Sgt Rock
01-18-07, 5:40 pm
PART ONE
SGT ROCK’S OLD SCHOOL DEADLIFT ROUTINE!
There is a virtual cornucopia of bench routines in all powerlifting mags and websites out there, and nearly as many on the squat. My email is overflowing everyday with people wantingMORE focus on the deadlift and deadlifting articles! Now more than ever, with HUGE advances in gear, the deadlift is getting much less “glory” and headlines, as the all time lists for the pull rarely are changed and the bench and squat are ever changing. This will not be a routine that you will need a calculator to figure out, with some wacky ass circus-max two a day routine, or triple choked mini half bands with 20 feet of chain, or fancy and expensive equipment. This is all about the OLD SCHOOL and what works. It’s not candy coated or fancy. It doesn’t not require any special equipment. It does, however, require 100 percent commitment and dedication, and requires you to leave the “new” thoughts on training the DL ie training it via the squat and with speed singles outside your brain. Imagine an article that was titled “Increase your bench without benching” or “Increase your squat without squatting”, it’s not going to happen, why should the DL be any different? The DL icons of the past, to include Gant, Anello, Inzer, Kuc, Kenady, Coan, Thomas, the Finns ALL WITHOUT EXCEPTION pulled HEAVY, and OFTEN. So if you want to get rid of that DL sticking point, your not going to just be able to add a layer to your DL suit to fix the problem, you must get mentally focused to go to battle, and start PULLING!
In another article, I covered the stiff leg dl intensely, and we are not throwing it out even know. That routine will get you ready to peak, if you haven’t had the chance to read it I suggest you do, in the meantime here is an abbreviated quick off season blast to get you ready to peak for a NEW PERSONAL RECORD:
All stiff legs done off a 3 inch box, no belt, no straps, in sweatpants, add belt at week 3.
Week:
3x10
3x10
3x5
2x5
1x5
The last week should be at or near 70 percent of your best DL. After week 5 take one week off from pulling. Assistance will be raw bent rows off the box for 3x7, chins 2x7 and front lat pulls 2x7. DB shrugs 2x20 and weighted ab work, and to finish it off, Russian (aka regular) hypers for 3x10 with weight.
If you are NOT going to a 3 lift show, EASE off on the squat, do it raw (belt only) and much lighter (3x5 is sufficient), your pull will thank you. If you are doing all 3 lifts you must listen to your body even more closely, if you want to bust the DL pr, then that must be your priority, I wont elaborate anymore on this, you must decide what is most important. So often the DL takes a back seat, you can see it at contests, guys pushing their squat and bench and running out of gas or losing that fire when it comes to the DL, I have heard all the excuses believe me. I love it when I see guys like Andy Bolton and Garry Frank taking it to a whole new level when the bar gets on the floor, Eddy Coan and Steve Goggins the same thing, its like they get a huge second wind, it motivates me to an extreme. The meet truly does not start til the bar gets on the floor!
Now we are ready to peak! Some things your going to need, a tight fitting DL suit if applicable (I prefer the Inzer Max DL and have recently switched to the newest DL suit from Inzer, and will NEVER go back), groove briefs made of hardcore material, I also love the Erector shirt as well, also of hardcore material. A max width belt, prong or lever, wrestling type shoes, and then we are ready to rock and roll! If you pull in a singlet that is fine, I do suggest, however, that you experiement with tight gear and use it to your advantage as gains of 50-75 lbs can be obtained with practice and proper fitting gear.
Deadlift training is very similar to the other main lifts, where FORM and SPEED are paramount. The DL is not a “just bend over and yank like heck” lift, it is so much more than that from a technical standpoint. Without elaborating too much, keep the bar in tight and head straight ahead, accelerate and don’t yank with the arms, and throw the hips through and head back after the bar gets to the knees. The more speed you generate from the bottom the better the lockout will be. Often times a missed lockout is the result of bad bar position, or lack of bar speed!
The body will adapt to reps, and heavy training, even in the deadlift as my great friend Tony Caprari taught me. All time greats like Bob Peoples, Caprari and John Inzer go against the new “lazy mindset” as I call it and pull heavy and often, going less than 7 days between pulling sessions frequently (I myself have done this with great results, but it took lots of warrior attitude!). Tony told me to give it a shot and said the body will adapt, which went against my current way of thinking. I reluctantly tried it and he was very right. I pulled heavy every week for over a month with great results. When I first started DLing as a teenager, I would do several top sets for reps. Once I eclipsed the 500 barrier (I was a skinny 148er once believe it or not) I cut it back to one top set most of the time and kept this approach for several years. I then decided to bring back the OLD SCHOOL MENTALITY, and started doing multiple sets of reps, beginning with the SLDL, and it has really helped me bust through my sticking point. Here is the peaking routine, make sure your getting enough protein and sleep, and supplement as needed. A good whey protein, creatine and Animal Paks work great with a heavy cycle like this. Pull heavy and remember Sgt Rock’s Old School DL rules!
NEVER MISS A REP IN THE GYM, EVER!
STRAPS ARE FOR SISSIES!
STIFF LEG DL’S ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS!
LEARN TO USE A TIGHT SUIT!
KEEP THE BAR IN CLOSE, AND HEAD STRAIGHT AHEAD OR SLIGHTLY UP
TO DEADLIFT BIG, YOU MUST DEADLIFT HEAVY IN TRAINING
GIVE THE HOOK GRIP A FAIR SHOT!
SGT ROCK’S OLD SCHOOL DEADLIFT ROUTINE!
There is a virtual cornucopia of bench routines in all powerlifting mags and websites out there, and nearly as many on the squat. My email is overflowing everyday with people wantingMORE focus on the deadlift and deadlifting articles! Now more than ever, with HUGE advances in gear, the deadlift is getting much less “glory” and headlines, as the all time lists for the pull rarely are changed and the bench and squat are ever changing. This will not be a routine that you will need a calculator to figure out, with some wacky ass circus-max two a day routine, or triple choked mini half bands with 20 feet of chain, or fancy and expensive equipment. This is all about the OLD SCHOOL and what works. It’s not candy coated or fancy. It doesn’t not require any special equipment. It does, however, require 100 percent commitment and dedication, and requires you to leave the “new” thoughts on training the DL ie training it via the squat and with speed singles outside your brain. Imagine an article that was titled “Increase your bench without benching” or “Increase your squat without squatting”, it’s not going to happen, why should the DL be any different? The DL icons of the past, to include Gant, Anello, Inzer, Kuc, Kenady, Coan, Thomas, the Finns ALL WITHOUT EXCEPTION pulled HEAVY, and OFTEN. So if you want to get rid of that DL sticking point, your not going to just be able to add a layer to your DL suit to fix the problem, you must get mentally focused to go to battle, and start PULLING!
In another article, I covered the stiff leg dl intensely, and we are not throwing it out even know. That routine will get you ready to peak, if you haven’t had the chance to read it I suggest you do, in the meantime here is an abbreviated quick off season blast to get you ready to peak for a NEW PERSONAL RECORD:
All stiff legs done off a 3 inch box, no belt, no straps, in sweatpants, add belt at week 3.
Week:
3x10
3x10
3x5
2x5
1x5
The last week should be at or near 70 percent of your best DL. After week 5 take one week off from pulling. Assistance will be raw bent rows off the box for 3x7, chins 2x7 and front lat pulls 2x7. DB shrugs 2x20 and weighted ab work, and to finish it off, Russian (aka regular) hypers for 3x10 with weight.
If you are NOT going to a 3 lift show, EASE off on the squat, do it raw (belt only) and much lighter (3x5 is sufficient), your pull will thank you. If you are doing all 3 lifts you must listen to your body even more closely, if you want to bust the DL pr, then that must be your priority, I wont elaborate anymore on this, you must decide what is most important. So often the DL takes a back seat, you can see it at contests, guys pushing their squat and bench and running out of gas or losing that fire when it comes to the DL, I have heard all the excuses believe me. I love it when I see guys like Andy Bolton and Garry Frank taking it to a whole new level when the bar gets on the floor, Eddy Coan and Steve Goggins the same thing, its like they get a huge second wind, it motivates me to an extreme. The meet truly does not start til the bar gets on the floor!
Now we are ready to peak! Some things your going to need, a tight fitting DL suit if applicable (I prefer the Inzer Max DL and have recently switched to the newest DL suit from Inzer, and will NEVER go back), groove briefs made of hardcore material, I also love the Erector shirt as well, also of hardcore material. A max width belt, prong or lever, wrestling type shoes, and then we are ready to rock and roll! If you pull in a singlet that is fine, I do suggest, however, that you experiement with tight gear and use it to your advantage as gains of 50-75 lbs can be obtained with practice and proper fitting gear.
Deadlift training is very similar to the other main lifts, where FORM and SPEED are paramount. The DL is not a “just bend over and yank like heck” lift, it is so much more than that from a technical standpoint. Without elaborating too much, keep the bar in tight and head straight ahead, accelerate and don’t yank with the arms, and throw the hips through and head back after the bar gets to the knees. The more speed you generate from the bottom the better the lockout will be. Often times a missed lockout is the result of bad bar position, or lack of bar speed!
The body will adapt to reps, and heavy training, even in the deadlift as my great friend Tony Caprari taught me. All time greats like Bob Peoples, Caprari and John Inzer go against the new “lazy mindset” as I call it and pull heavy and often, going less than 7 days between pulling sessions frequently (I myself have done this with great results, but it took lots of warrior attitude!). Tony told me to give it a shot and said the body will adapt, which went against my current way of thinking. I reluctantly tried it and he was very right. I pulled heavy every week for over a month with great results. When I first started DLing as a teenager, I would do several top sets for reps. Once I eclipsed the 500 barrier (I was a skinny 148er once believe it or not) I cut it back to one top set most of the time and kept this approach for several years. I then decided to bring back the OLD SCHOOL MENTALITY, and started doing multiple sets of reps, beginning with the SLDL, and it has really helped me bust through my sticking point. Here is the peaking routine, make sure your getting enough protein and sleep, and supplement as needed. A good whey protein, creatine and Animal Paks work great with a heavy cycle like this. Pull heavy and remember Sgt Rock’s Old School DL rules!
NEVER MISS A REP IN THE GYM, EVER!
STRAPS ARE FOR SISSIES!
STIFF LEG DL’S ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS!
LEARN TO USE A TIGHT SUIT!
KEEP THE BAR IN CLOSE, AND HEAD STRAIGHT AHEAD OR SLIGHTLY UP
TO DEADLIFT BIG, YOU MUST DEADLIFT HEAVY IN TRAINING
GIVE THE HOOK GRIP A FAIR SHOT!