BY: LIFT BIG EAT BIG
Do your stone loads suck? If you are doing any of these five things, you aren't getting nearly as much out of your atlas stone training as you should be. Below,... I will outline five things that will hold back your progress with atlas stones:
#1: Hand & Feet Placement:
You can see in the wrong photo that my feet are behind the stone, and I am trying to curl the stone by getting my forearms under the stone to "cup" it. This is incorrect. Instead, get your feet outside the stone, right in the middle, and place your hands near the middle of your shoes. Dig your hands into the bottom of the stone until it feels like the stone will crush your fingers. Also, don't wear chalk when lifting stones. A smooth surface, covered in dust, combined with chalk, equals a stone that won't be going anywhere when it gets heavier. Instead, wrap your forearms with athletic tape and put tacky on your hands and forearms.
#2: Arm Position:
As stated above, you NEVER curl a stone. Bicep tears are the most common injury in Strongman, so we want to minimize the risk by never curling a stone. Instead, arms should be close to straight, descending straight down into the ground in the middle of the stone. Pinch forearms and hands together as you lift the stone off the floor.
#3 Clothing:
This may seem trivial, but it is extremely vital as your stones get heavier. Clothing, especially loose clothing that is damp from sweat, will cause the stone to slip down your lap or chest when you attempt to load it. Instead, set yourself up so there is as much contact with your skin on the stone as possible. Baggy clothing has no place in stone loading. This is why I load stones in a soft belt with spandex shorts. Some people wear a tight shirt and tie a knot in the back to keep the shirt tight, so that is an option as well.
#4. Hip Position:
This is the big one taught by pseudo-Strongman groups, and is the position we have to un-teach people at seminars. You will never be able to squat a heavy stone off the floor, so stop trying. Instead, bring your hips high, above your head. This is the natural position your body will move to anyway, once you start pulling on the stone, so you may as well start here. This will allow you to utilize hamstrings, upper back and lower back strength to lap the stone.
#5. Body Placement Over Stone:
Finally, the last piece of the puzzle. Stones are large, cumbersome, and stubborn. Make it as easy as possible to pick up a stone by placing your body over the stone, until it is about in the middle of your body. Feet should be place in the middle of the stone, with your hands between the stone and your feet. If the stone rolls forward or backward when you attempt to pick it up, this is a sign that your body is not centered.
I hope these tips help you with your stones. If you have suggestions for future technique photos, let me know in the comments.
You can see in the wrong photo that my feet are behind the stone, and I am trying to curl the stone by getting my forearms under the stone to "cup" it. This is incorrect. Instead, get your feet outside the stone, right in the middle, and place your hands near the middle of your shoes. Dig your hands into the bottom of the stone until it feels like the stone will crush your fingers. Also, don't wear chalk when lifting stones. A smooth surface, covered in dust, combined with chalk, equals a stone that won't be going anywhere when it gets heavier. Instead, wrap your forearms with athletic tape and put tacky on your hands and forearms.
#2: Arm Position:
As stated above, you NEVER curl a stone. Bicep tears are the most common injury in Strongman, so we want to minimize the risk by never curling a stone. Instead, arms should be close to straight, descending straight down into the ground in the middle of the stone. Pinch forearms and hands together as you lift the stone off the floor.
#3 Clothing:
This may seem trivial, but it is extremely vital as your stones get heavier. Clothing, especially loose clothing that is damp from sweat, will cause the stone to slip down your lap or chest when you attempt to load it. Instead, set yourself up so there is as much contact with your skin on the stone as possible. Baggy clothing has no place in stone loading. This is why I load stones in a soft belt with spandex shorts. Some people wear a tight shirt and tie a knot in the back to keep the shirt tight, so that is an option as well.
#4. Hip Position:
This is the big one taught by pseudo-Strongman groups, and is the position we have to un-teach people at seminars. You will never be able to squat a heavy stone off the floor, so stop trying. Instead, bring your hips high, above your head. This is the natural position your body will move to anyway, once you start pulling on the stone, so you may as well start here. This will allow you to utilize hamstrings, upper back and lower back strength to lap the stone.
#5. Body Placement Over Stone:
Finally, the last piece of the puzzle. Stones are large, cumbersome, and stubborn. Make it as easy as possible to pick up a stone by placing your body over the stone, until it is about in the middle of your body. Feet should be place in the middle of the stone, with your hands between the stone and your feet. If the stone rolls forward or backward when you attempt to pick it up, this is a sign that your body is not centered.
I hope these tips help you with your stones. If you have suggestions for future technique photos, let me know in the comments.
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