PUSH, NOT PULL
The deadlift is often thought of as a pulling exercise, and that’s true, but it’s also a pushing movement. In simple terms, it starts when you bend at the waist, grip the barbell, and lift it off the ground until you’re standing upright with your knees and hips locked. There are important nuances about back position to consider. Think of the setup as shoulders above the chest and the chest above the hips.
Focus on pushing the ground away from you instead of just pulling the bar off the floor. In my experience, when someone’s back rounds or their hips rise too early, it usually means they aren’t emphasizing the push and are relying on leg drive alone. Another way to cue this is to imagine pushing the ground away from you. This subtle shift has made a big difference for many lifters I’ve worked with. Give it a try.
