Hi, I was wondering why would one incorporate block pulls into a program. I don’t think it helps the lockout all that much, since the position in which you start a block pull is not the same as the same position in a full Deadlift, since you are able to set up, when in a Deadlift you get to that point in the lift under stressful circumstances, not always being able to keep your body segments in the most optimal position (when talking about heavy pulls). And when it comes to overload, I think that since the leverages are more favorable, it’s not that big of an overload for the low back, glutes and hams. Maybe it is for the upper back and even the CNS, but in this case you’ll jeopardize recovery a lot, since deadlifts in general are very taxing
You have a number of assumptions that I think you should expand upon:
You claim that block pulls don’t help the lockout much since the position you start a block pull is not the same as a DL from the floor. This assumes that we’re advising you to start in a position that is different than what you’d be in when pulling from the floor, which we aren’t. Also, the mid shin rack pull we advise is pretty similar as a pull from the floor. Finally for this point, we are of the opinion that all types of deadlifts have some carryover to all other deadlifts in some capacity. Mid shin rack pulls improve the deadlift from the floor by having the lifter pull more volume in a given week.
You also assume that overload is the goal of a mid shin rack pull, but it is not. I don’t think people can overload them by much- if at all- and certainly not when seeing them for the first time.
I don’t think that the leverages of a mid shin block pull (or even a below the knee block pull) are that favorable to be honest.
You assume that deadlifting more will mess with your recovery from deadlifts in a negative manner, when the opposite is true. Deadlifting more helps you recover better from deadlifting.
Deadlifts are very taxing implies they are more taxing than other lifts. I don’t think this is the case, really.
Awesome, thanks. So what is the use of block pulls? I assume is not just adding more deadlift volume, cause if not you would just do more deadlifts. I was thinking about doing a heavy deadlift day and an accesory on another day after my heavy squats, and Im interested in what are the benefits that block pulls need to offer. Thanks again Jordan!
I totally second that. I always thought that it is due to the fact that my DL is only in the high 300s but since I have modified my programming and increased my number of top sets from one to three and also added an additional higher volume pulling slot (like SLDLs or deficit DLs for 3 sets of 5-8) to the training week I came to the same conclusion: I seem to recover from DL just as well as from Squats.