🏋️ traditional deadlifts vs. romanian deadlifts: which is better?

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We’re starting this newsletter off with a bang as we look at both sides of the Romanian deadlift vs. traditional deadlift debate.

And are you taking full advantage of supersets? There’s a lot about this workout-boosting technique you should know about.

Plus, as the World’s Strongest Man gets underway this Wednesday, fans of the sport should be happy to hear that veteran strongman JF Caron is gearing up for a return sometime in 2023.

Showdown

Pick Your Pull

The deadlift is a powerhouse exercise that builds tremendous strength, muscle mass, and pulling power. Its cousin, the Romanian deadlift (RDL), has a different start and end point — but it’s still a rockstar of a pull. Depending on your goals, one lift might work better for you than the other.

The RDL, for example, provides better engagement for your hamstrings, while regular pulls are more geared toward boosting your maximal strength. Though there’s a lot more to it than just that.

It’s up to you — with the proper guidance, of course — to figure out when to pull conventional and when to go Romanian style. We break down both moves below:

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Workout Tips

Souped-Up Sets

Want a more efficient, more effective, more engaging workout? Rest less between sets. More specifically, start using supersets — a common but often misunderstood and misapplied intensity-boosting technique.

Performing supersets instead of straight sets can help to reduce your training time by nearly 50%. Supersets might even boost performance via a phenomenon called "potentiation” when used correctly.

We get into all of that in the article below. You’ll find out how and why this method works and discover recommendations for each type of superset and programming guidelines based on your training priority. The only thing the article won’t do is physically lift the weights for you. (Though we’ve got some people working on that, too!)

Strongman

JF Caron’s Comeback

When it comes to prolific, successful resumes, few modern strongmen can match the profile of Jean-François Caron, a.k.a. “JF Caron.” But the nine-time Canada’s Strongest Man champion suffered two torn patellar tendons during the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic that put him on the shelf indefinitely.

There’s good news, though: In a recent interview with retired strongman Laurence Shahlaei, the 40-year-old Caron revealed he’s attempting a comeback sometime in late 2023. We don’t know exactly when this proposed return will happen — but we are definitely here for it.

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Everything Else

A Sitdown With Victoria Long

• In a recent episode of the BarBend Podcast, host David Thomas Tao talked to pro-strongwoman Victoria Long about her background in strength and pulling the heaviest women’s deadlift in history.

• Should you combine creatine and caffeine for your pre-workout supplement ritual? Well, there are pros and cons to this duo that you need to know about.

• Few moves help build raw power that transfers to your other lifts better than the power clean. Learn how to do the move using our guide.

Sound Off!

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