Muscle & Fitness UK – August 2019

AXLE BAR

DEADLIFT

This deadlift is used in competitions to make
the lifting a bit harder. Unlike a barbell, the
axle bar has no rotation and the bar is thicker,
so your centre of gravity moves further away.
This often forces athletes to use straps and
a mixed grip - one hand facing forward,
one facing backwards.

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR FORM:

1

Bracing properly: Activate all the right muscles

at the start of the lift. This means consciously

thinking through your set-up. Screw in the

feet, tighten the core and engage the glutes.

2

Align your jaw: It sounds surprising,

but biting down on a specially designed

mouth guard or even a stick can help

you to adopt better posture for lifting, just ask

Dr Adam Thorne from Harley Street Dentistry!

3

Practice, practice, practice: Don’t hesitate

to lower your weight to perfect your form.

It’s not all about hefting the biggest thing

in the room! It’s a marathon not a sprint.

AUGUST 2019 / MUSCLE & FITNESS 121

By Jon V Williams & Benedikt Magnusson

PHOTOGRAPHS: GINTAS AND BEN

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