Need help with sumo form to continue past 700

[ChecksandGiggles]

Hi all,

This may be a bit of a lengthy post so I thank you in advance for bearing with me here. A couple months ago I hit a 675 sumo DL. However, I have realized that my form is not really conducive to going beyond that, as the top deadlifters in the world do not pull like I do. Here are some videos, and I'll explain what I feel like is going on. Preface: I use straps 99% of the time because I don't compete. Also, as far as wearing pants, I just dress that way for fun (though I realize ideally shorts would be better-I'm not taking myself too seriously in the gym).

Video 1: This one has my warmups from 315 all the way up to 640. You will see that I'm very fast off the ground, but the consequence is getting into a very bad lockout position. This, I think, is the bane of my sumo.



Video 2: 675. I am aware it's awful and hitched, but is probably the best demonstration of the issues I have with the lift.



Video 3: 585x7, my best rep set.



Video 4: Up to 605 with a hook grip



So, overall analysis from my standpoint: I rely on getting as much possible speed off the ground to get it as high as possible (hopefully past my knees) and then to muscle it up because my position gets so bad. I've been trying a new setup where I'm focusing on really building tension in my posterior chain and then squeezing it back, which makes it look a little better, but makes me lose most of my speed off the ground. With my conventionals (max is I think 605) the rip off the floor works better, but I'm just better suited for sumo.

I'm open to any and all suggestions as I'm trying to rework my form in the hopes that such efforts will get me into the 700s. Thanks so much!

[NotNiceUserName]

Buy "tight men's running shorts" idk how it's called, that helped me a lot with the lockout. I thought about this:
(can't post links) media.startfitness.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/6/image/800x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/d/adidas-adizero-climacool-sprint-web-short-tights-s02941.jpg
Chest up.
Try a powerlifting belt.

[ChecksandGiggles]

Buy "tight men's running shorts" idk how it's called, that helped me a lot with the lockout. I thought about this:
(can't post links) media.startfitness.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/6/image/800x600/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/d/adidas-adizero-climacool-sprint-web-short-tights-s02941.jpg
Chest up.
Try a powerlifting belt.

Thanks. I'm so used to pulling from that slightly flexed position that chest up doesn't feel fully natural. As far as belts, I just don't use them anymore. When I was bulking I outgrew my belt and just never bothered to get another. Plus I feel like they really throw me off especially on DL. I may be willing to try it again at some point, though.

[NotNiceUserName]

It's easier to move the weight from the ground with a rounded upper back, but harder to lockout.
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And if you want to compete sometime pull back your shoulders, because thats the finishing position.

[ChecksandGiggles]

It's easier to move the weight from the ground with a rounded upper back, but harder to lockout.
---
And if you want to compete sometime pull back your shoulders, because thats the finishing position.

Thanks. I know I tend to not fully lock my shoulders out on higher rep sets, but I think with singles I do. Or at least, I'm not sure how I would get them back any further.

[arian11]

Hard to tell from the video but is your grip with straps more narrow than your hook grip?

[ChecksandGiggles]

Hard to tell from the video but is your grip with straps more narrow than your hook grip?

Maybe by like an inch or so. If I were to use hook grip with the same width as my straps placement, I'd have very little contact with the knurling.

[EsRAW]

Brah real **** now, you look like you'll do better pulling conventional?

Most good sumo pullers are weak of the floor and extremely strong on lockout.
But you seem the exact opposite.

[arian11]

Maybe by like an inch or so. If I were to use hook grip with the same width as my straps placement, I'd have very little contact with the knurling.

I think that's part of the issue. I know it's much less weight, but your hook grip pull is much more technical. With straps you round over more and have no patience when the bar slows down so you just hitch the weight up.

Brah real **** now, you look like you'll do better pulling conventional?

Most good sumo pullers are weak of the floor and extremely strong on lockout.
But you seem the exact opposite.

That's because he jerks the bar off the ground and rounds his back. Anyone can do that with sumo and be fast off the floor.

[ChecksandGiggles]

Brah real **** now, you look like you'll do better pulling conventional?

Most good sumo pullers are weak of the floor and extremely strong on lockout.
But you seem the exact opposite.

Ehh, it's an option I've explored. I do want to train my conventional a bit more than I currently do and use some similar cues as to what I'm using to fix my sumo. Namely, build tension in the posterior chain, chest up, lever it up.

I think that's part of the issue. I know it's much less weight, but your hook grip pull is much more technical. With straps you round over more and have no patience when the bar slows down so you just hitch the weight up.

That's because he jerks the bar off the ground and rounds his back. Anyone can do that with sumo and be fast off the floor.

I noticed that. I might try widening my grip a tad with the straps also. I'm also not entirely sure how to not round my back. Yesterday I was doing form work and really focusing on keeping my back straight and loading my hips and glutes and keeping the bar as close as possible. Everything up to and including 545 felt really good, but 585 felt like it took forever to get off the ground and finish. It was not a pleasant lift. Still, I think it might have looked better, so that's promising.