CrossFit Citadel

The deadlift is unrivaled in its simplicity and impact while unique in its capacity for increasing head to toe strength.
Regardless of whether your fitness goals are to “rev up” your metabolism, increase strength or lean body mass, decrease body fat, rehabilitate your back, improve athletic performance, or maintain functional independence as a senior, the deadlift is a marked shortcut to that end.

Fear of the deadlift abounds, but like fear of the squat, it is groundless. No exercise or regimen will protect the back from the potential injuries of sport and life or the certain ravages of time like the deadlift.

To the detriment of millions, the deadlift is infrequently used and seldom seen either by most of the exercising public and/or, believe it or not, by athletes. It might be that the deadlift’s name has scared away the masses; its older name, “the healthlift,” was a better choice for this perfect movement.

The deadlift’s primal functionality, whole-body nature, and mechanical advantage with large loads suggest its strong neuroendocrine impact, and for most athletes the deadlift delivers such a quick boost in general strength and sense of power that its benefits are easily understood. - CFJ

Consider each of the following cues to a sound deadlift. Many motivate identical behaviors, yet each of us responds differently to different cues.

* Natural stance with feet under hips
• Symmetrical grip whether parallel, hook,or alternate
• Hands placed where arms won’t interfere with legs while pulling from the ground
• Bar above juncture of little toe and foot
• Shoulders slightly forward of bar
• Inside of elbows facing one another
• Chest up and inflated
• Abs tight
• Arms locked and not pulling
• Shoulders pinned back and down
• Lats and triceps contracted and pressing against one another
• Keep your weight on your heels
• Bar stays close to legs and essentially travels straight up and down
• Torso’s angle of inclination remains constant while bar is below the knee
• Head straight ahead
• Shoulders and hips rise at same rate when bar is below the knee
• Arms remain perpendicular to ground until lockout
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WOD

Row 500 meters
Rest as needed
Deadlift max at 15 reps, immediately on last rep, come up and...
Max set of pull-ups.
Rest as needed.
Repeat deadlift set again, come up immediately on last rep and...
Max set of pull-ups.
Rest as needed.
Repeat deadlift set again, come up immediately on last rep and...
Max set of pull-ups
Rest as needed.
Row 500 meters