Brian Shaw took to his Youtube channel, Shawstrength, to show us an unusual training day for a strongman. Shaw is an American pro strongman with four World Strongest Man titles under his belt. He is also the first man to win the Arnold Strongman Classic and WSM contests in the same year.
The man has been in the game for some time and continually returns each year as a contender for the World's Strongest Man. With 18 weeks left until the 2022 WSM competition, Brian is cracking down on his training regimen and nutrition to stay healthy.
This is the first video that Brian Shaw shared while focusing on sumo deadlifts. According to Brian, this session will humble him and be enjoyable as this is something that he rarely does, but his trainer Joe Kenn programmed it for him to do.
After a 15-minute readiness warmup with high reps, he will be jumping into sumo deadlifts, farmer's carries, and some accessory work.
Let's dive into the workout and break it down.
Brian Shaw's Deadlift Workout
Warmup Circuit: RDLs x Pull-Throughs x Back Extensions
Brian's readiness warmup was a combination of single-leg RDLs with on set loads, which means that the leg that is working is the same side that will be holding the weight. He completed 6 reps per leg, then moved on to some cable pull-throughs and some back extensions (Glute Ham Developer extensions). Within fifteen minutes, he went through those exercises as a circuit four times.
Sumo Deadlifts
After completing his readiness warmup, Brian hopped on a call with his coach to get some cues while completing his sumo deadlifts. His coach said some of the biggest things to focus on while completing a sumo deadlift are keeping your chest up, making sure you have a proper hip hinge, and correct hip placement.
Brian looks incredibly strong while completing his sets, but you can tell he isn't super comfortable with sumo deadlift quite yet. Throughout his reps, you can hear Brian's coach giving him cues to ensure proper form is being performed.
It's still a work in progress, with the ultimate goal being to improve at WSM. So it isn't about being the best at sumo deadlifts, as you can't do sumo in WSM competition, but is used to improve overall strength.
Machine Kickbacks
Brian's coach changed the programming because of how Brian did during his deadlifts. So the single-leg power runner (machine kickback) was tossed into the workout in a tempo fashion, with a slow and controlled eccentric.
Farmer's Walk
Brian moves on to his last exercise of the day, the farmer's walk, as his conditioning which he said he would complete as an EMOM (every minute on the minute). Farmer's walk is a great way to work on your conditioning and build your base and grip strength.
Brian finishes the video by saying that he is running a transformation challenge over on his website, and the winner will get to hang out with him and his wife, Keri Shaw.
Sample Brian Shaw Deadlift Workout
We have modeled the following unconventional strongman workout after the one Brian completed in this video.
Warmup Circuit
- 6 Reps per side- single leg RDLs
- 15 Cable Pull Throughs
- 15 GHD Extensions
Note: Complete 4 rounds with 1-2 minutes rest between them.
Workout
- Sumo Deadlifts: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Machine Kickbacks (Single leg power runner): 4 sets x 10 reps (each leg)
- Farmer's walk x 50 feet or 15 meters (8 Min. EMOM with dumbbells or farmer handles)
WHO IS BRIAN SHAW?
Brian Shaw is a renowned strongman from Fort Lupton, Colorado. At 6'8" Shaw saw early success in basketball. He eventually secured a full scholarship to Black Hills State University where he graduated with a degree in wellness management.
He always had brute strength and began his strongman career in 2005 where he won first place at the Denver Strongest Man competition. Since then he piled up numerous records and wins at the most prestigious strongman competitions.
From 2009-2018 he competed at WSM where he won it four times (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016). Last year in 2021 WSM he was runner-up to To Stoltman. This year Shaw has a lot ahead of him with a chance to rack up some more big wins plus 2022 Shaw Classic that he hosts and organizes.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Shaw is a fixture in the world of strongmen. It's rare to see these giants work exercises like sumo deadlifts. We hoped you enjoyed seeing Shaw in action. He has the determination, strength, power, work ethic, and humbleness to make 2022 another highly anticipated year in his career. We'll be watching for sure!
Related: The Best Strongman Workout Plan
Kiel DiGiovanni
Author