DL vs. Straight lege DL

[Morondava]

I've been doing deadlifts with my legs pretty straight, and getting the BB down to lower calves. Should I be bending my legs more? The video I found, and the book, make the deadlift look more squat-like than I thought it was.

Video:
Barbell Deadlift

[missjane]

Tons of threads on DL's.....do a search and you will have plenty of reading. Here's one:

CT workout - This Sunday

[foodfromafar]

I'm no expert, but I think there are 2 kinds of deadlifts. The first one, which we did in Stage 1 involves more of a squat. The second one I think is called the Romanian Deadlift and your legs are straight. They are targeting different muscles, I think. Anyway, as Jane said, search the forum for deadlift and I'm sure you'll find out a lot!!

[PerfectMartini]

Originally Posted by Morondava

I've been doing deadlifts with my legs pretty straight, and getting the BB down to lower calves. Should I be bending my legs more? The video I found, and the book, make the deadlift look more squat-like than I thought it was.

Video:
Barbell Deadlift

The deadlift starts with the bar resting on the ground (which is why it is called a deadlift) and in order to hold the bar from this position while extending the lumbar and thoracic spine, you will have to have your knees bent.

What you are describing is definitely not a deadlift but may be a stiff legged deadlift or a romanian deadlift.

The deadlift isn't really squat like at all. The upward portion of a squat is initiated with an upward hip motion and the lift conludes by extending the knee. The upward portion of the deadlift begins by extending at the knee and ends with the hips shooting forward. They may look vaguely similar (the hips will be much higher at the bottom of a deadlift than a squat) but they should not feel similar as you perform them.

[Lisa~]

I really like this video from PowerManDL's YouTube site. I think it clarifies the difference between a conventional deadlift and a Romanian deadlift. The deadlift prescribed in Stage 1 is a conventional deadlift.



There was some discussion of the differences in deadlift variations in this thread: http://forums.jpfitness.com/showthre...576#post382576

I posted the link to Coach Rippetoe’s article on conventional deadlift technique, and a picture from it, in this NR4W thread: WOMEN'S CHALLENGE: Weekly Support Thread 1/26

The thread Jane posted a link to is very good, and includes video of forum members doing deadlifts.

[Morondava]

That video explains it all: turns out I've been doing Romanian DLs.