Technical characteristics of our signature deadlift archetypes:   Unlike the squat and bench press, the deadlift offers two widely different and equally effective pulling techniques: conventional style and sumo style. The percentage of topflight lifters that use conventional or sumo seems to be about evenly divided. For some individuals the conventional technique, with feet between the hands, feels more powerful and natural. For others, the wide-stance, with feet outside the arms, feels equally natural.  We learn both and become familiar and technically adept with each.

Regardless the technique type used, we have established a very defined way of deadlifting. Our system of deadlift mastery has five sequential variations; each subsequent deadlift technique is similar yet dissimilar from its predecessor and to its successor.  Each sequential deadlift variation builds on the technique learnt to that point. We establish a “pulling” theme with the 1^st variation: the easier to learn sumo deadlift.  We refer to the sumo dead as a “reverse squat” and bring our squat style into our sumo deadlift archetype. We start with sumo because of its amazing relationship to our archetypical squat style. The athlete achieves sumo mastery before moving on to conventional deadlifting.

Deadlift Ideal: Our technical strategy is to make sumo deadlifting all about the legs. Our conventional deadlift strategy is to break the bar from the floor with our powerhouse legs – then fire the hip-hinge to finish the pull. Our mentors and advisors were world record holders in the squat and deadlift in both sumo and conventional style. When you build a giant deadlift, big back muscles, brute power and massive back strength just naturally follow.  We hold tight to the technical archetypes on every rep of every set.

Take a look at some recent video we shot with the boys from Reload when they came to visit our mountain compound - 

Purposeful Primitive Deadlift

If you have any questions please click here. For more instructional videos click on our Progressive Resistance Resource page. Follow Us using the icons below.

    


Thanks
Stacy Gallagher
Get Strong! Live Long!