Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Deadlift Film Study

This video is my 455 X 3 done about 10 months ago when I first started deadlifting.

Here is the alternate view of my 501 X 3 done last week. My form could still use improvement, but it has come a long way.

9 comments:

Nathan Beckmann said...

Better, but after this deadlift cycle maybe you can take some time and really address the issue. It will probably be best in the long run ... form does more than prevent injuries.

Jake Ceccarelli said...

Really the only problem is the lack of arch in your back. I bet if you do some sets after your deadlift working sets specifically to work on good form (arched back) then you'll improve pretty quickly without losing strength. Eventually though you'll have to really focus on the form and make the conversion.

Kyle said...

Form looks kinda like Konstantinovs. Just boost your pull about 400 more pounds.

Brent Tanaka said...

Thanks for the advices. I agree with you guys that I should take some more time to work on my arch in order to both prevent injuries and increase my strength.

However, I do know there are some "rounded-back" deadlifters out there (the best being Konstantinovs) and maybe I am one?

I haven't had any pain in my lower back from deadlifting (or from anything else), even when I was doing it with really shitty form back in the day. Dave used to try and get me to focus on arching more but I was so concerned with pulling heavy that I never got it down.

Brent Tanaka said...

@ Kyle: Word on the streets is that Konstantinovs is gonna smoke Bolton's 1008lb deadlift whenever he competes next.

Nathan Beckmann said...

AFAIK, the key to rounded back deadlifting is rounding in your upper back. Watch Konstantinov closely --- his lower back is actually pretty straight.

Nathan Beckmann said...

Also, not to be an ass, but saying 'Oh, I'm a rounding back deadlifter like Konstantinov' just seems like an easy excuse to me. Most people aren't like Konstantinov, you should give it a serious effort the standard way before doing it the unconventional (no pun intended) way.

Jake Ceccarelli said...

After looking at Konstantinovs I really don't see his lower back arched either...Could be the belt, but I just can't really tell. I suppose if you can deadlift 501 with a rounded back you can do 1000 since it's just about getting stronger. But the bottom line is that the muscles of the legs will be more active than those of the back of the back is arched, and the legs are stronger than the back. If you round your back you're lifting with muscles the back. Arching the back puts more stress on the legs, where it should be. It also puts less on the spine.

Maybe instead of suddenly changing your technique (which I don't recommend), you should do arched-back deadlifts as an accessory lift, basically like I suggested earlier. Then, lift on your ME work and in competition however your body wants you to (some rounding, but hopefully less). The problem should correct itself to some degree that way.

Kyle said...

I think Jake has a pretty good approach to this. I don't know the set-up at 4star, but you might also try chain-suspended Good Mornings as an accessory as well (arched back of course). When I did them at Diablo with the giant cambered bar, they were awesome. The Diablo guys swear by them.