The Neglected "Big Lift"

iron addict

New member
One of the most overlooked "big lifts" in body-building is the "good-morning". It's safe to say that many of the people reading this will have not even heard of it, let alone have done it. For as neglected as it is in bodybuilding, it gets it turn in powerlifting, where some of the best, including Westside Barbell, use a variation of it in 70% of their workouts--and their workouts, and lifts change CONSTANTLY, yet the for all the change, GM's are a mainstay.

The simplest version is the arched back version with a regular barbell. You shoulder it like you were going to squat, and then lean forward at the hips. It works your backside like few other things do, and many powerlifters do them INSTEAD of deadlifts. And I am talking about Elite level guys squatting and doing deads with 600-1000 lbs. They save the deads for the meet.

If anyone is going after absolute strength,, and not a mix of size, strength like most BB's want. You can bet I will have them doing GM's. The drawback with them for bodybuilders is they do not hit the lats, mid-back, and rear-delt's, traps as hard as deadlift variations. So to get the most work in with the least amount of sets, a deadlift variation is best for those with limited recovery ability (most people). But it really pays to spend some time doing pure power-lifting type training to boost your strength base, and Good-Morning can’t be beat for doing just that. They are probably THE best single lift (other than squats and deads) to boost your squat and deadlift poundages.

Iron Addict
 
Interesting post... I have tried the good morning, but always thought I was doing it wrong. I place the barbell like a squat, and go down, but is it supposed to work the hamstrings because that is where I feel it the most. Maybe it's because I don't really arch my back, but the way I was taught was not to. I will however definitely try this way on back day.
 
Soul Rebel said:
Interesting post... I have tried the good morning, but always thought I was doing it wrong. I place the barbell like a squat, and go down, but is it supposed to work the hamstrings because that is where I feel it the most. Maybe it's because I don't really arch my back, but the way I was taught was not to. I will however definitely try this way on back day.
he means arch not round your back :confused:
also bending the knees slightly and holding them in that position should help put more on your back and less on your ham
 
Better for your knees to bend the leg also, as well as about the only way I can go deep and keep my back nicely arched.
 
Isn't there a variation of the GM for targeting glutes?



How is this done?
 
nice to see my good friend IA posting over here. he knows his shit and has helped countless folks to attain their goals and some.
 
pullinbig said:
nice to see my good friend IA posting over here. he knows his shit and has helped countless folks to attain their goals and some.
Are you talking about iron addict? Is he a trainer or something?
 
just did them today, 3x8 at 225, kind of light but did them after deadlifts, and then a few pullthroughs and abs. quite the workout on the lower back today.
 
are you F-ing serious. 225 light on GM's? Thats awesome. I guess I have some serious work to do on GM's. also what are pull throughs??
 
can some one tell me the over all differnce in SLDL vs a GM?

obviusley GM has a bar on your back and a SLDL you pull from the floor, but what benifit does a GM have over a SLDL and visa versa.
 
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