Learn How to Deadlift in Part 5 of Greatmats Fitness Training Series

With Dale Collison

At some point we all have a heavy object to pick up off the ground. That's what the deadlift is replicating.

It's important to know how to safely pick something up off the ground. All to often, we default and we just bend over and pick something up. That's a really bad position for your back to be in. We want to make sure that you're safe.

When picking up any object, we want to get close up to it - in this case the bar. Get close to it with your legs. Reach down, making sure your back is straight and your shoulders are higher than your hips. Keeping your shoulders engaged, just stand up, pressing with your legs. Your arms should not do any work.

That's the deadlift.

Deadlift Mats

Another thing to consider when deadlifting is the type of flooring on which you are doing your lifts. Deadlifts often features some of the heaviest lifts you'll do with free weights. With that being the case, the potential for high impact with the floor is also very high. Having the right deadlift mats in place will save your floor and pocket book. With this type of exercise, it's important the flooring or mats underneath your deadlift platform are extremely durable and able to absorb shock.

Rubber is the go-to material and a minimum 3/4 inch is recommended. You can get by just fine with 4x6 stall mats for basic floor protection. However, if noise or vibration is a concern, Greatmats also has several rubber gym tile flooring systems designed specifically to cut the noise and vibration. One of which are the Sterling Athletic Floor Tiles like Dale is using in this video. It's worth giving Greatmats customer service team a call to discuss which mats would be best for your deadlift area.

Dale Collison

CrossFit Duluth

Hermantown MN