How can I deadlift heavier?

[NickNH1]

I am a very strong person, I squat 750, log press 385, bench 340, but only deadlift 550 because I am short and have stubby arms. How can I overcome this problem that has been plaguing me as a short heavyweight strongman? Thank you.

[Brandon2576]

You mean to tell me you got up to 750lb squat and a 385lb log, but you don’t know how to bring your deadlift up lol? Anyways, I would up your deadlift and variations frequency. Maybe try a 3x per week plan. Monday- deadlift Wednesday- block pull Friday- RDL.

[NickNH1]

You mean to tell me you got up to 750lb squat and a 385lb log, but you don’t know how to bring your deadlift up lol? Anyways, I would up your deadlift and variations frequency. Maybe try a 3x per week plan. Monday- deadlift Wednesday- block pull Friday- RDL.

To be fair my deadlift is my weakest lift for mechanical reasons. It is the lockout that is hard because I have to pull the weight further than other people my size and so I don't have enough in the tank to get it up and hold it above the knee

[Brandon2576]

To be fair my deadlift is my weakest lift for mechanical reasons. It is the lockout that is hard because I have to pull the weight further than other people my size and so I don't have enough in the tank to get it up and hold it above the knee

Well if you struggle to get it once it gets to the knee or above it that is where you need to practice pulling from. It makes sense that you would have lots of power off the floor with such a big squat. Just need to do things like block pulls, rack pull, wagon wheel deadlift, and any other exercise that emphasizes the top portion of the deadlift.

[NickNH1]

Well if you struggle to get it once it gets to the knee or above it that is where you need to practice pulling from. It makes sense that you would have lots of power off the floor with such a big squat. Just need to do things like block pulls, rack pull, wagon wheel deadlift, and any other exercise that emphasizes the top portion of the deadlift.

Ok thanks I will start with rack pulls when I can get back to the gym. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to help.

[PhDPepper1111]

Nick, I too am short and have stubby arms and legs. I have a longer torso (relatively speaking): you may try sumo.
Mechanically there are a number of folks who talk about conventional vs sumo for different body types.
I switched to sumo some time ago and it made a huge difference for me.
Don't listen to the haters who call it cheating; my workout partner can't pull sumo for sh*t but pulls 700 conventionally.

IF you choose to give sumo a try there are dozens of great tutorials on youtube to get you started.

Yes, there are accessory lifts as well as strategies such as rack pulls, bands/chains etc... but if you're that strong and that far off from squat my guess is mechanically you are way off.

If you don't want to pull sumo I'd recommend posting videos of you pulling 450+ and let folks take a look at your form.

[Brandon2576]

Nick, I too am short and have stubby arms and legs. I have a longer torso (relatively speaking): you may try sumo.

Well from the looks of it, he is a strongman (since he obviously regularly does log press) not a powerlifter which means he cannot pull sumo in competition.

[ECGordyn]

Bands and chains to add resistance towards the top. Also check your form, that you're not pulling with lumbar dominance, which is harder to lock out.

[NickNH1]

Well from the looks of it, he is a strongman (since he obviously regularly does log press) not a powerlifter which means he cannot pull sumo in competition.

Yes. I only compete 3 times a year normally but I am an amateur strongman

[PhDPepper1111]

Yes. I only compete 3 times a year normally but I am an amateur strongman

Sweet!
-as several have said there are some things you can work on - plus I'll reiterate that there are a bunch of great folks who will critique a lift if you post a video/link.
One of my favorite strongmen/youtubers Alan Thrall talked about training sumo as a strongman-centric lifter here.. food for thought and good luck!

[NickNH1]

Sweet!
-as several have said there are some things you can work on - plus I'll reiterate that there are a bunch of great folks who will critique a lift if you post a video/link.
One of my favorite strongmen/youtubers Alan Thrall talked about training sumo as a strongman-centric lifter here.. food for thought and good luck!

Two things. 1 I can't post a video gyms are closed and I don't own weights myself. 2 I have to use strict form in my local competitions, sumo is not allowed. But thank you for your time sir.

[StevieHertz]

what techniques have you tried so far?

[NickNH1]

what techniques have you tried so far?

Just the standard technique. Feet hip width apart, straight back, drive from the hips legs and upper back to avoid lower back injury. I can't do anything else in competition or the lift doesn't count.

[PhDPepper1111]

Two things. 1 I can't post a video gyms are closed and I don't own weights myself. 2 I have to use strict form in my local competitions, sumo is not allowed. But thank you for your time sir.

Apparently I have time for another response. :P
You can still train Sumo to increase conventional... since you're reporting a plateau..... but each time I've also repeated that there are many other ways to try to break the DL plateau you find yourself in.
If you paste the link to a youtube video we can 'fix' the link for you and post.

Good luck brother!

[blindsideflank]

Holy ****, Robert Oberst is posting here!

[Motiviert]

Look up matt wenning on youtube. Get your hams, traps, week really your entire posterior chain you need to get stronger. And core.

[readreindeer666]

Most guys add 5 or 10 pounds at a time

[NickNH1]

1. I was able to add 60lbs last time I went to the gym, turns out I had a pulled muscle in my back. 2. I am retiring from strongman, my gym opened for a week to announce to members they would be closing for good because they lost too much money due to the plague going around and because they got fined for opening early and weights are too expensive for me and I have high school to finish because I am only half way through junior year, thank you dictator of Pennsylvania Thomas Wolf.

[PhDPepper1111]

1. I was able to add 60lbs last time I went to the gym, turns out I had a pulled muscle in my back. 2. I am retiring from strongman, my gym opened for a week to announce to members they would be closing for good because they lost too much money due to the plague going around and because they got fined for opening early and weights are too expensive for me and I have high school to finish because I am only half way through junior year, thank you dictator of Pennsylvania Thomas Wolf.

Glad to hear you identified part of the problem.
If you are in high school - no rush! You can unretire if/when things get better. Focusing on high school sounds like a good plan for now.

[Kylehero]

Don’t think I can offer much help as I just started using a belt last week and saw great benefits through core stability.

But maybe YOU can teach me how to get to a 350# DL. 😄

[NickNH1]

Don’t think I can offer much help as I just started using a belt last week and saw great benefits through core stability.

But maybe YOU can teach me how to get to a 350# DL. 😄

Best advice I can give is 1. Squat down to the bar instead of bending and 2. Drive from the hips and then the shoulder in one movement, do not think of it as up to the knees and then lock out. Good luck on your journey and keep training I have very good genetics including a myostatin deficiency so don't look at what I can do as normal 350 is hard so just do 5 reps of 285 until that is easy and then add 5 lbs a month.

[studman89]

really depnds where your weakness is we need to see a video. also its common to see a lot of top strongmen with huge presses but a weak deadlift (in relation to their press ofc)