help with atlas stones

[dspeed]

I am training for a strongman contest on aug. 30 and I have been practicing farmers walk, yoke, log press and I am adaquate at them but I get smoked on the stones. I have lifted 180, 200, 245 stones but 245 is extremely difficult I don't know if I can do much more. I could use some tips on technique. Im only 5'10" but I think I should be able to lift heaveir stones than this.

[CJB]

I think it's all about exposure with the stones. You just need to do them to get good at them. Are you using tacky? If not, that may help. Long arms help too! But being 5'10" you're probably not gifed in that department.

Where are you failing? Can you not break the stone off the ground? Can you lap it, but not load it? How high is the platform?

[Jonathan Barlow]

5'10" is plenty tall enough to load 300+ stones, with or without tacky. Just got to work at it.

[Mike W.]

Originally Posted by CJB

I think it's all about exposure with the stones. You just need to do them to get good at them. Are you using tacky? If not, that may help. Long arms help too! But being 5'10" you're probably not gifed in that department.

Where are you failing? Can you not break the stone off the ground? Can you lap it, but not load it? How high is the platform?

All Very - Very good questions......

You might also think about video taping yourself and post it on here....We've got a whole bunch of pretty good strongman on here.

A couple of tips to help you get to the next stones - if you have someone in your group that can load a heavier stones - In load it for them - use the same form you would to load it - just in the reverse...Get's your body used to the weight.....Also stiff leg deads (not straight leg) and front squats will help....Don't go heavy on the stiffs - lighter weight with high reps - you need endurance in your ham's....and front squat for the loading part - reps of 5 on those.

[CJB]

In addition to the gym lifts that Mike suggested - One thing that helped me progress on stones was doing Log Rows and/or BB Rows "Pendlay style." Back parallel to ground, and begin every rep from a dead stop on the floor. None of this 45-degree air humping glorified shrug nonsense "rowing" that you see guys doing at the gym. No hip thrust. No body english. It is an ego killer, but sometimes that's what it takes. You're in the gym to make yourself a better strongman - not to be "the man" at the gym.

And I know it's generally taboo for people training for strength to talk about biceps, but having strong biceps helps in stones. Do some curls.

[Mike W.]

Originally Posted by CJB

In addition to the gym lifts that Mike suggested - One thing that helped me progress on stones was doing Log Rows and/or BB Rows "Pendlay style." Back parallel to ground, and begin every rep from a dead stop on the floor. None of this 45-degree air humping glorified shrug nonsense "rowing" that you see guys doing at the gym. No hip thrust. No body english. It is an ego killer, but sometimes that's what it takes. You're in the gym to make yourself a better strongman - not to be "the man" at the gym.

And I know it's generally taboo for people training for strength to talk about biceps, but having strong biceps helps in stones. Do some curls.

Specifically heavy hammer curls.

[jonathan creason]

Don't overthink the stones either, get down on them fast and explode that thing up onto the box.

Also, keep drilling with the lighter stones until you feel like you've got the technique down pat.

[jeromy moore]

At what point in the lift are you having problems?

[dspeed]

I haven't tried using tacky yet, Ive worked with stones probably 4 times so far. Ill try those rows CJB, they sound good. Ill try out the front squats and stiff leg deads mike w suggested. On form should the stone be in front of your legs at the beginning of the lift or under your legs.

[dspeed]

getting it to the lap position

[jonathan creason]

Are your arms centered around the stone? Is it slipping out before you get it to your lap? If so tacky and strengthing your arms and wrists will help.

Also, get yourself about 5-6 bricks and line them up, side-by-side, on the floor. Now bend down and pick them up by squeezing the 2 on the outside and do a bunch of rows. This will get you used to having to statically squeeze your arms and chest to get a good grip on the stone.

[Joker]

Originally Posted by dspeed

getting it to the lap position

Sandbag rows are great for this.

Take a sandbag that is about half the weight of the heaviest stone you want to lift. In your case, let's say 150lbs. Wrap it TIGHT in duct tape. TIGHT. You want the bag to slick as it can be.

Stand over the bag in the same position you would to lap a stone. You want the bag laying flat so you can't get your hands to far under it. (Out to sides mainly.)
No chalk, no tacky, no nothing on your hands. Pull the bag explosively to your chest then drop it back down. Repeat this for sets of 10. Speed and explosiveness is the key here. I usually do these for three sets of 10.

Your forearms/hands will be screaming by the time you are done. These turned my weakness of getting the stone off the floor to my strength on the stones. I highly suggest trying them.

I got the idea from Steve Kirit, who I understand knows a little about Strongman.

[ben moore]

Originally Posted by Mike W.

All Very - Very good questions......

You might also think about video taping yourself and post it on here....We've got a whole bunch of pretty good strongman on here.

A couple of tips to help you get to the next stones - if you have someone in your group that can load a heavier stones - In load it for them - use the same form you would to load it - just in the reverse...Get's your body used to the weight.....Also stiff leg deads (not straight leg) and front squats will help....Don't go heavy on the stiffs - lighter weight with high reps - you need endurance in your ham's....and front squat for the loading part - reps of 5 on those.

Listen to this advice - best I ever got.

[jeromy moore]

You will solve many of your problems just by using tacky, especially getting it off the ground.

[ashcrash]

I actually found full cleans helped my stones more than other gym lifts.

More experience with stones is definitely key though. Also practice with things like the top of the lift.