By : Myles Kantor

Legendary powerlifter,  Ed Coan,  remarks in his video on the deadlift: “The deadlift is the number one technique lift. If you don’t have technique in the deadlift, you just can’t muscle it up” (1).Coan’s attribution of technical primacy to the deadlift might be surprising. There seems to be an attitude among some lifters that deadlifting is basically just about attitude and the least technical of lifts. It’s true that all of the technical perfection in the world means nothing if someone lacks the volition to break a maximal weight off the floor and force it to lockout. However, all of the intensity in the world won’t surmount lousy technique with a truly maximal weight.
By “truly maximal,” here’s what I mean. Let’s say a guy grinds out a deadlift in a manner nothing short of repugnant—lower back extremely rounded, bar over the toes at the start, bar jerked up with no leg drive. I submit that was not a maximal weight. It was a submaximal weight made maximal in effort due to severe inefficiencies.
Consider if you loaded a bar to 85 percent of your best deadlift. Rather than deadlift it properly, do it like the aforementioned fool. I’m guessing the weight would feel less like 85 percent and more like 95 percent or higher. What this means is that bad technique amounts to increasing the weight on the bar. When the weight is 100 percent and the inefficiencies are severe, the results will be failure and often injury.
Utter technical repugnance usually isn’t the problem with powerlifters. We tend to miss deadlifts due to comparatively small but pernicious errors that kill third attempts. With conventional deadlifters, it’s usually starting with the bar forward of the middle of the foot, which places the shoulder blades behind the bar. This produces a gruesome cluster of inefficiencies.
As Mark Rippetoe and Lon Kilgore analyze in Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Trainingand video data confirm, on a heavy deadlift, the bar isn’t going up until it’s over mid-foot and aligned with the shoulder blades. Being compelled into this equilibrium wastes precious energy and endangers the body versus starting in that equilibrium. Coan makes a similar point in his deadlift video involving one’s center of gravity. Dave Tate has remarked, “The stronger you get, the more important technique becomes, and one inch can make the biggest difference in the world” (2). An easy way to think of the bar-to-foot relationship is to see where the bar is at lockout in relation to the foot. Given that the bar is over the middle of the foot at lockout, why not start there? Why add a horizontal component to a vertical lift? I recently facilitated a 50-lb PR in a couple of minutes with this explanation.
On the other hand, it’s rare to see a sumo deadlifter start with the bar much forward of mid-foot. Probably due to the greater amount of toe flare and lateral knee movement with sumo, starting with the bar much forward of mid-foot feels immediately wrong. The sumo deadlifter makes a different error shared by many conventional deadlifters as well—excessive knee bend.
Excessive knee bend causes several problems, most apparently with hip position. Tate notes, “…look at your hip position at the start of the lift when you pull and watch how much your hips move up before the weight begins to break the floor. This is wasted movement and does nothing except wear you out before the pull” (3). Powerlifter, Rick Walker makes another key point: “When I would sumo deadlift, I was always trying to keep my back perfectly upright, which in turn, caused me to sink my hips very low. Now I’m five feet nine inches, but I have a wing span of 74 inches. It was ridiculous for me to sink my hips so low when I had that much of an advantage with arm height” (4).
Moreover, when the hips are too low at the start, this causes the shoulder blades to move behind the bar and often moves the bar forward of mid-foot if the shins bump the bar (more likely with conventional deadlifters).  Coan himself started with quite low hips on his heavy deadlifts (not on initial warm ups though). When the bar actually left the floor, his hips were considerably higher with a different torso position than at the start.
Here’s another way to think of it. Excessive knee bend shortens one’s arms. A gifted bench presser with short “alligator” arms runs into a less comfortable situation when the bar hits the floor. He has no choice but to get low to reach the bar, his hip depth approximating a full squat in the start position. Why would a person with more advantageous arm length do this? The benefit of keeping the arms as “long” as possible is more obvious when they’re artificially shortened in a deficit deadlift variation like the snatch-grip deadlift. The snatch-grip deadlift can be an excellent assistance exercise, but it’s not meant to be done in a meet.
How does one prevent excessive knee bend and maximize arm length? Get into your deadlift stance. Lean over and bend your knees as much as it takes to grip the bar. Now squeeze up your chest hard, and you’re all set.

This is the set up of Andrey Belyaev, perhaps the most impressive powerlifter of our era:

When Ismo Lappi deadlifted a world record 749 lbs in the 165-lb weight class in 2001, he similarly maximized his arm length:

In this case,  Lappi takes in his air and sets his back before descending. He bends his knees as much as it takes to grip the bar and then starts the lift. Note how high Lappi’s hips are at 17 seconds at the start. For a variation of this style involving a pre-stretch of the hamstrings, see six time IPF world champion, Viktor Furazhkin

These elite lifters share some fundamental characteristics at the start of their deadlifts—hips high, arm length maximized, shins very close to the bar, and torsos not vertical. This network of efficiency prevents wasted movement and enables the display of amazing strength.
“There are a lot of strong people who aren’t as effective as they should be,” Mark Rippetoe  once told me. We were discussing people who train intensely but foolishly, suppressing their full potential. Sometimes that potential can be liberated through an inch of foot movement and a few degrees less knee movement. Sometimes an inch and a few degrees is the difference between failure and a PR.
 ED COAN TALKS DEADLIFT 

References

• Coan Ed. The Deadlift. Quads Gym.

• Tate Dave. “Motivating Athletes.” CrossFit Journal interview, August 14, 2009.

• Tate Dave. “The Dead Zone.” T-Nation.com, January 31, 2002.

• Walker Rick. “On Chicken Sacrifice, Speed, and Deadlifts.” EliteFTS.com, April 5, 2007.

• Myles Kantor

is a personal trainer and powerlifter from Boynton Beach, Florida. He has competed in the APF and USAPL.

BONUS DEADLIFT TIPS…

Sumo set up

………. approach the bar………..take one foot or the other….your choice as to which is most comfortable and depending on whether you are a wide sumo or a narrow sumo…………..the shin goes up to the bar…..toes tilted out 45 degrees or even more in some cases………..shins vertical…knees slightly bent……..hands down inside the legs with the forearms touching the inside of the thigh if possible……….as you push your knees out (like the squat)……you bend over slightly….arms straight….and grasp the bar half on and half off the knurling……….arms should be straight vertically from the shoulders to the bar..this will determine exactly where the hands are to be placed………for a very big lifter with wider shoulders this may be all the way on the knurling……but for most; half off and half on will insure the best and shortest pull………..THE ARMS ARE STRAIGHT……..AND THE BAR LIES IN THE FINGERS, LIKE IT IS HOLDING A HOOK……THUMB OVERLAPPING ONE OR TWO OF THE FIRST TWO FINGERS…….the bar should “not” be squeezed……it should just lay in the fingers/hand..only the thumb should be flexed….or squeezed……not the hands…not the forearm…….if this is done incorrectly most likely the bar on a very hard pull will slip out of the hands………also if the hands are rotated as you grip the bar..it will most likely slip out as the weight pulls down and pulls the rotated hands back to a straight up and down position……one does not have to have a strong grip to hold onto large amounts of weight…….i have a very poor grip and grip strength and have never lost a deadlift……i.e 716 at 165lbs……… as you are leaning over the bar knees pushed out…..you dip the hips slightly to start your pull……short and sweet………the hips will pull in towards the bar……the head will follow from down to out as you start the pull…..you will pull the slack first out from the plate/bar…then the bend in the bar slack will come next…………the bar will pull into the fingers even more as this slack is pulled out and as all the different areas of slack are pulled out you will explode…….up…….with a very short in line stroke…………the back will not be arched but have a slight curve in it/or perhaps even straight………you should take a short half breath right as you go down to the bar……….too much breath expands the chest and rib cage more than it need be……..raises the shoulders and lengthens the distance the bar travels…as well as forces the shoulders back while at the bottom……right before the pull……… a variation of the slow sumo pull is the drop and grab and explode method……everything is still the same as far as the hands………but it is done very quickly……..many times, when done to quickly or out of control, one grabs the bar wrong and/or the hips rise to fast…giving way to a Stiff Legged Deadlift……

Conventional Stance.…….. walk to the bar…..feet about shoulder width…….the shins should be 2-4 inches from it……..some minute experimentation will find the exact spot you need to be……..as you lean over to the bar…grab it the same way as you did in the sumo except outside the legs a few inches on the knurling……..touching the calves….small breath and dip the hips and pull……..one variation of this used, nowdays is to dip…roll the bar a few inches out in front of you and then reverse and pull it back in;…as it gets to the shins start the pull upward……some momentum can be obtained from this and the bar can be started in closer to the center of gravity…but if not done exactly right a moving bar can be a problem….. form…style….and technique……is more important than the routine…….we know this to be true in every sport and so it is in powerlifitng………we need to concentrate more on it…and spend hours on it…consistently……..every week……..throughout your whole career………….a baseball player takes thousands of swings…..a week……..so a lifter should do many…many reps with little or no weight to perfect his form….style and technique…….
rdc

Some thoughts on Squatting by Rickey Dale Crain :
Weakness is not the problem…
Form is…..
Form, style and technique are everything.
Only in the world of powerlifting, when one is asked how to improve one’s lifts, are we encouraged to try this new routine, or asked, “What is your routine?” If I was a baseball player, I might ask what technique do you use to swing the bat, increase bat speed or shorten the distance the bat travels? I would not ask what routine you use to become a better hitter. If I was a football player, I might ask what technique should I use to throw the ball more accurate or faster/harder? Surely I would not ask what routine would I use to accomplish it.
If I was a shot-putter, I would surely ask what form and style do you use to throw the shot 50-60 foot or more, not what routine did you use to accomplish the feat. So why in powerlifting is the first thing asked and the first thing offered is a routine? We don’t ask how do we accomplish the lift the best way possible. The strongest do not always win. Instead, the best prepared and the ones who perform the lifts flawlessly are the ones who win. It is a goal orientated and a performance orientated sport like all others, so form, style and technique should be the first thing on the athlete’s mind, as well as the first thing on his agenda when trying to improve his lifts, i.e. his max single.>
I believe the reason we do not focus on form is that we have been influenced by our brother sport, bodybuilding, and its results orientated status. It has a big influence because of its popularity in magazines and books aimed at bodybuilders. It is, however, a different sport and has different goals and needs. We should not confuse the two, and allow it to get in the way of our goal as a powerlifter. Our goal is to become not only stronger, but in how to display that strength in the most productive way, i.e. a big single max lift.
As we look into this phenomenon, let us describe what we are trying to accomplish. To describe this phenomenon, we need to understand some very simple terminology. Therefore, we shall agree on the following definitions:
Form:The shape or appearance of a thing that makes it identifiable, and/or the nature, structure, or essence of a thing, considered apart from its content, color, texture, or composition. It is visible, distinct, or discernible.
Style: A way of doing something; especially a way regarded as expressing a particular attitude or typifying a particular period (i.e. old style/school). A self-confident willingness in exhibiting skill or quality
Technique: The procedure, skill, or art used in a particular task. The way in which the basics of something are done. Skill or expertise in handling the technique of something. Special ability or knack.
All three are separate and distinct, but all come into play and overlap in any sport when trying to achieve that maximum result.
There are many areas of each lift: the squat, the bench press and the deadlift, that are effected by form, style and techniques.

• Feet: in, out, straight, flat, raised

• Hips: going back, staying where they are, raised

• Hands: in, out, open, closed, palmed, on the bar, on the plates, on the collar, tilted in, out, straight

• Head: up, down, straight

• Arms: down, up, tilted in, out

• Breathing: how much you breathe, when you breathe.

These all affect each other and in turn make up your form, style and technique, in conjunction with your body type and style and the length of your limbs, etc. These are just some of what is needed to be looked at to insure the best outcome of the lift. Your stroke (distance traveled) on the lifts, you can alter the distance traveled dramatically on the bench press and deadlift, but not so dramatically on the squat as to effect the increased or decreased leverage. So, as we begin to look at these always keep in mind: form, style and technique is everything. The squat and bench press seems to be more brute strength, but to excel at the deadlift, I always had to learn to finesse it up. I know for a fact that when lifting, through all the hundreds of state, regional, national, and world records I broke I was not the strongest on the platform. Instead, I was the smartest, the best prepared, and had the best form, style and technique.
Powerlifting became an official sport in 1963, thanks to Bob Hoffman and York Barbell. The three powerlifts: the squat, the bench press, the deadlift are a true measure of strength and power. All are used, with success to train for almost all other sports in the world. When that contest time rolls around, however, the one who is the strongest does not always necessarily win. Rather, it is the one who displays the best combination of strength and power and is able to produce the big numbers coupled with form, style and technique. As in any sport these components are important and will usually be the difference in winning and losing. Better form not only yields more weight lifted, but also lessens the chance of injury and down time in training. Staying free of injury is as important as anything else, as longevity in this sport is determined by your health. The longer into your training career you go, the higher the numbers will be.
Let us look at each individual lift and break down all the parts that will affect what weight is lifted successfully, and how to perform them to your best advantage.
The Squat, the King of all lifts: Everybody’s body structure can and does dictate different form and style, but some things are the same or very similar (or should be to be successful) for the vast majority of lifters. Let us take a look at these: -Hand placement on the bar and bar placement on the back -Arms and elbows -Walk out and set up -Feet placement and hips -Head placement and eyes -Breathing and flexing of certain muscles -Thinking and concentrating through the lift from beginning to end Before you approach the bar, all your equipment should be fitted and fitting properly. All your psyching up and mental preparation should be pretty much done. It is time to perform. Hand placement on the bar and bar placement on the back:
A person’s structure, limb lengths and size have a lot to do with hand placement on the bar. The main rule of thumb is the closer the better. It will keep the bar tighter on your back, and no chance for the bar to roll. The lighter lifter usually has no problem with this, but the bigger and heavier lifter, usually through inflexibility, wants put his hands out wide. Thus, he decreases his leverage by the fact the bar will have to be placed higher on the neck to keep it from falling. “I will say this once, and I am sure I will take some hits on it, but it is the absolute truth. The vast majority of bigger/heavier lifters have very poor form, for many reasons, but inflexibility and the refusal to practice good form is the main reason. They pretty much try to rely on their size to muscle up a lot of weight. That is one reason why the smaller lifter is so much superior pound for pound at all the lifts.”
The weight should be supported by not only the back of the deltoids where the bar sits, but some should be supported by the arms, forearms, elbows, wrists, hands. This dictates as narrow a hand placement as possible. Smaller frame people will have narrower grips than bigger frame people, i.e. my grip is considerably narrower than Bill Kazmaier’s. Grip the bar tight. The tighter the grip, the less pressure will be on the wrists and elbows and shoulders, and the bar will have less of a chance or almost no chance of moving or rolling. Arms and elbows:
If your elbows, wrists or shoulders hurt, try tilting your elbows up as you get under the bar, and/or rotate your hands a bit inward. If you still have a lot of problems, you may need to move the grip out a bit, but work on flexibility constantly so as to keep them in as close as possible. The wider the grip the more the hands will probably tilt inward. I disagree with false grips. They are dangerous because you do not have the bar under full control, and it makes you place the bar higher on the neck, hurting your leverage. Also, some federations allow holding the collars. This practice is very dangerous and really cuts down the leverage. The key is to not only feel tight but also be tight and have everything under control. The lower the bar, the better your leverage is and the more the hips will be utilized. And the hips are where the power comes from. You should not squat totally upright utilizing the legs only.
Only a few people are so big they cannot grip the bar fully and squeeze into a position inside the collars. Many big guys could work on flexibility and be able to achieve this. Walk out and set up:
Walk under the bar, elbows high, squeezing the bar tight and pull yourself under the bar. With the bar about 1-2 inches or so below the deltoid or shoulder, there is a groove for every person that will be evident and sit comfortably. You may have to experiment to find it or it may come naturally. If you are having trouble finding it, ask an experienced lifter. After the bar is sitting tight on your back, set your feet side by side but with one foot just ahead of the other, i.e. heel to toe. Make sure your back is chalked up good to help keep the bar from slipping down your back.
Take a very deep breath, squeeze your hands, shoulders, abs, (i.e. everything) and swing the hips forward. Push up and come back out of the rack. The momentum of the bar and plates, while under control will help you to come out of the rack much easier. Walk out with a minimum of steps, 2-3 at the most. Practice your walk out with an empty bar and while warming up. Practice does make perfect, and learn to do it right every time.
Feet placement and hips:
After walking out and setting up, make sure your feet are the proper distance apart. What is that you might ask? Hopefully you have some idea what is comfortable, and best suited to your body structure, age and strengths. In case you have not a clue as to what planet we are now on, here a few helpful suggestions: -Shorter people usually are narrower -Taller people further apart.
This is fairly accurate and there are reasons for the above. It would take a few pages and 20 minutes to put it down on paper to give it a fair discussion. If you really want to know call or e-mail and we will talk. Hip, leg, and back strength also dictate to a point where your stance might be at the present…but not where it should be. See the chart below to help with this area:

Body Types
Short Back / Medium Back / Long Backs
Short Legs:
Medium / Wide Medium / Wide Short / Medium
Medium Legs:
Medium / Wide Medium / Wide Short/ Medium
Long Legs:
Narrow / Medium Wide / Medium Short / Medium

• Strength comes from:

  Hips

  Legs

  Back

• Stance:

  Wide

  Wide/Med

  Med/Narrow

Head placement and eyes:
After walking out and setting up, look out (not up too far), but never down! Now your head can be in 1 of 4 places:

• 1. Looking way up – for people with wider stances, and the bar higher on their back (and checking out for aliens and space ships in the sky).

• 2. Looking out – for the average lifter, and the most correct way.

• 3. Looking down – for the closer stance squatter with the bar really low on the back (and also allows you to check to see if you tied your shoes).

• 4. Looking at the mat, with a flat face, showing you screwed up and haven’t listened to anything I’ve said to you.

Breathing and flexing of certain muscles:
You should still be holding that deep breath from the set up and walk out. Make sure as you get ready to descend (that means go down for some of you), you are flexing everything: abs, face, hands, neck, and all upper body parts. As you go down, push your knees out, hard. As you cock your hips and shoot them back (as if sitting on a chair), get your chest out, shoulders back, and have a small arch in the back. At the bottom, your shins should be vertical or almost vertical and never past your feet. Michael Bridges made this popular by giving it a name:The Bridges Flair.It has been part of my form, however, for 30 plus years.
As you approach the bottom of the lift, where the imaginary line from the top of the knee to your hip joint breaks parallel, you pull yourself through the point with a slight bounce. Then drive upward with your upper body, hands, arms, legs, hips, back, or otherwise with everything you own. Sometimes the imaginary line is more imaginary at times than others depending on how much you paid the referee or whether you are dating his sister or daughter.
As you stand up (or get scraped up, whatever the case may be) and as you complete the lift, go ahead and walk forward and rack the bar. Hopefully the spotter/loaders are not taking a lunch break and will help you a bit, hopefully a lot. Stop, walk, rack, and breathe. Finally it is over.