Bugenhagen tried an 800-pound Mammoth bar deadlift alongside the world report holder.
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In December 2024, former WWE star and Wisconsin State Excessive Faculty wrestling champ Eric Bugenhagen joined fellow Wisconsinite and powerlifting icon John Haack for a deadlift session at Madtown Health in Madison, WI.
Whereas he lately broke the 90KG all-time raw squat world record at 365.5 kilograms, Haack’s been coaching and competing in aggressive strongman, debuting on the 2024 Official Strongman Games U90KG division, rating sixth total. In the meantime, Bugenhagen is attempting a high-volume program impressed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, performing 50 units per session. “It’s f’ed me up large time,” he admitted.
They loaded 800 kilos on a 10-foot-long, 60-plus-pound Mammoth deadlift bar. Haack provided key pulling suggestions earlier than they educated grip strength and calves.
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800-Pound Mammoth Bar Deadlift
The Mammoth or Elephant bar utilized by Haack and Bugenhagen is just a few toes longer than a regular deadlift bar. This permits extra bend or whip within the bar and a extra upright posture earlier than the bar lifts, beginning the pull increased.
Haack demonstrated a combined deadlift grip, prompting Bugenhagen, a good puller, to ask the way it was attainable with 900 kilos. “I don’t know,” Haack responded, not denying the dangers of a biceps tear. “Don’t yank [the weight] off the bottom,” Haack coached. “Pull, then use [bar tension] to tug your hips down [first].”
Bugenhagen began on his knees and hopped into the beginning place. At six toes two inches tall and with admittedly weak mobility, this may occasionally assist him generate momentum to tug.
Bugenhagen breezed by his preliminary units. The check was 804 kilos, a routine feat for Haack. The previous lifted the bar, although failed to tug it increased. Down however not out, Bugenhagen dropped to 782 kilos and smashed a brand new private greatest. “It was actually exhausting to lock out,” the wrestler confessed.
Professional Secrets and techniques for a Greater Deadlift
“[Romanian deadlifts using a rack] enhance my deadlift greater than something,” Bugenhagen claimed, including, “My deadlift straight goes up.” Haack prefers deadlifting with an axle bar — a bigger, thicker bar — since he began strongman training. “I used to be doing high-rep [Axle deadlifts]. I switched again to powerlifting, and my deadlift blew up,” Haack revealed.
Pendlays for Energy & Max Load Calf Raises
The 2024 Strongest Man on Earth, Mitchell Hooper, who recently trained Haack, ranks Pendlay rows as the highest strength-building again train. Resetting the bar between lifts “Mitigates muscle injury and promotes neuromuscular connection,” Hooper defined, two elements that maximize power efficiency. (1)
Haack and Bugenhagen strapped their lifting belts, hinged ahead, and pulled the bar to their abs earlier than dropping it on the ground. Haack picks a tough weight he can progress with, although he doesn’t monitor accessory movements.
They completed by maxing out the standing calf raise machine with plates whereas the opposite sat atop the machine for extra resistance. Each Haack and Bugenhagen attributed calf coaching to raised mobility throughout squats. Haack additionally credit yoke walks and farmer’s carries for rising his calves.
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Reference
- Hughes DC, Ellefsen S, Baar Okay. Variations to Endurance and Power Coaching. Chilly Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2018 Jun 1;8(6):a029769. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a029769. PMID: 28490537; PMCID: PMC5983157.
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