Position yourself for this exercise by placing a loaded barbell on the ground in front of you. Position your feet underneath the bar so that, when you are looking down, the bar crosses the middle of your feet. Your feet should be in a very wide stance (very close to the collars of the barbell). Bend forward at your hips so that your hands can grip the barbell (use either a pronated grip, an alternating grip, or a hook grip). Ensure that your arms are directly underneath your shoulders and inside of your legs. To execute the exercise, begin by lowering your hips and ensuring that you are looking directly forward (keep your head and your chest up at all times). Imagine that you are spreading your feet apart as you drive through the floor with your heels, extending your hips and knees. As you notice that you have reached the point of motion where the barbell crosses your knees, focus on leaning back and driving your hips into the barbell in order to complete the “lockout”. Once you are standing upright, return the weight to the ground in a controlled fashion by bending at the hips. Repeat for the prescribed number of repetitions.
