DEADLIFTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HARD | Learn How to Grind

[@HORNSTRENGTH]

"If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending." Great video!

[@aubietigerton1807]

Learning how to grind is essential for the deadlift, especially if you want to go for one rep max PRs. One thing it gave me was confidence that if I could break the floor and get 2 to 3 inches, my back was strong enough to finish the lift. I built my back with heavy one-arm dumbbell rows, 100 - 125 pounds. Those are the biggest DBs at my gym. I was able to make 150s at my house with spin lock weights. I also do heavy BB shrugs pyramiding up from 315 to 600 pounds, sets of 20. I also did Romanian DLs for awhile, but they eventually were taking a toll on my lower back.

[@gcruishank9663]

This has happened to me on deadlifts numerous times when going for my max weight for 1 rep. ( I use Wendler 5/3/1 but only on deads). The first time I go for it, the bar comes up about 3 or 4 inches and I have to drop it.. Then I get pissed off, take a sip of water, sit down for 3 min, psych myself up (imagine I'm lifting in front of a gym full of my high-school cohorts ....weird, but it works for me 🤔) and I go for it again and lo-and-behold, I can grind one rep out, and it usually takes about 4 or 5 full seconds to do so. Not sure what it is......giving your body a taste of what it has to do so you're more prepared physically?.....firing yourself up more?...getting angry at the weigh?.....all of the above? It works though. Don't give up after the 1st failure

[@nathanhaney91]

Holy cow! I just discovered your channel and just cannot express how awesome your content is. Coincidently, I just pulled a 1 rep max on conventional deadlift yesterday and shared some of the same thoughts. Truly great stuff, sir!

[@rg3412]

This was the advice I needed. I give up to early. Part of this game is MENTAL!

[@donaldkasper8346]

My new max deadlift at 285 lbs yesterday took over 5 seconds up. The feeling is totally different than half second to second arm muscle movements. Well, except for bottom or top lockout pauses of 5 - 7 seconds, but I know I am generating that. My legs shook so briefly I could not know if I was going up or down at intervals. Like, "I cannot tell I am going up. Okay, I think I went up. Wait did I stop, do I drop the bar? No, I am still going up. Am I extended all the way up? No, still going up." All that is going on. 5 seconds is a long time to think and my mind to wonder and plan.

[@jaskajokunen1305]

Due to chronic back pain and some other lasting back issues I've stayed away from deadlifts. Yesterday however I felt great and I thought to try and see how they feel. Kept adding weight, little by little and got up to 140kg's /308lb's for 2 reps. I felt like I could've done few more reps or gone a bit heavier but since it was my first time deadlifting I didn't exactly know if my form was good enough so I left it there. After a well rested night, my muscles are a bit sore, but other than that I feel great. I think I've found my new favorite exercise and I think I'm gonna start focusing on DL's and squats.

[@thestrengthco]

would highly recommend. If unsure about form try one of our online form checks to make sure everything is dialed in before you make an increase in load.

[@jmbrjmbr000]

This video was so important to me. Thank you so much, it made a big difference.

[@todayinthewoods1332]

Great video and cool I’m watching from here in South Carolina!

[@TBlev215]

I somehow managed to deadlift 385, but when I went for the second rep, I couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t budge. I counted to 5 Mississippi, I rested 5 minutes, I could not get a single second rep out of it.

[@MetalCooking666]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@thefox1703]

True words brother!

[@tariqo16]

Great video man

[@thestrengthco]

Thanks!

[@beleares]

Amazing and useful content. Have gotten me going on becoming a lifter.

[@joshuapillar]

So interesting story. I'm not afraid of grinding out a hard deadlift, but the last three times I've worked up to 420 X 5 I tweak my back and have to work back up again. Keep in mind the first two times were while I had a SS coach. 415 for 5 I hit like a champ, but 420 breaks me. Thoughts on that?

[@snoopys14]

Beat video i needed this one

[@clemsonmike85]

Great video!

[@JakeCr]

Thank you! Great video

[@robertpattison1104]

I got lower back problems for ages, my form was okay but i just didnt know how do use my core to pull the bar off the ground, as soon as i learnt to do that my whole deadlift sored and the back pain went away.... its learning how to deliver the power

[@tariqo16]

I personally just like to grab thr bar harder on a grinder deadlift but didn't work with 250KG neither 240kg couplé weeks ago

[@fastedwarrior7353]

The only lift that I can grind out right now is the Bench Press because it is hard to grind out a heavy set or a heavy single on both the squat and the press. On deadlifts its hard too since I hurt my lat by doing bodybuilding training and I haven't fully recovered until recently from that injury. I still have shoulder problems from doing bodybuilding training which makes the Bench Press and the Press a real chore to max out and grind on.

[@chrisgomez215]

Thanks Grant!!

[@thestrengthco]

Thanks for the feedback Chris!

[@donaldkasper8346]

My bench lift takes what, a half to full second. Then yesterday went to deadlift and it went on 5 seconds plus to get up at 285 lbs. I tend to look at the bar instead of up in the mirror to make sure the bar does not fall on me so could not readily know if I was still lifting. There are mirrors on the wall behind the rack to see myself, but was not looking ahead, I was looking down and to the sides.

[@Lisa-laine]

It had been a while since I saw this and when that bar was barely rising, I heard ya say- just count to 10….bahaha- I didn’t even think about how long 10 would actually be, just started counting and was able to finish! Laughed when I came back to say, thanks, and realized it was FIVE!! 😅

[@trogdor20X6]

I've been having trouble getting to 5 reps in deadlifts because it's starting to really hurt my hands, would love to hear your thoughts on how to properly grip the bar

[@gsquared2394]

Are you hook gripping? Over and under? Double overhand?

[@James_vs_gravity]

what's your opinion on elite lifters who use submaximal training? Eg Jesus Olivares, Matt Vena, Joey flex etc. Their heavy singles are always like RPE 7, even when it's a PR. Personally I think it's important for everyone to learn how to grind and learn what heavy feels like, before using RPE training

[@tariqo16]

Edit : this mainly is about the pr point. Matt vena trains at a very moderately RPE which i agree with but jesus isn't same with joey flex he does program like tgat for his athletes tho so maybe that's your point, and also honest to god if someone is hitting a single at 95% of 1rm and calling a PR you shouldn't trust them especially if they are advanced

[@James_vs_gravity]

@@tariqo16 If you watch Jesus' recent squat and deadlift prs it looks like an rpe 8 from my perspective. I'm using him as an example cause he is one of the best lifters on the planet. I'm just not sure why some people can grind and some can't or don't. Just look at the recent bench pr on my channel.

[@tariqo16]

@@James_vs_gravity first off the bench press was gnarly bro 🔥, now about the jesus squat specifically he and a lot of super heavy weight squat are simply fast i don't know why too but just look at dan bell or ray Williams heck even Andrew hause they squat fast and execute everything fast i think it was pete rubbish who said all the elite lifters lift fast and it makes sense ehen you realise that pannaish is only famous because he is a slow grinder indeed most of the France ipf team doesn't matter of it's a max or not same with the SHW lifters i mentioned i.e Andrew hause adds 5kg to his squat and boom it moves like a sloth but still gets the job done. Conclusion is the lifts may look fast but can still be rpe 10 it just might not feel like that to us, we all had a lift were friends said it was fast but it felt like you lifted my GPA.

[@thestrengthco]

most lifters are novices or early intermediates and RPE is not something they should be focused on. Will do a video to cover the topic, thanks for the feedback.

[@JordyLongMusic]

💪

[@horseman3222]

grinding never stops...

[@thestrengthco]

life is grind.

[@waltersobchak6546]

I like you, Sir!

[@bradsmith6575]

I read that someone does a heavy set of dead lifts ( a few reps) and one set of 5-6 reps of overhead press twice weekly and that’s it . He is a older man and says it works really well ! Could that routine work ? It sounds good for over all strength .

[@matthewbullen2171]

I noticed that there is no example of sumo deadlift on your channel. Is there any case of body geometry where you think sumo is a better option than conventional?

[@jamesTWisco]

I would be interested in getting coaching except for that Steve Shaw kind of messed it up for everybody else. I thought he would be a good coach because of a video he had that basically said f your excuses - but after I signed up I got a standard style Powerbuilding program and had one conversation with him. He would check my progress I think because I reported on an app and could send in form check videos - but what I needed was someone one on one on occasion to make sure my inner sissy wasn't sneaking out on my squat or deadlifts. He actually told me to drop the weight on my deadlifts because I was grinding. My opinion of personal trainers at public gyms is that they are there to keep the gym from getting sued and teach unconfident people to lift like pussies. There are no Starting Strength gyms anywhere near my house - and I don't want to waste my time with another BS online coach that provides no actual coaching. I mention all this because you said you do 1 mississipi during an online coaching session. That sounds interesting.

[@VeritasPanther]

Could you please talk about why some lifters have a bigger squat than deadlift?

[@Bumiround]

That's me, not bigger but the same weight

[@thestrengthco]

Yep, will do something on this. Thanks!

[@BluegillGreg]

"If" you miss a rep? "When" you miss a rep.

[@edwarddaou9941]

Semper Fi

[@gregorymccoy6797]

Deadlifting is the 10th circle of hell. You will definitely know what it is like to work for something.

[@johnpymn9869]

I work at your local Ymca and trying to convince the "Boomers" to do the things that will make their lives more meaningful a.k.a strength train with barbells, elicits the same response ,, "deadlift" that will break my back ! thats why the racks are empty and the machines are full . They don't want ANYTHING hard,, just go through the motions and CHAT with other "boomers" about what medications their taking and what new pains they have. SAD. I'm 63 and exclusively barbell train, Thank you SS and 5-3-1

[@Massenomics]

I’m just here to see Connor in a Lift hat