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Why I Deadlift

By on in Featured Articles, Training Tips & Tricks

I always hated the dead lift. Mainly because I did it wrong. It hurt. I stayed away from it for over 20 years because of that. We did it when I played college football in our strength and conditioning work but I always abhorred those sessions. In retrospect, all we did was basically wrong.

And the dead lift has an undeserved poor reputation.  In reality, anyone interested in getting stronger should perform the lift.

Last June, at the Delaware Kettlebell workshop, Doctor Mark Cheng, RKCTL, reintroduced it to me and for some reason I was smitten.

I started working with Marty Gallagher on this particular lift July 4th weekend, 2009 and I’ve made long strides in both my technique, as well as my ability to move weight off the floor.

So why dead lift? Number 1, now that I know how to I really enjoy the lift.

Most importantly, I can’t think of any reason most people shouldn’t dead lift in some shape or form.  Done well, the dead lift could be the most useful of all lifts.  Pay attention to your life and I am guessing you dead lift often in your daily activities. Using correct form, using your whole body, teaches you to safely lift things off the ground. So that is important.

Also, there is something truly invigorating to the movement. I always feel better after my weekly dead lifting session. Taxed sure, but great. And there is no way to cheat. Raw strength and technique are equally important. Either you win or the iron does. You can cheat the squat and surely you can cheat a dead lift.  There are ways to cheat almost any lift but it’s really hard to deceive yourself with the pull.

In closing, the dead lift should be an important part of everyone’s workout regimen; it is not just for powerlifters. It strengthens the core of the body; that to which all other parts are connected.  If properly performed the dead lift is a very safe and effective way to build work capacity and  strength. Depending on how you program it you’d likely build mass as well.

So why do you dead lift? or not?

Train with purpose,

Sandy Sommer RKC


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  1. 6 Comment(s)

  2. By mark on Jun 19, 2010 | Reply

    Sandy, what was it Doc told you? can you give a quick checklist? i like your style of training due to me being roughly same age and goals. the TSC is a great way to compete.

    also, do you train with sandbags at all? curious of your take.

    thanks for sharing.

  3. By Sandy Sommer RKC on Jun 22, 2010 | Reply

    Mark,

    I don’t use sandbags at all. I have used them in the past but I didn’t find them all that interesting. I’m sure others would disagree.

    I can’t really give you a checklist about what Doc said. He was using the dead lift as a tool to get more proficient with the kettlebell swing; the hip hinge is vital to both.

    Train with purpose,

    Sandy Sommer RKC

  4. By Liz on Jun 24, 2010 | Reply

    Yes, I deadlift, and I love it. Why?

    1. It’s the exercise where I can move the most weight. And I love moving a lot of weight.

    2. Being short, I have a hard time carrying heavy items because of their size relative to mine. Having strong legs and glutes makes this easier.

    3. You can’t use a machine. I hate machines. I love that people can’t do what I’m doing with one of them. (Unlike the leg press, which people insist is equal to the squat. Phhhtt!!!)

    4. All of the lifters I respect deadlift.

    5. Now that I’m a hardstyle kettlebell instructor (HKC), the deadlift is essential to training a student on how to swing!

  5. By Sandy Sommer RKC on Jun 24, 2010 | Reply

    Thanks Liz! Those are all wonderful reasons!

    SS

  6. By Josh Hanagarne on Jul 10, 2010 | Reply

    Once I began to deadlift in a way that felt good, I was hooked. I could not get enough. Basically these days, any exercise I do that isn’t a deadlift is simply rest while I’m getting ready to deadlift again.

    it is hard not to feel like a big confident monster when you see your pull going up. As you know!

  7. By Sandy Sommer RKC on Jul 10, 2010 | Reply

    Dear Josh,

    What is it about the deadlift that is so seductive? It’s drug-like in it’s hold on me. I look forward to Thursday (my dead day) each week.

    SS

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