Potentially silly deadlift question

Canis Lupus

Hey,

Just a quickie.

When I was taught to do deadlifts I was told to ground the weight on each lift however I've seen a few people in my gym deadlifting but not grounding the weight, roughly stopping half a foot off the ground and lifting again. Admitedly they aren't moving much weight but I'm just starting lifting again after a summer of pure cardio training and whilst I'm pretty sure I'm doing it right I just wanted to be sure

Cheers,

CL.

The Freeman

Start with a weighted barbell that is resting on the floor, or an elevated platform. Next, step up to the bar and assume a narrower than shoulder width stance with your toes pointed slightly outward. Get your shins as close to the bar as possible (this gives you more leverage and makes sure that you are lifting straight up). Now grab the bar with an overhand grip. But remember you are not lifting with your arms, just holding the bar with them.

Keeping your shoulders back, chest out, head forward and back slightly arched, stand straight up with the bar while you exhale. Keep the bar as close to your body as possible. As you rise, straighten your knees and hip simultaneously. Once at the top, do not arch your back! You should pause, take another breath, and slowly lower the weight in the same manner, while exhaling. Once the weight lightly touches the floor, you will begin the next rep. Never slam the weight on the floor!

When starting out doing deadlifts, concentrate on form and use lighter weights and high reps until your lower back and shoulder muscles have developed enough for heavier weights. You may also have trouble using heavier weights until you develop sufficient grip strength. Make sure you are warmed up and loose before performing this exercise. Concentrate on stretching your groin, hips, hamstrings and quads.

Roper

The Freeman wrote: »

slowly lower the weight in the same manner, while exhaling. Once the weight lightly touches the floor, you will begin the next rep. Never slam the weight on the floor!

Who told you that? After the fatigue of the initial lift (especially at heavier weights) you will not have the control to lower the weight slowly, your structure will deteriorate and you will be more likely to injure yourself on the lowering than the lifting. I'm not saying the weight should be dropped, just that it should only be controlled to the ground not lowered. Show me someone who has the ability to keep their shoulder blades pinched while lowering 150kgs to the ground for example.

OP, I don't know what the guys you were looking at were aiming to do, but I know that if I was lifting anything remotely heavy, I would need to set the weight down and mentally and physically reset myself for the next rep.

tlev

Depends what type of deadlifts you are doing.

There are different kinds that require you to do different things.

Check out www.exrx.net for correct form.

By the way Romanian deadlifts, they are killers!

Canis Lupus

Nah I reckon the question has been answered.

I just couldn't see how, once the weight got heavy the body could withstand not touching the weight down fully. Last night a bloke was lifting circa 50kg so nothing heavy but not touching down and I was wondering was I one of those lads you see from time to time doing it all wrong (ie, two lads on the Smith Kline machine the other night squatting but barely bending their knees made me raise my eyebrows).

It can be hard sometimes as a beginner not to wonder if you've got it all wrong when you see someone bigger than you doing something different.

The Freeman

Roper wrote: »

Who told you that? After the fatigue of the initial lift (especially at heavier weights) you will not have the control to lower the weight slowly, your structure will deteriorate and you will be more likely to injure yourself on the lowering than the lifting. I'm not saying the weight should be dropped, just that it should only be controlled to the ground not lowered. Show me someone who has the ability to keep their shoulder blades pinched while lowering 150kgs to the ground for example.

OP, I don't know what the guys you were looking at were aiming to do, but I know that if I was lifting anything remotely heavy, I would need to set the weight down and mentally and physically reset myself for the next rep.

its from the program(book) i'm on at the moment which is anthony ellis's 'gaining mass'


if it is bad information i do apologise roper, supposedly this guy knows his stuff;)

Roper

Who is Anthony Ellis? Did a google there and he seems to be one of those Ohmigod guys. What's his thing?

tlev

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/casi4.htm

There you go!

Edwardius

Not sure about exhaling on the way up. You'll want the extra rigidity in the thoracic cavity and holding your breath is a good way of maintaining this.

Roper

Dead Ed wrote: »

Not sure about exhaling on the way up. You'll want the extra rigidity in the thoracic cavity and holding your breath is a good way of maintaining this.

Missed that. Yup, bad idea. the correct breathing method is in that article above actually. Who is this Anthony Ellis guy?

dioltas

On a related note, which is better straight leg or bent leg deadlifts. I used to do straight leg ones, but stopped cause I didnt think I was doing them right, and was afraid I'd hurt my back.

Probably a stupid question but, if you bend your knees, is it not kinda the same as doing squats? It seems like the same sorta movement.

Boston

Its not the same but you will hit a lot of the same muscles.

Colm_OReilly

dioltas wrote: »

On a related note, which is better straight leg or bent leg deadlifts. I used to do straight leg ones, but stopped cause I didnt think I was doing them right, and was afraid I'd hurt my back.

Probably a stupid question but, if you bend your knees, is it not kinda the same as doing squats? It seems like the same sorta movement.

Do regular deadlifts, they're not the same as squats as the hamstrings are performing a different function, as are the spinal erectors, adductors, and quads.

See here for vids on correct deadlift technique.

tlev

Don't forget, if you a beginner, in general you will make gains much faster than someone who has been doing it for longer.

dioltas

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

Do regular deadlifts, they're not the same as squats as the hamstrings are performing a different function, as are the spinal erectors, adductors, and quads.

See here for vids on correct deadlift technique.

Thanks, just watched the first two of the deadlift videos, they seem good. So regular deadlifts are with the knees bent? gonna start doing them.