We’ve covered the deadlift before. So you may be thinking that I’m flogging a “dead” horse here…
But I’m constantly struck by how BADLY people massacre this essential weight training exercise. Every time I hit the gym I see a new cringe-inducing version of how to NOT do the deadlift.
Now you may be saying, “but that’s not a bodyweight exercise.” But it’s important to remember that bodyweight training is only one tool in the health and body shaping universe.
You can do a lot with bodyweight alone. But if you have the inclination or the opportunity to add certain weighted exercise to your workouts you can reap some very specific benefits.
Here are some of the reasons deadlifts rock and why you might want to add them to your training toolbox:
- They’re the best butt shaping exercise ever
- They place a huge metabolic demand on your body (great for fat loss)
- You’ll strengthen the oft ignored “posterior chain” (backside of your body)
- Heavier deadlifts help increase testosterone (listen up fellas)
It’s hard to argue with the usefulness of this basic weight training exercise. But to my dismay, many trainers and media outlets warn you to stay away from them. They say they’re dangerous…
But the truth is, ANY exercise is dangerous if you do it wrong. And that’s doubly true for the deadlift. But if you do it RIGHT, it’s no more dangerous than any other exercise. In fact it’s LESS dangerous than many popular sports like soccer, basketball and even tennis.
So that’s why I decided to make a super DETAILED video for you. Watch the whole thing to discover the exact technique you should be using to stay safe while deadlifting yourself to a leaner body and more shapely butt…
Want the cheat sheet version? Here ya go…
- Shins against the bar
- Back neutral, head straight off spine
- Rock back onto heels
- Leg press until bar clears knees
- Drive hips through to standing
And a word about grip…
Some people will recommend an opposing grip for the deadlift—one overhand grip and one underhand grip. This is in order to increase the amount of weight you can pull since the limiting factor is often grip strength.
DON’T DO IT…!
Using an opposing grip on the deadlift is an open invitation to a biceps tear. Instead, if you want to increase your weight and you’re limited by grip strength, use lifting straps.
If you have any questions about adding deadlifts to your training, pop them into the comments below.
Action!