Sumo Style Deadlifts

[Cornfed]

Anyone tried these? Up to now I've avoided deadlifts as, given that I am short with short arms and proportionally long legs, they are one on my weakest lifts. This alone discouraged me from ever taking up powerlifting. However, today I tried sumo style deadlifts and lifted 190 without much trouble. Given that I have never trained at this lift and my technique was probably shocking , and also I couldn't get my feet as far apart as I wanted to since I was lifting within the bars of a rack, it should be possible for me to build up a respectable lift. I suppose it isn't really the same as a regular deadlift, but if it is within the rules of a powerlifting competition, perhaps I'll give powerlifting a try. It might be worth people of similar build to me to try lifting this way.

[Pseudonym]

I don't think I've ever seen sumo deadlifts done... can you describe them?

What's the difference between them and normal deadlifts?

[Cornfed]

I don't think I've ever seen sumo deadlifts done... can you describe them?

You stand with your feet quite wide apart and grip the bar close to the middle. To avoid your knees knocking your hands off the bar, your feet have to point straight to the sides or nearly so, so it looks kind of comical. It is an almost straight-up movement using mostly the legs, with the back only coming in at the very end. It seems to work well for people with short arms and/or a low centre of gravity.

[Growth]

Ive tried these once before just for some variation, I believe it puts more emphasis on the upper back and legs, rather than the lower back, however i always thought tall people did sumo lifts?

[Cornfed]

Ive tried these once before just for some variation, I believe it puts more emphasis on the upper back and legs, rather than the lower back, however i always thought tall people did sumo lifts?

Possibly they are suited to people who have long legs in comparison to their arms, many but not all of whom are tall.

[Growth]

Long legs and short torso :pfft:

[Cornfed]

Long legs and short torso :pfft:

Should I be insulted?

[Growth]

Long legs and short torso :pfft:

Should I be insulted?

Mate you need to lighten up! I just got this picture of a man with long legs and a short torso in my head and it looked funny. Its got nothing to do with you. I have no idea what your stature is.

You need to take a load off and relax, every comment i make is not necessarily projected toward you.

[Cornfed]

^ Yeah sorry, I'm probably a bit touchy after the Arnold thread.

The whole point of this thread was to help people with long legs and short torsos deadlift more. Such people don't necessarily look comical in everyday life. Even an inch or two of disproportionality, while barely being noticable visually, can take 50kg off your deadlift, which it seems can be compensated for by using the sumo style.

[Growth]

Well it looks like we agree on something. Yes Sumo Deadlifts will help those who are at a physical disadvantage, and yes, people who have long legs and a short torso do no necassarily look comical in everyday life.

So if you feel your physique is letting your deadlifting down, give sumo style deadlifts a try, if nothing else then for some variation.

[poos_n_wees]

is it true that these sumo squats also help to target the inner thigh?

Different types of DLs:

Sumo

Conventional

Straight leg

Romanian

I'm tryin to vary the DLs for every hammies workout. Am i missin any?

[Marcus]

By inner thigh are you meaning quads?

[waldo]

He means adductors, such as sartorius, muscles that help draw the leg in towards the centre plane. Opposite muscles to this are called abductors. Quads extend legs, and flex hips.

Ed Coan deadlifts sumo style, and he is probably the beastiest of all power lifters, maybe only met strength wise by Bill Kazmaier. Google 'Ed Coan', and I'm sure you'll find some info on Sumo deadlifts.

[poos_n_wees]

He means adductors, such as sartorius, muscles that help draw the leg in towards the centre plane. Opposite muscles to this are called abductors. Quads extend legs, and flex hips.

Ed Coan deadlifts sumo style, and he is probably the beastiest of all power lifters, maybe only met strength wise by Bill Kazmaier. Google 'Ed Coan', and I'm sure you'll find some info on Sumo deadlifts.

Jus that after doing some sumo DLs my adductors were sore... just wonderin if I was doin them right. And yep, heapssss of info on sumo squats from google. thanks