Squat/DL form check for the freakishly tall

[TallGuy]

Mark,

Would appreciate any inputs you might have to offer on my squat and DL form. For both of these excercises, I'm trying to distinguish what's just plain wrong vs. what just looks different than other folks because I'm tall (6'8", ~235, 37yo). On my squat, it appears to me as though my knees are sliding way too far forward at the bottom, and my lower back rounds some. However, I'm wondering if some of the knees-sliding-forward is due to me not bending them enough at the start, or if I need to simply stick my butt out and lean a little more. Here's the video of my last set of 5 at 200 lbs (and I apologize in advance for all the childbirth-like breathing, really white legs, and high black socks...).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Jhvw1MYW4

As far as DL--I notice my hips rise some before the bar even leaves the ground, which is of course not good. However, believe it or not, the bar is against my shins all the way up (hence the tall black socks, btw). I'm trying to cue "raise the chest/chest up", but not sure if it's enough. Perhaps more "chest up" so the hips drop a little lower? (Also curious if, because of my height, I should take the lifting shoes off to DL). Anyway, here's the video at 265lbs for five:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFqgBtIho7Y

Thanks in advance for your time. Hopefully your conclusion will not be that I'm too tall to live and should stop taking resources from the rest of the human race.

[Mark Rippetoe]

You are very tall. Can you have yourself shortened? Failing that, these videos reveal that height is not really a factor in barbell training. Your proportions are normal, and you're making the same mistakes that Normal people make every day, like not shoving your knees out at the bottom of both lifts, and failig to keep the bar on your legs during the pull (despite your observation to the contrary -- look at the end of the bar tracing the bar path). There is hope for you after all.

[TallGuy]

You know, my wife (who's 5'4") threatens to shorten me all the time, but her method would include a chainsaw at the knees, which probably wouldn't help my squat/DL any.

Thank you for the feedback. It's somehow very comforting to hear I'm no more screwed up than anyone else, and hence just as capable of getting it right with more work.

Now to find some sweat pants long enough for my legs, so I don't remove a strip of skin from my shins every time I deadlift...

[brittf]

Mark,

Would appreciate any inputs you might have to offer on my squat and DL form. For both of these excercises, I'm trying to distinguish what's just plain wrong vs. what just looks different than other folks because I'm tall (6'8", ~235, 37yo). On my squat, it appears to me as though my knees are sliding way too far forward at the bottom, and my lower back rounds some. However, I'm wondering if some of the knees-sliding-forward is due to me not bending them enough at the start, or if I need to simply stick my butt out and lean a little more. Here's the video of my last set of 5 at 200 lbs (and I apologize in advance for all the childbirth-like breathing, really white legs, and high black socks...).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Jhvw1MYW4

As far as DL--I notice my hips rise some before the bar even leaves the ground, which is of course not good. However, believe it or not, the bar is against my shins all the way up (hence the tall black socks, btw). I'm trying to cue "raise the chest/chest up", but not sure if it's enough. Perhaps more "chest up" so the hips drop a little lower? (Also curious if, because of my height, I should take the lifting shoes off to DL). Anyway, here's the video at 265lbs for five:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFqgBtIho7Y

Thanks in advance for your time. Hopefully your conclusion will not be that I'm too tall to live and should stop taking resources from the rest of the human race.

It was interesting to watch your lifts. I am tall also, at 6'-6", and find that I have exactly the same problems as you. Of course, as Mark points out, so does everyone else, tall or not . Another thing that frustrates me at times is the ROM that we have to deal with, compared to short stocky guys . The bar has to travel almost 3' for me on a squat or deadlift (same for you) versus like a foot for the really strong guys. I work my ass off, but still can't put up the numbers that many people can with less time. Oh well, God giveth and God taketh away!!!

You also have another problem that I do - it is damn hard to put on good weight when your frame is tall and skinny. 235 lbs sounds good, until you put it on a 6'-8" guy. 225 lbs sounds good, until you put it on a 6'-6" guy. No matter how you slice it, we both still look more like basketball players than like strength trainers! Plus, at 47 years old for me, the GOMAD approach isn't going to work (aside from putting a tube around my belly like the Michelin Man). Your hormones might still have enough kick to use GOMAD, but I tried and all it really did for me was put on an annoying tire around my midsection.

Good luck on your training.

Brittf