October, 2007
October, 2007
dont worry forlife, you look fine, you could be in an action movie
[quote]its_just_me wrote:
It may just be me and my form, but when I do the deadlift, it seems that the main muscles getting hit are those around the hips (e.g. thighs, glutes, lower back etc) but nothing much for the upper body. When I lift the bar, my arms pretty much hang like “hooks” and there is little movement in my upper body apart from to statically stabilize the weight.
How can a muscle grow much if it’s only under a bit of tension (which is static)?
Take for example the shrugs. I hardly move my traps when I deadlift. I think your traps need a good range of motion and higher reps in order to grow. Same goes for the upper back - I simply lift the weight until my body is upright - I don’t (or can’t) bring the weight back with my arms so that it targets my upper back too.
Loads of people say that compound movements are all that you need - but my arms didn’t start growing more until I did direct work.[/quote]
Try doing some heavy rack pulls, if you don’t feel those in your upper back then you are definitely doing something wrong. In case you aren’t familiar with rack pulls, they are pretty much partial deads performed from around the knee to the finish position. I did them for the first time this week on Monday and I hate never felt something straining my traps/upper back so much, ever.
[quote]its_just_me wrote:
How can a muscle grow much if it’s only under a bit of tension (which is static)?
Take for example the shrugs. I hardly move my traps when I deadlift. I think your traps need a good range of motion and higher reps in order to grow. Same goes for the upper back - I simply lift the weight until my body is upright - I don’t (or can’t) bring the weight back with my arms so that it targets my upper back too.
[/quote]
Kaz would disagree with you that deadlifts won’t build your traps as much as shrugs.
So would Johnnie Jackson.
So would Franco.
Oh yeah, and let’s not forget about big Ron.
[quote]josh86 wrote:
its_just_me wrote:
It may just be me and my form, but when I do the deadlift, it seems that the main muscles getting hit are those around the hips (e.g. thighs, glutes, lower back etc) but nothing much for the upper body. When I lift the bar, my arms pretty much hang like “hooks” and there is little movement in my upper body apart from to statically stabilize the weight.
How can a muscle grow much if it’s only under a bit of tension (which is static)?
Take for example the shrugs. I hardly move my traps when I deadlift. I think your traps need a good range of motion and higher reps in order to grow. Same goes for the upper back - I simply lift the weight until my body is upright - I don’t (or can’t) bring the weight back with my arms so that it targets my upper back too.
Loads of people say that compound movements are all that you need - but my arms didn’t start growing more until I did direct work.
Try doing some heavy rack pulls, if you don’t feel those in your upper back then you are definitely doing something wrong. In case you aren’t familiar with rack pulls, they are pretty much partial deads performed from around the knee to the finish position. I did them for the first time this week on Monday and I hate never felt something straining my traps/upper back so much, ever.
[/quote]
Yes, definitely do rack pulls if you don’t feel DL’s from the floor.
Finally, Mark Felix likes to deadlift.
Or how about this guy, his traps seem decent sized.
[quote]its_just_me wrote:
what makes you think deadlifts make you huge just by doing them? You can remain roughly the same size just by not eating enough to grow, but you’d still progress in weight on the bar - I’ve seen some slim woman lifting weights that many “BB” guys would faint at LOL. Granted, this is exceptional but it still proves the point that more muscle mass does not necessarily mean more strength.[/quote]
There is a thread of truth to what you say. But we aren’t talking about powerlifters who intentionally try to stay at the same weight and perform lots of singles, doubles, and triples to improve neuromuscular efficiency (skill). We are talking about things from a BB’ing perspective. That means for reps, while eating enough to support growth, and going after maximal absolute strength (as opposed to relative strength).
Show me a man (or woman) who deadlifts 600+ lbs for reps who is not a house.
This is a pic of my back (sorry about the quality). As you can see, I’m on a bulking phase just now (so not as lean as my avator pic).
I’ve only started doing deadlifts the past 5 weeks or so…but the majority of my back size was gained from doing wide and narrow pullups. My traps were built from doing shrugs (in the 8-10 rep range).
I wonder how many guys in those pics are natural? hmmm…
[quote]its_just_me wrote:
It may just be me and my form, but when I do the deadlift, it seems that the main muscles getting hit are those around the hips (e.g. thighs, glutes, lower back etc) but nothing much for the upper body. When I lift the bar, my arms pretty much hang like “hooks” and there is little movement in my upper body apart from to statically stabilize the weight.
How can a muscle grow much if it’s only under a bit of tension (which is static)?
Take for example the shrugs. I hardly move my traps when I deadlift. I think your traps need a good range of motion and higher reps in order to grow. Same goes for the upper back - I simply lift the weight until my body is upright - I don’t (or can’t) bring the weight back with my arms so that it targets my upper back too.
Loads of people say that compound movements are all that you need - but my arms didn’t start growing more until I did direct work.[/quote]
How much do you deadlift? If you don’t feel it in your arms and upper body then you aren’t lifting anything close to enough weight. I don’t know how you could pick up anything heavy with your arms just hanging there like hooks. Your shoulders should be pulled back, traps and shoulders tight, arms straight down, chest up. You are pulling just as hard with you upper body as you are with your lower.
Tell you what, you go throw a couple of more plates on each side and get your hips down and chest up and pull back from your heels…then tell me you don’t feel it in your upper body.
Here is another idea, you could ask for everyone that pulls over 500 lbs post a pic and have everyone else that doesn’t deadlift post a pic, that should be a simple way for you to tell if deadlifting put’s on muscle and enhances physique.
By the way, I have never done shrugs and my traps are pretty decent.
[quote]eremesu wrote:
dont worry forlife, you look fine, you could be in an action movie[/quote]
HAHAHAHA!!
I’m sore in my traps for two days minimum after deadlift day, I can’t imagine how anyone would NOT get sore there.
I remember being surprised by it the first time I went heavy, but now I welcome the pain.
To each is own, brotha. You asked for reasons why they are good and you got a bunch. Now use the information to decide if they are the right excersice for you. Lift hard.
[quote]futurepharm wrote:
I’m sore in my traps for two days minimum after deadlift day, I can’t imagine how anyone would NOT get sore there.
I remember being surprised by it the first time I went heavy, but now I welcome the pain.[/quote]
same here, first time i ever tried a 1RM i was like wow ive never felt trap soreness like this.
deadlifts and rackpulls have always worked well for me but my back is the best responder of all my muscles. ive actually never felt a soreness in my quads or glutes from doing deadlifts.
bottom line is do what works for you. if you cant grow with deadlifts or its variations then dont use them but theres people who do and people who will grow bigger and stronger from it than anything else. im glad im one of those people because i dont know any other lift that can get your midback as well as a DL.
[quote]its_just_me wrote:
This is a pic of my back (sorry about the quality). As you can see, I’m on a bulking phase just now (so not as lean as my avator pic).
I’ve only started doing deadlifts the past 5 weeks or so…but the majority of my back size was gained from doing wide and narrow pullups. My traps were built from doing shrugs (in the 8-10 rep range).[/quote]
[quote]its_just_me wrote:
I wonder how many guys in those pics are natural? hmmm…[/quote]
And the fuse is lit. Lol…