As a Romanian I can tell you that we don't usually lift the dead unless they are in a coffin.

This homless guy seems to be pretty knowledgeable on lifting.

4:28 "Pretend you are in prison and you are trying to send a message that you are not open for business." - Alan Thrall 🏋️‍♂️ 😬

This video is old but gold. I watched it shortly after starting the gym a few months ago. Thankfully, my hams were already flexy and reasonably strong but doing Romanian deadlifts the way Alan demonstrated helped me dial in the form, and now conventional deadlifts are my favorite lift. Thanks Alan!

I am a personal trainer. I have been training and coaching for almost fifty years. I have to say, out of the many instructional videos out there on the internet, your instructional video regarding the proper method of Romanian deadlifting is the best I have seen. I teach people how to do them properly, for the same reason you do. But I have to tip my hat to you sir, your method of instruction is crisper than my instruction. I will follow your lead. I wish I could go back in time and have either you or my current self instructing my teenage self the proper methods of deadlifting. You have a great page. I will subscribe.

Pretend you were in prison and you were trying to send the message that you are not open for business. ＬＭＡＯ

Alan my name is Anthony. For the past 6 months I’ve been dealing with low back pain. From the time I woke up in the morning, throughout the workday, and right up to bedtime I was feeling pain. I watched hundreds of videos on the benefits of deadlifting to strengthen your lower back. However any attempt, and I mean even with just the bar, would cut my workout short within minutes. I practiced hip hinging all the time and from the videos I knew I had that down pretty well. But when it came to the DL I was still feeling like I was doing something wrong. After seeing this video on the importance of learning to engage your glutes and not solely your hamstrings when extending your hips, I realized what I was lacking in my execution of the technique. I started out with just the bar doing the RDLs and focused purely on incorporating my glutes in the movement. It took a few months but I am now happy to report I am having no back pain and have gone from just the bar to 110lbs. So I want to thank you personally for putting this video out. Now I wanted to know if you can make a video (or maybe you have one already) on how to transition from RDLs to the DL itself. Thank you very much for all your time and effort in the providing this instruction

This really helped, currently I'm struggling with this, my deadlift feels more like a row and its killing my lower back. Thanks!

"Pretend you're in prison and you're trying to send a message that you are NOT open for business." LMAO good advice.

Every time I pull the bar up I just scream "NOOOO!!" as I squeeze my glutes.

I just started to do deadlifting, I’m honest to say I did it wrong.

I wish I had a personal trainer. There is so much information about all lifting techniques that I feel like I do all excersizes wrong.

I used to get lower back pain from the deadlift, until this video. I spent hours researching and watching various videos on KZfaq. I even dropped 100 bucks with a personal trainer I was so frustrated. This is the ONLY one that help me fix what I was missing. A million times: Thank you.

Soreness in the back? Do RDLs. Hamstrings not strong enough? Do RDLs. Can't swim? Do RDLs. Car has a Flat tire? Do RDLs. Taxes overdue? Do RDLs. Running late for a meeting? Do RDLs. Got a bad haircut? Do RDLs. Have a leaky faucet? Do RDLs. Miss the bus? Do RDLs. Can't do RDLs? Do RDLs. When in doubt, try RDLs.

Alan... There's a lot of "how to" videos on KZfaq. Yours are easily the best. Whenever I need to refresh my memory on how to do a lift, I check if you've done a video on them first. Many thanks for the great content.

Watched this back when you released it - took a big break sometime between then and now making my deadlift form was all sorts of messed up when I hit close to maximal load. Thanks for the vid - the RDLs fixed everything 👍 Wish I could like it again.

4:29 should be nominated as one of the top 10 best youtube moments EVER.

I actually learn real shit from this guy. love it

"Who's that thicc girl in the thumbnail? Nice" *clicks link* ....oh.

He’s so right! Since I’ve been following Alan, I’ve improved my form so much - back pain is gone and I’m engaging the proper muscles.

What I appreciated most about this video is that it's the first one I've seen that admits that deadlifts can hurt your back. I'm sick of guys (I won't mention names, Mark R.) who claim that no one's ever gotten hurt doing deads. No, not if they're 20 and they're athletes and they have a first-class coach. The rest of us, try as we might, are going to do a lot of shit wrong, and when you do that with a deadlift, you can get hurt. (I've spend the last 2 months trying to recover from some kind of back tweek doing a relatively light, hex-bar dead, in which, despite my best intentions and my effort to "push the floor away," I undoubtedly used my posterior chain too little and my low-back too much.) Thanks for calling out those who deny that reality.

My hamstrings always kill me after I do these. I thought I was doing something wrong but now I'm thinking I'm doing it right!

“Why do you do deadlift?” Now I’m going to say to keep the cheeks closed for business if I end up in prison

Thank you! Have been having trouble with this exercise and lower back discomfort. I finally feel like I’m working something instead of hurting something!

Are your hamstrings tight ? DO Romanian deadlifts !! Are your hamstrings weak ? DO Romanian deadlifts !! Is your child having trouble in school ? DO Romanian deadlifts !! Are you confused about the nature of your existence ? DO Romanian deadlifts !! Is there a God ? Yes... and he does Romanian deadlifts !!

i wish i would have seen this vid before prison! :,(

This is the most thorough explanation I have come across for the RDL so far, out of about 13 videos.. Thank you. It really helped.

I absolutely love your videos! Thank you for all your hard work in sharing this information online.

Thank you Jesus for saving us all from snap city

This guy does the opposite of skipping leg day

thanks! i've been out of lifting for a while, this and your other DL video is a great refresher and is very thorough for new lifters!

Thanks for this excellent video. Detailed, yet simple enough to remember all the steps. Lately been noticing I was using too much back and thought it was a warm up problem with my hamstrings, but it could simply be and/or hamstring loading problem as you stated and form. I definitely feel the tension and feel more of my leg and hips working now. Thanks again!

I did not know gandalf was a powerlifter. Thanks for the tips

3:17 "feels like I'm wearing nothing at all... nothing at all... nothing at all...."

This is one of the best Deadlift videos I've seen. I've always avoided Deadlifts because I've always had lower back issues, but I may give it a try now with this info.

This videos has been the best in describing how to do an RDL and DL properly. Thank you!

That prison comment almost gave me a seizure

This is a great tutorial. I finally figured out what I was doing wrong with my deadlift after watching this last night and then testing it out this morning. Thanks.

Your unique style and humor actually helps me remember when I'm in the gym. Unfortunately the prison comment does make me chuckle a bit and look like a maniac.

I'm glad I found your channel, I've learned so much, to include movements that I've doing wrong... Thanks for the info, keep it up and Semper Fi brother!

Deadlifts are about my favorite lift. I'm constantly looking for ways to improve it. Yet, sometimes I find it best to look at the basics. You explain everything very very well. Good job sir!

i died at "pretend you are in prison and sending a message that you are NOT open for business!" lmaoo dkm. great demo!

Thanks so much for sharing this. I've had tight hamstrings my whole life, and am already seeing improvements from Romanian deadlifts using this method. As a matter of fact it's the only thing I've done that I've gotten any results from. I also feel much safer and stronger knowing that I'm using proper form now. Recorded myself lifting a couple times, and could see that while focusing on hinging at the hips and feeling the stretch in my hamstrings, even while going below my knees, my back is not rounding. Awesome!

Really appreciate your efforts in making all these helpful videos!!!

I've been getting back into the gym recently over the last few months and I've avoided legs knowing full well that's not cool. Thing is I have bad knees so I guess I'm afraid. I've wanted to start doing RDL and DL as I know they are easier on my knees than straight up squats or leg presses but wasn't sure how to get back into them(yes I forgot proper execution). I've been checking out videos all night tonight to fix this problem and BY FAR this is the very best tutorial video I have come across. Not only for RDLs but for any exercise period. THANK YOU. Also given I work in a prison I laughed pretty good at the "not open for business joke". I've now subscribed.

Love the prison analogy. Lol

I just found your videos, they are fantastic. Really well explained, great work man, thanks

Thank you so much for the really clear instruction. I am having trouble engaging my hamstrings and I think this will really help. You are a pretty really good tutor.

Your tip at 4:56 to RDL on the way down to the bar is genius! My DL improved a lot because of that hack. Thank you.

Omfg I've gotta leave a like just for 4:32 omg I love you hahahahaha

Just wanted to take the time to say thank you. Your DL and squat instruction has helped me tremendously. Best advice on YT.

Snapping the hips through! It’s a quick but important movement. That’s what I needed to see. Thanks so much!

5 months after hurting my back to the point of not being able to find any position without pain (including laying down) I am in the best lower back shape in my entire life. Thanks to very careful sumo deadlifts. I work on floors so all day I have to bent over, squat, get up etc. A normal person has at least some discomfort in their lower back after work like that. Not me. One reason - PROPER deadlift. It is impossible to talk about that to most people - they will never understand. Great, great video!

Officially my favorite fitness instructor!! Funny, charismatic this was great dude! I feel like too many of these types of videos get boring because people take themselves waaaayy too seriously.

THANK YOU! I have only just learned to deadlift, and this explanation really got through to me. I'm going to practice with a PVC pipe for a while, because even just using the weight of the bar forces my lower back to get involved. I feel as though I've never used my hamstrings for anything. It felt amazing to feel them start to come alive!

Nice! This was very helpful. You make great videos, because you get right to the point and you have a great personality.

I AM NOT OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!! Thanks Alan.

Man I watched this video like 30 times. I have S**T form on the deadlift and this is helping so much. Load the hamstrings has got to become my mantra

I just seen this video pop back up in my recommended and went through lower back surgery a few months ago and recently started back at the gym and I am so glad I watched this video again as i will have you to thank for me not screwing myself in the long run

This was so helpful! Thank you, you're a great teacher, I can't wait to try out a Romanian DL tomorrow and get my hams stretched 💪

Seriously Allan your content is solid and allways relevant for me. I took your advice from this video and the RDL and your points thought me the most basic components of the conventional DL which now is skyrocketing. :) thx Man, much respect from Copenhagen, Denmark

Best deadlift instructions ever! Subscribing :)

I love you, never felt that hamstring stretch like i did doing this. Thank you.

This is one of the best videos for deadlifts. Simple and to the point with great tips on how to fix what you're doing wrong. My back tends to round as I start the lift, I guess it could be due to my hamstrings and not necessarily but form per se. Thanks for tips, I will make use of them :)

This video really helped me. Thanks Alan

Thank you so much for this. I thought having a really sore lower back just came with the deadlift package, but by doing some RD with just the bar before deadlifting helps me to activate the hamstrings and glutes and saved my back.

funniest and most informative video ive seen that does not over complicate. Amazing work!

Thank you so much man, I have been deadlifting for a year, with my back hurting like hell amd no progress, using glutes and hams is what deadlift means actually, and I m almost reaching the same weight with proper form, Thank you so much bro, you rock ❤️

very informative and helpful video！this answers a lot of questions i had about dl and now things make much more sense. you are an engineer，man

this video is the best tutorial on deadlifts. thank you very much for uploading it!

It's been a while but I wanted to thank you for this! I'd recently started doing deadlifts and was getting a lot of lower back pain during and the day after lifting, and practically no impact on my hamstrings. Couldn't understand why as my back looked fine. After this video I tried these tips the next time I went to the gym. Finally felt that tension on the hams through doing Romanian DLs, and found that when I deadlifted the weight to get to the starting position in successive sets, I felt a lot less load on my lower back. Woke up today and aching hamstrings and very little lower back pain. Gonna keep doing these and getting better.

Awesome tutorial Still pretty new to the RDL but this made a few things I was doing wrong pretty clear and I've started getting less and less lower back stress, with time I hope I can master this exercise and get no back stress at all

lol that not open for business was great

This is the best tutorial I've ever seen on properly executing a deadlift!

This is exactly the advice I have been looking for, thank you

Yes!!! This really helps me understand the important steps and proper movement of the DL. I focus so much about keeping my core tight that I wasnt engaging my hams. Back to the drawing board for me so I can strengthen my hams and perfect my RDL's. Hopefully no more lower back injuries. Its hands down the worst feeling when you get that *pop* in your lower back and your out for weeks. Thanks for all the great tips, I look forward to conquering DL's.

This was so god damn helpful. Thank you.

This is great advice! I've watched almost all videos on KZfaq regarding the deadlift and this is the most ideal and most informative. Thanks! I ruined my back (lumbar) a month ago and just getting back into working out. It sucks. I messed up my form on the way up and tweaked my lower back which put me out and it really sucks trying to sleep on it.

i just recently started watching "how to deadlift vids" yours is the best one so far!

*Best RDL vid I've seen!* (By 2022.05.22.) *Main point is to keep back straight for as low as I can, and when I'd need to either ROUND IT, or BEND THE KNEES MORE, then stop and go back up!*

“Imagine you are in prison and you are trying to send the message that you are NOT open for business ❌”

So off topic, I promised I learned but also I really want to braid your beard, I feel like it would look so pretty

Excellent information!! Can't wait to test this out.

Only just come across your vid. Your great advice had really helped me out. Keep up the good work matey. Regards Paul

Subbed, just because of the prison comment!

Deadlifts seems to be one of the hardest moves to master

The BEST video I’ve seen on deadlifts, had this problem when I first started out. Wish I had this video years ago

This one of the best videos on this topic, thank you very much. You're awesome!

Very, very, very helpful!

this maybe the best deadlift tutorial video on youtube. ever.

More than earned yourself a sub. If anyone ever asks me how to deadlift I will simply link them to this video. Best explanation I've come across thus far.

This helped me more than any other deadlifting video/ advice. Thanks brother.

That pole in the ass was hilarious!

4:30 "Pretend you are in prison and you are trying to send a message that you are NOT open for business" LOL this guy is quite the character!

excellent tips! Look forward to mastering form for the deadlift!

there is some spectacular advice here for both hamstrings & the deadlift, many thanks.

Is that beard single?

5:42 This really helped me understand something I've been struggling with. Usually I tend to have a slight (previously it was worse) anterior pelvic tilt, but when I squat I notice rounding of the back and a strong posterior pelvic tilt. I almost never do any hamstring work and previously when I've done heavy'ish squats or conventional deadlifts, I end up feeling some some sort of ache or pain following the exercises. I think my hamstrings are weak and are posteriorly tucking my pelvis when I squat. Romanian Deadlifts, here I come

Just wanted to say you are really good at explaining this move. Thanks for the help

There are thousands of video on deadlifts but you just nailed it simple.....hats off