All through his practically decade-long profession as a strongman, Robert Oberst has assuredly picked up many nuggets of information alongside the way in which. He possible couldn’t have competed for so long as he has if he didn’t be taught the instruments of the commerce relating to proper training and technique.
On June 26, 2022, Oberst shared a few of his skilled strength expertise on his YouTube channel by outlining three ideas for a quality deadlift.
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In its many variations, the deadlift is a staple compound motion throughout components of the energy sports activities world. It’s a aggressive fixture in strongman and powerlifting contests and an awesome motion for anybody seeking to develop leg and back energy. (Offered they execute the motion with good method.)
As an eight-time World’s Strongest Man (WSM) competitor, Oberst assuredly is aware of the core elements of what goes right into a stellar deadlift rep. Is ideas are as follows:
Tip 1 — Barely Arch Your Again
Earlier than Oberst does any deadlifts, he begins his walkthrough by emphasizing physique positioning. He stresses that barely arching the decrease again creates extra stability when pulling the burden. The American strongman compares this tenet to the method of one other compound motion within the back squat.
“If you’re an skilled lifter, that on the backside of a squat, whenever you get down there, you get somewhat little bit of an arch,” Oberst says. “Your butt begins to flex out, good and tight, and that finally ends up stabilizing you far more. It’s the identical on the backside of a deadlift. You wish to have that slight arch in your again. Be sure that that a part of your physique is braced and able to elevate.”
Tip 2 — Preserve Your Arms Lengthy and Robust
Subsequent in his deadlift information, Oberst muses about athletes ensuring they hold their arms lengthy throughout their pulls. Holding the arms prolonged and straight all through a rep will, in flip, give an athlete extra stability for his or her elevate.
“You wish to ensure your arms are lengthy and powerful, as tight to your physique as you possibly can with out conserving you from having the ability to rise up,” Oberst says. “That retains your arms good and straight. The nearer [the barbell] to your physique, the straighter [the arms] are going to be.”
Tip 3 — Push Your Knees Previous the Arms
In Oberst’s last piece of deadlift recommendation, the strongman advocates for placing the knees previous the arms whereas pulling. Oberst believes that an athlete’s knee positioning is probably essentially the most important facet of a profitable deadlift — much more essential than hip top.
“For the standard deadlift…I must make it possible for my knees are previous my arm, so once I pull, my knees are over the bar,” Oberst explains. “That’s so necessary that my coach even defined to me, ‘Don’t fear about excessive your hips are.’ I don’t care how excessive your hips are! We’re at first, at stage one in every of constructing again your deadlift. And at stage one, it’s crucial factor to make sure your knees are previous your arms.”
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Oberst’s Upcoming Plans
His core deadlift tenets apart, Oberst has been conserving busy of late. In April 2022 — after recovering from a torn shoulder tendon that knocked him out of a lot of the 2022 season — Oberst said that he would retire from strongman competition after the 2023 WSM.
Later, in June 2022, the Giants Reside group revealed that Oberst can be the captain of Crew USA during the 2022 World’s Strongest Nation.
Oberst’s squad — which options names like Trey Mitchell, Nadia Stowers, and Inez Carrasquillo — will sq. off towards Crew UK, led by captain and 2017 WSM Champion Eddie Hall. On his crew, Corridor may have the assist of athletes equivalent to reigning two-time WSM Champion (2021-2022) Tom Stoltman. That competitors will happen on November 26, 2022, in Liverpool, England.
From coaching recommendation and crew endeavors to pondering his future, it definitely appears Oberst has no scarcity of creativity in staying lively.
Featured picture: American Monster Productions on YouTube
