Something old, something new…
The Reeves deadlift might be new to some but is definitely classic in it’s origin. Named after 1947 Mr. America and 1950 Mr. Universe winner Steve Reeves, the upper body exercise challenges your traps and forearms. This makes for a better deadlift numbers as well as allowing for a wider range of motion in your hips and knees.
Besides the benefits listed above, the Reeves deadlift does wonders for your grip strength. Anyone who’s ever done a deadlift knows it provides hella grip strength, what makes this exercise even more difficult is that it doesn’t allow you to wrap your thumb all the way around the weight, giving you a gorilla grip in the process. This makes for gains on top o’ gains!
Okay, so maybe you’re the real life “Bam Bam” and were born with grip strength coming out of the womb. What about the trap tho? No, not the traphouse as commonly referred to in Future songs, but your trapezius muscles along your shoulders that house your rotator cups. Besides making you an aesthetic God, your trapezius muscles protect some of your most pivotal range of motion. By building them up you can alleviate pressure along the rotator cuff and provide yourself with maximum range of motion in all your exercise. Range of motion leads to gains! did we mention gains?!
Enough talk, let’s do this! To perform the the Reeves deadlift, you want to load a barbell with two plates. Start off with 45lb on each end and adjust from there.
With your feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the hips, hold a plate in each hand, and perform a deadlift.
If you’re really feeling froggy, perform a shrug at the top of the lift to top off your trap gains
*Tip: Don’t start off too heavy as the super wide grip places weight on connective tissues and tendons. Start low and gradually increase.
Inject this vintage exercise into your usual workout and see gains in areas you never thought would increase. Bust your plateau as well as gain brute strength all in one foul swoop.
Is the Reeves deadlift apart of your routine?
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The post BUILD MONSTROUS TRAPS AND A ROCK HARD BACK WITH THE REEVES DEADLIFT appeared first on Generation Iron Fitness & Bodybuilding Network.