Traditional Deadlift vs. Sumo Deadlift

One big debate in the powerlifting world is which is the better way to deadlift; the traditional deadlift or the sumo deadlift.

With the traditional deadlift the muscle group that is being used is the posterior chain. The posterior chain consistent of the hamstrings, the gluteus maximus, erector spinae muscle group, trapezius, and posterior deltoids. When utilizing the traditional deadlift, it requires the use of the glutes and hamstrings. These are known to be the harder more difficult of the two deadlifts because of the full range of motion.

With the sumo deadlift the muscle groups that are being used is also the posterior chain. The biggest difference is that with the sumo deadlift it requires more use of the quads and glutes; rather then the hamstrings. These are known to some as the cheater deadlifts because of the wider foot placement. With the wider foot placement, it shortens the range of motion; making it easier to get the weight up off the floor. Usually when it comes to the sumo deadlift more weight is able to be lifted; which is what makes this version so appealing. After all the goal of powerlifting to lift as much weight as possible in the squat, bench, and deadlift.

Flat Shoes vs. Weightlifting Shoes

In my personal opinion I do believe that just having a pair of flat shoes is the best choice of footwear for powerlifting. One thing that I learned while trying to get into and do powerlifting is that the flatter the shoe the better. It’s the most effective to do the squat and deadlift with flat shoes because it helps in maintaining balance while doing the lifts. Not only that but it helps with the mobility of the lifter; especially with the squat. It helps with making the lifter become better in their ankle mobility. These shoes also help in using all muscles in the legs; more specifically glutes and hamstrings. In my opinion a pair of flat shoes such as Vans, Converses, or wrestling shoes are the best choices in shoes to wear while powerlifting.

Weightlifting shoes are different because it is a shoe with a heel in essence. These shoes are just like just a normal flat shoe in that helps with giving the lifter balance during the three lifts. The only difference is the heel; which is designed to help mask if the lifter has bad ankle mobility, the heels help make it easier for the lifter to reach proper depth. These shoes are mostly seen on powerlifting and people who weight lift. The biggest difference is the price; weightlifting shoes can cost up to $200 dollars plus, just a pair of Vans is like $80 dollars. Although I would like to try them out just to see how they would feel during my lifts; they are pretty expensive.   

Larry Wheels

Larry Wheels was born on December 3, 1994 in Bronx, New York. He used powerlifting to get out of a bad situation growing up on the streets of Bronx, New York. He used powerlifting as his way of staying out of trouble and staying on a better path for the future. Just for the record he is the only powerlifter that I will be covering that has confessed to using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) or steroids. Which is perfectly fine because he never claimed to be natural and the powerlifting federations that he has performed in are non-drug tested federations. That’s the beauty with powerlifting; they have both drug tested aka natural federations and non-drug tested federations. With that being said it still doesn’t take away from his accomplishments inside and outside of the sport. He is still one of if not they strongest human being in his weight class; for him to lift some of the weight he does at his body weight is unheard of. Some of his biggest lifts have been in the gym while training; not even in a powerlifting meet. His best lifts have been a 650IB bench, 900IB squat, and 900IB deadlift. These numbers are to crazy to even believe. He’s become so accomplished in the sport that he decided to go into Strongman; which he is currently doing starting to dominate that. Because the weight he is doing even in that sport given his body weight is incredible.

Not to mention he has his own clothing and equipment brand called Personal Record or PR.

Accomplishments

  • Raw 2,275lbs total (810 lbs squat, 610 lbs bench press, 855 lbs deadlift) at 275 lbs of body weight

Social Media

  • Instagram: @larrywheels
  • YouTube: @Larry Wheels

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeU05pwtEAreeF81saVb9XQ

A video of Larry Wheel’s competing at a powerlifting meet

Brett Gribbs

Brett Gibbs was born on January 29, 1991 and is from New Zealand. He like Russel Orhii is a 83 kg powerlifter; and does most of his powerlifting within the International Powerlifting Federation aka IPF. Not only is he a powerlifter in this federation but he has also dominated his weight class in the last handful of years. The reason I personally even discovered Brett was from watching the last IPF world powerlifting meet and seeing him win 1st place over Russel Orhii. I was watching because of Russel going into it thinking Russ was going to run way with the win; until I saw Brett take over the meet and win it. After watching him during the meet and looking him up on Youtube and Instagram I found him on both platforms; finding out that he actually does have a Youtube channel and an Instagram. After watching his training videos, I found that he is immensely strong, and actually stronger then Russ; which is saying a lot considering Russ is the #1 83 kg lifter in America. Not only was his strength something that jumped out to me, but it was also how efficient and clean he did his lifts. It’s one thing to do the Squat, Bench, and Deadlift; and it’s another thing to look as if you mastered them. Brett Gibbs is so fundamentally and techniquely sound on his lifts that he makes it look easy and look oh so pretty. He has easily become one of favorite powerlifters in the sport; and can’t wait to see him in powerlifting meets in the future.

 Powerlifting Accomplishments

  • 2014 Best Junior lifter – IPF
  • 2014 83kg Junior World Champion IPF
  • 2015 Open Mens 83kg world champion IPF
  • 2 x runner up Open Mens 83kg IPF
  • 30 World Record lift
  • 2018 83kg World Champion IPF

Social Medias

Here’s a look into Brett Gibbs latest powerlifting meet

Russel Orhii aka Russwole

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvze6ocFyxi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“Get Better Today” – Russel Orhii

Russel Orhii was born on December 9, 1994 in San Antonio, Texas. Although being born in San Antonio his family moved to Houston, Texas when he was a child; so Russel basically grew up and spent most of his time in Houston. In his younger teenage years during high school he was very interested in football, so much so that he wanted to make it to the league. This where the birth of his nickname Russwole came to life. With that in mind he ended up going to college; becoming a walk on for Texas Tech for football. He was making progress in earning a spot on the football team until one day he woke up and realized he didn’t want to do football anymore. He realized that what drove him was no longer the sport, but it was going to the weight room with his teammates and training. Not only did he come to this realization, but he also came to the realization that he wanted to become a social media influencer and build his own brand around himself; so, he also dropped out of college. Once he did this, he made up his YouTube channel of videos of him lifting. Through his love of lifting and still wanting that competitive edge that football brung; he started getting into Powerlifting. Thus, the legacy was started when he started doing Powerlifting at the competitive level in the USAPL and eventually the IPF; becoming the #1 83 kg lifter in America.

Not mention he has also recently started his own clothing line called the Get Better Today Brand and has started his own line of premium socks called Sasquatch Socks.

Powerlifting Accomplishments

  • 2X Raw Nationals Champion
  • 2nd place @ IPF Worlds 2018
  • Record for Raw Open and Junior Squat: 301 kg- 663.591 Ibs
  • 1 of 3 to ever hit an 800 kg total @ 83 kg: 801 kg
  • Holds 9 current Texas State Raw Records

Social Medias

Here is a video of Russwole’s latest Powerlifting meet