ExRx.net

Any opinions on form are welcome.

My training buddy has been telling me that as the weights go up I start with my back more and more horizontal. I could not see or feel that, but I think I see it on the videos.

It seems to me as well that I'm not consistent with the scapulae over the bar, but maybe I'm just paranoid.

For these sets I took Doc's advice to try to keep my back neutral (but tight) instead of ramrod straight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6oUwqWGuA

your shoulder position appeared aok to me - whole lift looks solid.
your dog is great.

all I'll say in my amatuer opinion is you sort of look like me years ago, but with more muscle.

and on the descent, the bar seems too far from your thighs.

Form looks good IMO, you look confident, and I would bet my next mortgage payment you could smoke 315 any day of the week.

WIth that being said, be careful you don't start letting your shoulders roll forward once the weight gets heavier. I did that and tore something in my right trap. Hurting your trap is awful. You can't do a damn thing without pain. If you roll forward, drop the bar, don't muscle it out. (Until you are much more experienced, at which time you can roll your shoulders forward if you like it, but until then don't.)

Onward to 400!

Try filming from about half-way between straight side shot and strait-on front. Your legs are hidden behind the plates.

Anyway, they look good to me.

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan

I second what Erick said.

As a little tip, when you're down at the bar, pull the slack out of the bar*, let yourself fall back a little on your heels, then rip the chest up and back.

I would like to see you pop the chest out more/pull shoulders back at the top (without leaning back), but that's nit picking - you'll feel it more in your traps if you do.

*Pulling the slack out of the bar - When you're down there and are set up, "use" the bar to pull your chest up and arch a little harder. You actually pull on the bar a little when you do this. This will help you maintain form more at heavier weights (I agree you're stronger than you think) and help against the tendency to round over/shift forward when the weight gets heavy. Some say it also puts some of your b/w into the lift. Not sure about this but it's a good cue whatever the reasons.

What I say when someone is setting up to DL is - Arch, big belly, fall back (this all relates to the set up), chest up! (this is when they rip the weight up)!

Hope that helps!

KPj

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Thanks TimD

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I think my training buddy and I have flustered each other a bit so I was thinking I was worse off than I seem to be.

Robt: The dog is Clyde, a Keeshond. Incredibly patient with kids and they love company. Whenever my wife and I are in the garden he finds a spot in the shade and just watches us with a look of perfect happiness on his face. I am an absolutely confirmed non dog lover, but Clyde has grown on me over the years.

Erick: Actually I've pulled 325. But again my partner and I have flustered each other a bit trying to learn both form and how to coach each other, so I had doubted it "counted."

Doc: I had actually been aiming for the angle you suggest, but obviously the tight quarters in Ken's Amazing Home Basement Gym flustered that effort. If I move into another room I can get that angle next time.

KPj: So I think since I'll be taking a week off on vacation I am going to do another session of just deads on Saturday and film that. I will take your advice into account and try to incorporate it.

Thanks everyone!

Ken, you could leave the camera where it is, and just turn your set-up 45 degrees.

Also, I'm curious why you're pulling partial-range, with the bar on the boxes.

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan

The boxes do not give partial ROM, they actually put the bar at exactly 8.25" high. Also makes it easier to load the 45's, which are slightly smaller than regular size, so I can just slide them on.

Ah, I remember now that you mentioned the small plates before. We have one pair that are like that. On the floor I always load a big pair first, and then the smaller ones are easier to load. For big milestones I use only the big plates if possible, just because it looks better!

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan

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Thanks TimD.

Kenny:

I watched this video of Wendler (provided by Phil in a different thread), and it looks like he is doing what you are describing. Is this a good example?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Abfvug ... r_embedded

Wendler also says you should sort of lean back (I can't remember the exact words, but basically shift the weight towards the heels) after the bar leaves the ground, so I guess that could be it.

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I don't know where the blind could lead the sightless
but I'd still like to witness

I'm annoyed with myself for not seeing that. I'm sorry I didn't see it and mention it. My excuse is your plates in the way. That and not having the many years experience watching new lifters deadlift that Kenny has. Yeah. The bar has to be in actual contact with the skin. If you don't have scarred shins, no one will ever take you seriously as a deadlifter!

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan

That's essentially saying what Kenny P said in his post. Wendler would be assuming that you are pulling with the bar in contact with the shins.

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.--Francis Chan