How is this possible?

[Kerpal]

Over on RossTraining.com, someone bet Ross Enamait $100 that he couldn't do a 400 lb deadlift:
http://www.rosstraining.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19472&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=90

Ross responds by doing a 405 lb, 455 lb, 485 lb, and then 495 lb deadlift, at a bodyweight of 170 lbs, and posting the video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95D7lj-A6tA. You can see some of his other videos on the side of the screen, he does some incredible stuff.

This from a guy who is a combat athlete, not a powerlifter (he had to go out and buy weight plates because he didn't even have 405 lbs of plates), had already trained once that day, and says he has only deadlifted "a handful of times" in his life.

How is this even possible? I want to believe that anyone can do crazy **** like this with enough hard work, but on the other hand I think this guy must have super genetics or something.

 

[Warboss Alex]

Why shouldn't it be possible? He's a naturally very strong guy. Maybe he's got some genetics on his side but he is very strong for his size.

If you're wondering whether you could do it yourself, a 400-500lb pull is achievable within a couple of years for the majority of lifters (starting with the bar). I started with the bar and did 450 in less than a year, raw.

if you convince yourself it's down to genetics and not hard work, you'll never get there. he worked hard for his strength - maybe he had it easy because of his genes but he still worked hard - and if you work hard too, you'll get the results. a 400lb pull at 170 is not at all an unrealistic goal.

 

[Kerpal]

Yeah, he is strong as hell. The thing that amazed me the most was that he has only deadlifted a few times in his life. How was he able to get that strong in the deadlift if he almost never actually deadlifts? He does do a lot of sandbag work, I guess strength from that would translate over to the deadlift pretty well since it works the legs and lower back a lot.

BTW, a 450 lb deadlift in under a year is crazy :crazy:

 

[Master Bates]

What does it mean to "start with the bar"?

 

[Warboss Alex]

What does it mean to "start with the bar"?

I mean that my first deadlifts were done with no weight (i.e. just the bar)

 

[EFFORT]

Yeah, he is strong as hell. The thing that amazed me the most was that he has only deadlifted a few times in his life. How was he able to get that strong in the deadlift if he almost never actually deadlifts? He does do a lot of sandbag work, I guess strength from that would translate over to the deadlift pretty well since it works the legs and lower back a lot.

BTW, a 450 lb deadlift in under a year is crazy :crazy:

I've seen guys that never benched in there life and can put up 300+, guys that don't squat or give a rats a$$ about squatting and can easily put up 400lbs, same for deadlift. Some guys for whatever reason have the genetics/strength/neural connections to do this kind of thing without training. Can be frustrating too when you bust your a$$ to get a 300+ bench, while someone else strolls in there who doesn't even care about lifting weights and puts 300+ up like its nothing. thats why you always have to compare yourself to yourself.

 

[simba_]

Kerpal... since we're on the topic of Ross Enamait, have you read his book Infinite Intensity? I'm looking to get it... too see how much it improves my MMA over weight lifting... what are your thoughts?

 

[Kerpal]

Kerpal... since we're on the topic of Ross Enamait, have you read his book Infinite Intensity? I'm looking to get it... too see how much it improves my MMA over weight lifting... what are your thoughts?

I have a copy of Infinite Intensity, it's a great book. The workouts are extremely difficult but will really help your conditioning which is the most important thing in MMA.