Modifying the Big Lifts - Squat, Deadlift, Overhead Press

[PizDoff]

Modifying the Big Lifts
by Geoff Girvitz – 9/23/2011

Your mother was right. You are a unique snowflake. But were you aware that she might have been talking about how you squat, deadlift, and overhead press?

There's a popular perception that every single human being (but especially you) should automatically be able to squat past parallel, deadlift from the floor, and press overhead. The underlying belief is that these movements are performed by the mightiest of humans and that if you want to work towards being the mightiest of humans, you should do them. This is largely correct. The key words here are work towards.

http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=4809755

Light-hearted and informative, this article that looks at some important points for compound lifts.

[Azatdawn]

Good read.

[Bruiser]

Good stuff! Lifting is highly underrated amongst MAist and people who do lift end up trying to do ridiculous things (like squat past parallel) on the first day.

[1point2]

Good stuff! Lifting is highly underrated amongst MAist and people who do lift end up trying to do ridiculous things (like squat past parallel) on the first day.

Squatting past parallel is not ridiculous. But I entirely agree that lifting is wildly underrated among martial artists, and among the populace in general, and it is a tragedy.

Although I see the author's point, I think that it will be taken by far too many as an excuse generator. People should be moving as fast as possible to the full versions of the lifts, not finding reasons to self-coach themselves further into weakness and anti-mobility.

[MikeRC]

Bottom line on lifting is: if it's easy, it isn't doing **** for you.
I'll never understand the brotards who undercut themselves at every turn by decreasing ROM, kipping, carping and flipping to get the weight (or their own ass) up, and stick to their vanity exercises.