The Suitcase Deadlift and Progressions (Grip Strength Development Series Part 3: )

Hope you have enjoyed the videos so far and found them useful.

Staying in line with deadlift variations for this series, this week I want to look at the suitcase deadlift with you. I have shared the thick bar deadlift hold and the single arm deadlift, which are two very effective movements, but this is one of my personal favourites in grip strength builders. I know some of you may be thinking that the suitcase deadlift and the single arm deadlift are pretty much the same but you are very wrong.

The biggest difference here is the positioning of the bar, rather than having the more comfortable central grip of the single arm deadlift we now have the bar to the side of the body. Straight away the lift becomes more technical and also tests the grip from a whole new angle not to mention a far greater impact on the abs and obliques (awesome way to hit the midsection without a sit up in sight). We are now taking a grip with the thumb pointing forward away from the body. When developing your grip strength it is so important to hit it from all kinds of angles and continuously test it's boundaries through different thumb and forearm placements.

Our aim here is to test the grip and take our hand strength to a new level. However, do not forget this is a technical lift and we do not want to compromise our form for a heavier poundage. Start by really getting the feel for the lift, get your technique right before adding more weight to the bar. Approach this lift just as you would a regular deadlift. Get low, pack the shoulders back, engage the lats, remove slack from the bar, take a deep stomach breath in and rip the bar from the floor BOSH

I use the 5 sets of 5 reps for this one or nice and heavy singles with 3 minutes between sets.

As a progression, you can either:

- Use Fat Gripz or a thick bar.
- Add a hold at the top (30-60 secs. You may have to reduce the poundage here).

As always, straps are banned, only the use of chalk is allowed. Your grip strength will never get better with the use of straps so ditch em now,man up and get a grip.

Enjoy the video and please get in touch if you have any questions at all. Look forward to your response.



Have a great day,

Matt