Thruster
Description
A thruster is an explosive hip-drive movement. It is basically a front squat followed by a push press. The movement begins at the bottom of the front squat position (with a barbell in the front rack) and finishes with the weight locked out overhead with active shoulders. The greater the recruitment of the hip driving muscles, the more momentum will be imparted to the bar, and the more powerful, fast, and smooth the movement will be.
A common question about the thruster is when to begin pushing with the arms. The arms should not begin their work until the legs are fully extended and the hips completely open. At this point the bar will be at the maximum velocity, and the arms can take full advantage of the legs’ power. This is exactly in keeping with the Core to Extremity Principle