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How to Brace your Core for a Deadlift

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Get ready for some quick and easy weightlifting tips from our guest blogger and friend, Dan Dodd. Dan is not only a CrossFit Regional Athlete but also a star physical therapy patient who keeps his body healthy with regular tune ups in the clinic. His USA Weightlifting certification and Health & Exercise Science degree make him an expert Head Coach at TriState Barbell so he’s well qualified to help you improve your deadlift. Find him on Instagram @danimaldodd

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How to Brace Your Core For a Deadlift

Bracing is the ability to put proper tension in the torso during heavy lifting. It’s similar to the way that you engage your core in a push-up. Bracing correctly will not only set you up for better deadlift performance but avoids placing unnecessary strain on other muscles that could lead to injury down the line.

So, how should bracing feel around your midline when you deadlift?

Dan Dodd, CrossFit regional athlete and weightlifting coach, explains that when you brace for a deadlift, you want to find a happy medium of:

  1. Pushing your stomach out, and

  2. Flexing your stomach in while you press against your whole abdominal wall

Here’s a simple Deadlift Core Bracing drill that Dan suggests:

For this bracing drill, focus on two hand positions in a lying down position.

  1. Put one hand on top of your belly and the other on the small of your back.

  2. Lift your feet up with a right angle bend at the knee.

  3. As you lift your feet, take a breath in and brace into both hands.

Check out all of Dan’s drills for proper form while heavy lifting here: