This exercise is often used at the beginning of a regular deadlift workout to activate the nervous system, but it has several benefits. It hits the core musculature and it's even a tremendous movement for the traps and lats.
Grab the bar in the center with one hand. If it feels unbalanced as you reach the knee, put it back down and reset. Keep the bar as close to your body as possible during the lift.
It's that time of year again. The most dedicated and hardcore lifters are still in the gym for two hours a day, six days per week, while the rest of us (a.k.a. the non-loser majority) are facing a time-crunched, often unavoidable four to six week period packed full of bullshit shopping, crowded malls, kick ass family get-togethers, boring-as-all-hell family get-togethers, parties with friends, parties with co-workers, parties that you just crashed, and hangovers.
Our resident judge evaluates T NATION readers and shows them how to improve their physiques! This time Clay evaluates a wanna-be competitive bodybuilder and a smoking hot figure competitor.