[Kieran]

I'm a naturally good deadlifter and love them, but unfortunately I haven't been able to pull from the floor for a long time due to a lower back injury (nor back squat to sufficient depth).

These days I pull from 4-5 inch blocks which allows me to really get my lower back in the position it should be in. Still a great movement, and Andy Bolton likes it for athletes so that's good enough for me:

http://articles.elitefts.com/training-ar...-deadlift/

When I'm at a gym that doesn't have low enough pins, blocks, or mats, I just do them top down which still feels pretty good and allows you to make use of the stretch reflex as with Romanian deadlifts. Only problem is I sometimes go a bit deep with not having the blocks to stop me, and this causes me pain in the lower back.

To make up for not being able to back squat, I just front squat heavy and do a lot of Romanian deadlifts to make up for the reduced posterior chain work.

[007]

I really feel that if deadlifts are done properly then they will benefit your posture and general health of your spine. Granted, for body sculpting it is not 100% required, but for athletics it is a must do exercise.

I do bjj and wrestling and also deadlift twice per week, it is by far the most useful strength exercise that I perform. One thing I must ask though, why do 1 rep maxes? For me personally it is just not worth the injury risk and I am not a powerlifter to I couldn't give a rats ass about numbers.

Lift to strengthen and improve your bodies, not to break it down.

Stay thirsty my friends

[El_Superbeasto]

How/where do you guys incorporate deadlifts into your programs? Do you squat and deadlift on the same day? I've drifted away from them to focus on squat, clean, and snatch; but I've been wanting to work them back in.

[Ensam]

I deadlift one day a week max 3-4 sets of 5 reps (usually 3-4) per set after I squat (I squat in some form every workout). I also glute ham raise on a separate day. The glute ham raises help with my deadlift tremendously. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is to pull all the slack out of the bar before initiating the lift. I like to think about breaking the bar by bending it. This fully engages my lats and makes the weight feel significantly lighter when I actually start moving. I've also found the pretension keeps my back in a good position and allows me to focus on using my legs and glutes to do the movement. I hook grip and can move 400lbs no problem.

Once you get basic technique down it's mostly mental. The only time i've missed a lift is when I've walked onto the platform and thought, "gee, that looks heavy".

[007]

Great tips bro.

Yep, technique is vital for maximum benefits and no injuries. I still regularly see guys deadlifting with arched backs, this is a recipe for a fucked up back.

For those who are not sure, YOutube is your best friend.

(10-31-2013 03:10 PM)Ensam Wrote:  

I deadlift one day a week max 3-4 sets of 5 reps (usually 3-4) per set after I squat (I squat in some form every workout). I also glute ham raise on a separate day. The glute ham raises help with my deadlift tremendously. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is to pull all the slack out of the bar before initiating the lift. I like to think about breaking the bar by bending it. This fully engages my lats and makes the weight feel significantly lighter when I actually start moving. I've also found the pretension keeps my back in a good position and allows me to focus on using my legs and glutes to do the movement. I hook grip and can move 400lbs no problem.

Once you get basic technique down it's mostly mental. The only time i've missed a lift is when I've walked onto the platform and thought, "gee, that looks heavy".

[Doctore]

(10-31-2013 01:37 PM)El_Superbeasto Wrote:  

How/where do you guys incorporate deadlifts into your programs? Do you squat and deadlift on the same day? I've drifted away from them to focus on squat, clean, and snatch; but I've been wanting to work them back in.

I deadlift 3 times a week, between 70~85% of 1RM, for lots of doubles. Always after I squat (which is daily) and press. It's a John Broz inspired powerlifting program.

[The Beast1]

(10-30-2013 02:48 PM)kosko Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 01:10 PM)frenchie Wrote:  

I'm 6ft tall and 180lbs. I used to dead lift about 205 lbs before I took a break. Currently i'm at 185, I can probably go a lot heavier but I want to keep the steady routine I have going.

My bench is a paltry 105. I want to get that up higher.

Deadlifts though are my favorite exercise. I feel the burn all over. I always do deadlifts on my last gym day and that extends some "feel" good feelings into my weekend. They're brutal as hell, but I love them.

I prefer to deadlift using the hexagon bar for deadlifting. It's easier on my arms and legs.

I've got really long arms and the Hex Bar feels weird when I use it. I use it mostly for explosive type movements and try to focus on areas like my traps and legs.

How much weight are you using?

When I was using smaller weights on it, I had to use some platforms to raise the bar to a more comfortable weight. When I started using the 35lbs weights on the hexagon I was able to lift more effectively since the bar was higher off of the ground.

[Hades]

(10-30-2013 02:38 PM)reaper23 Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 02:34 AM)Hades Wrote:  

Just alternate your mixed grip - grip and rip, set back down, change hands, repeat. I'm not a fan of the hook grip for extended lifting sessions.

Most of the time I stick to double overhand (straight up beast mode) but if I'm doing a lot of oly lifts and deadlifts on the same day it can get too strenuous for the forearms.

Straps are actually a good investment and defensible if you lift enough to merit their use. Make sure to lift with and without straps, but it is smart to start lifting with straps, then do a death set or two of deadlifts without them. Plenty of lifters will only do two or three sets of deadlifts then pussy out of more sets because they couldn't heave the weight off the ground - problem is usually a grip that's been exhausted. My guess is that the CNS does not fire all the way if it believes that you can't grab what you're trying to heave off the ground.

I DL over 500. consistently do reps in the 430-480 range. no straps.

you don't need them. get stronger!

take two 25 Kg lbs kettlebells and try to run/jog/walk 800 meters with them, only moving while you're able carry them at full extension.

that'll do it!

I appreciate the concern and agree that I should be using pure grip strength with no squat rack but the only way I can work legs now (outside of front squatting what I can clean) is just deadlift. Four sessions of deadlift a week with like 6 to 10 sets of pavel's "bear routine" is murder on the grip. With weighted chins in the mix it's a nightmare. I don't use straps every time - just the last set or two. It blows and it's definitely affecting my job.

[Mentavious]

I usually aim for 3 sets of 12 in my squats followed by 3 sets of 12 for dead lift.

I use an alternate grip. That seems to work for me.

[reaper23]

(11-02-2013 12:14 AM)Hades Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 02:38 PM)reaper23 Wrote:  

(10-30-2013 02:34 AM)Hades Wrote:  

Just alternate your mixed grip - grip and rip, set back down, change hands, repeat. I'm not a fan of the hook grip for extended lifting sessions.

Most of the time I stick to double overhand (straight up beast mode) but if I'm doing a lot of oly lifts and deadlifts on the same day it can get too strenuous for the forearms.

Straps are actually a good investment and defensible if you lift enough to merit their use. Make sure to lift with and without straps, but it is smart to start lifting with straps, then do a death set or two of deadlifts without them. Plenty of lifters will only do two or three sets of deadlifts then pussy out of more sets because they couldn't heave the weight off the ground - problem is usually a grip that's been exhausted. My guess is that the CNS does not fire all the way if it believes that you can't grab what you're trying to heave off the ground.

I DL over 500. consistently do reps in the 430-480 range. no straps.

you don't need them. get stronger!

take two 25 Kg lbs kettlebells and try to run/jog/walk 800 meters with them, only moving while you're able carry them at full extension.

that'll do it!

I appreciate the concern and agree that I should be using pure grip strength with no squat rack but the only way I can work legs now (outside of front squatting what I can clean) is just deadlift. Four sessions of deadlift a week with like 6 to 10 sets of pavel's "bear routine" is murder on the grip. With weighted chins in the mix it's a nightmare. I don't use straps every time - just the last set or two. It blows and it's definitely affecting my job.

my grip used to give out sometimes too. and then i did that farmers walk thing regularly for a while with the kbs. now i do exactly what you talked about, mixing dead lifts and chin ups and have no problem.

they're just like metal hooks now.

anyway, thats what worked for me