Clarence Kennedy’s Biggest Lifts EXPLAINED

Coach ZT and Clarence Kennedy dive deep into the truth behind some of the most famous lifts posted online.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:31 - Warmups
05:33 - 340KG Deadlift
10:15 - 306KG Pause Squat
14:29 - 15 Attempts at 186KG
17:29 - 230KG Clean with Gabriel
22:23 - 300KG Pause Squat
27:51 - 265KG Squat x 10
31:26 - 190KG Snatch
33:52 - Outro

[@lKILLA]

Clarence is just a national treasure. An honest non-natty, anime loving, parkour trickster, elite lifter who doesn't compete, with world records under his belt just for fun.

[@gentismenace]

Don't forget he's the most ethical and idealist athlete

[@joemo250]

Also vegan

[@bananayogurt8002]

​@@joemo250😮

[@giovannidispirito9056]

Couldn’t have said it better myself! He’s so humble about it all as well. Needs to be protected at all costs

[@danceAtWill]

when did he say he was non-natty?

[@raymondjurado9203]

After we are all dead and buried, Clarence's pause squat will hopefully still be motivating lifters all over the world.

[@Swordofmichael333]

😂🎉❤

[@ivan-gerasimovic]

I believe this to be 100% true, actually.

[@cameronfyffe6346]

I think Clarences most iconic video is that 222.5 clean and jerk and the backflip

[@federicocarnebale]

Fr

[@scottessery100]

I liked the one where he staggered fwd and nearly took a woman out in the gym

[@cameronfyffe6346]

@scottessery100 that video was absurd to watch because noone in that gym even looked at him as he was snatching world class weights

[@chrism45]

Squatting in the basement of a church are more iconic I think but that is the most impressive

[@federicocarnebale]

@@cameronfyffe6346 fr i would watch anybody snatching more than 100kgs everywhere everytime

[@SKTom0]

Can’t wait for the 310 pause squat to be uploaded in 2030.

[@collin_rich]

True lmao

[@zackariahp1873]

His Patreon is $1 lad

[@SKTom0]

@@zackariahp1873 In school. No money.

[@wojfer87]

350 kg pause squat no belt.

[@fredgioce9549]

​@@zackariahp1873how Is the video called in the patreon. I can't find it

[@lukeet331]

I modelled my squat around clearance for such a long time, we need more influencers like him to appear again

[@elilachappa3330]

Ditto. Clarence basically got me into lifting, seeing that old video of him hitting like 650 high bar, paused and with super strict form blew my mind

[@BezimiennyMarcel]

Same but I'm not really built like him so it made my squat kinda shit. Had to switch to low bar and now I'm squatting with no issues

[@darioettore100]

Same for me too. I am not nearly a strong, but his one comment he made about the esthetics of it make me focus on my technique more than any coaching or any desire to go heavy. I started over, worked on my mobility , did shit load of pause and relearned how to squat properly.

[@OverG88]

@@elilachappa3330 Same shit my man.

[@M4NOK]

I did that too!! Except I really can't do highbar without destroying my lower back so now I squat low bar. Pretty sad too since I really like Clarence's squat style since it looks so cool.

[@thenoodleking]

I love that Clarence has been Clarence for so long that he doesn’t even realize it anymore.

[@tomassukasparek1957]

I think his most iconic vid is when he messed up the clean in a comp and then out of frustration did a badass kip up to get back on his feet.

[@gqqggq7127]

300kg squat was 100% first Clarence video I saw, but my favourite always was the 15 attempts one. That was when I found out about weightlifting and wanted to start.

[@timo184]

It's absolutely sickening knowing how an outrageous feat of human capabilities like the 190kg snatch is below various of his side quest bench press videos in terms of views [world record was 191kg]. The former describes an anime storyline of getting to around world record level without significant amount of coaching and a weight only a couple individuals could do in training, while the latter is a lift probably multiple individuals in every relatively small city could do. His 190kg snatch has 214k views. His 185kg bench press has 259k views.

[@alubchicken]

You have to be relatable to get views, a lot of influences tried snatch clean and jerk videos a few years ago but it was so much harder to get views than a "bench press tips" video lmao so they all quit. This is Omar Isuf, Alan Thrall, Barbell Brigade etc. Quite sad really.

[@LeadGRuaidri]

​@@alubchickengod bless those videos though!

[@Wisey_83]

185 bench is lmost unobtainable for most people IMO! No one knows what a snatch is.

[@RivandoGuilherme]

But the 190 snatch video was posted like weeks ago

[@kblkbl]

@@Wisey_83 Yeah, but the 190kg Snatch is virtually unobtainable for most world class weightlifters. I don't have an exact number by I'm 100% sure in the whole history of the sport there's not even 100 people who snatched 190kg or more.

[@federicocarnebale]

Clarence is and will be a legend to the sport

[@xchrissimmonsx]

This needs to be a new segment! Elite lifters, talking about past lifts, “behind the lifts” Snag Olympic hopefuls, or past greats. This is gold man!

[@AJ.Biggins]

I rewatched his 190 snatch so many times lol

[@rsanghi24]

"Weightlifting is about confidence " that was a good one. I'll keep that in mind. Also the imagine cleaning or snatching while doing the pulls. Thanks for the video

[@scottv6726]

I'm loving the conversations in these Lift Companion episodes, so many nuggets of information. Glad to hear Clarence is human and has fear at times 😂 I remember Clarence's repeated 180 kg snatch attempts with you and Juji at that weightlifter's gym, and Juji just going "this is like the fifth attempt with one minute rests", and then he nails it and X jumps out. Lion heart.

[@78DoubleA]

As an old skater that's found weightlifting, I love that Zach has likened the sports here! I've found myself applying the same determination to make a lift as I did to make a trick. And in turn the same gratification when the board or the bar lands with stlye and grace.

[@johnmiddleton9901]

His 250 kg pause-and-breathe-at-the-bottom front squat is definitely underrated

[@canceresbunny]

I was having problems with my squat going into 100k and hearing Toshiki's advice and seeing Clarence form were the solution. Love this series. Have fun guys.

[@kollitumi]

Which advice are you talking about? Breathing technique or?

[@canceresbunny]

@@kollitumi breathing into your chest. Open chest. I was falling forward in some and didn't knew why. I was lacking stability on the come up and didn't notice. Toshiki fixed me in two words.

[@shifty220]

Also love the skateboard/weightlifting comparison, never thought about it before, but nailing a trick/line is soo similar to PB'ing a snatch/clean & jerk

[@2lospatrick]

You're analogy on skateboarding with regard to weightlifting is something I talk about all the time with both my skate friends and my lifting friends. All I cared about was skateboarding for so long. When I started weightlifting I found a really similar joy in the nuance of the snatch and c&j like skateboarding has with tricks. Also the style aspect of both, which I love Clarence and you think about too. It is so rewarding to fail over and over to finally land something....whether a lift or a trick. Plus I have found the explosiveness of weightlifting has helped my pop skateboarding.

[@ayda2876]

The original 300 squat with young Clarence with the long hair was the best video ever

[@ayda2876]

22:49

[@shifty220]

Loving this edition of lift companion - great stuff!

[@solimanaboutaam3844]

Haven’t even watched the video yet but know it will be epic, keep up the fantastic work Zach🎉🎉always look forward to the content lmfao maybe a little too frequently

[@davidrioux611]

That video was so much fun!!!!! I loved hearing his insights for each moment. Not often viewers get the opportunity to participate in listening to lifters reflections on greatness during their achievements!

[@inezm8444]

Clarences has a new pr for talking.....well done Clarence!!!

[@BrownWithAFrown]

This was a joy to watch. Listening to Clarence's insight on mental prep. Im excited for all my numbers to go up these coming years of my life, but I will also be spooked with the potential risks of a fuck up. Great editing, interview, and lift session

[@baseballstream174]

Thank you Zack, what a great vid. More of this please

[@zivotastefanovic6923]

Clarence is such a bro, sluggish at the beginning but gets the job done in casual nike running shoes, no belt, wrist, knee wraps.

[@sideshowlol]

Where oh where has the time gone? I remember how mind-blowing and inspiring it was when I first discovered Clarence’s squat and weightlifting videos. These videos will live on as long as the internet. Thanks for the squat down memory lane. Loved every minute. 🙏😎

[@nelson1954]

This was such a fun interview. Comedians in cars getting coffee vibes in the best way possible. We all love and want the Grand Nippon MAXXX OUT SESSION but this more laid back Q and A with occasional lifts was very relaxing and delightful. I've seen a lot of clarence interviews and learned a lot of new things. Was half expecting a cutaway to a espresso machine dripping coffee lol. Would have been awesome to have some similar, up close shots of plates being loaded, shoes being put on etc. to get the full CICGC ASMR vibes but this has been my favorite video in the "The boys go to Japan" series. The storm of Japan videos has been a blessing - thank you!

[@budgetlifter]

1:33 this right here spoke to me on a spiritual level few will grasp

[@_Azeem_]

Fuck hip pain man

[@Snailman0]

Same, I'm nearing 30 and my hips and back have never felt this stiff. Kina scary to imagine how they will feel like when I'm 50...

[@budgetlifter]

@@Snailman0 i'm 22

[@scottessery100]

@@Snailman0omg mate your going to hate being 47 yrs old I take 45 mins of warmup to loosen up enough for a power clean and front squat session 🥺

[@telrick4]

@@Snailman0they have been training everyday

[@VorQor]

Really enjoyed watching this video! Thanks for this!

[@bowzer863]

such a good vid, love yall makin content together!!!!!

[@fuzzylogiceire]

Really enjoyed listening to Clarence analyze his 'greatest hits' so to speak.

[@Bigdog33R]

I don't know Japanese but I do know Chinese and suddenly realized that the 2 Chinese characters on the thumbnail are "Iron love". So good!

[@tysonreesmusic]

Guys this was fantastic. The 4 of you boys together can seriously do no wrong.

[@Wild_west_84]

Fair play Zack (and Clarence) for bringing us this content

[@michaelgabriel5786]

Really stoked to see both of you. I remembered your and Clarence's collab with Juji. Do collab with him again!

[@Brahmsian]

This content is the salt of “fitness influence”. Something of when KZbin was young and innocent has been preserved herein. Thank you both.

[@daverover2124]

Clarence is such a genuine nice person, love both of you guy

[@isaacstetson5720]

These two got me into weightlifting 4 years ago. Heart❤

[@TheMaster790]

Very good Video, got a lot of additional infos to clarences big lifts

[@alanb1498]

Love this content by two of my favourites in Japan a magical location

[@bhekumuzigwala5688]

I've been following you for a while now. I followed all your friends on this tour because I wish I had a squad like this 🥴

[@bradysheehan5082]

One day I randomly started doing that zercher bottom squat hamstring/lower back stretch before squatting and I haven’t gone back since! I got so happy when you showed Clarence

[@player8967]

been waiting for this episode since 2018

[@ymmotvstommy]

God damnit, ZT and Clarence together is my favorite collab of all time.

[@Conner09]

I'm sad the 550lb paused ATG raw beltless front squat didn't make the cut. That was another mind blowing lift in my opinion.

[@mindfulnesswisdom]

man what a nice video, so much synergy

[@joe-ux2mj]

Having skated earlier in life and starting weightlifting I think both have so many similarities in how you train for them and experience them, so interesting to hear Zack echo that

[@bigshart]

good evening Zack

[@askevalbjrncarlsen1962]

3:47 clarence gets ptsd from this warmup

[@Areyisking]

Them talking about the psychology of the lifts is so informative. That is the largest hurdle for me.

[@matt_707]

Lift Companion theme tune is a vibe! Get this downloadable Zack, ringtone incoming! 😂

[@metachigx]

iirc the dogfather dylan introduced the zercher-stretch, no? great video as always zack! 🇯🇵

[@LeadGRuaidri]

Kefka's laugh gets me hyped. Clarence gets me hyped. This is gonna be a good one bois 😎

[@erica9563]

This was great!

[@joaquinroces9332]

Algo. Keep up the amazing Japan content!

[@raybergstrom]

I modeled my squat after Clarence after first seeing him years ago in juji's videos. Little did I know that the mobility from learning to sit in an atg squat would pay big dividends when I had a kid. It's so nice to easily get down to eye-level with my toddler when we're playing or talking.

[@darioettore100]

I just would like Clarence to know that I recorded all his best oly lifts but none of the super impressive squats. So many of us appreciate your oly as much as you do. I must have rewatched the heavy (and light) cleans and snatch 100 times. The esthetics , the form, the speed and of course the strength… He is a true inspiration.

[@stephenpliler5983]

Love the comparison the skateboarding. It's not just what you do but how you do it

[@ShireTown1824]

Behind the Weights Series Ep. 1 hell yeah

[@Billsnz]

8:00 I just like videos when people are reacting in the backgrounds. I know if Clarence did more content in open gyms with lots of people he’d get way more views. Either way I’m happy to be here before he gets to 1 mil 🔥

[@Fudgeis1337]

Zack enjoying himself so much at 8:45 he forgot which foot was which

[@LoveLindqvist]

the Tokyo content is awesome and "Behind the lifts" is a good idea, like Blue Planets behind the lens. But yes! the 300 squat, ass to grass, pause, raw, you can't make that more impressive

[@erens-basement]

Love the skateboarding analogy. Always thought a video part was basically making a lift

[@kevinchitsaz9447]

This vid needs more views

[@JRV4606]

Great vid

[@Sodo.Maxime]

behind the lift! 2023 with clarance!

[@arby.aranda]

This Video is so great🤩❤️ Like a Music Album from Boyz 2 Men Greatest Hits.... we got Clarence's Greatest Lifts😂🤣💯 SoooO cool to get the feelings behind every lift😮

[@thijs4298]

This is so wholesome

[@BBBerti]

Bro I'm envious of Clarence's delts, like GAH DAMN

[@beestkong]

A collab with John Haack would be the dream

[@kevinchitsaz9447]

Clarence and ZT are legends

[@Kaleil]

I really love Zack comparing lifting to skateboarding, I think there are way more parallels than people would assume if they've only done one or the other. I think that's also where the tricking to lifting pipeline that Clarence and Juji etc. comes from - They're individual focused sports where you can progress within your own limitations, but with room for self expression through style or form. However, at the end of the day you can also set your mind to a goal and just accomplish it: if you squatted 300kg, you can tell that to your friends and it doesn't matter how ugly it looked, same if you frontside flipped a 10 stair. There are multiple avenues for improvement, you can focus on raw numbers or you can be the guy with the best style.. or even just your own unique style. I even think the bedroom lifter to pro or influencer, etc. path is pretty similar in both skating and lifting.

[@dylanreithel6212]

Bro I'm supposed to be working right now and you drop a banger mid day like this?!?!?!?! Ain't shit getting done lol P.S. We care about the 222kg clean Clarence0

[@omanduhuislife3367]

Awesome vid💯👌🫶

[@cervixcrusader85]

The major video that got me into Clarence's channel and lifting in general was his first time hitting 220kg on the clean and jerk at 100kg bw 7-8 years ago. That shit was incredible.

[@Swordofmichael333]

Clearance is a hermit! And I love it because I am to 😂 ❤🎉

[@kristiyan2073]

A video about his older lifts would be very interesting - 262,5kg squat, first 200kg clean and jerk, etc.

[@jayla4798]

Finally we get some sauce from the Japan trip. Imo ™️ that behind the lifts name...

[@Hirooshii1]

Clarence talked about that 190kg snatch a long time ago in one of his videos, where he mentioned when he got that lift, he even did that lift from a slight defecit, because the place where the plates drop compared to where he is standing were sunken in from overtime use of dropping weights on it, so its like a 2cm defecit, now its not a lot but its still a defecit.

[@VivaRevolucionDGS]

You watch ZT lift and you tend to forget that he is 6'5 235-240. A truly impressive athlete.

[@wojfer87]

Clarence Kennedy is true kong of ATG squats. I do the ATG squats too and thanks by that my legs are bigger and stronger than in the past.

[@tylergreve4296]

I’ve followed you for a while now! I actually live in South Korea. Are you doing any public or private weightlifting seminars?

[@tariqo16]

The fridge and fitz next please

[@cartert147]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the 410kg gym total, that's the most impressive weightlifting feat of his imo

[@war_josh1550]

My favorite vid of clarence is the 220kg clean and jerk at 100kg. The one where he's wearing the green tank top and yells as he stabilizes the jerk. That video was legendary for me and was what got me into weightlifting

[@shagmeisterboss]

after i watch this my back left my body expecting i would try and then i .llolled

[@artdamage0]

One of my favs is the vid with Haydn where Clarence pistol squats 70kg (and could’ve got more). I’ve finally got body weight pistol squats and the fact he easily did it with 70kg front racked blows my mind

[@RearDelts775]

Would you guys start doing bodybuilding like Toshiki sometime in the future? I would really like to see you guys grow even more (especially Clarence). people from weightlifting have it more easy in bodybuilding, because of the available strength and stability.

[@Dani75California]

It's amazing to hear Clarence speak so much in one video xd

[@TehRealChruZ]

Never heard Clarence talk this much lol, awesome session! Question Zack, why do you use straps at 70kg already? Not saying it's light ofc but you snatch almost double that

[@Billsnz]

Leshgoooo 💯

[@zacharyweightliftingwilson7227]

Clarence and Zack I love it

[@telrick4]

What happened to the training make podcasts? Those were dope

[@Sh0ckeh]

The fact that Zack is so tall, literally like 6'4 (193cm), hes a giant yet he can still snatch a decent amount and with proper form. Just being able to have proper form on warmups with that height is amazing lol

[@jamesguacamole3246]

nice sesh

[@tonyteh]

how i wish toshiki joined you guys in this

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

Lol. The stretching warmups have a bar weight in the corner XD

[@DrEvil-ng7ep]

I have to search out those bench press videos.