TESTOSTERONE NATION - 5 Common Technique Mistakes by Eric Cressey. He says your not supposed to look up during the Deadlift like you do during a Squat. Neck is supposed to be in neutral position and not forced to look up. This means, do not look into the mirror. I tried this Monday in my workout and Cressey is absolutely correct. I was able to do my Deadlift better and I really felt it in my glutes the next day. For the RDL, I really felt it in my hamstrings. When I do a single leg RDL (mostly for my dynamic warm up with no weights), I was also able to balance better than when I try to look straight ahead with my head up.

I have also seen people in the gym when doing a pull up with their head looking up at the ceiling even though you are supposed to look straight ahead. That is mentioned in the article as well as another common technique mistake (not supposed to look up at the ceiling during a pull up).

i think the looking up is just better so that people dont fall into a trend of not keeping the back straight. I have read the article before though, and I will try what he says the next time im in the gym.

Instead of relying on the mirror, how about videotaping yourself every now and then? You don't need a video camera, just a digital camera. I should not be relying on looking into the mirror all the time when I work out and plus when there are a lot of people in the weightroom, its hard to look into the mirror and focus (especially if they in the way of the mirror of the spot you are in or is walking by).

i've disagreed with most of the articles on tnation about techniques, but this one is right.

I read this on T-nation when it was released, very useful article, didn't even notice that we weren't supposed to keep our heads up, the same applies to push ups, chin ups, and bent over rows.

why does the military force you to keep your head up during push ups?

Cause it looks cooler?

So you can go down lower. It's easier to go lower when you're not shoving your face into the floor.

**** this, I look towards the sky when I dead. I don't watch myself in the mirror, that's dumb. But I'll look up. And I'm pretty sure I've watched Cressey do it in some of his videos. Not sure though. Whateva.

Yeah I'll believe what only Cressey, Boyle, Robertson, and maybe Waterbury (do not know much about him, but I heard he's good) say. I don't know anything about the other authors on that site.

Doesn't mention anything about making the lift more efficient. Just pull the damn weight. If I went around worrying about cervical hyperextension then...well...I'd be a ****y.

you'd be a ****y if you were smart about how you lifted to preserve your neck for the rest of your life?

When you have t3h ancient and ultra chi-zen pow3rz, this kinda stuff doesn't really scare you.