Years ago, as in the 1800s, there was a medical doctor that would go to the "gymnasium" to work out. The gyms back then had all kinds of ropes, rings, high bars, or gymnastic types of apparatus. The pegboards and dowel rod racks along with a few boxing types of exercises would round out the equipment.

There was a medical doctor who would go to this gym daily. His workouts consisted of ab crunch, push-ups, Chin-up/Pull-ups, and a few other gymnastic types of exercises, but he would also "PICK UP" something of heft from the floor, various box heights, one-handed, two-handed, even one-legged at times.

He called this exercise the "Health Lift" because of the value it played on him keeping his perfect posture until his old age of 70. Remember, back then the life expectancy was mid 40's to maybe 60 if you were "lucky".

The "Health Lift" or as we know it, the Deadlift is one of the simplest, most fruitful exercises that can be done. 600 muscles working in unison with an emphasis on the posterior chain.

I guess they switched the name from "health lift" to "deadlift" when the weight got up over that 405 number. Those old boys must have thought..."Yea, those big weights will kill ya."

Deadlift Cues:

When addressing the bar, I like to have people walk up to an empty bar, dip down to grip it and IF the bar moves then we redo it. It is necessary to hip hinge rather than knee flexing with a dorsi flex in the foot. The KNEE MUST stay over the malleolus (or the two bumpy bones on either side of the ankle). Once in that position, a depression in the scapula is cued as well as "bending the bar around your leg" as a way of retraction along with the depression of the scapula.

Lastly keeping the neck "packed" or as I like to say it.."Give me a sexy double chin" or head in the neutral position. NO neck extension!!! That is an unorganized spine and by doing it, you leave a couple of extra pounds on the rack and NOT on your bar.

With the belt filled, dip grip and rip!

Today's Training:

Bike: Commute: 27 mins

Prowler: 10x80 yds

Supermans: 20

Ab Crunch: 100

Pull-up stretch: 7x1

Cat/Camels: 10

Push-ups: 12

Pin Pull: 3 hole, 6 RM with a PRE=7 Once the weight is found, add two more sets of 6 at that weight

Split Squat: 6x6x 70 lbs on the SSB Yoke Bar

Reverse Hyper: 4x10

Ab Wheel: 100 reps

4-way neck: 1x12x4.0

Bike Commute: 27 mins