deadlift-GOOD

Q. At the start position of a deadlift should your elbows be locked?

A. Yes. A good cue is to think of your arms like ropes and your hands like hooks.  The arms should stay locked and straight during the entire exercise.  There is no point during the deadlift where the elbows will need to bend.

Q. What point should you explode?

A. In essence, the deadlift is considered a grind lift – which means slow, but this applies to weights near your 1 RM (repetition maximum).  As you warm up to say a heavy set of 5, the lighter sets will move faster off the floor than the latter heavier sets – makes sense because the weight is lighter.  You can still cue yourself to explode off the floor, but because of the heaviness of the weight, it will just move slow – but your intent is to move it fast off the floor. There is a Dynamic Effort method of doing deadlifts called Speed Deadlifts. Speed Deadlifts train the explosiveness off the floor. The weight used for speed deadlifts is approximately 60% of your 1RM.

Q. Do you recommend resetting or touch and go deadlifts?

A. It depends on the load.  I recommend touch and go deadlifts (with FULL control) when the weight is light, but as it gets heavier, I recommend pause and go – this allows you to reset your position so you can be in the most optimal position to pick up the bar (safety is also increased).  You will still get full benefit from the deadlift during the pause and go method.

Q.  Floor or rack? And why?

A. Rack pulls or partial deadlifts shorten the range of motion.  This will be helpful for people who have a difficult time finding the range of motion getting in the correct deadlift position when the bar is on the floor.

Rack pulls are great for beginners trying to learn the deadlift for the first time because there is less chance for performing it incorrectly.  The hip hinge is the primary movement that happens in a deadlift.  The rack pull will strengthen this movement in beginners and it will also strengthen it in advanced lifters.  Advanced lifters can use the rack pull to improve their deadlift off the floor, when performed during different phases of their training.  Because the range of motion is less, more weight can be added to the bar.  If straps are not used, grip strength will also be strengthened.

I hope that clears things up.

-JK

I originally chose JKC to help me rehab following back surgery. JKC was the first gym where a trainer took the time to help me identify my goals and tailor my workouts to achieve them in a safe and doable manner. 🏋🏼 Jon & Thomas are both highly professional and knowledgeable. 👨🏼‍🎓 With their guidance and informative explanations 🗣 they have enabled me to reach my ever evolving goals. At JKC I’m guaranteed fun 😆, interesting 🙃 and diverse workouts, with Jon & Thomas forever supportive and encouraging. 👏🙌👍👊

I had been struggling with work-life balance resulting in not exercising or playing hockey as much as I had been doing in the past. In addition to being out of shape, I was starting to experience some back/shoulder issues and realized I needed to make some changes. Around this time, a friend (who was also a client) recommended JKC and that’s when I started!

You really feel part of a community where everyone is welcoming and supportive. You get a program that is designed specifically to achieve your goals, with the ongoing coaching, progress tracking and support required to achieve them. The JKC team are very knowledgeable about fitness and conditioning, and very engaging with everyone to answer questions or discuss anything and everything training related. I also like the flexible scheduling and gym times that work for my schedule (I like early mornings and evenings).

JKC is different from other gyms/fitness regimes I have tried in the past because of my level of comfort with the facility and other JKC clients and the amount of knowledge both Jon and Thomas demonstrate through personal attention to form, core development and overall strength is outstanding. JKC is by far the best training hands on attention that I’ve experienced period and I have experienced many over a lifetime of activity and playing various sports. The facility has everything you require plus, as you will learn there are many ways to use every piece of equipment and Jon and Thomas are very creative! There are many age groups and professions who attend this gym from elite athlete’s to the rest of us and the casual but focused atmosphere in the gym makes each visit interesting, friendly and challenging at all levels.

Tara Rector-Whelan

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I started at JKC after a good friend recommended it to me. She had been coming for about a year and I was envious of her great results. I felt sluggish after failing to motivate myself with various home workout routines. I love the fun and relaxed atmosphere at JKC. It’s such a comfortable gym space and I enjoy knowing so many of the people I work out with. Jon and Thomas make an effort to introduce everyone to each other and with all the joking around,  it starts to feel like a family. Not to mention the awesome results. I’ve always liked to run on a treadmill but I’ve never had the drive to lift weights on my own. Going to JKC makes me accountable which was what I really needed. I feel so much stronger and healthier than I did 4 years ago when I started.

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