The Brutally Effective Deadlift Hack That No One Does

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0:00 Intro
0:20 Isn't This a Grip Exercise?
2:20 What Makes it suck
3:17 How it forces you to pull
4:15 I Challenge You
5:45 Direct Benefits
6:30 Where to Get One
7:45 Right Straps
8:30 Boostcamp
9:40 How to Train Axle Deads
11:10 3 Ways to Program Them

[@AlexanderBromley]

"BIG Dreams, BAD Genes" tee from Barbell Apparel HERE! 👇👇👇 barbellapparel.com/Bromley Get my programs and more FREE programs on Boostcamp: 👇👇👇 boostcamp.me/bromley

[@pickachugamng9455]

What are your thoughts on using fat gripz or thicker grips for deadlift?

[@GraveStrong]

I hit 475x5 stiff bar and it equated to 500x5 on a normal bar the next week it was eye opening

[@arthurblackhistoric]

I used slightly thicker bars in my training for many years. When I switched from bodybuilding to Powerlifting in 1979. I got 'em from the scrap-metal yard, as I did all my plates as well. They were just round steel discs that I matched up in the scrap yard, then took them to an engineering guy I knew who'd drilled them for me for just a dollar per hole! I then weighed them on my bathroom scales and rounded the weight down to a multiple of 1.25kg, which I wrote on them in black texter after I'd painted them. When I took the thicker bars home I realised I'd have to get the ends turned down on a lathe to fit my plates. These are just some of the problems I had in setting up my strongman/Powerlifting home gym. Once I got it all sorted out, though, it was all plain sailing for me. Now, the largest plates I had were only around 15" in diameter. That pair weighed 50kg each. But the ones I used all thee time were only just over 13" in diameter. This meant that every deadlift done at my gym was, in effect, a deficit deadlift. I actually didn't mind it that way because when I went to compete, the regular sized bar and plates gave me the extremely satisfying feeling that as soon as I began the pull from the floor, the lift felt like it was already half way done! My short stubby fingers felt as though they were wrapping right around the bar as well. At home, back in 1985, I pulled a balls'n'back breaking 255kg on my thick bar with smaller diameter plates, in training for an important (to me at least) Powerlifting meet. On the day I made 272.5kg look like I could've *started* with it.

[@clarkyow1418]

I added axle to my deadlift work this week. I do a double overhand “max” single for grip and then I strap up for my work sets

[@youtubekeepsshadowbannin-ym4go]

Sir I'm currently doing your Bullmastiff program and it broke my plateau, thank you Sir appreciate your experience in the game.

[@ILoveMoms445]

Same here, my bench plateau has been broken after about 1.5+ years of being stuck

[@lwelz68]

In early 2017, the thunder bay pro strongman class had a 19" axle deadlift event. The axle had 0 give and went across the knees of the taller athletes. Myself and Maxime Boudreau managed to do the opener of 800 lbs, while Ben Thompson (whom was quite a bit shorter) won the event with 1100 lbs. My deadlift strength was at an all time high after training the axle for the months of contest prep! Great video Alex!

[@mossoconnor4417]

I haven’t touched an 18 inch axle for ages. I used to have some big tyres which where 18 inches with a bar and maybe 17.5 with an axle, and I got so damn strong on it. I had a 220 max deadlift at the time and could pull 300 ish on the axle with the tyres, and I think I got 320 with the bar that had a little bend. At the time my mate pulled less than me on the axle with a 270kg conventional deadlift. It’s amazingly leverage dependant. I used a near snatch grip and a semi sumo stance where my knee cap was just a touch under the bar if I hit it just right and once it was over my kneecap it was easy as hell

[@MikeBarbarossa]

When me and Big Z were in a run off for strongest man of all time, I hit 1300 and beat Z. He edged me overall and won , but yeah, the axles are brutal with no give

[@hamishgabriel7720]

Ive used snatch grip deadlifts, usually with oly shoes and sometimes deficits, to achieve much of the same effects. Great for working flexibility, back tension, improving strength from the floor. Id love an axel, but without access, the deficit snatch grip DL is a good alternative imo.

[@HenchPig]

Alex please please please can you make a video on programming for combat athletes!? 🙏🏼

[@zsahe21]

Ex freestyle wrestler here. I'd be very curious to watch it, but maybe it isn't his field?

[@MrAmadeus1998]

@@zsahe21my thoughts exactly.

[@HenchPig]

@@zsahe21 You’re right maybe not but would love to hear his thoughts on it. There’s so many charlatans in the world of S&C especially for Jiujitsu / MMA!

[@jameskirkland6916]

Maybe not, but there is no part of the sport where brute strength is a bad thing

[@PoeticMachineDreams]

Mike Isratael has a good vid that lines up with a lot of other people's advice. Iirc you should look for "lifting and BJJ"

[@Strongman_Sutton]

Great take. I’m doing 8 weeks of axle deads leading up to a comp with a regular bar 1RM event. You can’t trick an axle off the ground, you have to get strong.

[@carlgibson7850]

This might be the best video I've seen of yours.

[@DaveSmith-v3t]

bench with the axle bar, feels amazing

[@republicjim120]

For my DIY axle bar I used rubber pipe couplers for the collars. Slide them onto the pipe to the desired locations, tighten down the hose clamps, and they are all set. If you want to adjust the collar spacing, just loosen the clamps and move them. It costs a little bit more than duct tape, but works so much better.

[@wolfy9005]

I had a better mixed grip 2" bar DL than a regular bar DL when I first did it. The 2" bar was like it was made for my hands. Haven't trained it in a while, I reckon it is still higher

[@samalama918]

Dude, Titan is legit AF depending on what you get. Their bench certainly leaves something to be desired, and it has come apart easier than I believed it should. I still have their standard barbell which is graded to 1000# and I've had it for 6 years. Same with their multi-grip barbell which is graded to 2200#. I even have their farmer carry handles and T-3 squat rack. They're similar quality to Rogue and half of the price.

[@carps_gym]

Good info and tips. I really like the primer idea

[@goatbearman514]

information at 1:40 is incorrect, the world record belongs to Cim Johansson from Sweden who lifted 248kg double overhand axle, performed at Armlifting comp at Arnolds last year. Cred where cred is due!

[@msojka77]

Just tried this today and it was a humbling experience. The warmups seemed fine until I started to put some real weight on the bar.

[@FamousBeasten]

Just blew my back on the deadlift 😊

[@swarmy9459]

Is this worth adding as a secondary deadlift

[@asfasdfadf9820]

nice vid!

[@BuJammy]

I gave a pack of cigarettes to a guy on a building site. Once I told him what it was for, he hooked me up with an appropriate piece of scaffolding that was really thick, and only 5ft long (I had limited space, at the time). So far I've put 700+ lbs on it, in deficit pulls, dropped it from overhead, and it's been fine.

[@TheHorrorGeek]

Not gonna lie...I've done some axle bar deads back in the day and never bought an axle bar for my home gym because I'm like "I'm not gonna do those again...they suck..." :p You've convinced me I need to go get one for my home gym.

[@joshtruelove4910]

I use fat gripz, which is great for grip work, but it's not exactly the same as axle. I'll have to try this.

[@Leksuttaja149]

hey did you see the 400 kg deadlift IPF competetor tuomas hautala did in training? just would be interesting to hear your thoughts on it

[@briand5047]

I would like to see a running update.

[@drumunism3781]

Great video! I’m still terrified!

[@unknownstrongman]

How would you add axle dead as an accessory to you your program, say...6 weeks out of a max dead event? Would it be beneficial?

[@GIboy1990]

That 4" deficit deadlift at nationals is what retired me. I think the weight was 525 for the MLWthat year i qualified

[@MeTooMan]

LoL. I just ordered a 7’ piece of pipe yesterday. What a coincidence. Thanks for the video. As someone that has just started deadlifts over the past couple of months, do you think it would be a good idea to keep learning and progressing on the normal barbell or do as you suggested in the video?

[@karlebrus6095]

How would you treat an anconeous grade 1 partial tear, I’ve trade with axles pretty much 2 inch to 1.5 thickness like the fubar I wanna start training again

[@harrisashraff]

I am not a great deadlifter but I felt the axle deadlift to be easier and enabled me to pull more aggressively compared to a regular bar. I don't know why.

[@Isaiah_McIntosh]

Only slack to pull is in your body so if you build tension well could let you pull very explosively.

[@CK-iy3hx]

Thanks for those insights👍💪 What do you think how much different are your 1RM on an axle compared to a normal powerbar? Greetings from 🇩🇪

[@zerksari]

Love how you don't arch your back around 5:30. Makes me listen extra carefully.

[@omdc535]

Assuming the height is the same, and a stiff bar is used, doesn't using straps on a thicker bar negate the purpose of the thicker bar?

[@GG-jn9fx]

Not totally since the thickness of the bar also changes positioning of the body and hand. The axle bar is also stiffer than a stiff bar. They don’t bend whatsoever whereas a lot of stiff bars bend a lot less than a DL bar but still bend.

[@ehhpeter]

Thoughts on using a zercher deadlift as a warmup before maxing out conventional? I tried that this week and it made my ROM feel like nothing

[@JR-hh8js]

What is a good deficit( in inches) for someone when they deficit deadlift, axel or not ?

[@TysonWol]

Like straps hurts like B sometimes too- and too you still need grip strength it's more so for making those last reos possible yk

[@jojoxd4384]

does a shorter regular bar can immulate an axle bar? my gym dosen't have a axle bar

[@aaronmatabadal]

My low handle hexbar deadlift is 500lbs but my sumo is stuck at 410lbs, recently I played around with conventional raw and did 315 and it felt easy…I know my conventional won’t be 500 but I’ll try for 450.

[@josh39684]

I picked powerlifting 3 years ago and I fell in love with it over bodybuilding. However, my deadlift has stalled at 474 lbs. I've started adding axle bar deadlifts and hopefully, it will improve my deadlift and work against the sticking point I have that's around the knees as well as increase speed off the floor. I think I'll use the axle bar when I do block pulls too

[@Isaiah_McIntosh]

Going off your deadlift from 9 months ago. You should probably start with losing some weight it looked difficult for you to get into your bottom position. Your brace looked soft and despite spending a while in the bottom position you didn't really seem to build much tension. Generally you need to gain some more muscle as well. Getting really unspecific to powerlifting for a while and really pushing your accessories is probably a good idea.

[@tapioperala3010]

Unfortunately there's no axle in the gym I go to, but I've done axle deadlift a few times and I really like it. Totally so much more difficult than with stiff bar. My hands are small so having straps doesn't help all that much, either :D

[@joelpico5749]

Is that the Texas Titan Gabriel Pena at the 2:07 mark?

[@joelpico5749]

I should stfu and just watch the video, sorry went to school with the guy and it's mind-blowing to see him on here good stuff love to see it

[@gaatzeuitzendevries3220]

What happend to haltings and rack pulls?

[@benjamin3615]

Rack pulls are a great way to damage your safeties and bend your barbells. Block pulls are way better.

[@robertberkowitz992]

Maybe I should try the axel out!

[@jeffchihos1805]

Since I've been having more tweaks in my body the Axle Deadlift is the only way I Deadlift. I like to use no straps or just one strap(on the arm that I generally use for supination).I have hit 315lbs for a no strap one rep max and hit 370lbs with only one handed strapped for a PR.Even when my hips started to feel extremely painful I was still even able to pull 405lb with a Hook Grip/Weightlifting Belt on an Olympic Type Bar with no issues.

[@vsauce4498]

Anybody know why some bleed from the forehead from deadlifts?

[@GG-jn9fx]

Im not a doctor but my guess Valsalva manuever cause spike in blood pressure. Combining with Ppl on steroids tending to already have high blood pressure.

[@paoloh885]

Step 1: Find a gym in your country with an axle bar (Impossible)

[@therambunctiousrobloxian9323]

ikr? i got really lucky to find one but they are not exactly commonplace

[@HenDiesel]

Hollow axles are actually stronger than solid tubing of the same material and size.

[@FCMorba]

4” deficit axle is the worst variation to be programmed lol. Best one to program though. Makes you find your balls!!

[@johnnykame]

13:25 OH MY GOD. That is GENIUS. I’m doing that. I’m so doing that. And goddamnit, I’m tagging you.

[@jamesbenedict7516]

Does having huge hands help? It feels like it does but at the same time it doesn't. Bigger hands and longer fingers means young have more real estate gripping ther bar but that also means that you are a lot taller than most competitors and therefore longer range of motion to complete the lift. Shorter competitors have smaller hands but also a shorter range of motion to complete the lift but are having a more difficult time griping the bar.

[@Jmack7861]

Axle deadlifts are insane, training for my strongman comp it was surprisingly different. Not gonna lie tho, I still have issues with my competition deadlift for powerlifting that wasn’t there before training axle bar deads and its a pretty big problem now. Granted for pl I do pull sumo, i personally don’t think it’s a net positive for sumo deadlifters to train them

[@doompenguin7453]

I get the idea, but how is this superior to a wide stance snatch grip deadlift? With the snatch grip, your starting position is abysmal in terms of leverages, it hammers your back, you need leg drive, etc. Also, you don't have to go find an axel bar, which non-specialised gyms don't have.

[@Cwillz303]

I don’t know if it’s necessarily superior, just useful. One big difference that snatch grip doesn’t replicate is having the centre of mass farther out. But you’re right that you don’t have to go find an axle bar, it’s just a useful variation, common to Bromley’s sport of Strongman, that he felt is worthy of a video

[@edorofish]

My back is dead from deadlifting. Squats are out too.

[@thanhtamnguyen9829]

Thic boi extends to your equipment as well. The more you know.

[@alemail]

@AlexanderBromley that's false , we're afraid of running, cycling, walking up stairs,hiking,cardio... shit anything over 10 reps, but not grip strength 😂

[@doupnetwork]

It's funny that I watched this entire video because I don't deadlift and don't even plan to start Good video tho AB

[@nikolidus]

I knew I bought a axel bar for a reason

[@TheZachmat]

Do you have an instagram?

[@catedoge3206]

ive never seen an axle deadlift in my life.

[@ramyanthony4615]

Shout out to Furious Pete

[@strongmansam289]

I’ve been saying this for YEARS Glad others have found it

[@zsahe21]

Ahahahah that title

[@mannyramirez7609]

One trick*

[@Feastalisk]

Guess I cant use fatgrip on normal bar to imitate it huh 🤔

[@dessertstorm7476]

i'd rather do this than pause deadlifts

[@devil5hlygrim972]

Ppl with giant hands it's actually better

[@MailmanMuscle]

Wow am I first?

[@Amivgr1]

If you snatch grip a regular bar there will be no whip. Problem solved

[@kermygorst9692]

😒 "Promosm"

[@HughLeFitness]

I don't understand why people use straps for axle deadlift. Isn't the point to work on grip and forearm strength?

[@misledpoet]

A lot of strongman federations don't allow mixed grip axle deadlifts anymore, due to the increased risk of bicep tears vs using a standard thickness barbell. With that being said, you can only hold so much with a double overhand grip, and the axle is way too thick to use a hook grip

[@jeffchihos1805]

I was in a Strongman Competition back in 2019 and did a Hand and Thigh Lift with 925lbs on the bar.I didn't have any Straps but used the Mixed Grip that was described in the video and did just fine;got the rep, nothing was hurt, and it was allowed.I probily could of gotten up to 1100lbs if I had those Figure Eight Strap like I have today!

[@jeffchihos1805]

I like the idea of not using Straps but in competition when you want to pull the most amount of weight you can it can surely help.It can be the differnce between pulling 315lbs or pulling 500lbs

[@HenDiesel]

I suggest you watch the video that you just commented on to find the answer

[@LatimusChadimus]

I'm late

[@TITANAS84]

Axle barbell is only for strongmen or strengthening your grip. Anything else is like buy a slim deadlift bar for your ego. I don't see a point if you are regular lifter for axle deadlift with straps. But axle barbell is pure joy for press .

[@BullittAutomotive]

Thats what i don’t understand why they use straps on an axle. The whole point of an axle is because its harder to hold. Straps defeat the purpose of just use a regular bar and straps.

[@TITANAS84]

@@BullittAutomotive I saw a similar video of Alan Thrall ,i still don't understand .

[@Adam-gn5kh]

​@@BullittAutomotiveThey use it because it has zero flex, it's completely stiff and its a slightly longer range of motion. That's why they use the bar, it's simply a harder pull.

[@Gus-Moose]

@@TITANAS84Bromley mention it in the video. Since the bar is a bit thicker, the center of mass is positioned a bit further away from the body which makes the lift a bit harder. Myself, I don't have any axle so I use Fat Gripz but for gripstrength only. And no straps of course 😁

[@leonardo9259]

Literally the first 3 questions answered in the video holy shit lmao

[@nastynate4481]

You definitely make a good case for axle deadlift. but it still seems dumb. I would rather see strongman compete with the older styles of deadlift like no straps with 29mm stiff bar that way you can compare yourself to older generations like ed coan.

[@outlimboed]

Strongman by its very nature is, and always has been, versatile and varied. That's kind of the whole point of the sport. Sounds like you want to watch powerlifting.

[@nastynate4481]

@@outlimboed If strongman is about diversification maybe they should take a break from axle bar deadlift which has been going on for many years and getting stale and bring something different as I suggested.

[@nathantupe9018]

The comps I've done have had standard bar DL. Depends on promoters

[@justinpaul3110]

Not sure what I hated more on this video: the recommendation of Titan, your constant use of the term "leverages" (at least you know what that means), or bringing up that ridiculous deadlift at the Amateur Arnolds.😂 My last comp had a 520 lbs axle for reps. One thing that I hit on that really helped out was to pull an axle from a deficit and then drop 90 lbs off and do deficit axle stiff leg pulls. My start on all my deadlifts (my weak point) dramatically improved afterwards.

[@gvsniche7375]

Yo Alex stuck with the 70s power lifter on week 9 right now , Initially the volume was whooping me. But I have seen great gains thank you so much 🫶🏻