Discovering deadlifts again

[mrhtbd]

Ages ago (1982) I learned how to deadlift by Dick Smith (the Assistant weight-lifting coach of the US Olympic Team from 1962-1986) and three Olympic Lifters who happened by the gym.

The scene: The old York Barbell Gym on Ridge Avenue in York, Pa. Bob Hoffman was in his early 80's and the gym wasn't used for training anymore (except for some of Smitty's old friends).

I was taking a year off college and modelling for an Art School up the street. My sister worked in the snack bar/store. I got off work at 2:30 and came down to hang around until she got off work at 4:30. I read books, spent much time in the trophy room, and generally just hung around.

In comes three gigantic Olympic Lifters with gym bags. Smitty hushed them into the main gym near a platform where dead-lifts were done by lifters in competition. There was a bar with two 45lb plates on it, plus 2-5lb collars. They went about a quiet conversation, and I couldn't help being impresased as they were (I found out later) 5'11''/285lbs, 5'10"/265, and 5'7"/245. They were also very lean and were built like race horses. I was amazed.

Anyway, I was looking around a doorway (all 6'/154lbs of me), and the one guy asked,

, "Hey Smitty, who's that skinny guy hanging around?"
Smitty said, "Oh that's *****'s (my sister's) brother, he's alright!"

So the one guy, to be a smart-ass, said, "Well, get 'im in here we'll teach him how to deadlift!" To which all four of them broke out into maddening laughter! I tucked my head behind the doorjam and said without them seeing me, "I'll learn how to deadlift!"

Note: I had no idea how to deadlift.

So the one guy said, "Well, get in here then!"
I peeked around the doorway and said, "Really?"
There were, like, "Yeah, get in here!"
Anyway, they got me up on the platform next to the 145lb barbell, and after some instructions, had me deadlifting for the first time. Everytime I did a rep each would shout things like, "Get your head up!" "Get your butt down!" "Pull your shoulders back," etc, etc. In all, I did 34 reps. It was cool, I liked feeling like one of the gang.

The next day, I couldn't get out of bed. I was so sore I couldn't believe it. I spent 4 years in high school living on a farm which had between 32 to 48 head of cattle. We worked all the time. I was a swimmer, and had done roofing since I was 14 with my brother-in-law, carrying the 80lb bundles of shingles to the roof.

I was hooked, and did deadlifts for 8 years after that. Nobody told me to only do 3 sets of 8. I used to do up to 24 sets 3 times per week. Eventually, when I weighed 162, these steroid junkies at college (who were hogging the two benches) were busting on how skinny I was as I did deadlifts over in the corner of the gym. I got pissed off, and pushed myself to pull 390lbs for 1 on my 12th set. They didn't laugh at me after that.

Got hit by a car while riding my bicycle 8 years after starting deadlifts, and messed up my back as it smashed through his side window and hit the crossbar. Deadlift days were done. I tried them preiodically since, but it didn't work out.

Got stabbed in the forearm at the school where I teach (1 1/2 years ago) and my right trap nerves got damaged. Actually, the nerves in my arm got damaged, but the specialist said the pain in my trap (which is chronic) stems from the forearm injuries.

One Doc said the muscle constantly contracts because of the damage, and it constantly spasms and causes pain.

Long story short, I did dealifts with my right hand palm facing foreward for 6 years because I could lift more, but 2 weeks ago I swiched it, figuring my right arm had to be stretched to the max. I have done them on four workouts, sometimes supersetted with chest exercises. The pain is still there, but surprisingly I can do them again and they don't seem to bother my back. Course, I've only done 165 for 5x5, but I like them, and I can see my wiegh going up from the 95 I started with a month ago.

Just a little ditty about how an old exercise and an old man (52) have come home with progress being made. Don't think the trap nerves will ever heal because it has become progressively worse, but I figured I better use them to the max while I can, just to develop the surrounding muscles for support later.

People stand in awe as I rip through my workout not speaking to anyone. Some will wave anticipating a conversation but my trance music is so loud there's no chance to hear what the say.
My arms, chest, and back are superpumped, and although I am in cronic and constant pain, adding a little of my own has it's benefits too. Amazing what I know about lifting after 30 years.

Like Arnold said, "It's all about the pump!"

 

[Shovel]

You listen to trance!? Lol that's cool man!
Thanks for sharing, mrhtbd.

 

[liftsiron]

I stooped doing heavy deads a few years ago, but I gained a lot of mass from them.

 

[A.B]

Ive started doing more sumo deadlifts because of nagging lower back injuries which has helped... nothing beats conventional deadlifts though.

 

[oneeyedwilly]

For whatever reason the way my body is built makes it difficult to do conventional deads. I stick to sumo style myself.