Sumo deadlift technique

I'm thinking that no matter how long you have been training powerlifting, or weightlifting, or just lifting really heavy weights, it never hurts to take an honest look at your technique, and check if you are (still) doing it right.

Since I have been focusing on squatting the last six months, my deadlift training has gone into maintenance mode. I must admit, I have even skipped some deadlift workouts!

But, although it is not that much fun to deadlift "light weights" if you can talk about deadlifting "light", it can be a good opportunity to check your technique, and perhaps adjust it so you can deadlift even heavier and better after that maintenance period is over.

Youtube is a great and seamingly endless source if powerlifting technique videos. Some videos are better than others.
Today I stumbled upon one of the better sumo deadlift videos, so I thought I'll share, and build it in here so I can remember to check my technique again from time to time.

My biggest challenge in the deadlift, sumo or conventional, is that my setup is getting lost during those really heavy lifts, that is, around my trainig 1RM.

My upper back is not really that upright, and when you'd look at family pictures with family members from my father's side gathered around the dinner table, you would see what I mean - the people are hunched over quite a bit, shoulders rounded forward.

So - that is my biggest challenge - although both my brother and me happily got away with not that heavily rounded upper back (my brother has an athletic lean build, and wide shoulders), for me it kind of feels natural to go let my upper back go round when lifting really heavy, since it just feels natural and stable.

But I assume that something that feels "natural" could as easily mean "normal" "being used to" and not necessarily optimal or right (or safe).

So, I some more technique tweaks to consider in my next deadlift session, whenever that will be!

Have a nice sunday!

And lift heavy and happily! 😊

Calm?

Today I was looking for toe socks that are a little longer so I could use them for deadlifting.
The requirements for competition are: "Shin length socks must be worn to cover and protect the shins while performing the deadlift" - and since I still prefer my fivefingers for deadlifting, I will have to find toe socks that do just that. Btw the socks are not supposed to be that high that they come into contact with knee sleeves. Not that I would wear knee sleeves while deadlifting, but still..

I stumbled across a fancy pair:

So fancy! But what I found most funny was the name for the color: "Calm" 😊

New equipment on its way (I hope).

Today I finally ordered what I wanted to purchase at least for a year or so:

A dumbbell handle/bar with a diameter (50mm) for olympic weight plates.
Well we have enough dumbbells at our gym. They range from the lightest, 2,5kg until the heaviest 37,5kg. They "jump" in 2,5kg steps. And that is ok.
The only problem I have experienced is, that when training arms, say, regular dumbbell curls, the 5kg dumbbells are far too light, and the 7,5kgs are too heavy.
I have been discussing that with the guys, but they don't seem to get the problem.
Just use the lightest weight until you can switch to the heavier ones.

It is not that simple.
I can do 15-20 dumbbell curls with the 5kg dumbbells, but only two or three proper reps with the 7,5kg.
So I need something in between.
I wa thinking about bringing my own dumbbell sets into the gym, but that's just too much.

But - in our little local gym, parts of the equipment i actually owned by some of us - I bought four 1kg-weight plates - just to be able to increase the weight more gradually - the guys bought a hex-bar, one of the guy bought proper handles for the cable machine... I think the triceps bar or the ez-curl bar might also be personal equipment, and we also have two sets of really heavy dumbbells (45 and 50kg).
So why not. I can make a contribution - two dumbbell bars for use with the plates at the gym. We'll see how that goes.
I find them online not too expensive.
I hope they don't get lost when they get into the gym.

Beast mode - deadlifts!

Today I was in beast mode - I had a really great time in the gym - and finally did some sets with heavy deadlifts.
I hadn't done that for a while, so I was excited.

110kg - a bit heavy for me, but with proper music - it was so much fun!
I must NOT skip on deadlifts.
They are just too good.
Beastmode.
Yep.

When the light is just right.

When the light is just right, you can look at yourself, and see definition. Nice.
I like bent-over dumbbell rowing, and when I do them at just the right place in the gym, in front of the dumbbell rack (sorry guys for occupying that spot, but let' admit it, we all work out right there - front of the rack - there is the mirror, right!?).
Today was such a day - I always almost alone, so I could film myself in peace (yes I do that).

I've always wanted a nice, strong and well-defined muscular back.
I guess I'm on the right way!