Deadlifts

[Matthew Baniewicz]

I have a question for Thomas Kurz or anyone else who would like to answer. Thomas Kurz has written "My rule of thumb for back strength is lifting comfortably at least twice your body weight in the deadlift" and "I weigh 155 lb. and I lift 90 lb. in back extensions on the bench, 130 lb. in the “good morning,” and 300 lb. in the deadlift."

Do you lift that poundage in a stiff leg or bent leg deadlift?

How much weight do you train with in the stiff leg deadlift in relation to the bent leg deadlift?

Thank you Mr. Kurz

[Thomas Kurz]

I have a question for Thomas Kurz or anyone else who would like to answer. Thomas Kurz has written "My rule of thumb for back strength is lifting comfortably at least twice your body weight in the deadlift" and "I weigh 155 lb. and I lift 90 lb. in back extensions on the bench, 130 lb. in the “good morning,” and 300 lb. in the deadlift."

Do you lift that poundage in a stiff leg or bent leg deadlift?

In the stiff-leg deadlift.

How much weight do you train with in the stiff leg deadlift in relation to the bent leg deadlift?

All of it--I practically do not do bent-leg deadlifts. I hope you realize that in a stiff-leg deadlift knees are not maximally extended--just that they are close to a normal standing position.

[Matthew Baniewicz]

Thank you for the quick reply.

In the stiff-leg deadlift my knees are not maximally extended--my form looks very similar to the diagram of the deadlift in Stretch Yourself 21: Advanced Strength Exercises for Lower Back.

[mmeloon]

All of it--I practically do not do bent-leg deadlifts. I hope you realize that in a stiff-leg deadlift knees are not maximally extended--just that they are close to a normal standing position.

Mr. Kurz, I hope you can answer a question for me. Why do you prefer stiff-legged deadlifts to bent-legged ones? I think you might have answered this before, but I can't find where. Can you please remind me whether this is just your personal preference or there is a solid reason for choosing stiff-legged.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

[Thomas Kurz]

Because I do not do them to lift more weight but to make myself stronger or to keep myself strong enough.

Keeping legs straight makes the deadlift more difficult on the trunk extensors by eliminating the squat-like action of the legs, and it makes hamstrings tense at nearly full extension.

[REG]

Hello everyone, it's been a very long time since I last posted on this forum. I have been on a consistent weight training program for almost 6 months now and I have been making very significant gains in both my strength, muscle mass, work capacity, etc. Recently, I tested my near max strength on powerlifting style deadlift and was able to perform 315 lbs. for 2 reps. I know that Kurz says that the stiff-legged deadlift version is better for improving overall posterior chain (which includes all of the deep big and small muscles of the back, gluteus maximus, hamstrings, trapezius, posterior deltoids, etc.). I have been doing stiff-legged or romanian deadlifts (without having the weight touch the ground during an entire set) as one of my assistance exercises for building both my front squats and power deadlift. So far, I have been able to do 185 lbs. x 14 x 14 x 11 on the stiff-legged or romanian deadlifts. Lately, I have been looking back at the advanced back exercises article by Kurz, to check to make sure that I have been doing those back exercises right so far, and I have actually been confused by the way he used the term bent-legged for that variation of the deadlift. So my question is, when Kurz said the bent-legged deadlift version, was he referring to that as being the powerlifting version of the deadlift where at the bottom position of that exercise your knees should be over and past the barbell in order to effectively use your quads during the execution of the lift?

It would help to know the answer to this, as I want to be able to do isometric stretching as soon as possible, and my 1 rep max on the stiff-legged deadlift is 290 lbs. which is almost double my bodyweight (148 lbs.). However, I am not sure if the stiff-legged deadlift I have been doing is the exact stiff-legged deadlift version that Kurz was talking about with regard to his rule of thumb for adequate back strength for isometric and static stretching, where he strongly recommended that you should be able to lift comfortably at least twice your body weight in the deadlift in order to safely perform isometric and static stretches. It's confusing because some fitness experts say that the stiff-legged version is where your legs are completely straight through the entire lift, while the deadlift style exactly like the one shown on Stretch Yourself 21: Advanced Srength Exercises for Lower Back would be called the Romanian deadlift version.

[Thomas Kurz]

I have been doing stiff-legged or romanian deadlifts (without having the weight touch the ground during an entire set) as one of my assistance exercises for building both my front squats and power deadlift. So far, I have been able to do 185 lbs. x 14 x 14 x 11 on the stiff-legged or romanian deadlifts.

Stiff-legged deadlifts are not the same as Romanian deadlifts. See demos at the links below:

Romanian Deadlifts, American Deadlifts, Stiff Legged Deadlifts, and Straight Leg Deadlifts
http://youtu.be/9CleNQoKSb0

HOW TO Stiff Leg Deadlift (And Romanian Deadlift): Technique for Strength and Size
http://youtu.be/kX0bd5P7vhg

So my question is, when Kurz said the bent-legged deadlift version, was he referring to that as being the powerlifting version of the deadlift where at the bottom position of that exercise your knees should be over and past the barbell in order to effectively use your quads during the execution of the lift?

By bent-leg deadlift I meant the powerlifting deadlift, as you describe it.

[REG]

Stiff-legged deadlifts are not the same as Romanian deadlifts. See demos at the links below:

Romanian Deadlifts, American Deadlifts, Stiff Legged Deadlifts, and Straight Leg Deadlifts
http://youtu.be/9CleNQoKSb0

HOW TO Stiff Leg Deadlift (And Romanian Deadlift): Technique for Strength and Size
http://youtu.be/kX0bd5P7vhg

I see. Well, now I believe that I am totally clear on the difference between the Romanian deadlift and the stiff legged-deadlift. The difference between those two is that the Romanian deadlift is done with a shorter range of motion, whereas the stiffed-legged deadlift is done with a longer range of motion. Speaking of range of motion, in the stiff-legged deadlift the weight is supposed to always touch the floor, whereas in the Romanian deadlift the weight should never touch the floor.

So my question is, when Kurz said the bent-legged deadlift version, was he referring to that as being the powerlifting version of the deadlift where at the bottom position of that exercise your knees should be over and past the barbell in order to effectively use your quads during the execution of the lift?

By bent-leg deadlift I meant the powerlifting deadlift, as you describe it.

Alright, I Totally get it now.

Thank you very much, Mr. Kurz for clarifying all my confusions on the different types of deadlifts.