☆ How to Deadlift the Proper Way ☆ Without Wrecking Your Back

[shampoo02]

Good job and all but can I just ask a question what is the big deal with deadlifts when the bar comes off the floor pretty good amount.Yes I agree its the most functional workout in the gym but to say its natural I disagree to a point being that when you lift something off the ground its almost always flat and you have to squat more lower .For some reason deadlifts just seem like a short range of motion.To me rock or boulder lifting is wear more strength and power is and its more full range

[sugmegpls]

Isnt the deadlift supposed to work the back? When i do this, only my hamstring and legs in general tire. :(

[ZBalentine1]

This is probably one of the best expanation/demos of the deadlift on Youtube. Good job guys. Subscribed!

[getmulah619]

@Kiretrams1 its pretty much a full body work out

[BRARmarjana]

good work great help......keep it up guys

[indianoak100]

hey, this is real perfect deadlift technibque - particularly the shins off the bar before form..great.. thanks

[99Macabre]

Great video!!

[sunioj700]

hey mang, thanks for the vid. i started lifting last august, have had mad gains deadlifting with no back issues at all thanks to this vid. excellent presentation of the essence of a good deadlift. its amazing how often u see guys doing this lift with bad form

[ZacPloskiFitnessFan]

would deadlifting this way be a leg or a back exersize? PLEASE REPLY

[Trueword1000]

excellent detailed instruction on this video. No where I have seen this much detailed info.

[Happyskateboarding]

Hey just a quick question. This is a GREAT tutorial by the way. Today for the first time I really tried RDLing on the way down, but tonight my thighs to my knees are kinda bruised and sore from having the heavy weight slide down... I'm guessing I'm probably letting my legs take too much of the weight when sliding down, but I just wanted a second opinion. Thank you so much.

[bigfella1111112]

i watch this every few months

[JSG949]

love the vids

[kwstas67]

hey i switch to hook grip when the weight goes heavy.hook grip=thumb under 2 fingers right?but i dont see my grip inceased when i do this?maybe cause i have little fingers?

[ironmonnkey15]

Sound not working for you guys as well?

[Kiretrams1]

what muscles are trained in a deadlift? O.o

[Hogo69]

Thanks, gave me some good points just started deadlifting again after years of no lifting.

[InuYasha95100]

I wouldn't try the way this guy explained it. He explained the shin part right but the way that guy does it is wrong, if u go up at that speed what r u trying to work out!! U have to go abit slower make ur ass go out back straight as u go up chest out and straight, remember always butt out back straight and look at the ceiling as u go up. And when u back down again butt out back straight u don't have to go too down and put the weights on ground, just make it touch the ground and go back up. Sta

[mjmacht]

Thanks so much, I'll be watching this every monday when I have deadlifts. So nice to have someone sane explain deadlifting

[Assonantie]

i should go to a real gym instead of watching this video...

[dapowerlifter09]

Awesome video! I was instantly able to correct a few mistakes in my form!

[teesidethai]

I always thought deadlifting was exercising your back? This looks more of a gluteus workout

[emixolydian]

This video helped me a ton...I always suck at deadlifts, so it's great to see it deconstructed...I feel like I have a better starting point now.

[EnvelopedInDarkness]

thanks! ive been deadlift with my back the whole time, no glutes or hammies...

[ahamm90]

Your shins should be touching the bar before you bend down. bend your legs more dont use your back so much.

[Accipiter22]

Been deadlifting for about 12 years now; I look for instructional videos still to keep my form good, and this is probably the best video I've seen on the topic. Great video, subscribed.

[MrCordezzz]

Hey i really appreciate your videos. Thank you so much for the time you put in to this.. Truly helpful.

[electricrat66]

This is an awesome video!

[MrCordezzz]

This excercise have always given me trouble even though it has been shown to me by proffesionals, but after seeing your video i find it easy. Your are very generous to share your knowledge and im sure you have spared a lot of young people from back injury, including me. THANK YOU!

[casper123]

Great tutorial thanks

[jjhoward1111]

great video, thanks for posting. i find this exercise hard to master

[fabien82]

This question is open to anyone.  How would I incorporate deadlifts into a leaning down workout routine?

[Ahasuer]

Thank you for the great tutorial.

[FrankA1948]

Hi Smitty,

I don't have a barbell. Is there any variation when using Powerblocks? I saw a vid where the bending only took place at the waist with no sitting back.

Thanks

[MMAgic8ball]

Wow, after seeing so many so called "experts" teaching the wrong deadlift form, it's great to see a video by someone who actually knows what they're doing. Great stuff!

[SuperLOMBO1]

great info very informative keep it coming been lifting awhile and always need pointers on correct form thanks jl

[johnnyagua510]

thanks to this vid im bout to start deadlifting again

[KenrayCan]

my right ear is lonely

[zippyz]

why does he hunch his back...his head and upper back look awkward on the pull up can anyone explain this? this is not addressed in the video?

[101simar]

Theres something wrong i think. He's pulling it up too fast? how does it engage your lower back if you don't do it slowly? Please reply

[sunntzu]

His neck is supposed to stay in plane as he stand up or diverts down? I think I seen him lift before on a vid, i think his neck stays in plane...

[SHOW96HH]

Great Video! Thanks!

[smittydiesel]

Hey guys, please like this comment so everyone can see the MASSIVE How to Deadlift page I put together for you:

dieselsc [dot] com / how-to-deadlift

[konkrykoz20]

@smittydiesel Great Video but I think you guys should do videos with more weight. It is far less difficult to lift 135 compared to 300 or 400 and that's is when my form breaks. So could you address the problems when you go up in weight. Thanks

[imvincenzo10]

@smittydiesel Do you have any idea why i tip forward on a deadlift? I used to do standard now i do sumo because i start to tip forward? Please help !

[dan1001ful]

easily understandable its better than my trainer teaches thanks

[justinp766]

not sure I agree with your lockout technique ...but everything else looks good!

When your pulling back during your lock your body is just trying using your glutes.

Nothing wrong with it , it feels natural and never had any back injuries after 5 years of deadlifting over 550lbs at 175lb class.

[sredd1337]

Badass thank you so much

[utubesqueeze]

This video is one of the best I've seen on Youtube on the ordinary/conventional deadlift (not stiff-legged/bent-leg deadlift). However, there is a couple of minor faults. First, the person lifting would start off picture perfect in every single detail and then for unknown reasons stare down at the floor during and top of the lift?! Second, the back setup focus is not just on your lats but also pulling back scapula retractors/rear dellt - so at the top this lifter had a curled upper back instead.

[casper123]

Fantastic guide, very well explained! I'll be checking the other vids.

[impurekind]

Good video

[Kryptoslol]

Hey Smitty, this helped my form a lot, I just have a question about the initial part. Do you want to life the bar up to your knees and then thrust the butt forward to get it to lockout? Or do you use your knees as your lifting so that way once they get to them you just get into lockout? Thanks.

[CheesyPumbah]

yay

[134teresa]

nice explanation and demonstration smitty,,, all the way here in NYC

[raz0rw0rk]

I tried deadlifts a week ago and could not get them correct at all. After watching this video I came out feeling much better. Thanks for the help.

[KaizokuMaiku]

Thnx a lot bro, nobody at my local gym does deadlifts ( for some retard reason ) so its hard to get pointers or some basic info so rly thnx for showing the correct way !!!

[Shintroy]

had problems lifting olympic plates since im taller

this vid helped not having to resort to bad form in the neck/upper back area.

th...thanks...

[xthexTxvirusx]

great vid, lets see the result tomorrow at the gym

[ParakoopaPete]

Thanks, I was lifting with my back arched and hardly using my legs, good thing I discovered this.

[Virus278]

I almost fell asleep watching this video. Very clear and educational though. Thanks.

[backwardiation]

great video smitty! helped me a lot!

[alexsen008]

great video

[yardape99]

It would be nice if someone did a deadlift vid with someone that isn't a dwarf.

[joeliniesta]

Probably the most comprehensive video on deadlifts by far... Thanks, man!

[frostygaz]

good video, thanks. but reckon using the term RDL (Romanian DeadLift) is not such a good idea because if someone doesn't know how to do a deadlift properly they are unlikely to even know what an RDL is.

[Cruzharo]

I really wish he would not go up so fast...cant see anything

[supaflypolishguy]

pulled a lat deadliifting today now im stuck home watching deadlift form videos

[uhatekara]

Thank you, this video is amazing. A lot of being don't understand that the deadlift is a leg and glute exercise, and they pull with their backs, ruining themselves. I've even heard of people paralyzing themselves with improper form.

Thank you for this educational video, it'll probably save many backs, and a few lives. =)

[simplythebest444]

Wow best dead lift video I've seen!

[jjhoward1111]

Awesome video, very helpful.

[KCGary]

Loved teh infor. I never knew half the stuff in this video. This will definitely save my back in the long run.

[MrSpanky87]

what's rdl



[rabiesman888]

yea i definately wasnt bending my knees enough

[picolomacig]

smitty, why do you say that biceps is in a bad position when you do underhand grip?

[picolomacig]

smitty, why do you say that biceps is in a bad position when you do underhand grip?

[flyingracoon]

What does RDL mean? when explaining how to return the bar back down. Sometimes I do heavier weights for myself and have trouble returning it to the ground. thanks in advance.

[Sebasvanduyne]

Best Deadlift video on the Internet, without a doubt! Thank you!

[Sebasvanduyne]

Best Deadlift video on the Internet, without a doubt! Thank you!

\

[iSkyttens]

Do I dare try this exercise without having a proffesional show me how to correctly do it? Will watching this video be enough to do the exercise without damaging myself? I guess it depends on the person being able to really understand the tips from the video or not, but still. I don't want to end up with a (if it goes really bad) permanently damaged back as an 18 year old :P

So what does people here think? Is it safe to try this without a proffesional trainer but with low weights?

[albertonava1714]

@iSkyttens yeah start off with a little weight then add more gradually but make sure your form is good

[undeadsos5]

@iSkyttens look go with a really low weight (the lowest weight possible) and just try to imitate the form

if you find it strange have someone look at you and tell you what you're doing wrong. if you feel the form is right practice it for a set or two and then start piling on weight

[svendewulf]

@iSkyttens i started off a few weeks ago with 95lbs, without any proffesional help, now i'm lifting 150lbs with no damage yet :-p if you're not confident that you can do it right, do some more research, i found everything on the internet... btw i'm 21, i have to say that my lower back is now much more powerfull since i started lifting weights, and i'm only doing it for like 5 weeks...

[chrisfriez]

@iSkyttens The first time you do an exercise you should always start with an empty bar, and do a few sets until you get the form down. Look up Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength, it's a book but there's also a wiki page about it which should give you a good detailed description of the movements for dead lift and a few other very important barbell exercises.

[9sommo]

@iSkyttens dont do them...

[MikePostDrums]

@iSkyttens It's safe with low weights. Just don't lean back at the top and get your technique right first before increasing weight. The last thing you want is a hernia at age 18.

[3QuaNiMiTyy]

@iSkyttens just use the bar, try doing a deadlift and then come back to this video and eventually you will feel where you have real power and stability then you will know you have safe technique, and always keep your mind open to re-evaluating your technique, research!

[kerolo]

@iSkyttens By all means, go ahead and try it, being sure to follow the instructions in the video. Also, be sure to start with LIGHT weight until you find your groove in the lift. Guys usually get hurt because they try to lift too much weight with improper form. The video is top notch.

[Pihasanddunes1]

Good video. Specific, sequential, clear. Thanks, man.

[Forgelicous]

Thanks for the great (as usual) stuff, Smitty!!!!

[codename7000]

This form is very machine like and professional.

[paulzie07]

great vid - very helpful

thank you

[juanvaldez8]

Great video man, thumbs up. The repetitive descriptions of the movements helps a lot. Subscribed.

[TheJonnycomet]

This video is amazing man. I really like how you split up the movement. Extremely informative and helpful for beginners to get the form correct. So many people hurt their lower back doing these wrong. Thanks for the great video

[SpaceExplorer]

What is RDL?

[PiitaaDerbez]

@SpaceExplorer Romanian Deadlift

[THESQUATINATOR]

@SpaceExplorer RDL is abbrivation for "romanian deadlift" a deadlift variation which targets different areas than a standard bent leg deadlift. You can see how it is performed on a exercise site such as exrx dot net.

[kerolo]

@SpaceExplorer Romanian dead lift. Refer to videos on Youtube.

[andresmolina89]

Dude awesome video, thank you so much for not having a load of bullshit like all the othe vids out there. Clear, concise, and to the point. Definitely telling my friends about this channel. Thanks again.

[Dogman022908]

are deadlifts very hard on your knees? my knees aren't that great, and I'm looking for a good leg excersise. Thanks!

[HLam1995]

By "glute contraction" do you mean like when you're trying to hold in a crap? I'm not trying to be funny.

[TheDRexor]

@HLam1995

In other words, Flex that butt

[whatawookie5000]

Really good, informative video. Thank you.

[NPFfumbi]

I've seen some people who have a tendency for their hips to shoot up before the bar starts moving and they basically do an rdl. How do you fix this?

[Amine1990G]

Amazingly comprehensive!!!! and awesome!

[SoyDeSinaloa01]

Very Helpfull tips

especially at 3:20

i liked how you showed where was the correct moment

to pull your hips to the front & lock your body.

thanks smitty!!!!!!!!

[SwissShuffle]

Did anyone get a really tight back the first time doing it? :x

[poundaNuts]

Really good video thanks alot.

[BornThrice]

My bones and joints would like to thank you.

[rf900rs2biker]

Absolutely the one and only right way :) great vid

[DGXGoggles]

Good stuff, thanks for the vid.

[AIMANALI]

great

[Sylvo2121]

It's amazing that the majority of people do this exercise completely wrong. Thanks for posting. Hopefully we'll start getting it right.

[G0BLIN1000]

@Zomgboxxy ...thank you sir for your help explaning how to do the dead lift correctly and for free....i bet this video has helped a lot of people....thanks for sharing your knowledge...

[zastr0w]

I pulled my back last week trying to do deadlifts. I think i was doing all the right stuff here? Maybe I wasn't getting my ass down low enough or something. I need a video of myself

[anuragsharma08]

very very very very very good video........was that too much! well your video really is :P

[igeto12]

Thanks this was Amazingly helpfull for a first timer and I see a lot of people in gym doing deadlifts that I thought was right but I can see some are doing it wrong appreciated

[groscriss26]

I learned a lot! Thx!

[ListonFrazier]

Should've watched this video before I went to the gym.. Did stiff-legged deadlifts instead of full deadlift and now my hams are so sore :-D

[rentthedog]

thank you

[TheMackSparrow]

Best deadlifting video on the web. Thank you for posting this and being clear.

[ISMESSEDUP]

:)

[MindyMinderson]

This is so much to take in at once!

[flukebullet1987]

is this available for download? would love to watch as im training

[mrstruan1]

amazing video man

[Johng505]

Even at my age of 80 years old and being over 60 82.5kilos World Champion in Last Vegas in 1991 I found that that is the most interesting Video about Deadlifting that have ever seen. I am going to use these Methods in my Deadlifts from now on

[CarnifaxMachine]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[enikyne]

when i reach standing position in my deadlift, do i squeeze and tuck my butt in? or continue to hold the in inner arch in my back without hyperextending?

[jopdidu321]

@enikyne

you should squeeze your butt as hard as possible, your back needs to be as vertical as possible. you do NOT want your back arched in the standing position because your spine can absorb the pressure better if your back is vertical in that position. squeezing your butt at the top is essential for the movement. (sorry for my bad english)

[6Bb60]

@rhymeshot- He was saying, "RDL" which stands for Romanian deadlift. Basically he was saying to control the descent of the bar using the glutes and hamstrings. Check out other technique videos for the proper execution of the RDL. Hope that helps.

[phatfieldguitar]

'I want him to squeeze his ass real hard and stand up' I"m sorry... I just had to..

[sarasayshi]

I'm new to deadlifting. I just did my first deads last week and even though I read step-by-step instructions with photos, videos are the best way to see it in action and I wish I saw this video last week! Anyhow, my only concern is it looks like his shoulders are almost shrugging as he activates the glute action. Should his shoulders have been pulled back more?

[lease515]

sweat shirts??

[shadowfootbal12]

In all of the deadlift vids the right grip is not used

[MrJoJoNZ]

so when the guy in the video locks up is his back rounded?? or should i do it that way??

[danielgirotto]

excellent job

[shash128]

When doing lets say 8 reps would I bounce the weight off the ground inbetween every rep or rest it on the ground for a second and then lift it up for each rep? Cheers

[bearjew2A]

42 people can't do a dead lift

[bigfella1111112]

Thats a funny man

[TheMusclechamp]

I agree with most tips said in this video but the hand positions. Research has said the only real time that the alternate grip is bad for your bicep is if your elbow is flexed during the deadlift or hyperextended, but besides that the tendons are naturally very strong fibrous tissue. But I am open to learn either way

[vo5man]

Much appreciation for this vid

explained it really well unlike most PT's at my gym

[ZeTaEXiSTeNZ]

I feel he lifts too fast here to have proper form, just me?

[alehax27]

best tutorial on youtube. Excellently explained. 

[eduardjan1976]

wish ive seen this video before - injured myself with hyperextention - could not walk properly two weeks with strong pain running down the legs ... thanks for your tips

[kaarleenzz]

wow this is awesome. By far the best video on deadlift technique.

Thanks a lot!

[cjslack]

Great video. Will be following these steps

[BrutusAlbion]

holy shit, this channels got good thorough excercise advice!

Subbed man!

[Davzorlolzor]

What about his neck in the upper-position? Is it okay to look down as he does?

[Jakxero]

@Davzorlolzor no its not and he slumps his shoulder at the top of the lift. The trainer seems knowledgable so I was surprised he did not correst this.

[Jakxero]

@Davzorlolzor no its not. The trainee also slumps his shoulder at the top of the lift, which is not ideal. The trainer seems knowledgable so I was surprised he did not correct this.

[jonathanSVTcobra]

Great advice. Will do!

[dfcvda]

started deadlifting today, feels amazing.

[NielsG070]

nice video, i only got irrirtated by how extremely fast he pulls the bar up.

[lukesterrific]

Deadlifts are one of my favourite exercises. Your tips will definately improve my routine for max. gains.

[lavelle260]

this video was extremely informative. thank you. whoever disliked this video is just mad because they were born with a tiny weener.

[trill2go]

I agree with the rest of the comments. Even with all the deadlift tutorials and tips out there no one has really addressed the over-extending back vs. squeezing the glutes emphasis. made me realize i've been putting my back at risk all these years o_O even though I've felt that overall my form has been pretty clean.

[Blederin]

pretty haard to remember all of that lol

[burnindownthehouse]

I'm a 36 year old guy. I weigh 173 pounds. I'm ashamed of myself! I recently discovered I can't deadlift much weight. For 2 years I have been doing: chinups (5 sets of 12), push ups (100), leg lifts (50), sit ups (50), bodyweight squats (30), & lunges (30). I deadlifted for the first time and I could only do 115 pounds ten times. It felt heavy! There are bone skinny women on youtube doing 200-300 pounds easy! Some women who have never exercised before lift 155 pounds for their first time ever!

[jackolini]

When you say push abs out, do you mean flexing the abs? 

[kyo2975]

Awesome, thanks Smitty

[zergling6000]

excellent information

[jasveenpal]

thanks smitty

[BiggAL1965]

Chiropractors are not liking u and ur vids. No more bulging discs lol

[morphx123]

Awesome vid guys your tips helped me push from a 120kg deadlift plateau to a 160kg deadlift in a few short weeks. I used to get killer lower back pain 2 days after deads now no pain at all :)

[ea820]

thanks for the tip man. i guess its to late for me. i just started doing deadlifts last week and my back is killing me. j wish i could of seen this video before. but now i know how to properly do deadlifts. thanks.

[digitaldeviation]

Nice work. Definitely a nice, slow explanation.

[stevielicious3]

Awesome vid guys. my form was never terrible but on my super heavy days i was getting lower back pain...this vid helped a lot...my spine would like to thank you ;)

[rhymeshot]

Great video- one question... Right before you drop the weight you say something like "ardy al" - that was the only thing I didn't understand about what you were saying.

[iamjohnyboy]

poetry in motion eh

[rhymeshot]

Great tutorial

[mrbashbrothers09]

now this is a a great trainer video of a workout video helped me a lot thanks man 

[Pard68]

It'd be nice, in the future, if you wrote out the steps in order. Otherwise awesome vid!

[trickzter1]

You may have said this in the video but what does "RDL" mean?

[Zomgboxxy]

Thanks for the tips man, will really help on my next trip to the gym!

[smittydiesel]

@Zomgboxxy thanks for watching