Thrust Deadlift Combo

In all honesty, I could never commit to performing the most insanely popular technique in CrossFit. I mean, since the inception of CrossFit, we’ve had a great emphasis on big lifts with epic movements. There have been times where I asked if I could try to hold a barbell overhead, my arms would fold completely away from my body after applying minimal pressure. Then there were those moments where I’d lower myself into a squat and the bar would come down like a ton of bricks with a loud crack. The problems always went away after I got close to moving it as long as I remained connected to my feet. What I really am unable to do however is perform many of the more technical and controlled pressing movement patterns that CrossFit demand. When I started doing barbell programming, I found that I couldn’t do anything other than pick up the weights and work out around them.

There are occasions when I’m willing to go to extremes such as pushing a heavy barbell over my head; dropping it onto the floor and finding a spot to run it into a tree branch for an incredible high. That is the truth. But normally, I stay very involved with the ground, picking up the next barbell and simply moving it until I’m able to focus on staying level without the need for me to push weight.

What stands out to me is that between the two extremes I described earlier, the bars tend to stay stationary and allow me to focus on being level. I’ll see a barbell in front of me and move it all the way through the rack, bringing it down to nearly vertical and then move it into a wider-reaching position. After that, I will simply walk or jog in a straight line, dropping each barbell slightly and taking advantage of my natural ability to stay level while staying connected to the ground.

This is where it gets really awesome. I’m highly prone to “working out on the ground”. I’m able to lift weights and remain level but the best part is they feel so incredibly powerful as I move them. I just look stupid. It’s like having gold within easy reach and I can’t touch it. It takes a lot of work, but I can do this. I don’t have to push the weights before I start pulling them.