A deadlift is a “dead” lift, not a “bounce” lift. Check out how Chantal performs the exercise. She maintains a flat back with the bar positioned vertically over her mid-foot throughout the movement. The weight is lowered in a controlled fashion and each rep begins from a dead stop. Don’t sacrifice form for weight. Chantal…
Nothing earth-shattering here, right? It looks like I’m not lifting much weight except when you consider that I’m using the Apollon’s Axle. This 2-inch bar is much thicker than the standard Olympic barbell, which is about half the diameter. And by doing these deadlifts in a slow, controlled fashion from a deficit (i.e., on a…
Take a look at this video… It doesn’t look like I’m doing much, right? There’s only 110 pounds on the bar, but it’s fairly challenging. Why? Because I’m only using my thumb and index finger to raise the weight! Take a closer look. Thanks to fellow strength coach Christian Thibaudeau for making me aware of…
Do you know what the #1 injury in the gym is? It’s a weight dropping on your foot. Don’t let it happen! Here’s the right way to load and unload a bar when squatting or benching. There’s a risk involved with any weight training exercise and deadlifts are no exception. You may get through your…
On August 13, 2016, I was hired by Natasha, a 30-year-old dentist who had never touched a barbell in her life. Her goal was to build muscle, gain strength, and achieve the look of a fitness model you might see in a magazine. Of course, I told her to focus on the process and let…
Performing bent-knee deadlifts from a deficit with a wide grip forces you to pull from a deeper starting position, increasing knee flexion and overall range of motion (ROM). Stand on a 4-inch box, step, or three stacked weight plates, and take a wide grip—often called a snatch grip. To determine the correct width, raise your…