Some weightlifters use special belts to keep their lower back stabilized. Again, just like barbell squat, whether or not these belts actually prevent injuries is debated. One school of thought believes that the use of belts does not allow the development of one’s stabilizer muscles, thereby increasing the potential of serious injury.
In short, dead lift is another great compound exercise you should consider.
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Angie Tan // Nov 13, 2007 at 10:28 am
Great tips..
However, with my bad knee, I don’t think I can attempt this for now. :-(
Mun’s comment: Don’t do this now if your knees are already hurt.
trey // Nov 13, 2007 at 4:23 pm
3 essential tips for a good DeadLift.
1) The back of your shoulder has to be on top, or in front of the bar BEFORE you start the lift.
2) Start lifting with the Bar touching your shins, this ensures that you don’t have to lean forward for the start of the lift.
3) Keep your back locked in extension (looking about 6 inches above eye level usually works wonders) and push your legs through the floor to lift the weight, DO NOT start the lift using your arms.
Mun’s comment: Thanks for sharing other great points. I have highlighted the last point which is quite important.
kirksman // Nov 13, 2007 at 11:19 pm
There’s something I’d like to comment about.
There are two torso types. The short, the long torso.
The method above, is more suited to the short torso, long arm person. They can put their asses low, but not a long torso person. It would limit his deadlift.
A better method for people with longer torsos, would be,position the ass about 45 degrees and perform the lift. Do not let weaker leg muscles be the bottleneck to a deadlift.
Also keep bar close to shins, tighten your traps. Sort of like, shrug it TOP WARDS…not really backwards shrug, but pull upwards, and LOCK the traps in.
A good example, Leonid Taranenko and Vasili Alexeev. They start, at a “squat” position, use the spring effect, and activate the lift at the 45 degree angle, and SNAP! The weight explodes upwards. Many bodybuilders do not use the natural body spring, but as weightlifters, we’re taught to take advantage of it as it helps lift more.
Also, we are always reminded by our coach to shrug the weight at the top of the movement, but that’s because it would help our snatches and CNJ. It’s just something extra, it’s a good trap builder too.
Btw, a little correction….A hook grip, is actually a grip where the thumb, is being squeezed by all four fingers. Not a alternating grip.
A hook grip is EXTREMELY painful at the beginning, but we’re forced to learn it, because it’s the, without question, best way to grip the bar in an oly movement. We can’t use an alternating grip in oly movements, can we?
Mun’s comment - Thanks for pointing that out and sharing your experience. Keep them coming.