Diving and the stretch reflex

[HeavyBomber]

Lately I have been thinking about the stretch reflex and how you could benefit from it in the dead lift.
There's a technique some use called diving. I believe it's where a sumo lifter can quickly lower the hips and then instantly thrust the hips forward to assist in getting the weight off the deck. Supposedly this technique is used to take advantage of the stretch reflex. It's similar to the bounce up at the bottom of a squat.
I tried it the other day and wasn’t very good at it. I suppose it takes a lot of practice.

My question is; is it worthwhile? Does anybody use this technique?

 

[Liftbig]

hmm, the deadlift is pretty much a concentric lift anyways. im not too sure that just diving in and pulling will take any more advantage of the stretch reflex(with that said, i still dont recomend spending too much time in the bottom) alot of lifters dive to the bar, but i think its more for the purpose of getting to the bar quickly with a tight suit on. i think the bounce up from the bottom of the squat works best when you are pre stretching the muscles that are already loaded with the weight of the bar. itd be totally different if you set up to squat with no weight on your back, went down quickly and all the sudden you have the load on your back.

as far as being worth your while, try it and see if you like it. if your lifts go up it works for you. trial and error is the best teacher.

 

[Parabellum]

Grip and Rip, I remember reading a thread where Spatts does that.

 

[spatts]

Yep, that's what I do. I get to take advantage of my speed that way.

 

[dood]

I do that for cleans. But I deadlift isn't exactly a speed movement. Maybe going sumo with a suit is different.

 

[spatts]

Not a speed movement? I rely on speed. Those westside boys sure do waste a lot of time on the jumpstretch platform doing speed pulls if that's the case.

HB, for what it's worth, I think I was the only one doing the grip-n-rip at IPA Worlds. Although, I think Chuck V does it that way too. He wasn't competing that day.

 

[HeavyBomber]

Thanks for the responses. I'm still kind of new to dead lifting. Even though I have been at for a few years it's just recently that I have been pulling respectable weight.
I'm also fairly new to this site and I must say it's awesome.

 

[Scotsman]

One I set my grip then I drop my hips and pull without much pause. I used to spend way too much time at the bottom.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[spatts]

From Feb 2003: Grip-n-Rip

http://www.asylum-strength.com/videos/febcomp/spatts430dead.mpg

 

[DBCooper]

I do a grip-and-explode kinda lol, I can stay down for awile but then I set up take a deep breath and just think 'I have to yank this freakin thing right off the floor' .