As opposed to doing actual good mornings? There’s like zero useful hinging volume on these.
Saying these are the “best” way to do good mornings is like saying the best way to do situps is being like people who do one sit up every day because they get out of bed in the morning and that’s half the rep, then when they fall into bed at night that’s the other half. Zero actual situp volume and as far as I can tell it’s about the same for hinge volume here.
Plus it’s all in the name, it’s still just a squat with an unconventional way of getting the bar into position. Plus bouncing or rolling the bar across my back in that position kinda makes my injury spidey senses tingle but ok.
So while I was typing this I realized that, the reasoning I’m doing them would be more like a “continental good morning” not a “continental squat”.
First, it’s just an opinion, second your analogy is flawed big time and that’s obviously because you’ve not done the lift. But that’s ok, I once called this “the stupidest lift” before ever trying them. Then I tried them…….
No, it’s not like calling a sit-up getting out of bed.
The continental good morning allows you to use “more” weight than a traditional good morning, (if we are talking full ROM, powerlifting style is completely different animal) hence when fighting the bar up the back, there is more intense hip hinging happening. Then once the bar gets to the shoulders you could (which I’ll need to try) then do a more traditional rep, and with the potential “heavier load” might be harder, however since you have fought the bar up the back, you are now loose as a goose and pumped in contrast to unracking and not feeling that extra boost of intense numbness.
This in essence is called “earning the weight” first. You have fought the bar up the back, you have now earned it to perform a good morning. You don’t need to look deep into that last comment but I only say it because after experiencing this, it really makes the lift a bit more functional, but there is still truth to it. It does not mean I’m against a rack, I’m sure I can have good use for a rack, I just choose not to, I’m fine with finding another way.
I’ve said this, but not here, so I’ll say:
I have two primary goals:
In April, I’m running a 10K spartan (this will be my 4th one) with my childhood BFF who was always taller, stronger, faster, tougher, and better in every physical way possible. Goal: Equal or better performance than him!
He did take me to my first Spartan a few years ago, and we were fairly close (he a better runner, me a better climber, I’m guessing).
In August, I’ll run my 5th 10K spartan, and it will be my first time running alone - nobody to slow me down. My goal is simply to do the very best I can, and to make a performance I can be proud of.
Just adding some goal clarity, and why/how this feeds my T-ransormation goals - the base for all this, unfortunately, is the 10K trail run. I HATE running, always have. I have been prioritizing it more and more lately. But to have a good 10K OCR time, you need a good 10K time.
THAT, physically, will reward lower body weight, especially loose abdominal fat LOL, and a high capacity for long-duration, low-intensity exertion.
The other piece is really overhead pulling strength - again, rewarding a low body weight, grip strength, and a high capacity for short-duration, high-intensity exertion in a fatigued state
Also unfortunately, I already posess all the overhead pulling capability I need (see my recent +50lb monkey bar session) which means that while this is the most fun to train, it honestly needs a back seat to running.
Spartan does include a few loaded carries but they’re trivial to me. (not to everyone LOL but still)
So by the end of the T-Ransformation, I anticipate:
-Lower body fat
-Healthier night time snack habit
-A known and improved 10K run time
-Not a lot of visual changes.
@Moonflower Maybe I meant to say “it’s my favorite way” to do good mornings.
I’m not very good at engaging in the Internet, my mind lately is also dealing with new changing technology learning in my job which I tend to struggle with and I loose my train of thought and providing context in my posts. My mind don’t soak up the new world very well.
But let me now come back with some hinging arguments. Ok I’ve analyzed your useful hinging volume and sure there some merit there, I think the sit-up analogy is strange, I don’t get that analogy?
But the question I pose is why are we hinging? Do we need to hinge for spinal erector thickening? Well I don’t think we need to hinge for that, rounded back lifting builds spinal erectors. How about hinging to deadlift? Ah, yes that makes sense.
So I don’t think there actually zero hinging volume with the continental method. There is some but what’s better heavier more intense hinging or volume for better hinging for a bigger deadlift?
It’s really a lot easier and less cretin derailish to just accept I meant to say “it’s my favorite way to do a good morning”.
I’m in.
I have failed to finish the previous 2 years due to just getting side tracked by life.
I want to finish this time for real. I have a list of standards I need to hit on my log and I am close on a few but a few elude me.
It will require losing fat and chasing some specific performance.
Okay, 2026. Let’s see…starting weight as of today (I’ll probably edit it to tomorrow’s weight, as we had one last hurrah last night for my son’s birthday) is 141.2 (edit 139.4 on 1/1/26). I think I’m happy with the weight and the way things look generally, and feeling that I achieved last year’s goals.
So this year’s goal is strength and continued recomp. I want to find my caloric maintenance level - enough to fuel growth without putting all of the flub back on.
I don’t really care about the actual contest. Just a before vid and after vid for view.
I really don’t know where I’m supposed to upload the photo too etc and then I gotta get a mirror and stuff…I’d prefer just a vid and no real contest participation. I just need to show these fellas that I can actually make progress.
