4 One-Arm Open Palm Kettlebell Clean

    One-Arm Open Palm Kettlebell Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    intermediate Kettlebell
  5. 5 Kettlebell One-Legged Deadlift

    Kettlebell One-Legged Deadlift

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    intermediate Kettlebell
  6. 6 Dumbbell Clean

    Dumbbell Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using dumbbells.

    intermediate Dumbbells
  7. 7 Smith Machine Hang Power Clean

    Smith Machine Hang Power Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a machine.

    intermediate Machines
  8. 8 Open Palm Kettlebell Clean

    Open Palm Kettlebell Clean

    An advanced compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    advanced Kettlebell
  9. 9 Power Clean

    Power Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  10. 10 Alternating Hang Clean

    Alternating Hang Clean

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the hamstrings, using a kettlebell.

    intermediate Kettlebell

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do one-arm kettlebell clean work?

One-Arm Kettlebell Clean primarily works the hamstrings. The glutes, lower back, shoulders and traps assist as secondary muscles.

What equipment do I need for one-arm kettlebell clean?

One-Arm Kettlebell Clean uses kettlebell.

One-Arm Kettlebell Clean: is it suitable for beginners?

One-Arm Kettlebell Clean is rated intermediate. Movements that assume you already own the basic pattern and are ready to load it.

What can I do instead of one-arm kettlebell clean?

Kettlebell Hang Clean, Double Kettlebell Alternating Hang Clean, Kettlebell Dead Clean train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

Can Fitnit count my one-arm kettlebell clean reps automatically?

Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; one-arm kettlebell clean can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

Track Your One-Arm Kettlebell Clean with AI

Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.