[quote]crazyman wrote:
OneDay wrote:
crazyman wrote:
firebug9 wrote:
IF you are finding sumo is easier and you keep your form then Yes, stick with them. You might want to continue to try conventional with your lower weight sets just to train the different areas more, but stick with what works for ya.
I’m thinking that the reason it is easier (to keep the up-back straight) is because there is less range of motion, and the farther I have to bend down (like with conventionals) the harder it is to keep my back straight.
Am I still going to get at least the same effect if not better by doing sumos? Or am I cheating with my particular weakness?
Also a side question: I was doing them today and I felt a bit of a pain in one of my knees, but only on one of the first sets. Are the knees more vulnerable to injury with the sumo dead? Or was my form just a bit off?
They are two completely different exercises. Just because they have the word deadlift in the title doesn’t necessarily mean much. Sumo deadlifts are great for the hips and hamstrings, but do very little for the back. Conventional deadlifts work the hips to a lesser extent, but incorporate a lot of back. I personally perform both movements, but I pull conventional in competition, so several weeks out of a comp I drop the sumos and just perform conventionals.
How long have you been doing sumos? If not long, chances are your knee hurt simply from the new movement. Sumos require you to force your knees out, something you probably aren’t used to doing…
I tried sumos last week for the first time, but only one set. And today I did 6x4. I did them with a wide stance and with a narrower grip, and my feet were turned out a little less than a 45 degree angle, sound about right?
I’m thinking of doing sumos mondays and conventionals thursdays, what do you think?[/quote]
I would definitely alternate exercise selection, maybe not twice a week though. That could be a little bit too much volume.
Also, if you are gonna be competing, you have to find out which particular stance is best for your build. In general, taller guys pull conventional, shorter guys pull sumo. I would experiment with both for a few weeks before making a decision. Your form sounds pretty good…