A couple of questions

Hi BBM team

i have a few questions hope you could help out with:
currently running strength 1 on week 5

  1. on overload slots I have been using a belt to allow me to use heavier loads. Do you suggest this ? Or should I just use a belt, knee sleeves and wrist wraps on competition lifts ?

  2. any changes to be made if you are flat footed ?
    would like to know If you have any advice on changes you would make with a athlete you may have coached with flat feet any advice would be greatly appreciated.

the reason I asked the second question is I’m noticing if I only turn my feet out slightly on deadlift my left leg caves inward but If I turn my feet outwards more than usual I rectify this but is this ok ? And how much does foot angle actually matter outside of comfort ?

hopefully this kind of makes sense and thanks for all your free information and time.

Hey Cole,

Thanks for the post and I hope the template is working well for you.

  1. I don’t have firm thoughts about this either way, but my default is to not use the belt unless it impedes training in some way.
  2. Would not make any changes, no. I think most people should have their feet turned out slightly when they pull, but without really seeing your technique I can’t really advise anything from here.

-Jordan

Thanks for getting back to me.
i did send a form video of me deadlift some time ago hoping to get onto your form check videos you occasionally do on YouTube.

i could upload it to here some how ?
I haven’t ever let flat feet effect me in anyway just my deadlift has really taken a hit for some reason and I just can’t seem to get it back… I’m literally squatting with bellow parallel the same weight I’m deadlift now…
and I just keep trying to many different thing…

but in regards to your strength 1 program it’s my second template and I think it’s extremely well put together.

also when I come to test at the end of this program do you suggest you test all 3 lifts on one day or day. 1 squat day 2 bench day 3 deadlift? Or does it not really matter.

If you host the video on another site, e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, etc., you can embed it here.

What are you deadlifting now compared to what you were deadlifting 6 months ago?

If I wasn’t going to a meet, I’d test one lift per day.

-Jordan

me doing 175kg @8 x6

me doing 210kg @8

these lift where done on the same day a few months ago when I was running your powerbuilding 1 program

now my 1 @8 on your strength 1 template is 180kg and my sets of @8 145kg but my squat strength is exactly the same since I hurt myself I just can’t seem to get my deadlift back and it’s really frustrating.

Please could you take a look at the links of my sets videos and see you can see anything ?

thank you.

Hey Cole,

I don’t see anything concerning at all related to your feet, knees, or stance. However, I don’t think you’re setting your back at all prior to the pull. Additionally, it looks like the bar is drifting off your legs quite a bit. I think this is due to either the bar being too far forward in your stance- e.g. almost like a stiff-legged-DL , or you need to set your lats a bit harder.

If it were me, I’d focus on trying to squeeze your low back flat prior to the pull while standing ~1/4" further away from the barbell.

Thanks for the advice really appreciate it I will definitely try these cues what you have said and I’ll probably re watch Alan thralls deadlift set up video again.

i definitely agree I’m probably standing a little to close and I’ll try and do a better job of thinking about setting my back.

but a side note yesterday touch and go bench on week 5 of your strength 1 template my single @8 was 150kg which is my comp press 1rm and managed to hit 140kg x4 @9 super happy! My body weight is 86kg.

Now just to get my deadlift back!!!

thanks for all the content and free advice!